The sound of wings -- no longer just for us boondockers

[profdant139]

I just read an article about changes in the "soundscape" of city life during this strange time of urban silence. The reporter said that several people had told him that they are hearing the sounds of birds' wings for the first time in their lives.

For those of you who live in rural places, you are used to the idea that birds' wings make noise as they fly by. But as a city guy who never camped or boondocked till my early 50s, I can tell you that it is a little startling to hear the air rushing over a bird's wings, if you have never heard it before.

The "soundscape" of boondocking is, to me, one of the best things about camping in a remote spot.

And now, courtesy of this terrible disease, other city folks are getting a taste of what quiet feels like.

So that is not much of a silver lining, but it is better than solid gloom and doom.

[BarabooBob]

I live in rural south central Wisconsin. My city friend was sitting in the back yard with me one time and he was kind of freaked out at the number of coyotes, owls, and other assorted critters we could hear. When the wolf that hangs around in the nature area north of us started howling, he wanted to go inside. I talked him into staying outside and it was one of the most memorable nights of his life.
Later that night, he saw the northern lights for the first time. I felt blessed to have share the time with him.

[4runnerguy]

profdant139 wrote:
The reporter said that several people had told him that they are hearing the sounds of birds' wings for the first time in their lives.

A couple of months ago my neighbor was commenting on how he could now hear the birds chirping again. Of course for him, it was because he'd just gotten hearing aids for the first time! 😉

[derouen6]

Sitter around a campfire on a dark night with only the glow of the flames for light, listening to the sound of some creature scrambling around you in the rocks, we figured it was feral hogs, very eerie.

[Naio]

I am at my s&b (thankfully made it home just in time), in a small city. The daily sounds here remind me a lot of snow. The muffling, and the fact that nobody is driving.

[ppine]

Nice group here. These people get the outdoors.

[noteven]

Transitioning from a human doing to a human being is wonderful.

[ramyankee]

Great post...

[profdant139]

Before discovering boondocking, I had never heard the sound of my own pulse. Now it is an old friend -- you know you are really in the boonies when your pulse is annoyingly loud.

And the sound of elk in the forest, all around you, at night, bugling.

And coyotes, of course.

I've still never heard a wolf, though.

[BB_TX]

As someone who lives in a semi rural area and am a lifetime hunter and outdoorsman I never even thought there may be people who have never heard the sound of bird wings. On a quiet, still morning sitting in the woods just before it is light enough to see and there is the sudden sound of heavy wings of ducks passing just over the tree tops it will definitely get your attention. And even more so in the dark and an owl swoops thru the trees just overhead with a soft “swoosh” can make your hair stand on end. :E

[pnichols]

Dan off topic but somehow related ... I drove into town today for the first time in around 3-4 weeks. What a pleasant surprise everywhere - the highway, town streets, sidewalks, and parking space availability were like what they were 50 years ago. It made me feel like I had moved back in time to the "Good Old California Golden Years"!

[2oldman]

Interesting.. never thought of that. I always liked when it snowed in Seattle (rarely) and everything got real quiet.

Quiet is the main thing I strive for when boondocking. You don't get much of that in an RV park.

[gbopp]

It's as nice as the Sound of Silence.

[Lwiddis]

The quiet and the dark! TY for your post.