'Bird hide' is based on recordings made 11th April 2003 from within a bird hide in Wicken Fen nature reserve, Cambridgeshire. (Binaural recording, 3 min. 50 s. in duration).

I made this recording while searching for rural tranquility - something increasingly difficult to find in our predominantly urban society. Wicken Fen is one of our oldest nature reserves, and is something of a wild oasis among the agricultural landscapes of East Anglia.

Which sounds feature in the soundscape I recorded? The sound of wind in the reeds, distant shots, bird calls, the creaking of the wooden hide, and the sounds made by the birdwatchers themselves: breathing and speaking in hushed tones. This is the sound of people listening and watching intently, trying to sit as silently as possible. Some conservationists have suggested that nature reserves are sacred places, to which those that value wildlife make a pilgrimage. Given this, the silence of the birdwatchers could almost be considered as an act of reverence. But of course, the silence is not total.

The scratching sound heard at the end of the recording was made by a wasp, eating the wood of the hide.

All of the compositions and soundfiles accessible via this site are copyleft. All rights reversed. Anyone is welcome to use these soundfiles how they wish, towards a continuing creative process.