Wild Sound Stories are an organic blend of creative artists coming together under an umbrella of shared vision. We are artists, musicians, conservationists, nature interpreters, scientists and engineers, Our vision is to connect people with our larger community of life, through creative media and personal stories, so that we may all thrive within our natural environment.

From this vision flow these shared values

• Stewardship, Environmental Ethics
• Community, Mutual Responsibility
• Cooperation, Caring, Generosity, Compassion
• Trust,Open Communication
• Respect for Diversity, Advancement of Biodiversity
• Global Awareness, Local Advocacy
• Support of Independent and Local Artists
   

CREATIVE ARTISTS

HOW IT ALL STARTED, SOUND ENGINEERS and MENTORS

I had an idea that I could tell a short story and not use any words. To do this, I learned to be a sound recordist. The level of technical skill it takes to record nature sounds and engineer a compelling audio experience was challenging and exciting.

This project started with a book, Wild Soundscapes: Discovering the voice of the natural world. It sparked my imagination for the places I might go and the wild voices I might hear. I was inspired. So I tracked down the author, one of the best in the recording business, Bernie Krause. To my surprise, he turned out to be my cousin's neighbor! We had lunch at cousin Karen's sumptuous Glen Ellen Inn. We talked about my daunting project. I knew what I wanted to do and why I wanted to do it, but not sure of the how. To his credit, Bernie listened. His subsequent help and good advice proved invaluable, including donating the essential and beautiful recordings of humpback whalesong and deep ocean that begins Hero's Journey.

For an absolute treat, run on over to Bernie's Wild Sanctuary and download his Google Earth layer. Listen to the voice of the natural world in many of the Earth's most wild and astonishing places. And be sure to pick up some atmosphere for your home before you go. Rowrrr!

Thanks for everything, Bernie!

THANK YOU

Hear the drumbeat of a pileated woodpecker resonate in the rain in Hero's Journey? This resonate sound is a gift from the accomplished nature recordist, Lang Elliott. Lang is terrific. He has a light and charming personality in balance with his substantial life collection of natural sounds. Although he's on the East Coast, a shared love of protecting what's left of the wilds connects us. If you love birds, you owe it to yourself to check out Lang's extensive collection of recordings either at your local bookstore or at his website, Nature Sound.

Dan Dugan is a sound recordist, sound engineer and a renaissance man. And I'm happy to say, a creative partner in the production of In the Company of Giants, the sound story featuring the endangered species of Muir Woods National Monument. Dan is fun to collaborate with and technically invaluable to the Muir Woods sound story. Dan, as the Muir Woods Centennial Recordist, spent one full calendar year recording the deep peace of this treasured place. When I'm stumped about how to fix an error or improve a recording, Dan's the man. I'm happy to be joining him on the Board of Directors for the Nature Sound Society. Visit Dan's website.

Cornell University's Macauley Library has been supportive from the beginning. My thanks to Tammy Bishop for her quick responses to my frequent emails. Thanks to her kind and friendly help, (and infinite patience), I could fill the holes in my soundscapes with the highest quality recordings. Thanks again to Cornell University's Lab of Ornithology, specifically to Greg Budney, Jessie Barry, Bill McQuay (hi Bill!) and also to my secret-recording-spot enabler, Dave Herr, I have a fine recording of a most amazing California catbird and a diploma on my desk that confirms that I'm a certified Nature Sound Recordist. I received this after a glorious sleep-deprived week in the High Sierras at Cornell's Audio Recording Workshop. Check out the Macauley Library for all things ornithological and for other animal behavior resources. There's old stuff there, too. Listen to the roar of African lions... in 1954!

ENVIRONMENTAL FORUM

We arrive where it all began. Thank you to the Environmental Forum for its broad and fascinating environmental education. If not for the mentorship and peer encouragement of the Forum, I may not have begun this project. The Environmental Forum believes that we can be powerful advocates for what we care about. Armed with correct information and a broad perspective, each of us can make a difference in our own lives and in the lives of others. If you are in the San Francisco Bay Area, take a look at the Environmental Forum. Find out about its two core programs, the Sustainable Earth Forum and its Saturday series, Sustainable Communities Seminar. Together in community, we can shift our direction toward the light of a sustainable, better life, for all.

GINA FARR, PRODUCER and HOST

Wild Sound Stories Environmental Education Project is designed, produced and hosted by Gina (that's me). My inspiration comes from a lifetime of looking and listening to the wild songs of life while growing up in Marin County, California. Every sunlit leaf on every bird filled tree inspires me to live with awareness and to treasure the beauty that surrounds me. My terrific husband and family, a fantastic circle of friends and a brilliant dog, curious bird and clever rabbit are my support and fun playmates. My lifelong muse is named Kizzie. I balance long hours at the computer with long hours in nature.

I help people succeed at what they care most deeply about. Taking my own advice and choosing my best client, I decided to become a PR agent for the earth. I'm dedicated to doing everything in my power to help her, and the people who love her, to thrive.