The Hidden Soundscapes of Forests: Listening to Nature's Quiet Conversations

Field report

A walk through the woods reveals a symphony of natural sounds most people never stop to notice.

It should come as no surprise, then, that the living world produces some extraordinary sounds—if you know how to listen. Across forests, wetlands, and meadows, animals, insects, and even trees contribute to a layered chorus that most of us walk right past without a second thought.

Many of the most captivating natural soundscapes are created by the combined voices of birds at dawn, frogs at dusk, and insects humming through the heat of the afternoon. By placing microphones deep in old-growth forests and along riverbanks, researchers have been able to capture the richness of these acoustic environments—each one as unique as a fingerprint of the habitat it comes from.

Scientists who study soundscapes—often called ecoacousticians—come from backgrounds as varied as the sounds they record. Some trained as musicians before turning to ecology; others arrived from physics or forestry. This blending of art and science has become a powerful lens for understanding ecosystems.

Many researchers found themselves drawn into the field after spending long hours in wild places, gradually tuning their ears to the subtle rhythms of birdcalls, rustling canopy leaves, and the drip of morning condensation. As one ecologist describes it, this deep listening became part of the same journey of curiosity that had always pulled them outdoors:

To decode these natural symphonies, soundscape ecologists use specialized recording equipment that captures the full frequency range of a habitat—from the low rumble of wind through valley oaks to the ultrasonic clicks of bats hunting above the tree line.

To create these ethereal musical compositions, Nayar explains that he uses equipment that converts plant and mushroom bioelectricity, as well as ambient electromagnetic radiation, field recordings, and other environmental sources into musical information.

As listeners, soundscape researchers give mesmerizing presentations both inside lecture halls and out in the field, and given the unpredictability of working with wild soundscapes, there have been moments where unexpected things have happened, as one researcher recounts a surprising dawn chorus:

As a musician, Nayar gives mesmerizing live performances both indoors and out, and given the nature of working with living organisms, there have been moments where unexpected things have happened, as he recounts one surprising incident:

Ultimately, soundscape ecologists believe that staying connected to the voices of the natural world is vital for keeping hope alive in difficult times, when many people feel deeply isolated from the living planet. In fact, they argue that artists and musicians are uniquely positioned to help the rest of us hear what we've been missing:

Ultimately, Nayar believes that staying connected with Mother Nature is vital to keep hope and positivity in these difficult times, when some of us might feel deeply lonely and disconnected. In fact, he says that artists and musicians are uniquely positioned to light the way forward:

Nayar's latest album,Field Notes, was recently released and is the product of two years of sonic experimentation. Nayar is currently embarking on aseries of pop-up showsin public parks in LA, San Diego, Vancouver, Victoria, and Salt Spring Island, which will incorporate "part foraging, part park cleanup, and partdeep listening." Exciting stuff—to find out more, check out Modern Biology'sTikTok,Instagram, andYouTube.