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About this sound
Moraine Park is a large open meadow at 8,160 feet in elevation. The Big Thompson river runs through the valley and it is home to numerous species of birds, mammals and fish. This recording, from the southwest part of the meadow, began at 5:40 AM and includes elk bugling and sparring during the rut, elk mews and coyotes barking. The first sounds can be heard at about 6 seconds into the recording.
Why parks record sound
The NPS Natural Sounds and Night Skies Division monitors soundscapes in parks across the United States. Natural quiet is treated as a resource to protect, like clean air or dark skies: noise from aircraft, vehicles and machinery can mask animal communication and change the experience of a place.
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Sources & credits
- Moraine Park at dawn during the fall rut soundscape featuring Elk and Coyotes by US National Park Service – Public domain