Bermagui Nature Reserve, February 19 , 2011

Led by  measured commentary from Chris Franks, local to the area for 50 years, this soundwalk was a gathering from the hall in town, via bus ride out to the Bermagui Nature Reserve at dusk. Our team headed down the track, about fourteen channels of stereo audio gold in the form of footsteps on gravel and a commentary in full multi-channel mode. We reached the spot where the lyrebirds have repeatedly signalled their presence. Of course they were nowhere to be heard, having long since roosted for the night. A meditative calm and a keen listening for the filigree of light sounds that are the forest on a warm summer's night, an experience usually enjoyed in solitude or quiet company, was here made larger perhaps underlining it as something of inestimable value. We spread out into the bushland, expanding the sound collecting horizon, before heading back up the hill to an emerging full moon over the ocean.