Bellbird Forest

A relaxing soundscape featuring
the sounds of Australian Bell Miners.

Recording Location: Watagans NP, Australia
Habitat: Wet eucalypt forest
Duration: 51 minutes (5 tracks)
Year of Release: 2013 © All rights reserved
Download Formats: mp3 & FLAC (48kHZ/24bit)

$15

Prices are in Australian dollars (AUD)

Format:

Clear

Album Description

The ringing bell-like call of the Bell Miner (known to many Australians as the ‘bellbird’) is a familiar sound in the tall moist eucalypt forests of south-eastern Australia. Actually a type of honeyeater, Bell Miners live in colonies and mainly eat insects, especially psyllids and their lerps (sugary secretions used as protective shelters by the tiny psyllid insects) from the foliage of eucalypts. In a large colony, the ‘tink’ notes offered by each individual combine to create an ethereal chorus which can be heard throughout the day.

This album was recorded in the misty forests of Watagans National Park, NSW, Australia on a cool winter’s day, and features the tinkling of bellbirds as a backdrop to the songs and calls of honeyeaters, thornbills, catbirds and many other bird species. Track 3 focuses on the incredibly complex and beautiful song of a male Superb Lyrebird as he sings from his display mound in an effort to impress a mate. The richness and accuracy of mimicry in the song of this species is wonderful.

Listen to a Sample

Recording Location

Map © OpenStreetMap contributors

Track Listing

1. Early Morning (7:40)

Recorded in misty eucalypt forest on a cool winters morning, this track features the constant tinkling calls of Bell Miners (bellbirds) along with many other bird species including Superb Lyrebird, White-naped Honeyeater, Yellow-faced Honeyeater, Eastern Whipbird & Brown Thornbill.

2. Late Morning (9:32)

Later in the morning, the buzzing of bees can be heard from the forest mid-storey while Eastern Whipbirds & a Wonga Pigeon call from the undergrowth. Other birds heard on this track include Large-billed & White-browed Scrubwrens, Grey Fantail, Yellow-faced Honeyeater and Green Catbird.

3. Song of the Lyrebird (12:32)

This track features the spectacular song of a male Superb Lyrebird singing from his display mound. Rich with improvisation and mimicry, this is one of the world’s most incredible songbirds.

4. Afternoon (14:52)

In the mid-afternoon, the calls of Bell Miners continue to ring through the forest, along with lyrebirds and the mechanical calls of a Satin Bowerbird in the distance.

5. Dusk (9:32)

In the last hour before dark, Laughing Kookaburras chuckle along with the unusual ‘meow-ing’ call of a Green Catbird. Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Lewin’s Honeyeater and Fan-tailed Cuckoo can also be heard in this final track of the album.

Bird species heard on this album include:

Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoos, Gang-gang Cockatoo, Grey Shrike Thrush, Rufous Whistler, Grey Fantail, Striated Thornbill, White-browed Scrubwren, White-throated & Red-browed Treecreepers, Yellow-faced and White-eared Honeyeaters, Eastern Spinebill, Red Wattlebird, Eastern Yellow Robin, Bassian Thrush, Spotted & Striated Pardalote, Pied Currawong and Australian Raven.

Applies to albums priced $10 or more.

Bellbird Forest