Monsoon in Borneo

Tropical storms are the lifeblood of Borneo’s forests. Delivering an abundance of precious recycled water, and providing temporary relief from the forest’s steamy humidity, thunderstorms are vital to life in the rainforest.

Leading up to the storm, the air is heavy and still. The soundscape becomes softer, simpler, as if the wildlife is bracing itself for the coming deluge. The rainfall is steady but brief, and it eases to a gentle shower, thunder still grumbling. The melodious calls of Grey-cheeked Bulbul and Hill Myna penetrate the sound of rain, and the forest starts to come to life again as the storm passes.

See below for a list of species heard in the album.

The album begins after a humid tropical night, with dewdrops falling from the rainforest canopy in the early morning while a variety of bird species call in the forest, including Crimson-winged Woodpecker, Rhinoceros Hornbill, Black-crowned Pitta, White-crowned Shama and Diard’s Trogon.

From around 4:50 the recording moves to a flooded wetland adjacent to the forest, where frogs call throughout the day. A family of Hill Mynas whistle from perches high in the forest and Common Emerald Doves coo from the forest floor.

From around 12:10 clouds build and the air becomes heavy as a storm approaches. The ‘te-woop te-woop te-woop’ calls of Golden-whiskered Barbets create a rhythm to the soundscape, as do the lower-pitched, slower ‘oooms’ of Common Emerald Dove. Thunder starts to grumble and the birds become quieter as the rain approaches.

The rain arrives around 15:00, a steady shower falling on the forest. Most of the birds are quietly sitting it out under sheltered branches and foliage, although a Grey-cheeked Bulbul sings briefly at 18:30.

At around 23:50 Common Hill Mynas sing for a few minutes, after which the rain begins to lighten and the birds become more active again.

Toward the end of the recording, Blue-eared & Golden-whiskered Barbets continue to call along with bulbuls and drongos. As the sun begins to set, crickets and other insects call softly from the undergrowth.