The Amazon: Río Bigal Biological Reserve

Recorded in the stunning hill rainforests of Río Bigal Biological Reserve, Ecuador, this album features the sounds of dawn through dusk. 

The album begins at dawn as the forest gradually awakens to rich morning birdsong. The sweet drifting melodies White-necked Thrush are prominant at first light, and the deep whoops of Rufous Motmots can be heard in the background. A light rainshower falls from 14:00-23:00 and the bird activity increases again as the rain passes.

The fluty melodic phrases of a Green Oropendola can be heard as the rain lightens, and from around 33:20 – 37:20 listen for the song of one of the Amazon’s most beautiful voices – the Musician Wren.

A second rain shower falls from about 39:00 – 50:00, after which the album transitions into a lovely dusk soundscape starting with the liquid sounds of Russet-backed Oropendola. Listen for the deep, foghorn-like booms of the Amazonian Umbrellabird which start at 53:18. The fluty descending whistles of a skulking Thrush-like Antpitta start at around 54:09, and toward the end of the album the sounds of insects begins to intensify along with calls of Tan-backed Spiny Frogs as the evening approaches.

See below for more details on some of the species heard in this recording.