Desert Solitude

For nearly three weeks we recorded in infinitely small sections of Gray Ranch, a vast, 500 square mile Nature Conservancy site in the panhandle of New Mexico just north of the border. There never seems to be enough time or tape to cover it all. But, in this high Sonoran-Chihuauan desert habitat, we have finally discovered a "quiet" place; one uncluttered by the noises of aircraft, domestic animals, and autos. From the vast number of animals whose voices we have captured on tape, I cannot understand how anyone could possibly think of deserts as being empty. Dawn at Juniper Wells (Bernie Krause) features coyotes, desert birds, and great horned owls blended with hot desert wind rustling the dry grasses. Desert Serenade (Ruth Happel) begins at dawn as strong gusts of wind blow across open spaces accented by ravens, meadowlarks, and mockingbirds. When evening descends, choruses of toads, frogs and crickets call from a nearby marsh.