aural seascapes

The whale river project began with a desire to answer a question: do the whales visiting the river sing?

We know that whales are vocal creatures, and humpback whales quite famously sing. We also know that in the past, early colonists spoke of the difficulty of sleeping due to the incessant sounds of whales coming from the river.

What kind of aural world disappeared when whales were hunted out of the river? Are there specific vocalisations used in the river? Can we identify individuals by their songs? What man made noises do they contend with? Just what else is happening in the aural seascape/watery soundscape of the river?

A grassroots project with a DIY ethos, we figured the easiest way was to paddle out there with a curious mind and see/hear for ourselves. With support from the Bellandena Trust to get our small boats out into the depths with as little impact as possible, and a microphone setup designed and built by Jez Riley French (UK), we are set for a longitudinal study of the soundscapes of the river.

Recordings are kept in a database that over time will help us ask and answer a whole range of questions, many with pragmatic outcomes that can improve the soundscape of the river for those that visit and live out their lives in her waters.

Recordings are also available for download for non-commercial use by the community for both scientific and creative projects. Please contact us for more details on how to access recordings for your own project.