Welcome to our second episode of this series where we have conversations with the best nature listeners in the world.

In this episode, Chris Hails talks about his multi-faceted career as an ecologist and zoologist in Malaysia, an environmental advisor in Singapore and Conservationist in Switzerland. Nature field recording has been a practice for Chris since tape recorder days. He has a PhD in bird ecology, and his professional activities have led him to research, teach and advise, with the efforts of saving the environment.

We discuss why there is so much disconnection between people and Nature, ways to bridge this gap and be conscious about our own consumer patterns and the connection to politics.

As a staple in this series, we talk about being in nature, deep listening and being alone in the dark outside.

Find out more about Chris on his website.

Episode’s references:

Chris' book Birds of Singapore

Tools for species ID:

Cornell University Bird NET

Merlin App

Xeno-Canto

Chris' Website Wild Echoes

The Sound Approach

Literature and films mentioned:

The Singing Life of Birds. The Art and Science of Listening to Birds by Donald Kroodsma

Memoirs of a Birdman by Ludwig Koch

Wild Soundscapes: Discovering the Voice of the Natural World and The Great Animal Orchestra: Finding the Origins of Music in the World's Wild Places by Bernie Krause

The Singing Planet, by Liz McKenzie