It’s early spring in West Michigan. Amidst the smells of thawed earth, an unexpected twist: a chorus of high-pitched whistles fills the air. What is this strange, delightful sound?

Listen to the sounds of nature coming to life on this snowy trail in the woods. 

Listen as cars pass on the nearby freeway and snow crunches underfoot along a looping trail.

Gently falling snow outside of a cozy remote cabin.

Last winter I had the opportunity to rent a cabin in Baldwin, MI to get away and experience the quiet. 

And mother nature did not disappoint. 

Here is audio of the snow gently falling on the deck of the cabin while I say inside by the fire. 

Last, it was recorded with my my Sound Devices MixPre 6 and used both my Sennheiser MKH 416 shotgun mic

Listen to some late August, evening rain as I walk through the various terrains on the Blandford Nature Center’s Black Forty Loop.

You may recognize this recording as an earlier episode. The only difference is I looped it for 8 hours. That means if you need some extended deep focus or even some background noise to fall asleep to, this might do the trick.

This trail is a light hike, being just over a mile, and is a fantastic place for birdwatching and walking. But there is a variety of sounds to catch as you listen: 

https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/michigan/black-forty-loop

Listen to the crisp sounds of fresh snow on a morning hike around the frozen lake.

Listen to the sounds of small hail pattering against the ground, trees, and cabin out in Baldwin, Michigan.

Listen as the icy river babbles past and relax in the quiet, winter woods.

Listen for the quietness of snow while passing a few animals, hikers, and cars along the Sandy Hansen Shoreline Orange Trail.

The wind is blowing all around as fall transitions into winter on this early November afternoon. 

As the wind blows, the last few leaves on the trees seem to hold on in the winter chill. It’s so quiet and peaceful, making the gentle whisper of the wind more audible. 

Listen for a pair of delicate sounds:

The quiet wind cooling the Michigan air.

The few remaining leaves fluttering against the trees and ground. 

For those who are curious, this episode was recorded on a Sound Device MixPre-6 and Sennheiser MKH 416 Shotgun Mic. 

These are Outdoor Sounds.