Jim Bones
The roar of tires or the thundering of unmuffled exhaust impacts our ability to hear the subtle sounds of nature.
Soundscapes are important natural features of national parks. Besides contributing to the visitor experience they may be indicative of natural resource conditions. Wildlife may use particular sounds during courtship and mating or other behaviors which all make up the acoustic ecology of the area. Sudden sounds stem from trees or branches falling or when rock slides occur. Wind gusts across the desert landscape often provide a constant backgound noise, replaced in the dead of night by the call of coyotes. Natural sounds may also be indicative of a given season. For instance, the songs and calls of birds may only be present during spring or fall migrations indicating their transient presence.
The soundscapes of parks should be valued by visitors. Most visitors live in locations where they do not experience the sounds of natural settings. Instead, their soundscapes are dominated by the sounds of human activity – motor vehicle traffic, airplane traffic, sirens of emergency vehicles, construction equipment operation, and so forth. Even in park settings, these sounds are sometimes present.
Park staff here at Big Bend are concerned about soundscapes particularly as they relate to wilderness experiences. By agency policy and legal requirements of the Wilderness Act, specific measures are taken to eliminate or greatly reduce the opportunity for visitors to encounter the sounds of motorized equipment while in the wilderness.
Next time you are in Big Bend, step away from paved or dirt roads, the lodge, and visitor centers and take stock of the natural sounds around you. Your park experience will be enhanced.
