This field recording captures a mysterious and repetitive bird call that echoed across my remote paddle-in campsite one night. I was on the Lake James State Park, Long Arm Peninsula area in NC. The persistent call was loud enough to wake me from my sleep. I'm unable to identify the bird, and I invite listeners to contact me with any ideas about what it might be! Thanks! - Matt (OK, I admit... the selfie is a bit dramatic, compared to the sound of the bird... but it was fun to take.)

This recording captures the sounds of a peaceful awakening on a remote waterside campsite. The serene trill of a nearby owl at daybreak signals the end of the night, just as the chorus of bird songs saturates the air. The hum of an approaching motorboat turns into a subtle growl as it moves closer, from across the hidden cove. A new day has arrived. (Recorded by Matt Mittan)

In this recording, I slide into my sleeping bag just as a gentle night rain starts to hit my tent. Then as I drift off to sleep the night insects sound takes over, creating a perfect soundscape for rest and relaxation. (Recorded by Matt Mittan, Southern Appalachian Forest)

Enjoy this field recording capturing the enchanting, otherworldly chorus of cicadas in the remote wilderness of Western North Carolina. Just as their powerful, rhythmic buzzing reaches its peak, a cool early summer breeze begins to blow off the nearby lake and through the trees, creating a beautiful give and take. The sound of the rustling leaves momentarily swells, gently quieting the hum of the insects. Then, as the breeze subsides, their chorus returns to fill the Southern Appalachian Mountain air. (Recorded by Matt Mittan)

We got the recorder out, overnight in the Pisgah National Forest (NC), to capture audio of a spring thunderstorm - from beneath our simple tarp shelter. The rhythm of rainfall patters steadily, occasionally punctuated by thunder rolling as it marches out across the mountains. Enjoy this intimate 45 minutes in nature, minimal shelter, and connection to the elements. Let it carry you into the forest.
Love, Matt & Michele

This recording follows the final 10 minute rhythmic splash of Matt's kayak paddles cutting through choppy lake waters as he pushes into a steady headwind. The sound of wind gusts, the faint bass of music in the stern of his boat, and determined strokes captures the effort and resolve of the journey - that was about an hour of straight on paddling. In the distance, Michele radio's to Matt on a walkie talkie, adding a sense of purpose and anticipation to his trek. The audio tells a quiet story of the pull of love across open water. Enjoy!

This recording captures the peaceful sounds of a bubbling brook as it spills under Matt's kayak, in the serene Lake Russell State Wildlife Management Area of Northern Georgia. The gentle flow of water over smooth stones is accompanied by the occasional soft hum of the April breeze, or the buzz of a small plane flying over head. The natural ambiance is enhanced by occasional bird calls, creating a tranquil atmosphere that transports the listener into the heart of nature - sitting right there in Matt's kayak. The soothing sounds of the brook provide a calming backdrop, ideal for relaxation, meditation, or connecting with the outdoors. Enjoy!

This audio recording captures the serene and immersive soundscape of the awakening minutes of sunrise at a campground in the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest, near Mount Airy, GA - in early Spring. As dawn breaks, the environment slowly comes to life with bird calls, and the gradual crescendo of a waking ecosystem and human activity (see if you can hear the fish jump, a tent zipper at a nearby site and trucks rolling with boats towing behind). From the stark calls of early morning songbirds to campers splitting firewood for breakfast and a nearby dog saying hello to people walking by, this 15 minute audio check-in offers a peaceful, completely unfiltered window into waking up in this southern patch of a National Forest. (It even closes out with the sound of a single engine prop plane flying by.) Enjoy!