When people are silent, nature makes itself heard
The Covid-19 lockdown silences the noise of civilization around the world.
Rushing traffic, airplanes, industrial noise – all this has come to an almost full standstill and is bringing the otherwise often drowned out sounds of nature to the foreground. We are experiencing a historical moment that makes us stop and consider, feel, and above all hear!
Hundreds of bird species are welcoming the Spring sunrise with their songs every morning. Now is the time to listen to them.
Under the unique circumstances of this memorable spring of 2020, the idea for this Citizen Science and Arts project was born – inspired by the work of the American musician, bio-acoustician and artist Bernie Krause, the founding father of soundscaping.
The Citizen Science and Arts Platform #DawnChorus is a project by BIOTOPIA (Bavaria’s new museum of life sciences and environment) and the Foundation Arts and Nature based in the Bavarian foothills of the Alps. The idea for this project was born at very short notice in view of the worldwide Covid-19 lockdown and the unique silence of human civilization at this historic moment.
Within a very short period of time, people came together in this situation for whom nature is the focus of their work – inspired by the work of the “founding father of soundscaping” Bernie Krause.
Within a few weeks, this new platform is now being created in collaboration with many forces from science, culture and the digital world.
Extended colletion period because of the great commitment
May 1 – 31, 2020
Share the birdsong on your doorstep with the world and support research and species protection
Shortly before sunrise is when many bird species sing loudest: on the meadow, in the forest, but also in the middle of the city, in gardens, on balconies, in front of windows – everywhere. Everyone with hearing can experience this – adults and children, the healthy and the sick, people all over the world, scientists, laymen or artists.
Get up early, go to the window or outside and listen to the birds. Record the voices with your mobile phones. Upload the recordings on this page and share your experience with people around the world by uploading it to our soundmap.
From May 1 to 31, 2020 we will collect your sound recordings on this platform. Your local recordings will be mapped worldwide. They will be an important contribution to a growing citizen science project to understand biodiversity, which will take place annually from now on, and at the same time be part of a global artistic project.