BrazScape

I am frequently asked about my motivation for spending hours in nature recording environmental sounds. Every individual has their own reasons and interests. I have mine, which I share with you now:

1. Connection – Spending hours in nature, in silence while I record, enables me to think clearly, far away from voices and the noise of human activities. I connect with the environment in a deep way, which brings me great peace. An important detail: I never keep my headphones on during the entire recording session. I use them solely to adjust the sound levels and then remove them to appreciate nature firsthand. Often, my wife and children accompany me; this time spent together in the field unites us even more.

2. The Journey – The journey to the recording sites is an adventure in itself. I encounter communities and people with realities different from my own, which helps me better understand the world. I enjoy the journey as much as the destination.

3. Scientific Contribution – As a scientist, my recordings are systematic. I record times, dates, locations, coordinates, and atmospheric conditions. I also photograph the locations and note down my impressions. These data, combined with the audio, can assist science in understanding environmental patterns. In the future, these recordings may be used to identify endemic, unknown, or even extinct species. They serve as a history book, a kind of “sonic fossil” of a location.

4. Sharing – Many people do not have the fortune or possibility to be immersed in nature. Sharing my recordings is a way to bring a piece of the natural world, its unique sensations, and the happiness of being outdoors to them. The keyword here is generosity.

5. Freedom – Finally, there is an extra motivation reserved for skeptics, those who struggle to understand the mental benefits of contact with nature or the importance of environmental records. For them, the explanation is simple and direct: I do it because I enjoy it. It is my life, and this is where I feel truly at ease.

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