Voices of the Cloud Forest
by David L. Ross, Jr.

Welcome to the home page of Voices of the Cloud Forest. The title (Voices of the Cloud Forest) is also that of an audio production produced by David L. Ross, Jr. in 1992. This was produced after years of nature sound recording in Costa Rica, and in this case within cloudforest environment including the Monteverde Cloud Forest Preserve. This recording was the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology's then Library of Natural Sounds' first stereo environmental audio production. The CD is available at a variety of retailers including the Cornell Online Birding Shop.

The cast of characters and events captured and shared through sound in the Voices of the Cloud Forest audio CD is not large, but the impression and spirit these vocalists infuse--at least in the author's opinion, is evocative, captivating and magnificent.

As magical as sounds may be, words can be of limited use in describing the creatures that utter them. This site is here as an accompaniment to the Voices of the Cloud Forest CD with the hope that it can help paint a better picture, and create a better understanding our natural world.

The images, and pages on this site will be presented in chronological order with the sounds on the CD, to follow the course of day in the cloud forest of the Monteverde Cloud Forest Preserve. Eventually this may be converted into a flash movie,or equivalent multimedia presentation.

Voices of the Cloud Forest CD Production:
Monologue text with CD track numbers.
(note that the first half of the CD is this same section without the narration)

The plan here is to incorporate images and information linked to these CD track numbers.

51
Where the Northeast Trade Winds meet the Continental Divide in Costa Rica’s Cordillera de Tilarán, there grows a luxuriant forest often cloaked in clouds and blowing mist.

Here moss-covered trunks strain against the weight of epiphytes in profusion as bromeliads, ferns, and orchids festoon from a vine-tangled canopy. This is the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, and with these recordings we will attempt a journey through the sounds of a cloud forest day.

Index 52
In the predawn the sharp metallic calls of tink frogs ring out.

Index 53
Above the sound of dripping water and a chorus of nocturnal insects, a mottled owl calls as the night hours dwindle.

Index 54
Perhaps from a bromeliad, another frog utters a faint chime-like series.

Index 55
In the high crown of a larger tree a troop of howler monkeys roar from their night-time roost.

Index 56
Near first-light a Tawny-throated Leaftosser sings with falling whistles.

Index 57
To a rising dawn chorus a Barred Forest-Falcon adds some sharper, repeated barks.

Index 58
To this and a background of barbets and toucanets a Yellowish Flycatcher calls with a single ringing note.

Index 59
From a higher perch we hear the deeper whistles of a Resplendent Quetzal.

Index 60
Another flycatcher, the Bright-rumped Attila sings with higher excited whistles.

Index 61
This yodeling is a pair of Prong-billed Barbets.

Index 62
That ”weka-wicka” sound is the quetzal in flight.

Index 63
Amidst barbets, a Black-faced Solitaire sings its ethereal song.

Index 64
The mechanical clicking and noisy scolds are from a small flock of Azure-hooded Jays. As are the more piercing calls.

Index 65
A Slaty-backed Nightingale-Thrush sings with clear flute-like phrases from the forest floor, as an Ochraceous Wren trills in the background from an aerial garden.

Index 66
From a steep hillside a Highland Tinamou repeats a low two syllable call.

Index 67
As the Ochraceous Wren rains notes upon us from the canopy a Yellowish Flycatcher rings out.

Index 68
From the undergrowth a pair of Gray-breasted Wood-Wrens sings a bubbling duet.

Index 69
The harsh accelerating calls are from a Lineated Foliage-gleaner.

Index 70
The rapid squeaking chatter comes from a flock of Common Bush-Tanagers.

Index 71
With a solitaire, an ochraceous wren sings above the doubled whistles of an Orange-bellied Trogon

Index 72
From across a ravine a covey of Black-breasted Wood-Quails sing, as a closer covey of wood-quail answer.

Index 73
The clear whistled series is the Immaculate Antbird.

Index 74
A Gray-throated Leaftosser whistles a high manic sounding call, while the single hard ”zcheks” are from a “Streak-breasted Treehunter.

Index 75
These repetitive barks and throaty croakings are from an Emerald Toucanet.

Index 76
A pair of Collared Redstarts duet from the crown of a low tree.

Index 77
We near the Continental Divide Silvery-fronted Tapaculos sing unseen with a high decelerating chatter.

Index 78
From a cliff-edge we watch American Swallow-tailed Kites gliding above the Caribbean Slope screaming as one dives upon another in mock attack.

Index 79
From a shrubby perch a Slaty Flower-Piercer sings its tinkling song.

Index 80
Hopping ahead of us on the trail back, a Ruddy-capped Nightingale-Thrush first sings, and then ”corees” from beyond bamboo.

Index 81
A distant White-faced Capuchin Monkey cries out.

Index 82
From a high perch a Black-thighed Grosbeak sings mellifluously.

Index 83
A Sooty-faced Finch ”pit-seets” across a mossy log.

Index 84
A troop of White-faced Capuchin Monkeys voices mild alarm at our presence while a solitaire sings on.

Index 85
The plaintive even tones are from the Golden-browed Chlorophonia, while the louder ”bonks” are from a male Three-wattled Bellbird advertising from a tree top snag.

Index 86
Gray-breasted Woodwrens first scold and then sing from beyond dense foliage.

Index 87
A Slaty-backed Nighingale-Thrush sings as howler monkeys anticipate the evening.

Index 88
Volcan Arenal rumbles, reverberating from the distance.

Index 89
A White-throated Robin carols as the shadows lengthen.

Index 90
At dusk, gliding down slope on stiffed wings a Black Guan produces a loud rattle.

Index 91
A mouse squeaks from somewhere trailside.

Index 92
Spotted Woodcreepers whistle mournfully.

Index 93
Slaty-backed Nightingale-Thrush calls as the night engulfs us.

Index 94
Through the darkness we hear the call of a Dusky Nightjar.

Index 95
From the canopy we hear the squeaky calls of a Kinkajou. With a gripping tail this mammal moves easily in search of fruit.

Index 96
A Bare-shanked Screech-Owl hoots through a sea of insects.

Index 97
And a closer screech owl replies.

Index 98
But this owl has not moved off , and nor have the vocalist who will contribute to the dawn chorus just a few hours away.

We owe much to all those who have the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve what it is today, and it is only with the continued contributions of many, that this jewel of conservation will exist for generations to come.