NPS
National Park Service scientists record and analyze sounds in national parks to inform and improve management of national parks across the country. The data is collected through recording systems installed by the Natural Sounds and Night Skies Division in selected parks for about a month at a time. The systems record audio as mp3 files and sound pressure levels in decibels, and are designed to replicate the hearing experience of a person on the ground.
Sounds gathered are analyzed at the Listening Lab, a research collaborative between the NPS and the Sound and Light Ecology team at Colorado State University. Technicians study these sounds using spectrograms — images that display the sounds according to brightness and color, frequency, and time of occurrence (see graphic, right).The audio recordings provide information about their source of origin, such as wildlife, weather, park visitors, and park operations, and how these variables interact. Visit Measuring Sound to learn more about how the NPS measures and analyzes sounds. This list of available reports summarizes sound measurements taken in national parks.
The following sound clips are selections of wilderness and human-made sounds recorded in national parks.The files are in the public domain and may be downloaded. Enjoy, and please give the appropriate credit.
Enjoy perusing these additional sound libraries:
Sounds gathered are analyzed at the Listening Lab, a research collaborative between the NPS and the Sound and Light Ecology team at Colorado State University. Technicians study these sounds using spectrograms — images that display the sounds according to brightness and color, frequency, and time of occurrence (see graphic, right).The audio recordings provide information about their source of origin, such as wildlife, weather, park visitors, and park operations, and how these variables interact. Visit Measuring Sound to learn more about how the NPS measures and analyzes sounds. This list of available reports summarizes sound measurements taken in national parks.
The following sound clips are selections of wilderness and human-made sounds recorded in national parks.The files are in the public domain and may be downloaded. Enjoy, and please give the appropriate credit.
Enjoy perusing these additional sound libraries:
- Sounds of the Parks by the Colorado State University Listening Lab.
- Yellowstone National Park Sound Library and Yellowstone Audio postcards — short stories about soundscapes unique to Yellowstone's ecology.
- Rocky Mountain National Park Sound Library
Amphibians
![Wood frog_GRSM2 Wood frog stares warily from its mossy perch on the forest floor](/subjects/sound/images/GRSM-CadesCove-GumSwamp-Amphibians-WoodFrog_WLD_2.jpg?maxwidth=1300&autorotate=false)
NPS
Bats
![Spotted bat in flight Spotted bat in flight with wing span](/subjects/sound/images/spottedbat3_1.jpg?maxwidth=1300&autorotate=false)
NPS
Birds
![Osprey Osprey hovers mid flight with wings spread, scanning the ground for food](/subjects/sound/images/Osprey_PAIS_NPSphoto.jpg?maxwidth=1300&autorotate=false)
NPS
- Alder Flycatcher
- American Robin
- Anhinga
- Bald Eagle
- Canada Geese
- Clark's Nutcracker
- Common Poorwill
- Common Raven
- Dawn Chorus
- Hermit Thrush
- Killdeer
- Northern Flicker
- Olive-sided Flycatcher
- Osprey
- Ptarmigan
- Raven and Peregrine Falcon
- Red-breasted Nuthatch
- Sandhill Crane
- Northern Spotted Owl
- Stellar's Jay
- 'Ua'u (Hawaiian Petrel)
- Western Gull
- White-crowned Sparrow
- Yellow-rumped Warbler
Cultural-Historical
![Guards fire the cannon during a historical battle re-enactment at Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine, Maryland. Guards fire the cannon during a historical battle re-enactment at Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine, Maryland.](/subjects/sound/images/FOMC-Guard-cannon-firing-credit-NPS.jpg?maxwidth=1300&autorotate=false)
NPS
Geological
![Snowy mountain peak shows avalanche in process at Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming. Snowy mountain peak shows avalanche in process at Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming.](/subjects/sound/images/GRTE_avalanche_NPS2.jpg?maxwidth=1300&autorotate=false)
NPS
Machines
![Helicopter over Grand Canyon Dramatic buttes frame this view of a helicopter in flight at Grand Canyon National Park.](/subjects/sound/images/GCNP_IMG_0811_1.jpg?maxwidth=1300&autorotate=false)
NPS
Hydrological
Insects
![Honey bee Honey bee gathers nectar from blooming yellow flowers](/subjects/sound/images/HoneyBee_ZION_NPSphoto.jpg?maxwidth=1300&autorotate=false)
NPS
Mammals
![A coyote pricks its ears, alert to its surroundings A coyote pricks its ears, alert to its surroundings](/subjects/sound/images/Coyote_NPS_MichaelVamstad_1.jpg?maxwidth=1300&autorotate=false)
NPS
Meteorological
Reptiles
![Alligator basks in the sun from among wetlands grasses in Everglades National Park. Alligator basks in the sun from among wetlands grasses in Everglades National Park.](/subjects/sound/images/alligator_2_EVER_EmmaLynch.jpg?maxwidth=1300&autorotate=false)
NPS / Emma Brown
Last updated: December 28, 2022