The Glacier Bay Soundscape Project records natural sounds.
NPS
Test your skill at identifying common sounds heard in Glacier Bay National Park. Listen to each of the following sound clips that are presented below in random order, making notes about which sound matches the letter associated with each sound clip. Should you get stumped, read the hints that are written below each sound clip. After you're done, scroll down to the bottom of the page to compare your answers with the answer key.
Listed in no particular order, the sounds include:
Harbor Porpoise
Humpback Whale
Sea Otter
Varied Thrush
Pigeon Guillemot
Harbor Seal
Arctic Tern
Black Oystercatcher
Brown Bear
Sound #1
Video Player is loading.
Current Time 0:00
/
Duration -:-
Loaded: 0%
Stream Type LIVE
Remaining Time -0:00
Â
1x
Chapters
descriptions off, selected
captions settings, opens captions settings dialog
captions off, selected
This is a modal window.
Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window.
End of dialog window.
Up, exhale, inhale, down. Up, exhale, inhale down. I move through the bay with a lot of purpose.
Six successive breaths heard at nearly regular intervals, usually spaced about 3 seconds apart. The breaths are heard in short bursts as if the breath's occur at the water's surface.
Sound #2
Video Player is loading.
Current Time 0:00
/
Duration -:-
Loaded: 0%
Stream Type LIVE
Remaining Time -0:00
Â
1x
Chapters
descriptions off, selected
captions settings, opens captions settings dialog
captions off, selected
This is a modal window.
Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window.
An animal making high-pitched chirping noise in succesion. Sometimes it chirps in three successive high pitched "tweets," but mostly it makes repetitive, incessant chirping sounds.
Sound #3
Video Player is loading.
Current Time 0:00
/
Duration -:-
Loaded: 0%
Stream Type LIVE
Remaining Time -0:00
Â
1x
Chapters
descriptions off, selected
captions settings, opens captions settings dialog
captions off, selected
This is a modal window.
Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window.
An animal makes a noise similar to a loud trumpet or fog-horn. It trumpets twice, and then a loud breathy exhalation of air and water vapor is heard, followed by a smoother, quieter trumpet noise.
Sound #4
Video Player is loading.
Current Time 0:00
/
Duration -:-
Loaded: 0%
Stream Type LIVE
Remaining Time -0:00
Â
1x
Chapters
descriptions off, selected
captions settings, opens captions settings dialog
captions off, selected
This is a modal window.
Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window.
End of dialog window.
These elegant visitors gracefully wing their way from South to North and back every year.
A crow is heard in the background while a crunching sound makes up the main recording. An animal is crunching on barnacles, and it sounds similar to a human with a mouthful of crunchy potato chips.
Sound #6
Video Player is loading.
Current Time 0:00
/
Duration -:-
Loaded: 0%
Stream Type LIVE
Remaining Time -0:00
Â
1x
Chapters
descriptions off, selected
captions settings, opens captions settings dialog
captions off, selected
This is a modal window.
Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window.
End of dialog window.
This critter is formal in black and white, but accessorizes with bright red feet--easily visible racing across the water before take off.
The sound of flapping wings, followed by a quick high-pitched chirp and a long, vibrating whistle that carries on for several seconds before repeating.
Sound #7
Video Player is loading.
Current Time 0:00
/
Duration -:-
Loaded: 0%
Stream Type LIVE
Remaining Time -0:00
Â
1x
Chapters
descriptions off, selected
captions settings, opens captions settings dialog
captions off, selected
This is a modal window.
Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window.
End of dialog window.
This plaintive cry does not make it sound like this creature has found a safe harbor.
An animal makes several recurring whistling calls. The whistles are high pitched and vibrate, making a buzzing while it whistles.
Richard Nelson, with help from Hank Lentfer and other locals to Glacier Bay, helped record an incredibly diverse catalog of natural sounds. Make your best guesses! Then, find the answers below...
Answer Key
Answers by Number
Sound #1 Harbor Porpoise
Sound #2 Black Oystercatcher
Sound #3 Humpback Whale
Sound #4 Arctic Tern
Sound #5 Brown Bear
Sound #6 Pigeon Guillemot
Sound #7 Harbor Seal
Sound #8 Sea Otter
Sound #9 Varied Thrush
Answer by Animal
Arctic Tern #4
Black Oystercatcher #2
Brown Bear #5
Harbor Porpoise #1
Harbor Seal #7
Humpback Whale #3
Pigeon Guillemot #6
Sea Otter #8
Varied Thrush #9
Last updated: July 18, 2023
Park footer
Contact Info
Mailing Address:
Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve
PO Box 140
Gustavus,
AK
99826