Fireworks are quite exciting and are traditional parts of celebrations everywhere in the world. From New Years’ Eve celebrations to Diwali to fourth of July. Displays of beautiful colors and dissolving patterns evoke (for many) a celebratory atmosphere. These colors do not come without pollution and noise! In the US, we just celebrated our 250th anniversary – with thousands of fireworks displays across the country. The noise that comes along with celebrations like this is especially problematic when they occur during migration or the breeding season for wildlife. The 2026 National Fireworks Celebration lasted for 40 minutes and deployed 850,000 shells at 354 explosions per second. What was the cost?

Chickadees have a lot to tell us about living in community. In this episode, I explore the soundscapes of chickadees and talk with Margaret Noodin about what chickadees have to teach us about listening.

I've been away for a while, but I'm back with more stories to share from the soundscapes I've been exploring. In this episode, We refresh our memories about soundscapes, hear some of the sounds I've been recording over the past year's absence, and consider the ways we all experience soundscapes differently. Welcome back!

In this episode, some of my friends have shared some recordings with me, and I had permission to record (00.58) at the Lakota powwow at the Black Hills Field Station in the summer of 2025.

Sound recordings of lion, hippos, and elephant were provided by Dr. Emily Langan. The sound recording of Strawberry, the horse was provided by Andi Reber.