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New Radio Series Captures the Sounds of Utah’s Natural World               

The Nature Conservancy Sponsors Program on KUER to Help Utahns Tune in to Nature

Salt Lake City--May 02, 2006--The Nature Conservancy is sponsoring “Utah Soundscapes,” a 21-week radio series now airing on KUER (FM 90), an affiliate station of National Public Radio. This innovative program takes listeners on an audio journey through Utah’s natural world, with high-quality recordings from the places, plants, animals and natural places that make our state so unique. 

 “Have you ever really listened to the sound of a noisy bat colony or the unusual mating call of the Gunnison sage grouse?  Have you heard—up close—the crackle of flames in a forest fire?” asks Jeff Rice, producer of Soundscapes. “With this series, we want people to close their eyes and use their sense of hearing to experience Utah’s outdoors in a whole new way.” 

Rice enhances the digital nature recordings by interweaving intriguing interviews from scientists and other experts on natural sound. “We try to evoke an experience or phenomenon, and then bring in a local authority to help us put that natural sound in context—the series is designed to be both fun and educational,” explains Rice. 

The Nature Conservancy, a non-profit organization that has worked to preserve Utah’s natural places for more than 20 years, is sponsoring the creation and airing of the Soundscapes series.   “We’re pleased that Soundscapes will help more Utahns understand and appreciate the spectacular landscapes, plants and animals that call our state home,” said Dave Livermore, the Conservancy’s Utah State Director. “And we hope the series will also inspire people to help protect Utah’s natural world before it’s too late.” 

Currently airing on KUER FM 90, the Soundscapes series consists of 2-minute programs that will run several times per week through September 14th.  Some of the series topics include recordings of chorus frogs at the Great Salt Lake, the at-risk Greater sage grouse, coyotes, rattle snakes and even the audio rumblings of a rare spotted bat. 

The recording of chorus frogs will take place at the Conservancy’s Great Salt Lake Shorelands Preserve, a 4,000-acre expanse of protected wetlands and uplands on Lake’s eastern shore.  “Many of our recordings highlight animals or places that are currently at risk,” said Rice. “We definitely want to make people aware that these unique bits of Utah’s natural heritage need our protection in order to survive.”