I just listened to an interesting interview on NPR with a scientist who has been recording and analyzing sounds in the environment since 1988. Apparently, this has become scientific study all over world.

He, as well as other scientists, have noticed considerable changes in our soundscape during the time he has been studying. I commented in one of my writings recently that I don’t see nearly as many birds, even on Mt. Spokane or at my shop, as I remember from the past.

This, however, is not the most interesting thing I heard.

In the interview, he said he had lost all his recording equipment and archives in a California wild fire a couple of years ago, but fortunately had taken a precaution that allowed him to recover everything except his equipment.

In 2017, he was told that several United States government agencies, including NOAA and the EPA, and other scientists had moved their data and archives offshore because of their fear of the administration’s disregard for science. They, and he, did this in order to be certain their work would not be lost.

That proved to be extremely fortunate for him and maybe for many others as well.

Ken Kaiyala
3-13-2023