Wilderness Songs

'A brilliantly immersive book that gives nature's sounds the stage they deserve.' – Tristan Gooley

Wilderness Songs tells the story of a whole host of fascinating and unexpected sounds from the natural world – all of which are brought to life with QR codes so readers can experience the incredible field of bioacoustics for themselves.

From blue whales that can converse between global hemispheres, the elusive whistling of the Northern Lights, and a volcanic explosion so loud it was heard over a twelfth of the Earth’s surface, to elephants that use individual names for different members of their herds, wildlife documentary filmmaker Justin Anderson uncovers some of the most unusual and impressive natural sounds on the planet.

Along the way, he explores the latest research into how animals communicate with one another, how recordings can be used as a fundamental tool for conservation, and the ways predators and prey use sound to hunt and escape. Also included are habitat-based chapters that examine the distinct soundscapes found within our forests, mountains, and oceans.

Drawing on his real-life experiences as a wildlife cameraman and filmmaker behind some of the most successful natural history documentaries to date, Justin weaves in vivid and exciting accounts from his life on location. He also explains how recent advances in microphones and artificial intelligence are only now allowing us to listen in and begin to understand the true complexity of these soundscapes and how, in a world where human noise is growing ever louder, animals have been forced to adapt their communication in order to be heard.