Since its discovery in 2006, White Nose Syndrome (WNS) has killed 5.7 - 6.7 million bats in North America. Bats are vital pollinators for fruit, chocolate, and flowers. Many bats eat insects and help to keep insect populations balanced. Half the bats in the U.S. are listed as rare, threatened, or endangered, and worldwide bat populations are declining.
Also in 2006, beekeepers began reporting losses to their hives. A mysterious disease, identified as Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD), was cited as a possible cause for the losses. Bees are vital pollinators for one third of what we eat - fruits, vegetables, and nuts. Scientists are working hard to discover the cause(s) of CCD, but certain bee populations continue to decline.
If you like fresh food, or if you like to sit outside without an excess of bug bites, the need to support the care and preservation of bats and bees is more important than ever. This is a reminder of the brilliant and delicate interdependence of our ecosystem.
I would like to draw attention to this issue through art. I believe that a collection of voices, sounds, and music is a powerful tool. I imagine a project that could celebrate the beauty of the pollinators, educate about their current struggles, and possibly even change research or public policy to combat the diseases that are affecting pollinators.
My goal is to compose an original sound score to accompany your submissions. This collection could stand as a force emphasizing the global impact that these creatures have on our lives. So I would love to hear from you! Please consider contributing your voice, field recordings of bats or bees, interviews with bee keepers or bat experts - the creative possibilities are endless!
Listen to stories by members of the SoundCloud community from all over the world. Be inspired by their voices and contribute your very own to the project.
If you need help getting started here are some possible prompts:
Some things to keep in mind:
Imagery kindly provided by these wonderful folks via Creative Commons licensing.
Devin Underwood, Hannah Richards, Marc Carlson, Luna Calquin, Enrico Nunziati, Vineyard Adventures, Wendy Dooldeniya, Martin Pickard, Barbara Rich, Santos, Robyn Lee, G Mundo, Vicki, & the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Headquarters.
This, That, and the Other