Nighttime Sounds
By Alyssa Nyberg, Ecologist at Kankakee Sands
Out here in the rural parts of Newton County, the cool temperatures of September nights make for comfortable windows-open sleeping weather. Through those open windows often come a wild variety of animal and insect sounds and buzzes which will either keep you awake all night, or could lull you to sleep snoring big Zzzzz’s with that all-is-well-and-right-in-the-world feeling.
Recognizing the critters that you hear at night can also inform you about the quality of the habitat that surrounds you as you snooze.
Though many birds and owls call more frequently in the spring, we do still often here the repetitive (some might say incessant!) whip-poor-will, whip-poor-will song of the Eastern whip-poor-will. Should you happen to hear this night-calling bird, you can rest easy that you are near an open woods with a nice diversity of insects. To remind yourself of the sounds of the song of the whip-poor-will, you can find nice recordings at All About Birds.
The barred owl’s who-cooks-for you hoots and the high-pitched screeching of the hungry juveniles who were born this spring will clue you in that you are likely in a woodlands near water. To hear the question-filled call of the barred owl visit All About Birds.
Often in the fall, ponds and wetlands are rather quiet compared to the deafening springtime chorus of frogs. However, if the fall nighttime air and water temps are cool enough to mimic spring, you might hear the occasional peep or plonk of a frog such as a spring peeper, chorus frog or bullfrog if you are near a pond, lake or water-filled ditch.
Of all the autumn nighttime sounds, the most overwhelming come from the crickets and katydids. They fill the night with unending trills and chirps. Katydids make 2 or 3 parted rasps that sounds like Kay-tee or Kay -tee -did or have a long raspy buzzing song, which is species specific. Crickets are the chirpers and high-pitched trillers. Both are talking to their buddies and also letting you know that you are near to or surrounded by grasses, shrubs and trees that provide shelter and the food they need.
In addition to their zest for the night, crickets and katydids also share structural similarities. Both have antennae longer in length than their body length. (In contrast, another jumpy insect—the grasshopper—has antennae that are shorter than half their body length.) By rubbing their wings against one another, katydids and crickets create the soothing noises that lull us to sleep.
A super website for the songs of crickets and katydids, as well as grasshoppers and cicadas is Songs of Insects. If you weren’t feeling sleepy before you started listening to these recordings, you might after a few minutes of listening!
Wanna experience this acoustic relaxation in person? Consider joining Friends of the Sands for a nighttime walk at Conrad Sation Savanna. On the evenings of Sunday, September 7 and again on Monday, October 6 there will be guided hikes entitled, Conrad by Moonlight Walk, to enjoy the many night sounds and night lights (including moon and lightening bugs!). For more information and to RSVP, visit nature.org/events.
Want to surround yourself with nighttime sounds as you slumber? The DNR’s Willow Slough Fish and Wildlife Area in Newton County—adjacent to Kankakee Sands—has electric and non-electric campsites available, as well as showers and bathrooms. If you camp here, it’s likely that you’ll hear all the critters – whip-poor-will, owls, frogs, crickets and katydids—thanks to all the surrounding high-quality habitat. Visit the Indiana DNR website for more information.
Yawn… goodnight!
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The Nature Conservancy’s Kankakee Sands is an 8,400-acre prairie and savanna habitat in Northwest Indiana, open every day of the year for public enjoyment. It’s an exciting year for Kankakee Sands, as we are making major improvements to popular areas within the preserve. If you plan to visit, please check our Facebook page to see if any of the areas you want to see will be impacted by the construction. Click here for more information about Kankakee Sands or call the office at 219-285-2184.
Friends of the Sands 