Predatory Birds

Sounds for this library were recorded over 5 sessions – in a private zoo and in the field, all in cooperation with professional birds trainers.  All of them were recorded outdoor (and just a few in an outdoor aviary). Trainers helped us to get variety of bird calls and vocalisations, like: shriek, cry, squawk, screech, whistle, scream.

Three sessions, were recorded extremely close to birds on very quiet big field. The intention was to grab very isolated and rich sounds, useful for sound design. For this sessions we used Sanken CO-100k and Sennheiser MKH-8060, which were super close (just a few centimeters away from birds beaks) and Schoeps CMC-6XT MK41 a bit wider for more natural/open sound. Although sometimes Sanken and Sennheiser sound very similar (they were in similar position), we left both files. Sanken recordings (@192kHz) are amazing for pitch shifting, yet sounds recorded by Sennheiser are very natural in neutral pitch.
When pitch shifted, all sounds become very evocative and emotional sound design sources.

Bird species recorded:
Harris Hawk (Male)
Harris Hawk (Young Female)
Northern Goshawk
Saker Falcon
Indian Eagle-Owl
Bald Eagle
Barn Owl
Buzzard
Eurasian Eagle-Owl
Great Horned-Owl
Tawny Eagle
Kestrel
Red Kite
All files contain natural sequences and rhythms of calls. There are also close wing flaps, movements and even sounds of birds eating recorded in macro close POV.
The library is extensively metatagged in Soundminer.

PLEASE NOTE THAT PITCH SHIFTED FILES ARE PRESENTED ONLY TO SHOW POTENTIAL OF THOSE RECORDINGS AND AREN’T INCLUDED IN THE LIBRARY.

Gear used:
Sanken CO-100k
Sennheiser MKH-8060
Schoeps CMC-6XT MK41
Neumann KMR-81
Sound Devices 702 & 744