The weird sound of empress cicadas

Описание: The soundscape of the Borneo rainforest is simply magical. The insects, frogs, reptiles, birds and mammals whose calls contribute to it are fascinating and incredibly diverse. None stand out as much as the Empress cicada though. It's the largest species of cicada and one of the loudest. Its call however is even more superlative. If you've ever spent an afternoon in the jungles of Borneo (or a handful of other wild places in SE Asia), hearing the 6 o'clock cicadas is an experience you won't forget.

The Empress cicada starts calling as the sun sets, just as daytime birds are winding down their calls and nighttime creatures are waking up. You first hear distant ones, and it almost sounds like some industrial metal cutting process. As other individuals start calling, you realise you're surrounded by these harsh, electronic sounds that become progressively louder until the soundscape is almost deafening. It's a painfully intense chorus that at this stage does not sound natural anymore, but is still weirdly enjoyable.

All this usually lasts for 30 to 60 minutes, and then other cicadas, katydids and crickets take over the soundscape. Tree hole frogs soon join the insects as well. These are interesting and exciting in their own right, but hearing them after the Empress cicada almost makes them seem bland. Your ears are truly spoiled in this amazingly diverse environment.

This recording is by no means a relaxing one. I've had to listen to hundreds of hours of soundscapes I captured there and every time I do it I have to take breaks often. My ears get tired easily when listening to this sort of soundscape, but that doesn't make it less exciting or interesting. Let me know if that's similar for you in the comments.

Recorded in Sabah's rainforests, Malaysian Borneo with Sound Devices Mixpre 6 ii and Sennheiser MKH30/8040 DMS rig. Enjoying the videos I upload on here? Feel free to support me by:

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#rainforestsounds #junglesounds #cicadas