As with the Chinese art of placement, feng shui, finding the right spot is a matter of paying attention to one's surroundings, alignment and juxtaposition. This morning, the reflective capacity of the canopy and the concentration of wildlife at this level have made for a unique immersion in sound. Despite the struggle with humidity, I am fortunate in my recording. The sun clears the trees. With mounting heat and rising convections, the chorus dissolves into a diffuse din.
Insects reestablish the diurnal palette of timbres.
By nine o'clock, the exposed platform is like a skillet and a dense cloud of biting flies sends us packing. In daylight, the descent seems more vertiginous. Flora and fauna alike change as we move from the higher reaches of the canopy, through the gallery and understorey, back to the ground. The sonic signature of each stratum is remarkably varied and would make an interesting study. We file back to the Landcruiser in silence, savouring the morning.