What does the mating call of a Haddock sound like?
All aboard for an aquatic adventure in sound with two new wildlife CDs from the British Library Sound Archive

January 26 2007

On 26th January 2007, the British Library launches two new additions to its popular Wildlife CD series, Sounds of the Deep and Sounds of the British Coastline. The collections enable the listener to eavesdrop on the underwater communications of sea life, conjure up the sounds of the British seaside via the squawks and squeals of seabirds, or to listen in on some of nature's more intimate moments, such as the call of a spawning male Haddock engaged in a noisy display of courtship..

Sounds of the British Coastline celebrates the diverse habitats and wildlife that can be found along the ever-changing coastline of our island. The collection provides an atmospheric soundscape of British shores, from the eerie wails of a Grey Seal colony at Donna Nook, Lincolnshire, to the soothing sounds of the incoming tide at sunset on the Isle of Wight. The CD also includes the sounds of a tranquil Norfolk harbour as Black-headed Gulls glide past and an awakening Hampshire reed bed where the rich song of the Reed Warbler dominates the dawn chorus. Other highlights include the familiar wail of a Herring Gull on the Jurassic coast of Dorset (a World Heritage Site), the shrill sounds of an Oystercatcher on the Shetland Islands and the frenzied cries of a colony of Kittiwakes in Northumberland. From the rocky shores of the West Country to the sea lochs of Scotland, Sounds of the British Coastline pays homage to Britain's spectacular shores.

Drift away from British beaches and dive into the depths of the oceans with Sounds of the Deep. From the icy waters of the Antarctic to the tropical seas of the Caribbean, Sounds of the Deep takes the listener on a journey through the oceans and introduces a fascinating collection of sounds from the marine world. Experience the haunting song of the Humpback Whale as it travels through winter breeding grounds in search of a mate, and marvel at the humming courtship calls of the male Haddock. Listen to the drumming calls of a walrus diving for food, the warbling of a ten foot-long Leopard Seal or the clicks, whistles and buzzes of the Atlantic Spotted Dolphin. Encounter Dusky Dolphins in the Pacific, Harp Seals in the Arctic and a host of other species including the lovable Bottlenose Dolphin and the mighty Blue Whale.

Each CD contains a fully annotated leaflet which gives details of the creatures and their habitats, together with descriptions and explanations of their sounds.

The British Library Sound Archive's Cheryl Tipp, who compiled the CDs, commented, "The British Library Sound Archive is thrilled to present these captivating new collections of marine life and coastal wildlife sounds. Other titles in the British Library's wildlife CD series have been tremendously popular and I hope that wildlife enthusiasts will find these two new compilations equally fascinating."

For further information, contact Ruth Howlett at the British Library Press Office: 020 7412 7112 or ruth.howlett@bl.uk

Notes for editors

Sounds of the Deep is published by the British Library on 26 January 2007, price £9.95 inc VAT, duration approx. 65 minutes, ISBN 978 07123 0526 6.

Sounds of the British Coastline is published by the British Library on 26 January 2007, price £9.95 inc VAT, duration approx 70 minutes, ISBN 978 07123 0533 4.

Both CDs are available from the British Library Shop (tel: 020 7412 7735, fax: 020 7412 7624, email: bl-shop@bl.uk).

The British Library is the national Library of the United Kingdom. It provides world class information services to the academic, business, research and scientific communities and offers unparalleled access to the world's largest and most comprehensive research collection. Further information is available on the Library's website at www.bl.uk