I built a DIY pseudo-binaural stereo microphone array. This is a test recording of that device captured at the Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area adjacent to the Great Salt Lake in Davis County, Utah.
The Great Salt Lake is an important link to the Pacific Flyway, a route used by migratory birds. In this video clip, migrating Tundra Swans rest and feed in a freshwater marsh. Several other species of ducks, gulls and songbirds can also be heard, along with distant jet and vehicle traffic.
The microphone array is comprised of two MicBoosters EM272 "Clippy" microphones mounted on Rycote Lyre suspensions at opposite ends of a 20 cm carbon fiber rod. The mics are baffled by minicell foam. Wind protection provided by 3D printed honeycomb-style plastic hemispheres, topped with a custom DIY faux fur dead cat. The mics run into a Sound Devices MixPre-3 via XLR, which also provides P48 power.
Stereo image from the array is narrow and aims to roughly mimic human hearing. This is a work in progress.