The Listeners

On her last day, Polly found people. In a small clearing was a quiet camp. A scientist sat with wires and microphones. More microphones hung high in the trees. The scientist saw a small bird in round glasses and smiled. This was the one person Polly met all week.

They were listening to the forest. The forest is very thick and tall. You cannot count the animals by looking. Many hide or come out at night. So the scientists listen. They leave microphones in the trees and record the sounds.

The scientist showed Polly a screen. The forest sounds were now a picture, lines and waves. Each shape was a different call. The noisy forest was really many animals talking.

Polly stayed until evening. Then she flew back up to the canopy. Behind her, the recorders kept working and saved the voices of the forest.