'I heard a barnacle'—how paying attention to nature's background noise can reveal animal secrets

Listening to the natural world can reveal hidden secrets of animals. During a trip to Washington's Olympic Peninsula, a reporter encountered a variety of wildlife, including an Olympic marmot, four bumblebee species, three western hermit crab species, and five orcas. However, the most remarkable observation was made at low tide at Tongue Point, when the reporter heard a barnacle.

Simultaneously, the barnacle opened and emitted a clicking sound, resembling "clickety-clack, clickety-clack, pop." As a professor who teaches about animal behavior, the reporter understands that the difference between encountering an animal and noticing its behavior is a simple way to delve into natural history. To become more attuned to the natural world, one should learn to let ordinary experiences become interesting again.

By softening vision and allowing movement anywhere in the visual field, individuals can shift their attention to the soundscape around them. For instance, watching honeybees flying around and noticing their pattern of arrivals and departures can train the observer to focus on the unseen. Similarly, observing orb-weaver spiders and their stabilimenta (decorative silk structures) can lead to questions about their purpose.

Instead of accepting a single explanation, one should question why researchers expected a universal answer. The reporter recalls a debate about the function of stabilimenta, which eventually led to skepticism about a single explanation. The key to becoming a better naturalist is to notice something, describe it carefully, and question alternative explanations.

After determining potential evidence to distinguish among possibilities, one should return to familiar locations and look for repetition or unusual behaviors. Sometimes, the most ordinary observations can lead to genuinely unusual discoveries.