[swank]

We have been to NZ twice, both times in the early spring, and saw very few insects. (except sand-flies at Miford Sound)

As a boy, I fell asleep every summer night by a deep, 'deafening' chorus of crickets outside my bedroom window. Fireflies danced...

It was truly wonderful.

What do rual NZ nights sound like?

(north island/south island)

[Debbie]

I'm in the north shore and these black cricket like things are definatly here and loud and all day and seems most of the night. It takes a bit of getting used to for me but you know you are never alone.
Debbie

[veronica]

they aren't crickets they are cicardas. and yep they make a noise through the summer

[zardell]

they aren't crickets they are cicardas. and yep they make a noise through the summer


Yeah, really noisy all day, but you don't hear a sound from them at night........odd eh?

Julie

xx

[Babette & Andy]

Thousends of those critters here too. They started 'singing their song' after Christmas when the temperatures changed to nice summery weather. That's what my Kiwi neighbour told me:- when you hear the cicades you know summer has arrived in Auckland :yes It's so true, on slightly cooler nights (or when it rains) they aren't to be heard yet tonight (hot and humid) you can hardly hear yourself speak outside. Definately takes some getting used to.

Yeah, really noisy all day, but you don't hear a sound from them at night........odd eh?

Julie

xx
Julie - maybe your 'double glazing' is soundproof ;) no seriously - over here they are VERY noisy all through the night.

Babette

[zardell]

Julie - maybe your 'double glazing' is soundproof ;) no seriously - over here they are VERY noisy all through the night.




Double glazing......:laugh I wish !!

Seriously Babette, as soon as it goes dark they go quiet.

I found it strange too.

Julie

xx

[Kim39]

They are at it day and night i'm afraid Jules. You sure you ain't hearing them, especially seeing what you have as a back garden. There aren't as many out during the night as there is in the day, but they are there. And as Babette says, once you hear them just after the winter/spring you know summer is here.

Kim

[highlander]

Well the noise seems to be very clearly related to temperature. Down here in Welly they definitely all stop in the evening when the temperature drops. In the morning, as the sun moves around heating the various bits of the hill above us you hear them start up again as the sun heats that part of the hill.

[jubjub]

Thousends of those critters here too. They started 'singing their song' after Christmas when the temperatures changed to nice summery weather. That's what my Kiwi neighbour told me:- when you hear the cicades you know summer has arrived in Auckland :yes

That's why I love them, sound of summer.... (and makes me feel as if I am on holiday!)

They have been starting at 8.30am some days, and you know its going to be a scorcher!

Even mum and dad can hear them over the webcam, and think its a great noise, first time they had ever heard it.

[StevieD]

I love that when you go to the Med, the sounds and smells, it makes me feel alive to hear the creatures and insects and feel the sun on my back. I look forward to it - call me mad - but I love nature.

[zardell]

Well the noise seems to be very clearly related to temperature. Down here in Welly they definitely all stop in the evening when the temperature drops. In the morning, as the sun moves around heating the various bits of the hill above us you hear them start up again as the sun heats that part of the hill.



Thanks for that post Steve......I thought that I was suffering from 'Deafness at Dusk' !!.........:laugh

I have to say that the temperature does drop here at night, which makes for a very comfortable good nights sleep for me............maybe it puts the cicadas to sleep too eh??

Julie

xx

[sarahw]

Think so same here with the cicadas - stop as soon as the sun goes down. We get the buzzing of the mosquito a lot at night!! oh and the sound of the wind throwing the table & chairs up against the house (I'm not kidding but we do live in a very exposed area) or whistling through the windows ;)

I spent a night on Kapiti Island & didn't sleep a wink! - the cry of the kiwi and the blood curdling screaching sounds of the penguins kept me up all night!! (not going to complain about that though since I saw 2 kiwi & several penguins!!)

I love the dawn chorus as it starts to get light - so many lovely bird calls.

[zardell]

[QUOTE=sarahw;116408]

I spent a night on Kapiti Island & didn't sleep a wink! - the cry of the kiwi and the blood curdling screaching sounds of the penguins kept me up all night!! QUOTE]



:laugh :laugh :laugh

But I know what you mean !!!

Julie

xx

[nippa&pippa]

When we were at Nelson few weeks ago, my husband and children heard them, he think it is beautiful to hear it (for me :no my hearing aids somehow either didn't pick it up or block the sound out, hopefully next time :yes )

[gil]

it makes me feel alive to hear the creatures and insects and feel the sun on my back.

Better than hearing the sun and feeking the insects on your back....:D

It could be my hearing, but the cicadas seem to make more of a clicking sound by day and a tuneful high singing in the evening :o

Gil

[Moorf]

They were deafening in Hagley Park today - as I drove by I turned off the stereo and put the windows down.. love the sound, nice with a glass of wine on a warm evening :nice1

[gil]

They were deafening in Hagley Park today - as I drove by I turned off the stereo and put the windows down.. love the sound, nice with a glass of wine on a warm evening :nice1

But not in Lent :no

Gil

[Moorf]

We don't "do" Lent in Jedi-ism ;)

[gil]

We don't "do" Lent in Jedi-ism ;)

:laugh:laugh