ML181697

Media notes

Subtitle: M. Peter Keane. This recording is an interview with M. Peter Keane '32 who as a undergraduate was a member of the team of individuals at Cornell that pioneered the recording of songs of wild birds in North America. In this interview Peter Keane recounts the early days of recording, including a mysterious purchase of recording equipment and his insight to use a parabolic reflector for recording wildlife sounds. Conducting the interview were Dr. James L. Gulledge, Director of the Library of Natural Sounds (first heard at 0:44) and Jeffery Boswall, producer with the BBC Natural History Unit (first heard at 4:48). Greg Budney, Assistant Curator at the Library of Natural Sounds recorded the interview. Also present were Dr. Janet Kear, editor of the British ornithological journal "The Ibis" and Dr. George B. Reynard, Cornell Lab of Ornithology Associate and veteran bird recordist (first heard at 37:07). Peter Keane's visitors were gathered to attend the 100th annual meeting of the American Ornithologists' Union held at the American Museum of Natural History and took the opportunity to visit with him and record his recollections.