This is bird note. But before bird note existed, John Kessler was recording the sounds of Seattle for public radio station KPLU, now called KNKX, from the Fairy Whistle

to the Space Needle Elevator Operator,

to Salmon leaping in a stream. But after a hundred or so of these sounds,

John was feeling stumped. I was like, what makes sound? I was like, oh wait,

birds, birds makes sound. He connected with some local birders to find the best

spots in the city. I saw some amazing stuff that I had no idea was there, like the Great Blue Heron

Rookery at the Ballard Locks. They took me to hear Winter Wrens at the Park

overlooking Puget Sound.

They also had sent me with a Grebe expert at Green Lake,

a hundred feet from a four-lane highway.

There's these beautiful birds making their little nests on top of the

lily pads. Shortly after, Bird Notes founder Chris Peterson sought out John's musical ear to help create a sound-rich show

highlighting the joy of birds. John worked as Bird Notes Senior Producer for over 18 years. Recently retired from the show,

birds are still a part of John's life. He uses a recording device outside his home

to keep track of his local feathered friends.

And he's hoping to spend a little more time focusing on his own music.

For Bird Note, I'm Mark Branhill.