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Calm Earth Rhythms invites you to slow down and reconnect with nature's heartbeat.

As the rains return and blossoms unfold, the earth hums in harmony - from the gentle patter of rain to the songs of birds, bees and insects weaving a tranquil soundscape.

This episode immerses you in soothing natural rhythms that calm the mind, refresh the spirit, and restore balance to your day

Let the earth sing - and breathe with it

JohnMak

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In the warm, early afternoon sunshine, the Mbagathi river valley woodlot adjacent to Nairobi National Park's southern border is alive with a symphony of birdsong.

The dappled light filters through the acacia and fig trees, and other indigenous tree species, catching the flicker of brilliant wings, of birds just going on with their daily business.

From the canopies and bushes, the bubbly, cheerful melody of sunbirds blend with the distinctive flute-like call of an African drongo.

The air itself seems to vibrate with the energetic chirps and whistles of weavers and starlings, a joyous, chattering chorus celebrating the day from their sanctuary, where the wild heart of the park meets the quiet borderland.

And there I sat down in the midst of it all, to soak in a rare sensory immersion.

You can watch my latest YouTube post "The Martial Eagle Hunts" using this link (https://youtube.com/shorts/2HrxarAe358?feature=share) to have a glimpse of where this podcast was recorded.

Subscribe to my show: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2390342/subscribe

JohnMak

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Just before 6 a.m., a lone heron pipes a few sharp, echoing calls across the still morning air - a clarion note that heralds the new dawn.

It is followed in quick succession by the hermakop and the go-away bird that resembles a hornbill.

Moments later, smaller resident birds awaken and join the chorus, weaving soft, melodious tunes that ripple through the landscape.

As the sun climbs higher and the day settles, the lively harmonies gradually mellow into a calm, meditative rhythm - a serene choreography of nature easing toward noon.

The peaceful tunes are the perfect healing balm to the soul. The location for this recording is a new farm woodlot in progressive growth.

Storyteller

JohnMak

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Welcome to a tropical African forest in Kenya, a place where nature sings without pause. The stage is Mount Kenya forest in Chogoria, Tharaka Nithi County.

Close your eyes and step into this living concert hall, where every sound is a note in a grand, endless melody.

Above the canopy, bright-feathered birds greet the day. Their songs rise like colorful threads of music, weaving together in playful conversation. Each call answers another, creating harmonies only the forest knows.

Beneath this chorus, cicadas hum with tireless devotion. Their rhythm is steady, like the heartbeat of the forest, grounding every other voice that joins the performance.

The breeze moves gently now, brushing against great leaves and ancient trunks. In its whispers, you can almost hear stories- of rain yet to come, of roots reaching deep into the soil, of life endlessly unfolding.

Together, these voices form a tapestry - birds, insects, animals, and air, the occasional distant motor traffic notwithstanding.

None compete, none dominates. They simply blend, creating a symphony of balance, a music of belonging.

And so, here in this tropical forest, we are reminded: harmony is not just found in silence, but in the coexistence of many voices, all singing at once.

Stay a little longer in our channel if you can. Let the melodies of the forest linger within you - calming, grounding, and alive

CHECK OUT our NATURE SOUNDS vault with 32 episodes and growing weekly.

John Muthuri Makathimo

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The soundscape begins gently, at sunrise.

First you hear the chit-chat-like songs of early riser finches perched on nearby trees to welcome a new day.

The clear whistles of a glossy starlings, their metallic songs bouncing through the air.

Soon, liquid notes of robin-chats join in, curling ribbons of sound through the acacia branches.

In the distance, doves coo softly, their rhythmic hoo-hoo-hoo echoing with a calm, homely tone.

Then bulbuls make an entry into the melodic fray and are soon joined by sunbirds, wagtails and an awesome profusion of so many other resident and migrating birds.

From the tall grasses, a flock of weaver birds burst into chatter, their rapid-fire calls like sparks of yellow energy, punctuated by the occasional harsh cry of the go-away birds

Closer to the homestead, the familiar clucks of free-range chickens cut through the morning symphony.

A proud rooster lets out a bold cock-a-doodle-doo, announcing the day like a village herald. Their soft scratching and low murmurs mingle with the wind's sigh across the field

Not far away, a small flock of sheep adds their voice, gentle bleats rising and falling like a pastoral lullaby

Sometimes they call in unison, sometimes one bleat stands alone, echoing faintly before melting into the seemingly chaotic but joyful birdsong symphony

The sounds overlap-wild and domestic, woven together and creating a soundscape where the Kenyan sky hums with life

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A Scrub Robin settled on a tree next to the one I was sitting under to shield myself from the intensifying mid-morning heat. I had just completed a 3 kilometer nature walk.

I am certain he just wanted my companionship as much as I appreciated his. There were very few other birds in close proximity but the one's present gave a good rating of their melodic offerings.

So it was a slow jam for the next 30 minutes until other ambient noises increased, including a near strike on my friendly Scrub Robin by a Sparrow Hawk.

The Sparrow Hawk had taken full advantage of a passing jet overhead to musk warnings of impending danger by other birds in the vicinity. But the Scrub Robin was super alert, and had time to make an evasive maneuver

A new bird making a sharp and steely sound was the only competition to the Scrub Robin. My stop over was well rewarded but you, my fan should be the judge

Migrating flocks made repeated passes overhead on their way to pastures with more seeds, fruits and whatever else birds eat.

JohnMak

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Streamside Sounds of Kenya's Golden Savannah

It's midday in Kenya's semi-arid Kajiado County, a golden expanse where the sun reigns supreme during the dry seasons

The air shimmers with heat, but here, nestled in the shallow valley, life thrives along a slender life-giving stream

The babble of water grows clearer as small cascades gurgle with the wind current blowing on a east-west trajectory

Along the entire stretch of the riverine acacia thickets, grey-headed Bushshrikes let out fluting, melodic calls, answered by chattering Superb Sterlings preening in the dappled shade

Countless other resident and migrating bird species are present and contribute to the midday soundscape

Huge flies zip past the microphone as if determined to chip in to the rhyme and rhythm.

Tiny frogs peep from damp crevices and a monitor lizard rustles through the rocky riverbank vegetation as it retreats to its hollows

Even at the height of the hot day, the Savannah breathes with resilience. The land may seem baked, but here, by the gentle stream, the songs linger, a cool-like audio thread through the golden silence

This episode is ideal for meditation, nature immersion, or background ambiance - evoking the raw, sun-drenched serenity of Kenya's wild grasslands.

JohnMak

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