The Sound of Nature

Hello, my name is Oriana, and I am an environmental educator at the Centre for Education for Sustainable Development in Novacella.

I invite you to pause for a moment and listen carefully. We are here along the River Isarco, at a place where the dominant sound is that of nature itself.

Here you may hear the great spotted woodpecker, whose rhythmic drumming on the trees marks the pulse of the riverbank. It is a sound that speaks of work and exploration: woodpeckers help regulate insect populations and, by carving cavities in tree trunks, they create nests not only for themselves, but also shelters for other animals such as dormice or bats.

You might then hear the yellowhammer, whose song famously recalls the opening notes of Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony. It is said that the composer himself may have drawn inspiration from this very sound. This small bird reminds us that nature has the power to inspire even humanity’s greatest works.

Nearby, you may also hear the tiny chiffchaff, light and discreet, whose repeated song accompanies walks along the river. Although very few people ever manage to see it, its call is unmistakable once you have heard it even once. It belongs to that small group of birds which, in different languages, sing their own name. In Italian too: “Luì”.

Finally, if you lift your gaze, you may spot a buzzard: a bird of prey gliding slowly and silently above, like an observer from on high, capable of detecting its prey from as far as a kilometre away.

Every species has its own voice, its own role, its own importance. Together, they form a complex and vital symphony that sustains us human beings as well.

Pause and listen to how the rustling of the wind and the flowing of the water blend with birdsong, creating a natural orchestra. These presences teach us to slow down, to observe, and—above all—to take care of our planet. Because the survival of every living being is intertwined with our own.