Observer Training

As an Eclipse Soundscapes Observer, you might be wondering what different things you might hear or see on eclipse day. That is exactly what Eclipse Soundscapes wants to document! Below you will learn about some of the animal reactions that other people have observed during past solar eclipses. If you took the Apprentice Training, this will be a review. If you did not take the Apprentice Training, it is a good idea to do that before being an Eclipse Soundscapes Observer!

Nature has its own rhythm and motion. Animals make all kinds of noises like chirping and buzzing and also make all kinds of audible movements through their environment. 

What happens during a solar eclipse? As the Moon blocks out the Sun and the Earth becomes darker and cooler, the animal kingdom reacts. According to researchers, during the maximum phase, birds stop singing and hide in their nests. Bees get louder. They start to buzz loudly and fly in and out of their hives. On farms, chickens and cows start to walk back to the barn because they think it is nighttime. And, interestingly, a solar eclipse seems to wake up nocturnal animals even though it is the middle of the day! Bats and owls become more alert and start to feed.

The maximum phase of a solar eclipse only lasts for a few minutes. Almost as quickly as it came, the Sun starts to reappear and daylight returns. The animals become a bit confused. But as the Sun comes back, suddenly there is an explosion of sound.

nocturnal animals – animals who sleep during the day and are active at night

Write, draw, or verbally discuss the answers to the following questions:

• How does a solar eclipse affect animals? Why does this happen?