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Western Soundscapes: Ginny Trumbull and Coyotes

Coyote Howling, Yellowstone National Park
Photo by Bryan Harry
Coyote Howling, Yellowstone National Park

By Jeff Rice

Salt Lake City, UT – In the 1950s, audio recording was just starting to make its way out of the studio and into the field. Wild bird recordings had been captured as far back as 1929, and gradually as the technology became more portable, intrepid audio engineers began hauling bulky reel-to-reel tape decks out into the back-country.

Fred and Ginny Trumbull were two such pioneers. They weren't professionals, but began taking a tape recorder with them as they camped and vacationed throughout the West. Both have since passed away but radio producer Jeff Rice spoke with Ginny Trumbull in this archive interview for the Western Soundscapes series. Mrs. Trumbull recalled her special technique for recording coyotes.

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