This album presents the diversity of animals and nocturnal birds that can be commonly heard at night in the bushland of southeast Australia.

Actually, some are not that common. Powerful Owls are not often encountered, and it is always special to hear their booming calls. Whilst Boobook Owls are more common, the first calls from one presented here are a rarely heard call variation (they could easily be mistaken for something else, and I suspect it may be a begging call from either juvenile or adult). Similarly, I've only ever heard the clicking call from a White-throated Nightjar once - fortunately, I had the mics on!

The album begins with late afternoon birdsong, which gives way to the rhythms of frogs and nocturnal insects on dusk. As diurnal birds settle down to roost, the creatures of the night begin to be heard; sugar gliders, possums, nightjars, a distant koala, and a variety of owls including the haunting powerful owl.

Nocturnal insects create a calming wash of sound, and eventually the hypnotic calls of tawny frogmouths blend with the soft chirruping of crickets, leading us into the stillness of the deep night.

Understandably, some people may find being outdoors in the dark a little frightening, but personally, I love being out in the bush at night. The air is often still, sound carries far, and listening for those night animals is fun. Many night creatures use sound, and so listening offers the opportunity to recognise what is around. So as well as being enjoyable, I hope this recording may help you identify some of those mysterious sounds of the night.