What is that Sound?

Since we moved into our apartment in Feburary, Patrick and I have been “serenaded” by some mysterious wild sound made by something sounding too-close-for-comfort outside of our apartment.

I am quite disturbed to hear a noise and not be able to identify it. I am amazed how much we need to rationalize what we hear and see in order to provide comfort.

The noise, a mix between a call and a screech, sounded like something a monkey might make. But we knew there weren’t monkeys to be found in Port-au-Prince. So where did that leave us?

After sitting up with Solomon in the middle of the night, Patrick became convinced that the giant Haitian cockroaches which are all too familiar to our apartment must have vocal cords twice the size of their body. He was sure the sound came from our walls and therefore had to be our pesky invadors that we chase, spray and bat at with loveless distain everytime we see them.

Excuse me, but screeching cockroaches didn’t give me a “comfy home” feeling. In fact, I had to deny such an disgusting existence for sanity sake if nothing else.

So tonight, sitting with the internet handy, we googled the following questions: “Do cockroaches make noise?” “Do tropical rats make noise?” “Do ghekos make noise?” I am happy to report that despite their small stature, we are convinced that it is the small but loudly forceful gheko that has been screeching through the night to let us know that he is hear and hear him roar.

The following is the link to the sound we identified as our (now) welcome neighbor.

http://www.naturesongs.com/gecko1.wav

I have to say, I’m immediately relieved by our loud, but non-disgusting friend. I have no beef with the ghecko. He can skitter over our walls, and eat our mosquitos to his heart’s content. And if he needs to make a joyful noise, so be it.

I am reminded of the camping trip Patrick and I made our first summer in Colorado when we happened upon Elk mating season and encountered for the first time the Elk bugle. The bugle sound sounds like something out of this world, like a Switch at a cauldron, and when we heard it for the first time, we had no idea what biologic or etherial creature was making hte sound. Even the dogs didn't bark. But thanks to google, we identified and demystified the would-be witch roast and became enamored with the vocal range of the male Elk.

What did we do without google? LIve in mystery and fear? I'm grateful for it tonight as I"m a little less discusted and a lot more reassured by our oh-so-vocal housemates.