Up North ‘nature megaphone’ amplifies sweet sounds of the forest

INDIAN RIVER, MICH. -- Ever wish you could turn up the volume on Mother Nature’s most mesmerizing sounds?

That’s the aim of a hidden Northern Michigan “nature megaphone,” which amplifies birdsong, flowing water and other audible treats in the pristine Pigeon River region.

The 14-foot-long wooden megaphone is located near Indian River at the Agnes S. Andreae and Boyd B. Banwell Nature Preserve complex, overseen by the non-profit Little Traverse Conservancy.

From its perch on a bluff overlooking the river, the megaphone invites visitors to sit inside and be fully immersed in the music of the surrounding landscape.

Charles Dawley, technology and stewardship coordinator at the Conservancy, said the idea for the megaphone was inspired by similar giant forest megaphones created by art students in Estonia.

After seeing the Estonian megaphones, Dawley came up with a basic design and worked with Petoskey High School’s Building Trades program to have students bring it to life.

Since its installation in 2019, the megaphone has inspired similar pieces in other parks and preserves across the U.S. – with a second megaphone now in the works for another Little Traverse Conservancy property.

Visitors can reach the megaphone via a one-mile hike from either the Andreae or Banwell nature preserves. Find a map and more details online here.