# Hearing Barnacles Reveals Animal Secrets

> Listening to nature's background noise uncovers animal behavior.
- Title: Hearing Barnacles Reveals Animal Secrets · The Conversation
- Summary: Listening to nature's background noise uncovers animal behavior. Paying attention to background sounds helps naturalists notice animal activities without…
- Keywords: acorn barnacle, olympic marmot, bumblebee, western hermit crab, orcas, tongue point, low tide, intertidal zone, stabilimentum, spider web, animal behavior, natural history
- Source: The Conversation — https://theconversation.com/i-heard-a-barnacle-how-paying-attention-to-natures-background-noise-can-reveal-animal-secrets-290033
- Author: Phil Starks
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: acorn barnacle, olympic marmot, bumblebee, western hermit crab, orcas, tongue point, low tide, intertidal zone, stabilimentum, spider web, animal behavior, natural history
## Hearing Barnacles
Listening to nature's background noise reveals animal secrets without special equipment.

> Clickety-clack. Clickety-clack. Pop.
## Olympic Peninsula Observation
During four days on Washington’s Olympic Peninsula, I saw an Olympic marmot, four bumblebee species, three western hermit crab species, and five orcas.
## Low Tide Encounter
At low tide at Tongue Point, I heard an acorn barnacle pop and click.

> Clickety-clack. Clickety-clack. Pop.
## Intertidal Zone Challenges
The intertidal zone faces temperature swings, desiccation, and the cost of remaining clamped shut in open air.
## Soundscapes and Movement
The clicking sound came from small shore crabs moving among mussels or hermit crab shells knocking against them.
## Barnacle Behavior
An acorn barnacle’s tiny opening was slightly unsealed, with two small plates moving against its deeply ridged shell.
## Observation Lessons
To become a better naturalist, notice something, describe it carefully, ask what else could explain it, and decide what evidence would distinguish among possibilities.
## Key takeaway

Paying attention to background sounds helps naturalists notice animal activities without special equipment.