I decided to do my sound diary at a small park near my house. I got there around 4 PM, just as the sun was starting to set, and the air felt a little cooler. I picked a bench under a big tree, far enough from the road so I wouldn’t hear cars too much, but close enough to still feel connected to what was happening around me.

The first thing I noticed were the birds. A group of sparrows in the branches above me wouldn’t stop chirping, like they were in some kind of argument. In the background, I could hear a pigeon cooing a slow, deep sound that was kind of calming.

After sitting for a while, I started picking up on other noises. The sound of footsteps on the gravel path stood out. Some people walked quickly, their steps sharp and steady, while others dragged their feet, creating a softer crunching sound.

At one point, a kid zipped by on a scooter. The wheels made a smooth, buzzing noise as they rolled over the pavement. It broke the calm of the park for a second, but then everything settled back into place the birds, the wind in the trees, and the distant hum of cars on the main road.

Toward the end of the hour, I heard church bells ringing softly in the distance. I hadn’t noticed them at first; they blended into the background, but once I did, they felt like the perfect finishing touch to the whole scene.

When I looked back at my notes later, the sparrows and the bells were the easiest to remember. The footsteps were harder because they were all so different. Still, it was a peaceful mix of sounds that felt very alive.