Year: 2008
Month: October
Day of Month (number only – e.g. 16): 12
Time of Day: 6 AM to 6:30 AM
County: New York Allegany
Terrain Description: Sloping pine forest and creek bed
Lighting Conditions: First light in early morning
Nearest Town or Landmark: Alfred, NY
GPS Coordinates: 42 12. 840 N 77 53. 560 W
Description of Encounter Area: Vandermark State Forest, at the end of a dead end gravel road loop .
Are There Food and/or Water Sources in the Area? (if so, describe): Yes, A creek and abundant
wild berries and small game.
Occupation/Background: Electrician / amateur naturalist, birder, and nature recordist that enjoys
camping and outdoors in my free time.
Number of Witnesses: One, my camping partner that was waking up, and also
heard the loudest wood knocks
Length of Observation: No observation, but heard wood knocks during 10 minute or so span of time
Wood Knocks Heard?: Yes
Recordings Made?: Yes
Was woken up to the sounds of some very excited Blue Jays overhead, while sleeping in my tent. I heard some wood knocks and started up my recorder. I made a 4:13 recording of the event. There are scattered single knocks and a few double wood knocks throughout the recording. The sound of the knocks is wood on wood. Before we had turned in for the night, we were owl calling and wood knocking next to our small campfire, but received no replies. This was around 5 hours before the recording was made.
Bill Ruscher, NESRA Investigator