MY TAKE; doses of Wild YAM : Menoturals; Saturday Songs of Nature

Welcome to a new Saturday feature! After so many years of "Menorise", I have probably used up most, and have certainly recycled, quotes worth the quoting. No doubt they will appear again after a break. For Saturdays this year, I am minded to share birdsong - and perhaps a few other things. For the most part, I am going to concentrate on the sounds that I heard for my three decades in OZ and still miss, despite being away for nine years from the Great Down Under Parts. Whether I can gather together an entire year's worth (i.e. 52) is doubtful, but I'll get around it somehow!

Anyway, let me begin by bringing you one of the commonest sounds around my wee home in Sydney's northern suburb of Asquith, where I was quite close to bushland and enjoyed quite a few feathered visitors. The Australian Magpie is not a Corvid at all and was named purely based on its bib and tucker appearance. Its actual classification is Gymnorhina (bare-nosed) Tibicen (piper). When you hear its song, you will have an idea why.

It is an iconic morning sound - although will be heard throughout the day, too.... sigh...

PS - in case you did not see it, or as a reminder, I put out a call to action on the

Christmas Eve Post. I am going to keep placing the link. Please spread the word, and quickly. The Collection Pot is only open until January 13th. Thank you.

13 comments:

peppylady (Dora)7 January 2023 at 08:35
I'm not sure what our magpie sounds like.
Coffee is on and stay safe
MadSnapper7 January 2023 at 16:03
at times he sounds like a calliope or a music box. I love these sounds, if I traveled, Austrailia visit would be on it. parts of it are a lot like Florida. I like Jungle sounds in the movies we watch.
Duke7 January 2023 at 16:14
Love his song!
David M. Gascoigne,7 January 2023 at 16:21
It is a wonderful, joyful sound, even it does sound a little like electronics gone wrong at times! On my visits to Australia I didn't have enough time, nor stay in one place long enough to become familiar with the songs of birds, but this is one I do remember with great affection. It's a wonderful bird with what it takes to give humans their comeuppance now and then. Gotta love that!
eileeninmd7 January 2023 at 17:17
What a lovely song, I could sit for awhile listening to this bird. Take care, have a great weekend!
Jenn Jilks7 January 2023 at 23:30
They are great bird calls! Good idea, YAM. XX
Millie and Walter7 January 2023 at 23:45
That sure is an interesting sound they make. We love listening to all the birds that live around us, especially the ones that don't spend winter here. When you go outside and hear the first call of the season from a migrant you know it's spring!
My Mind's Eye8 January 2023 at 02:21
Very interesting. I don't think we have magpies in NC
I do love all my backyard bird songs and I have a white noise machine that I use at night with soft bird songs or gentle waves
Hugs Cecilia
Janice8 January 2023 at 04:57
It sounds as if this particular bird may have several variations to its songs. Or there were other birds in the mix. Thank you for sharing a bit of the world I'll never visit. namaste, janice xx
Stewart M8 January 2023 at 06:39
And what a great bird it is too - I have two in my garden as I speak, although they are sadly silent at present. Hope all os well! SM
♥♥ The OP Pack ♥♥8 January 2023 at 07:26
Never expected such a nice sound. Our Dylan is in his winter mode of not singing. Maybe I can share your Saturday posts to motivate his song:)
Tigger's Mum9 January 2023 at 13:27
Best sound ever is magpies warbling. The NZ equivalent of BBC Radio 4 used to have birdcall of the day just before the news on the hour in the early morning. When my grandparents were travelling in Aus (way outback) they used to get that news on shortwave radio and it would set off all the local birds upset by the intruder.
The Adventures of the LLB Gang10 January 2023 at 00:36
What a beautiful song the magpies sing...I had never heard them before.