Menoturals; Saturday Sounds Of Nature

Last week I mentioned the Lyrebird - properly called the Superb Lyrebird, as there is also an Albert's Lyrebird, but it is not known for its mimicry. Generally, though, Aussies tend to know that Lyrebird means the voice actor that likes to collect sounds to impress the ladies of the species. What kind of sounds? Well, there is a bit of a myth about how many and to what extent these birds will adopt non-bird imitation. As the redoubtable Mr Attenborough tells us in this wonderful little clip from the BBC archives, there is the capability to recreate sounds of industrial proportions...

The thing is, though, as famous as this clip is, it was filmed in a wildlife park with a captive animal. It had been raised from the egg and had heard these things happening around the park as structures were built, and there were gazillions of visitors with clicking cameras. I was aware of this some time ago... but thanks to that link provided by Joni a couple of weeks back, I rediscovered this tidbit - from the mouth of the cinematographer himself! That's about minute 15:30 in the programme if you want to jump to it. But the whole show - which was the first in the series - is about mimicry in birds. One for the enthusiasts! (Non-Spotify users can click here to listen.) 

What I will say, in the Lyrebird's favour...there was one in the bush nearby my home in Asquith which I often heard, though never saw. But once, yes, one very, very special day, when I was sitting having my picnic, I became aware of scraping and vocalisations... there he was, displaying that magnificent tail and chattering away. Among the various nature sounds, I distinctly heard a camera shutter sound. With my own ears. I have never forgotten that experience. Definitely no chainsaws, though.