WYSIWYG

What You See Is What You Get. This is a journal blog, an explore-blog, a bit of this and that blog. Sharing where the mood takes me. Perhaps it will take you too.

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.

15 comments:

  1. Aussie magpies are quite good mimics but that fella is indeed supberb.

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  2. I'm loving Saturday sounds. Oh to have that vocal range.
    Nobby is intrigued too, but most of all he thinks he should be referred to as a Superb WFT
    Cheers! Gail

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  3. A Superb Lyrebird is one of the highlights of my visit to the Dandenong Ranges in Victoria. She was a female, however, scratching away in the dirt, with not a sound coming out of her beak!

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  4. Hello,
    I loved all the bird sounds in the video. The Lyrebird is interesting, they are great mimics. LOL, the siren noise could drive a person nuts. Take care, have a great weekend.

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  5. he is adorable to look at and I did hear the siren and the chainsaw, it seems these birds pick up whatever sound they hear, like a living recorder and play it back.. truly amazing... this wild word is so full of amazing living creatures! If Lyre is prounced Liar, maybe he is a Liar Bird saying sounds he hears

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  6. What a beautiful bird call and OMCs a gorgeous tail.
    Hugs cecilia

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  7. Hello Yam,
    I wanted to stop back and say thank you for linking up and sharing your post. I enjoyed the video and the bird sounds are fun to hear. Take care, enjoy your weekend.

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  8. That mimicry is amazing! I couldn't believe until I heard it that the bird could imitate a chain saw. We have a mockingbird that frequents our yard and often hear him mimicking the local birds.

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  9. How amazing. We definitely know some of our birds by their distinctive sounds. Thanks for sharing this!

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  10. Those Lyre Birds are amazing! Beats the pats off the Stellar Jay that lives along the river. He mimics the the local Peregrine Falcon. It scares the heck out of the Squirrels and chases the them away from the feeders!

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  11. Awesome bird calls in the video.

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  12. There are so many interesting critter down under!

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  13. Amazing vocalizations. Interesting seeing the throat movements with the different sounds. namaste, janice xx

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  14. This post is amazing. I imagine, that even in the wilds, they might pick up on repeating some manmade sounds if they happen to be near people.

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