4 ms·

Another amazing bird worth knowing about is the Lyrebird: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VjE0Kdfos4Y https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VjE0Kdfos4Y It copies not

Another amazing bird worth knowing about is the Lyrebird: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VjE0Kdfos4Y https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VjE0Kdfos4Y It copies not just the songs of other birds, but man-made sounds as well! Check out the link, it's mindblowing.

sohkamyung 10y ago
Unfortunately, it may not quite be true [1]. The lyrebirds that mimic the man-made sounds are not wild ones but filmed at a zoo. So far, there hasn't been recordings of wild lyrebirds mimicking human-made sounds. I'm a David Attenborough fan, but in the interest of accuracy, this has to be made known. That video segment was made in the older days of natural history documentary where some artistic license was taken. [1] "Lyrebirds mimicking chainsaws: fact or lie?" [ https://theconversation.com/lyrebirds-mimicking-chainsaws-fact-or-lie-22529 https://theconversation.com/lyrebirds-mimicking-chainsaws-fa... ]
- Intermernet 10y ago
  There are lyrebirds at the bottom of Bungonia gorge that accurately mimic the sound of people walking with racks of climbing gear. I've heard them many times. Only one point of anecdata, but I'm convinced they'll attempt to mimic any sound they're exposed to for long enough. Edit: the article that you linked mentions that they have a range of metallic sounds in their vocab already, so I assume they've just copied the pitches and patterns distinctive to people walking with a trad rack. Still off-putting when you hear it for hours and the entire gorge can be traversed in about 20 minutes and is completely visible from a couple of pitches up a climb. You tend to assume that there's another climbing party aimlessly wandering in circles just out of sight!
- efnx 10y ago
  I used to hear mocking birds mimicking car alarms when I lived in LA.
dominotw 10y ago
oh my god! I am totally blow away by this. Thank you for posting this.

sohkamyung 10y ago

Unfortunately, it may not quite be true [1]. The lyrebirds that mimic the man-made sounds are not wild ones but filmed at a zoo. So far, there hasn't been recordings of wild lyrebirds mimicking human-made sounds. I'm a David Attenborough fan, but in the interest of accuracy, this has to be made known. That video segment was made in the older days of natural history documentary where some artistic license was taken. [1] "Lyrebirds mimicking chainsaws: fact or lie?" [ https://theconversation.com/lyrebirds-mimicking-chainsaws-fact-or-lie-22529 https://theconversation.com/lyrebirds-mimicking-chainsaws-fa... ]

Intermernet 10y ago
There are lyrebirds at the bottom of Bungonia gorge that accurately mimic the sound of people walking with racks of climbing gear. I've heard them many times. Only one point of anecdata, but I'm convinced they'll attempt to mimic any sound they're exposed to for long enough. Edit: the article that you linked mentions that they have a range of metallic sounds in their vocab already, so I assume they've just copied the pitches and patterns distinctive to people walking with a trad rack. Still off-putting when you hear it for hours and the entire gorge can be traversed in about 20 minutes and is completely visible from a couple of pitches up a climb. You tend to assume that there's another climbing party aimlessly wandering in circles just out of sight!
efnx 10y ago
I used to hear mocking birds mimicking car alarms when I lived in LA.

dominotw 10y ago

oh my god! I am totally blow away by this. Thank you for posting this.