03 April 2008
The mimicry of a Superb Lyrebird
The Superb Lyrebird of southern Australia has audio mimicry capabilities that will knock your socks off. The video embedded above is from David Attenborough's Life of Birds series. As the segment starts, the natural reaction is to think "well, the mockingbird can also mimic bird calls" - but then this bird reproduces the sounds of camera shutters, a camera motor drive, and (sadly) chainsaws cutting the forest.
You have to listen to this 3-minute video - it's one of the Hundred Things To Do Before You Die. Do it now.
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I did listen, and I certainly agree: one of the things To Do Before You Die (though hopefully that won't happen for a good long time yet. That was lovely and poignant at the same time - thanks Stan!
ReplyDeleteMany people think of Australia as an arid land, but rainforest once cloaked Australia. There's not a lot left now, after all the logging: only 0.3% of Australian soil is now covered in rainforest.
I think I might go plant some rainforest trees in the coming weekend ...