As far as I am concerned Boobooks say "Boo-book." But I have known many
people who believe they say "Mo-poke!"
The general public believes erroneously that the 'dead-stick bird' is a
"Frogmouth Owl", and therefore it must say "Mopoke".
In New Zealand we were told that what their local Boobook says is "More
pork!"
A visiting Englishman told me that the Boobook - which had been keeping
him awake in Parkville - definitely said "Cuckoo!"
Anthea Fleming
Arwen B. Ximenes wrote:
Hello Birders,
In Arthur Upfield's Bony mysteries I think he mentions mopokes relatively
frequently. I haven't read one for a while but I wonder which bird he is
referring to - anyone know? He wrote around the middle of the last century. It
was probably the boobook, I guess.
Coincidentally, we heard the very clear booming of a tawny frogmouth last night
for the first time (at our house) - definitely no mistaking it for a Boobook.
It sounded like it was right outside our bedroom window, but when we went
outside we couldn't locate the source of the call or tell how far it was away.
They have an amazingly penetrating call. I find it fascinating that bird calls
are so unique to the species and so predictable - not counting mimicry and
regional variations of course.
Regarding scientific names - I'd never thought of them as so unstable, but I
guess if there are so many changes all the time in taxonomies etc., then I
suppose it follows. I think I'll just ignore all that, it's starting to do my
head in - usually I find this email list enlightening, but the more I read on
this topic the more confused I get, so I'll just stick to my own field guide
and ignore everything else until it becomes a problem. Which it may well do if
I want to set up my own database which I'm thinking of doing soon...
It's head in the sand for me for the moment though, still very much the novice!
thanks all,
Arwen
......................................... Arwen Blackwood Ximenes
Lawson, Blue Mountains,
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