Fair point and yes a tactful approach for a very sensitive person. But not especially helpful to advancing their question. If there was a question. Maybe they
only want to tell the story for the fun of the story and are not asking what the bird is. That is fine too.
Even if the tune was correct we could only provide guesses to advance the question. Even if the guesses end up being right, there is no way of knowing if it
is right unless it is properly identified.
But part of getting to know a bit about the bird is to go look for it. If it is a grey butcherbird, you don’t really need binoculars.........
Years ago I knew a pet Eastern Rosella that could “whistle” a perfect riff to “76 trombones in an orchestra”. I don’t know if it continued to do so after escaping
its cage. So it could be something like that.
Philip
From: Janet Russell [
Sent: Wednesday, 30 November, 2016 4:35 PM
To: Geoffrey Dabb
Cc: Canberrabirds
Subject: Re: FW: [canberrabirds] FW: Mozart
Geoffrey if there was a like button I would give you a like for that nice tactful reply!
On 30 November 2016 at 15:57, Geoffrey Dabb <> wrote:
I could suggest that Philip, but that will probably make them sorry they asked, and I would prefer
not to do that. They are likely to be aural persons who do not own binoculars.
From: Philip
Veerman [
Sent: Wednesday, 30 November 2016 3:36 PM
To: 'David Rees'; 'Geoffrey Dabb'
Cc:
Subject: RE: [canberrabirds] FW: Mozart
Really?
I suggest that instead of asking this question, they follow the sound and see the bird. The below uses
the word “whenever”, which suggests it is a regular thing, so hardly a difficult task. Or direct them to existing recordings of likely species.
Grey Butcherbird or Grey Shrike-thrush is
likely although they have quite a variety. Far more practical than asking a vague question like that.
For a few weeks at home I have been hearing a strange simple repeated churring noise and only in the
mornings. I thought of asking if anyone has any ideas but that would be pointless as I couldn’t get past that simple description, so I eventually tracked it down. Turns out to be a Satin Bowerbird and a call quite different from its usual. So that is the best
way to do it.
Philip
From: David
Rees
Sent: Wednesday, 30 November, 2016 8:16 AM To: Geoffrey Dabb
Cc:
Subject: Re: [canberrabirds] FW: Mozart
On Wed, Nov 30, 2016 at 7:58 AM, Geoffrey Dabb <> wrote:
Someone with a better ear than mine might be able to make something of this. Surely not a Western
Gerygone? To enable transmission I have pared the snippet down to the minimum.
From: Roger
Curnow [
Sent: Tuesday, 29 November 2016 8:01 PM
To: Geoffrey Dabb
Subject: Re: Mozart
Sent: Tuesday, November 29, 2016 19:54
Thanks Roger - I’ll reflect on this. May I share with the chatline? g
From:
Roger Curnow
Sent: Tuesday, 29 November 2016 7:09 PM
To: Geoffrey Dabb
Subject: Mozart
I have a musical friend (a pair of them actually) who claim that at this time of the year
whenever (except when accompanied by me) they walk through Westbourne Woods
they hear a bird which repeats 9 notes.
The first eight are the opening notes of some piece by Mozart, but it gets the 9th wrong.
They hear it near the start of their walk (the GG’s end).
About where the Grey Butcherbird is to be found.
in fact he was my first candidate given its tendency to imitate other birds,
but not only was the tune wrong, so too was the timbre.
They recorded the attached for me saying that was as close as you could get on man made instruments.
Any suggestions appreciated.
I think it is nine notes but listening to the attached maybe it is seven.
no matter how unmusical you are you would have to be better than me.
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