Nice idea. This is a fairly daunting thing to ask. There is a limited range of people who are competent and willing to get in front of a crowd and talk. Finding
the few among those who are willing to extend this to talking like birds is more difficult. Though I and no doubt many other Coggers know enough to do reasonable bird imitations when we choose our subjects. But is that interesting? The question is: what is
the format of the event? Are people able to nominate what they do? Who is judging? Is it sort of serious or just ridiculous? What is the audience?
The format is important. For example if I say I can do a Whistling Kite or Barking Owl or Screaming Piya call that might be fun and sort of close but is only
for things I know the sound. If asked to do a Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, that is simply not a reasonable ask. Or is it just a joke session to ask people to do a laughing kookaburra or a chicken laying an egg?
And for those who are wondering. The Screaming Piya call occurs on any number of films from the South American rain forests. I wondered for years what is that
sound. I tracked it down through the facilities of the internet (xeno canto I think) and actually I probably can’t do it.
Philip
From: Canberrabirds [
On Behalf Of B&RGraham
Sent: Tuesday, 2 March, 2021 2:02 PM
To:
Subject: [Canberrabirds] Renewed call for bird callers for NGA performance
Ketura Budd has not received any takers to make bird calls for this Friday Night performance at Enlighten Live. The NGA has offered to donate $250 to COG if we help. . Contact
details are in the attachments.