There has been recent discussion on the Australian mailing list
<birding-aus> concerning the contention that Blackbirds in Australia (wher=
e
they are not native) don't sing as well as do English Blackbirds. (Turdus
merula, I assume.)
Years ago, Olivier Messiaen, the French composer (now deceased) sent me a
two-cassette set of European Birdsong produced by Jean Roche. I turned to
that to hear at least a French Blackbird. The announcements on the analogu=
e
cassette were very blurred. Seemed to lack higher frequencies - even with
my hearing aids to compensate for my age-affected hearing. I could convinc=
e
myself that I was hearing "Merle noir" because I knew I should be. And I
think also "Chant du male". But the words were barely distinguishable.
So my query is this: is loss of high frequency sound to be expected with
long-term storage of analogue magnetic tape? (I have valuable lyrebird
recordings on Uher reel to reel tape, older than the Roche cassettes.)
Syd Curtis in Brisbane
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