No matter how I try to limit the definition to solo out your bird Syd
I still run into problems. I know of 4 of us from this group that
watched and recorded a Red-Naped Sapsucker choose a small metal tag
on a tree to drum upon because of the obsurdly loud sound it made.
How do come up with a definition that excludes that bird?
Rich Peet
--- In "Rich Peet" <>
wrote:
> Those are examples of mechanical sound rather than vocal sound but
do
> not incorporate a choice of a foreign object to generate a sound.
>
> Greater Prairie chickens do use the ground to resonate sound while
> thumping their feet and at the same time vocalize but that is just
a
> complex display and no choice of foreign object was made.
>
> Roughed Grouse have a very specific set of needs when choosing a
dead
> log to display on. They do use a specific diameter and degree of
rot
> within the log to generate a proper mechanical resonance within
their
> display. But that too would not be an example of choosing an
object
> as an instrument. It would be more similar to woodpeckers making
the
> best possible choice of an object to drum upon.
>
> If you define the use of an instrument to be "an optional choice of
a
> foreign object to generate music. I know of no examples right now.
>
> If you take the dictionary definition as a "device for producing
> music", then any of the critters that make mechanical sound on
> foreign objects qualify as using an instrument.
>
> Rich Peet
>
> --- In "Jim Morgan"
<>
> wrote:
> > Syd - A few things come to mind such as the wing whistle noises
> made by the
> > Mourning Dove, the booming of Common Nighthawks, bill clicking
by
> Barn Owls
> > and woodpecker drumming. I'm sure the group can point out many
> others.
> >
> > Jim
> >
> > Jim Morgan
> > Acting Moderator
> > Nature Recordists e-mail group:
> > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/naturerecordists
> > Personal Photography:
> > http://wingsofnature.com/
> >
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