WM James Davis wrote:
> However, it would be very interesting to determine if there is an
> underlying pattern to sounds (similarity in structural components of
> calls) common to all populations. I would predict that the calls
> which
> are most strikingly different are those that are sexually selected
> (i.e. females used to select a mate etc.). There is currently, intense
> interest in how an individual's social experience influences vocal
> dialects in birds. The currawong would be a good species to study.
>
I suspect that this is probably the case. The basic "curra-wong" call
structure is still somewhat recognisable in different regions, though
the duration of the parts with respect to each other varies. The sound
of the call varies considerably, but the structure less so, thus
explaining vernaculars such as "currawong", "chillawong", etc. Perhaps
then the western Gariwerd birds should be called "guddabangs"?? The
ones around home are certainly "currawongs"!
Do Pied Currawongs from different dialect groups recognise each other as
Pied Currawongs? Do they have any opportunity to do so? Some
populations are already relatively isolated geographically, eg. those at
Gariwerd from the main Great Dividing Range some 70-80 km east, and
maybe this leads to particular local distortions, though there may be
some intermixing of altitudinal migrants & wanderers in Winter (cf.
non-breeding time) on the plains between.
On the other hand, Victorian Grey Currawongs seem to me to have much
more subtle dialects.
> I hope you find my comments of interest.
>
As always, yes!
Lawrie Conole
Geelong, Victoria, Australia
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