Fw: [BIRDING-AUS] "Birds" - a note of caution

["Tony Russell" <>]

I haven't heard a car alarm one but a bird I tracked down many years ago in Kinglake (north of Melb) was mimicking all sorts of other birds, which I guess is normal, but it also made some very mechanical sounding clicks, pops, buzzes , and thrashing noises which sounded very human machinery derived.   Had me fooled at the time because I was then a learner birder ( do we ever stop being one ?) and had no prior experience of  lyrebirds.  Most others I've heard since tend to stick to their more normal loud whistles. I believe the mimicry takes place most frequently when a male bird is displaying on his mound - is this correct ?

 

Tony.