birding-aus

Mimicry by Lyrebird

To: <>
Subject: Mimicry by Lyrebird
From: Keith Stockwell <>
Date: Mon, 16 Apr 2007 15:28:37 +1000
Hi all,

A few days before the last federal election, participants in a BOCA
north-east NSW tagalong camped at Ironpot Creek, Lamington Range.

It was a delightful little camping ground amidst rain forest with a small
creek and lots of birds.

Apart from our mob, there were some 'hippies' camping there that first
night. Next morning, we heard repetitive flute-like ascending and
descending notes and assumed one of them was learning to play the flute.
They left shortly thereafter.

It was the same morning that a crafty bush rat entered my tent, pried open
a plastic container of muesli, ate some and, in return, deposited calling
cards which resembled raisins. I have yet to repay David A-T the WeetBix
which he 'lent' me.

Next morning, and the morning after, just after first light, we heard the
flute-like notes again and wondered what was creating them.

One member of our group, Howard Plowright, was recording sounds for the
BOCA set of bird-call CDs. I wonder if Howard captured those calls on tape.

After much debate, the consensus was that the calls were those of a
Russet-tailed Thrushg. There were several Thrushes in the area from where
the sounds emanated.

After reading recent postings, I wonder if perhaps we were wrong, and that
a Lyrebird was responsible.

Keith Stockwell
Moama

>Is there anyone in b-aus with contacts in the NP & WS?  If it was in a Parks
>Service visitor centre, there would surely be documentation?
>
>Is it just coincidence of another event, or could it have been flute instead
>of Oboe?
>
>Neville Fenton was the N P Ranger at Dorrigo for a number of years.  He
>introduced me to the Dorrigo "flute-playing" lyrebirds...
>
>Syd
>
>
>> From: "Peter Madvig" <>
>> Date: Sat, 14 Apr 2007 12:31:01 +1000
>> To: <>
>> Subject: Re: [Birding-Aus] Mimicry by Lyrebird
>>
>> A quick addition to this topic, afore it 'croaks'-
>>
>> I recall in the '70s at the Kalkari (?) visitors' centre near Bobbin Head,
>> Ku-rin-gai Nat. Park, northern Sydney, listening to a recording of a local
>> Lyrebird going through the scales of an oboe! It was supposed to have been
>> passed on to the next generation....
>> Peter Madvig



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