What a lovely description of the Pied Currawong call. I watched a presumed
post-roost flight of over 30 Pied Currawong across West Wyalong early this
morning, but they were quiet, presumably after Geelong's performance yesterday.
Steve
-----Original Message-----
From: Birding-Aus <> On Behalf Of Brian
Fleming
Sent: Friday, 18 May 2018 1:56 PM
To:
Subject: How we hear birds
The first time we ever saw and heard Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike, we thought it
made an extraordinary sound - almost a squelching sound. They were sailing
around us at Canberra Botanic Garden in its very early days. I now describe
its call as a 'Cheee-urk'. Better spoken than written - it needs a dropping
tone on the first syllable.
Around Melbourne I believe them to be partial migrants - I think one of its old
names is Summer Bird. In spring I have seen them in what I believe to be slow
circling display flights, with much calling and exaggerated wing-shuffles on
landing. I don't think I have ever seen this described.
By far the best way to distinguish the calls of Pied and Grey Currawongs is to
remember that Pied says "Come on Geelong!' I agree that human phrases are not
ideal - but they are at least memorable.
Anthea Fleming
On 18/05/2018 10:35 AM, Graeme Chapman wrote:
> Try to describe the call of a Black-faced Cuckoo-Shrike. I did once in my
> book "Common City Birds". When I read it now I think it's awful!
>
> The bird call descriptions in the field guides are so subjective. That's why
> we have the apps.
>
> According to my stats page, about a third of the visits to my website are
> people listening to the sound.
>
> Unfortunately, unaided , iPods and phones don't reproduce the very low or
> very high frequencies very well - you need to use earphones or a good
> quality speaker.
>
> For most people, particularly males, what you hear is age related. I can only
> hear now up to about 6 kHz. So much for grasswrens!
>
> With human speech, I have difficulty with people who gabble - speak really
> fast - I hear them OK but maybe the processor in my brain is also getting old.
>
> Anybody know where to have neurons renovated??
>
> Graeme Chapman
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