HN Theater @HNTheaterMonth

Even more fascinating, in my opinion, are Lyrebirds [0]. They have been observed the imitate artificial (human-made) sounds such as those of camera shutter, chainsaws [1], and construction work [2].

Not only do I find it impressive that they're capable of producing these kinds of sounds, but probably much more the necessary memory-recall for this. Birds have rather little brain-mass after all, so they must have some excellent way of 'sampling', distinguishing, and storing auditory stimuli.

[0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lyrebird

[1] https://youtu.be/VjE0Kdfos4Y?t=104

[2] https://youtu.be/C0ZffIh0-NA

⬐ xtiansimon

Yet more evidence of Dangerous Memes, if one presumes as a result of imitating a chainsaw, our Lyrebird is disadvantaged in reproduction.

https://www.susanblackmore.uk/chapters/dangerous-memes-or-wh...

⬐ stan_rogers

I expect that, sometime before I die, there will be a clip of a lyrebird doing a David Attenborough narration of a clip of a lyrebird imitating David Attenborough marvelling at some sound that a lyrebird is making.

The lyrebird can imitate a chainsaw -- among many other things. This is from the BBC's Life on Earth.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VjE0Kdfos4Y

⬐ sah2ed

That’s amazing, thanks for the share! I’m one of today’s lucky 10,000.

⬐ emmelaich

Excellent! I thought everyone had seen this, indeed.

Don't fall for the parody though ...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KOFy8QkNWWs

⬐ twic

Nor this apparent imitation of the clearly inimitable Big Shaq:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jzT_TtrVcRk

⬐ alias_neo

Wow thanks. The camera shutter and car alarm were something but that chain saw sound is incredible.

⬐ emmelaich

Note that there is a bit of subterfuge in this -- some or all of the lyrebirds mimicking were in captivity and would have heard these unnatural sounds much more than the typical wild bird.

https://theconversation.com/lyrebirds-mimicking-chainsaws-fa...

An apt name for the technology considering the marvel of nature that the lyre bird is.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VjE0Kdfos4Y

I had to look this up because I though you were jesting. Turns out Lyrebirds can mimic nearly any complex sound: https://youtu.be/VjE0Kdfos4Y

I guess they've named it that because the lyrebird is an amazing impersonator. The end of this BBC clip blew my mind the first time I saw it. https://youtu.be/VjE0Kdfos4Y

But you may have a point, and the ethics section makes it clear that they are indeed very aware of that this may be misused.

Another amazing bird worth knowing about is the Lyrebird: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VjE0Kdfos4Y

It copies not just the songs of other birds, but man-made sounds as well! Check out the link, it's mindblowing.

⬐ dominotw

oh my god! I am totally blow away by this. Thank you for posting this.

⬐ sohkamyung

Unfortunately, it may not quite be true [1]. The lyrebirds that mimic the man-made sounds are not wild ones but filmed at a zoo. So far, there hasn't been recordings of wild lyrebirds mimicking human-made sounds.

I'm a David Attenborough fan, but in the interest of accuracy, this has to be made known. That video segment was made in the older days of natural history documentary where some artistic license was taken.

[1] "Lyrebirds mimicking chainsaws: fact or lie?" [ https://theconversation.com/lyrebirds-mimicking-chainsaws-fa... ]

⬐ efnx

I used to hear mocking birds mimicking car alarms when I lived in LA.

⬐ Intermernet

There are lyrebirds at the bottom of Bungonia gorge that accurately mimic the sound of people walking with racks of climbing gear. I've heard them many times. Only one point of anecdata, but I'm convinced they'll attempt to mimic any sound they're exposed to for long enough.

Edit: the article that you linked mentions that they have a range of metallic sounds in their vocab already, so I assume they've just copied the pitches and patterns distinctive to people walking with a trad rack. Still off-putting when you hear it for hours and the entire gorge can be traversed in about 20 minutes and is completely visible from a couple of pitches up a climb. You tend to assume that there's another climbing party aimlessly wandering in circles just out of sight!

Ever watched a trained parrot? Birds imitate all kinds of sounds. Doubtless a cell phone ring is in the avian call repertoire. The Lyre bird can perfectly mimick lots of man-made sounds: camera shutter, camera with a motor drive, car alarm, chainsaw. http://youtube.com/watch?v=VjE0Kdfos4Y