Challenge 2 - Mimicry
Learning intentions
I can practice vocalising bird calls and link these calls to a bird species.
Success Criteria
I can practice listening to and making bird sounds.
I can breath deeply and begin to control my breath to make different sounds.
Challenge 2 - Mimicry
Our voice box, called a larynx, has a wonderful range and we can mimic many species! We can practice this skill to make a range of sounds. This challenges us to listen closely to the calls of our wild birds as they communicate to their partner, fledgling or flock, and make alarm calls.
Once you know a bird call and have listened to it several times you can practice making the calls. Sometimes it takes a while to learn how to experiment with your voice and mimic a sound. After a while you may work out how to mimic a new bird call! Can you whistle like a rosella, hoot like an owl, cry like the black cockatoo, or warble with our magpies?
You could record your attempt and play it back and see if it sounds like the bird call.
This can be fun to try and you may make some new bird friends along the way. They can be curious about the sounds you make, and some may pick up your tune! Find out a bit more about your bird while you are learning about bird calls and bird communication. You can find out about its habitat, diet, how it attracts a mate, and behaviours.
Sulphur crested cockatoos call to family as they flock and recognise each other individually in a large group.
Rainbow lorikeets are known for their sharp calls, but the sounds they make vary depending on whether they are chatting with their partner, asking a parent for dinner, getting together with a flock, or sounding an alarm call. Can you hear them making different kinds of calls? They are also inquisitive and will watch you. They feed on flower nectar and fruit.
Many birds need tree hollows to nest and raise young. Hollows form in mature gum trees. We need to protect mature trees and plant and grow trees for our birds. Check out the Hollows for Homes project with the Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney and be part of citizen science.
What we are looking for
In this competition we will assess your ability to vocalise and mimic a bird call with three key elements:
Accuracy of the bird call vocalisation
Enthusiasm
How clearly you make the sound
Listen to the sound library of bird calls listed in Challenge 1 - Listening. This will help you to learn bird calls at home.
You may also try some of these warm up vocal exercises:
Stand tall and breathe in through your nose till you feel your chest rise and and lungs fully expand. Breath out slowly as you make an ooh, ahh, mmm, sound.
Breath in fully, then breath out slowly and make a rising laughter sound, like a melodic singing kookaburra. Then breath in again and as you breath out slowly and try a descending sound.
Breath in deeply and breath out with a controlled whistle and aim to hold a clear note. You can practice making a melody. You can also try to sing a note as you whistle.
Breath deeply, purse your lips to make a raspberry-brrr sound.
Watch a short video of the Bournda Bird Olympics to see how their event unfolded.
Powerful owls are our largest owl species. They are vulnerable in NSW. They need large tree hollows to nest and raise their chicks.
Rainbow lorrikeets are highly social animals. This one is looking for nectar. They need tree hollows for homes.
Greater egrets live in wetlands. They wade through shallow water and fish for small aquatic animals.