What is that noisy robin telling you?

How and Why Animals Communicate by Nicolas

Mathevon

(Princeton University Press)

The best thing about mornings in spring and summer is the song of the blackbird, letting rip from the top of a nearby telegraph pole.

In my mind, the blackbird is shouting out: “The sun is shining, it’s going to be an amazing day. Get out of bed!” But it’s not that simple. He could be calling out to mates, defending territory or sounding out a warning.

If you want to dig deeper into the most recent learning about how animals communicate then try this new book "The Voice of Nature" by Nicholas

Mathevon.

Mathevon is Distinguished Professor of Neurosciences with a worldwide experience of this subject and he transports us from the Amazon jungle to the Arctic to reveal amazing animal vocalisations. He also brings these chirps, squawks and barks into our own gardens for birds like the wren and the blackbird.

“As I write these lines in my house in a rather quiet neighbourhood, a common Eurasian blackbird sings loudly a few metres away from me (“tooodeee-too-tooo-deeee”). Every two or three minutes, a car drives along the street. Its noise does not completely cover the blackbird’s vocalisations... Another car. The blackbird is silent perhaps discouraged?”

I remember waking up during lockdown thinking that the blackbirds were singing even louder than usual. Does Mathevon back up my conclusion that the birds were noisier without the constant hum of humanity? Can we have a national No Car Day?

There is certainly an interesting strand that looks at tone of voice. While we probably recognise bird alarm calls are there other subtleties that we are missing.

Mathevon describes an experiment he carried out with pet dogs, playing them a call in a neutral tone and then one that could be described as baby talk – “who’s a good boy” “hello cutie”.

The dogs did not respond to the former, but went crazy when they heard the baby talk. The Voice of Nature is written at a level that will appeal to everyone because of the wide ranging examples that the author uses to colour some of the more intricate descriptions of sounds made by creatures.

I love this book, it is introducing me to the calls of exotic creatures while firmly bringing things back home to creatures like the blackbird, blackcap and wren that I know so well.

Alan Wright

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Tales of the Western Woods

The 2023 issue of Wildlife in North Lancashire is now available with Tales from the Western Woods, Yellow Slug-marine and wildlife gardening, being some of the interesting topics.

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NLWG, is holding its Summer Wildlife Fair on Sunday, July 23, at Fairfield Orchard in Lancaster. There will be static displays on various themes including heathland, woodland, coastal, leaf litter and pond life. There will also be activities for children. There will also be walks looking for insects, wildflowers and spiders.