![]() The finches sensed this and began mating.Īs the drought broke, we heard the males sing more, peaking around the time the female birds laid their eggs. Water drove grass growth – and that meant seeds were coming. Simon Griffithīut then the climate cycle shifted from drought to rains and flood. Researcher checking one of the acoustic recording stations during a sandstorm at the height of the drought in February 2019. The two songs below are from male zebra finches – but they’re clearly very different from each other. 'Tis the season to be jolly: singing Christmas carols together isn't just a tradition, it's also good for you So why do they do it? When each male sings their own unmistakable songs, it lets others in the group figure out who is singing – and gauge how many males are close by. ![]() Zebra finch songs can be heard only by birds within a few metres, and they’re often sung when birds perch together in the same bush. When birds sing softly, it’s a sign the song isn’t a warning about territory. We chose this species because the males sing their own individually distinctive songs – and they do it relatively quietly, compared to the loudspeaker bugling of, say, a currawong. To capture their song, we installed more than 20 microphones and recorded them from dawn to dusk every four days over a whole year. But to discover how they act in the wild, we had to go remote to a study area near Broken Hill. Zebra finches are one of Australia’s most-studied birds, because they’re easy to keep in captivity. They’re highly social, and are known as a bird species able to learn new songs. Zebra finches travel in large flocks through Australia’s arid interior, looking for seeds. In some species, birdsong promotes harmony at a species level – and boost bonding between a male and his partner.įlocks of zebra finches roam the interior, looking for seeds and water. More and more, we’re learning cooperation is there too. So when you hear a melodious song, enjoy it. It even helps these tiny birds to coordinate their nest building, mating and reproduction when there’s about to be abundant food for their young. Our study of highly social zebra finches found the song of the males boosts social cohesion in local populations. In some species, birdsong is much less about competition and much more about social cooperation. There’s some truth to it – in many species, even the most beautiful song by a male in another’s territory will invite attack.īut birdsong isn’t one dimensional. A prettier version of nature red in tooth and claw, as Tennyson put it. When you hear beautiful birdsong, such as the warbling of the Australasian magpie, you might believe it’s a sign of intense competition for territory or showing off to attract a mate.Īfter all, that’s the way birdsong is often thought of – a way for male birds to compete with each other.
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