when we listen to each other we do so to understand and share our feelings and
understand and share our feelings and
understand and share our feelings and it’s similar with nature the sounds of
it’s similar with nature the sounds of
it’s similar with nature the sounds of nature are reaching information and when
nature are reaching information and when
nature are reaching information and when we listen we can find a personal
we listen we can find a personal
we listen we can find a personal connection with with life around us so
connection with with life around us so
connection with with life around us so today I would like to invite you to
today I would like to invite you to
today I would like to invite you to listen more deeply to nature and I’m
listen more deeply to nature and I’m
listen more deeply to nature and I’m going to share a little of what I’ve
going to share a little of what I’ve
going to share a little of what I’ve come to understand by doing so and I’ll
come to understand by doing so and I’ll
come to understand by doing so and I’ll begin with bird song because birds are
begin with bird song because birds are
begin with bird song because birds are acoustic creatures and they create the
acoustic creatures and they create the
acoustic creatures and they create the most extraordinary variety of sounds
most extraordinary variety of sounds
most extraordinary variety of sounds they do so with their unique vocal organ
they do so with their unique vocal organ
they do so with their unique vocal organ called the syrinx and when you consider
called the syrinx and when you consider
called the syrinx and when you consider just how significant bird song is to
just how significant bird song is to
just how significant bird song is to them you can appreciate that the
them you can appreciate that the
them you can appreciate that the evolution of the syrinx is important for
evolution of the syrinx is important for
evolution of the syrinx is important for them as the development of feathers and
them as the development of feathers and
them as the development of feathers and flight itself this is the European
flight itself this is the European
flight itself this is the European nightingale famed for its song I’ve got
nightingale famed for its song I’ve got
nightingale famed for its song I’ve got to admit when I first encountered them I
to admit when I first encountered them I
to admit when I first encountered them I was a little disappointed I thought they
was a little disappointed I thought they
was a little disappointed I thought they sounded a bit twittery however as I
sounded a bit twittery however as I
sounded a bit twittery however as I listened more deeply I could hear that
listened more deeply I could hear that
listened more deeply I could hear that he was a bird that poured out its spirit
he was a bird that poured out its spirit
he was a bird that poured out its spirit in song of such richness and diversity
in song of such richness and diversity
in song of such richness and diversity and variety and dare I say it creativity
and variety and dare I say it creativity
and variety and dare I say it creativity now in playing this to you I’d like to
now in playing this to you I’d like to
now in playing this to you I’d like to introduce spectrograms a spectrogram is
introduce spectrograms a spectrogram is
introduce spectrograms a spectrogram is a visual representation of what your
a visual representation of what your
a visual representation of what your hearings with time progressing
hearings with time progressing
hearings with time progressing horizontally and the intensity of sounds
horizontally and the intensity of sounds
horizontally and the intensity of sounds from low to high frequencies displayed
from low to high frequencies displayed
from low to high frequencies displayed vertically so just have a listen to what
vertically so just have a listen to what
vertically so just have a listen to what this nightingale is doing
each bird species uses specific
each bird species uses specific vocalizations and vocal behaviors to
vocalizations and vocal behaviors to
vocalizations and vocal behaviors to facilitate the way that it lives in the
facilitate the way that it lives in the
facilitate the way that it lives in the world so when you’re hearing birdsong
world so when you’re hearing birdsong
world so when you’re hearing birdsong you’re hearing how that species survives
you’re hearing how that species survives
you’re hearing how that species survives and just when you’ve got your head
and just when you’ve got your head
and just when you’ve got your head around the simplicity of that
around the simplicity of that
around the simplicity of that understanding a bird will come along and
understanding a bird will come along and
understanding a bird will come along and do something utterly unexpected on this
do something utterly unexpected on this
do something utterly unexpected on this occasion I’d set up my microphones near
occasion I’d set up my microphones near
occasion I’d set up my microphones near the bow of a spotted bow bird and in
the bow of a spotted bow bird and in
the bow of a spotted bow bird and in over 2 hours he done little more than
over 2 hours he done little more than
over 2 hours he done little more than his usual rasping and hissing calls but
his usual rasping and hissing calls but
his usual rasping and hissing calls but when I returned to retrieve my rig he
when I returned to retrieve my rig he
when I returned to retrieve my rig he suddenly began imitating the scariest
suddenly began imitating the scariest
suddenly began imitating the scariest sounds that he knew in it in an attempt
sounds that he knew in it in an attempt
sounds that he knew in it in an attempt to scare me off the sounds of not one
to scare me off the sounds of not one
to scare me off the sounds of not one but two birds of prey a whistling kite
but two birds of prey a whistling kite
but two birds of prey a whistling kite and a brown Falcon
when I encounter behaviour like this it
when I encounter behaviour like this it reminds me that birds are not simple
reminds me that birds are not simple
reminds me that birds are not simple instinctive animals they are intelligent
instinctive animals they are intelligent
instinctive animals they are intelligent creatures and that birdsong is an
creatures and that birdsong is an
creatures and that birdsong is an expression of varying degrees of avian
expression of varying degrees of avian
expression of varying degrees of avian intelligence now compared to the often
intelligence now compared to the often
intelligence now compared to the often precise sounds that birds use mammal
precise sounds that birds use mammal
precise sounds that birds use mammal vocalizations are more individual they
vocalizations are more individual they
vocalizations are more individual they are reflective of character of mood
are reflective of character of mood
are reflective of character of mood personality and emotion I love this next
personality and emotion I love this next
personality and emotion I love this next recording but getting it was one of the
recording but getting it was one of the
recording but getting it was one of the most intimidating exercises because it
most intimidating exercises because it
most intimidating exercises because it involved getting my microphones within
involved getting my microphones within
involved getting my microphones within 30 meters of 200 of Africa’s least
30 meters of 200 of Africa’s least
30 meters of 200 of Africa’s least predictable and most dangerous animals
predictable and most dangerous animals
predictable and most dangerous animals however this was necessary for me to
however this was necessary for me to
however this was necessary for me to capture the full dynamics of their
capture the full dynamics of their
capture the full dynamics of their vocalizations and I wonder whether in
vocalizations and I wonder whether in
vocalizations and I wonder whether in listening you can feel some mammal
listening you can feel some mammal
listening you can feel some mammal empathy with these lazing hippos
mammal and bird vocalizations are often
mammal and bird vocalizations are often very complex and the culmination of
very complex and the culmination of
very complex and the culmination of evolution particularly over the last few
evolution particularly over the last few
evolution particularly over the last few tens of millions of years but other
tens of millions of years but other
tens of millions of years but other sounds in the natural world chorus of
sounds in the natural world chorus of
sounds in the natural world chorus of crickets on a warm evening frogs after
crickets on a warm evening frogs after
crickets on a warm evening frogs after rain a far more ancient and hint at the
rain a far more ancient and hint at the
rain a far more ancient and hint at the very beginnings of animal communication
very beginnings of animal communication
very beginnings of animal communication so when we listen to the sounds of
so when we listen to the sounds of
so when we listen to the sounds of nature
nature
nature today we’re hearing the story of our
today we’re hearing the story of our
today we’re hearing the story of our planet and this gives me perspective in
planet and this gives me perspective in
planet and this gives me perspective in my listening so too does the realization
my listening so too does the realization
my listening so too does the realization that in my lifetime we could be losing
that in my lifetime we could be losing
that in my lifetime we could be losing some of these voices this is a regent
some of these voices this is a regent
some of these voices this is a regent honeyeater I could tell you about the
honeyeater I could tell you about the
honeyeater I could tell you about the large flocks that early settlers
large flocks that early settlers
large flocks that early settlers encountered over a hundred years ago of
encountered over a hundred years ago of
encountered over a hundred years ago of the pitifully few remaining wild birds
the pitifully few remaining wild birds
the pitifully few remaining wild birds and the conservation and research
and the conservation and research
and the conservation and research efforts being focused on them now but
efforts being focused on them now but
efforts being focused on them now but what I’d like to do is let you hear why
what I’d like to do is let you hear why
what I’d like to do is let you hear why losing a species such as this would be a
losing a species such as this would be a
losing a species such as this would be a great tragedy here is the beautiful
great tragedy here is the beautiful
great tragedy here is the beautiful living spirit of the region honey
when we hear individual creatures we can
when we hear individual creatures we can hear their consciousness in the world
hear their consciousness in the world
hear their consciousness in the world but when we listen more inclusively to
but when we listen more inclusively to
but when we listen more inclusively to all the sounds of nature around us we
all the sounds of nature around us we
all the sounds of nature around us we can hear dynamics and interaction we can
can hear dynamics and interaction we can
can hear dynamics and interaction we can hear relationships we can hear processes
hear relationships we can hear processes
hear relationships we can hear processes in the ecosystem we can hear how nature
in the ecosystem we can hear how nature
in the ecosystem we can hear how nature actually works and this first became
actually works and this first became
actually works and this first became apparent to me in the experience of a
apparent to me in the experience of a
apparent to me in the experience of a bird wave now a bird wave is a mixed
bird wave now a bird wave is a mixed
bird wave now a bird wave is a mixed species feeding flock that moves through
species feeding flock that moves through
species feeding flock that moves through the forest as a group and in tropical
the forest as a group and in tropical
the forest as a group and in tropical regions they can be a breathtaking
regions they can be a breathtaking
regions they can be a breathtaking experience involving perhaps dozens of
experience involving perhaps dozens of
experience involving perhaps dozens of species and hundreds of individual birds
species and hundreds of individual birds
species and hundreds of individual birds so imagine yourself in a rain forest
so imagine yourself in a rain forest
so imagine yourself in a rain forest such as this one in Sulawesi Indonesia
such as this one in Sulawesi Indonesia
such as this one in Sulawesi Indonesia everything is still everything is quiet
everything is still everything is quiet
everything is still everything is quiet and then you notice a single bird fly in
and then you notice a single bird fly in
and then you notice a single bird fly in it begins calling and then another one
it begins calling and then another one
it begins calling and then another one and another and another a few minutes
and another and another a few minutes
and another and another a few minutes later the forest is full of birdsong
later the forest is full of birdsong
later the forest is full of birdsong there are birds everywhere there is
there are birds everywhere there is
there are birds everywhere there is movement everywhere there hopping along
movement everywhere there hopping along
movement everywhere there hopping along branches and through the undergrowth
branches and through the undergrowth
branches and through the undergrowth every leaf seems to have a bird hanging
every leaf seems to have a bird hanging
every leaf seems to have a bird hanging off it
in India ornithologists have told me
in India ornithologists have told me they’ve observed that first bird that
they’ve observed that first bird that
they’ve observed that first bird that flies in is often a racket-tail trongo
flies in is often a racket-tail trongo
flies in is often a racket-tail trongo it is an extraordinary mimic and they
it is an extraordinary mimic and they
it is an extraordinary mimic and they suspect that like the Pied Piper it
suspect that like the Pied Piper it
suspect that like the Pied Piper it draws the rest of the flock through the
draws the rest of the flock through the
draws the rest of the flock through the forest with it while the integrity of
forest with it while the integrity of
forest with it while the integrity of the flock is maintained by all those
the flock is maintained by all those
the flock is maintained by all those individual contact calls so in a bird
individual contact calls so in a bird
individual contact calls so in a bird wave we can hear the inner workings of a
wave we can hear the inner workings of a
wave we can hear the inner workings of a complex dynamic cooperative behavior
complex dynamic cooperative behavior
complex dynamic cooperative behavior involving many many species but for me
involving many many species but for me
involving many many species but for me personally the more profound
personally the more profound
personally the more profound understanding about how nature functions
understanding about how nature functions
understanding about how nature functions has come from listening to something far
has come from listening to something far
has come from listening to something far less exotic far more familiar it’s the
less exotic far more familiar it’s the
less exotic far more familiar it’s the dawn chorus I don’t know how many dawn
dawn chorus I don’t know how many dawn
dawn chorus I don’t know how many dawn choruses I’ve listened to and recorded
choruses I’ve listened to and recorded
choruses I’ve listened to and recorded over the years but I’ve come to hear
over the years but I’ve come to hear
over the years but I’ve come to hear them as a nuanced negotiation conducted
them as a nuanced negotiation conducted
them as a nuanced negotiation conducted primarily between individuals of the
primarily between individuals of the
primarily between individuals of the same species to define their territories
same species to define their territories
same species to define their territories and their breeding relationships so when
and their breeding relationships so when
and their breeding relationships so when a bird establishes a new territory it
a bird establishes a new territory it
a bird establishes a new territory it will often adopt the local dialect to
will often adopt the local dialect to
will often adopt the local dialect to signal that it now belongs and then it
signal that it now belongs and then it
signal that it now belongs and then it will alternate that song backwards and
will alternate that song backwards and
will alternate that song backwards and forwards with its neighbors and here are
forwards with its neighbors and here are
forwards with its neighbors and here are a pair of white fronted honey it is
a pair of white fronted honey it is
a pair of white fronted honey it is doing just that they are recognizing and
doing just that they are recognizing and
doing just that they are recognizing and acknowledging each other
so across the avian world birds use song
so across the avian world birds use song and sound to negotiate their
and sound to negotiate their
and sound to negotiate their relationships rather than actually
relationships rather than actually
relationships rather than actually physically compete rather than
physically compete rather than
physically compete rather than physically fight this is a supreme
physically fight this is a supreme
physically fight this is a supreme adaptation so negotiated relationships
adaptation so negotiated relationships
adaptation so negotiated relationships cooperative behaviors intelligence
cooperative behaviors intelligence
cooperative behaviors intelligence together I’ve come to appreciate these
together I’ve come to appreciate these
together I’ve come to appreciate these as indicating a deeper principle that
as indicating a deeper principle that
as indicating a deeper principle that natural systems thrive not by engagement
natural systems thrive not by engagement
natural systems thrive not by engagement with competition as we often understand
with competition as we often understand
with competition as we often understand but a quite different process that
but a quite different process that
but a quite different process that minimizes and avoids a lot of the
minimizes and avoids a lot of the
minimizes and avoids a lot of the detrimental effects of competition and
detrimental effects of competition and
detrimental effects of competition and the reason is simple in life vying over
the reason is simple in life vying over
the reason is simple in life vying over resources is costly it’s risky it
resources is costly it’s risky it
resources is costly it’s risky it expends energy it induces stress it’s a
expends energy it induces stress it’s a
expends energy it induces stress it’s a distraction and it may only lead to
distraction and it may only lead to
distraction and it may only lead to short-term benefits so a species that
short-term benefits so a species that
short-term benefits so a species that competes is disadvantaged relative to a
competes is disadvantaged relative to a
competes is disadvantaged relative to a species that is adapted to not having to
species that is adapted to not having to
species that is adapted to not having to overtime over evolutionary time life
overtime over evolutionary time life
overtime over evolutionary time life differentiates into species ever more
differentiates into species ever more
differentiates into species ever more refined in their own ecological niche
refined in their own ecological niche
refined in their own ecological niche their own way of being in the world the
their own way of being in the world the
their own way of being in the world the outcome of this process is biodiversity
outcome of this process is biodiversity
outcome of this process is biodiversity which I think of as nature’s spectacular
which I think of as nature’s spectacular
which I think of as nature’s spectacular success at finding ways of minimizing
success at finding ways of minimizing
success at finding ways of minimizing the damage of competition so bringing
the damage of competition so bringing
the damage of competition so bringing this back to sound that sound is so
this back to sound that sound is so
this back to sound that sound is so fundamental to biodiversity and species
fundamental to biodiversity and species
fundamental to biodiversity and species identity leads to an interesting idea
identity leads to an interesting idea
identity leads to an interesting idea that changes in
that changes in
that changes in repertoire and vocal behavior can be
repertoire and vocal behavior can be
repertoire and vocal behavior can be indicative of the emergence of new
indicative of the emergence of new
indicative of the emergence of new species and we have a wonderful example
species and we have a wonderful example
species and we have a wonderful example of that in a local songbird and see what
of that in a local songbird and see what
of that in a local songbird and see what you recognize it’s a golden Whistler
you recognize it’s a golden Whistler
you recognize it’s a golden Whistler they’re found widely throughout eastern
they’re found widely throughout eastern
they’re found widely throughout eastern and southern Australian with races
and southern Australian with races
and southern Australian with races throughout the Western Pacific Islands
throughout the Western Pacific Islands
throughout the Western Pacific Islands so when I visited the Solomon Islands
so when I visited the Solomon Islands
so when I visited the Solomon Islands recently I was curious to hear one and I
recently I was curious to hear one and I
recently I was curious to hear one and I spoke to my local guide he said I will
spoke to my local guide he said I will
spoke to my local guide he said I will take you to hear one tomorrow morning
take you to hear one tomorrow morning
take you to hear one tomorrow morning actually they are my favorite songbird I
actually they are my favorite songbird I
actually they are my favorite songbird I thought well that makes sense I mean
thought well that makes sense I mean
thought well that makes sense I mean they have a very pleasant song so the
they have a very pleasant song so the
they have a very pleasant song so the next morning we rose early and we set
next morning we rose early and we set
next morning we rose early and we set off in the early hours through in the
off in the early hours through in the
off in the early hours through in the dark along this winding narrow track
dark along this winding narrow track
dark along this winding narrow track through dense tropical jungle and after
through dense tropical jungle and after
through dense tropical jungle and after over an hour of trekking we stopped and
over an hour of trekking we stopped and
over an hour of trekking we stopped and I set up my equipment to await the dawn
I set up my equipment to await the dawn
I set up my equipment to await the dawn chorus it didn’t happen
chorus it didn’t happen
chorus it didn’t happen what did happen was the golden Whistler
what did happen was the golden Whistler
what did happen was the golden Whistler it was the loudest songbird I have ever
it was the loudest songbird I have ever
it was the loudest songbird I have ever encountered it was close to overloading
encountered it was close to overloading
encountered it was close to overloading my microphones I had to turn down the
my microphones I had to turn down the
my microphones I had to turn down the input gain on my recorder it was
input gain on my recorder it was
input gain on my recorder it was distorting my eardrums and once it began
distorting my eardrums and once it began
distorting my eardrums and once it began seen its Sun continuously for over two
seen its Sun continuously for over two
seen its Sun continuously for over two and a half hours this is the Solomon
and a half hours this is the Solomon
and a half hours this is the Solomon Islands golden Whistler
[Laughter]
[Laughter] [Music]
no doubt this birds loud song is an
no doubt this birds loud song is an adaptation to the densely vegetated
adaptation to the densely vegetated
adaptation to the densely vegetated habitats in which it lives but in the
habitats in which it lives but in the
habitats in which it lives but in the process of developing this new
process of developing this new
process of developing this new repertoire it’s become a new species
repertoire it’s become a new species
repertoire it’s become a new species ornithologists have now given
ornithologists have now given
ornithologists have now given provisional species status to this bird
provisional species status to this bird
provisional species status to this bird as the Oriole Whistler so to sum up when
as the Oriole Whistler so to sum up when
as the Oriole Whistler so to sum up when we listen to individual animals in the
we listen to individual animals in the
we listen to individual animals in the world we can hear their sentience and
world we can hear their sentience and
world we can hear their sentience and their absolute right to share this
their absolute right to share this
their absolute right to share this planet with us when we listen to all the
planet with us when we listen to all the
planet with us when we listen to all the sounds of nature together we can hear
sounds of nature together we can hear
sounds of nature together we can hear that life is shaped more by
that life is shaped more by
that life is shaped more by relationships of compatibility and
relationships of compatibility and
relationships of compatibility and mutual benefit than competition and that
mutual benefit than competition and that
mutual benefit than competition and that sound has shaped life itself sound that
sound has shaped life itself sound that
sound has shaped life itself sound that mysterious invisible ephemeral
mysterious invisible ephemeral
mysterious invisible ephemeral phenomenon is the dark matter of
phenomenon is the dark matter of
phenomenon is the dark matter of evolution so I invite you to listen more
evolution so I invite you to listen more
evolution so I invite you to listen more deeply to nature to spend more time in
deeply to nature to spend more time in
deeply to nature to spend more time in wild places that wild other better and
wild places that wild other better and
wild places that wild other better and when you’re there to pause and be still
when you’re there to pause and be still
when you’re there to pause and be still and to listen to life around you perhaps
and to listen to life around you perhaps
and to listen to life around you perhaps like myself and others you’d like to
like myself and others you’d like to
like myself and others you’d like to make your own sound recordings but
make your own sound recordings but
make your own sound recordings but whatever you do I hope you listen with
whatever you do I hope you listen with
whatever you do I hope you listen with an open heart and a curious mind because
an open heart and a curious mind because
an open heart and a curious mind because your personal relationship with nature
your personal relationship with nature
your personal relationship with nature and your place within the
and your place within the
and your place within the interconnectedness of all of life is
interconnectedness of all of life is
interconnectedness of all of life is audible
audible
audible [Applause]
”
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