Uncover the surprising truths about bird mimicry and vocal learning. This episode is about the hidden talents of Australian birds.

Dr Vicky Austin is interested in bird behaviour and how birds interact with each other and their environment. She is particularly fascinated by the vocalisations of female birds. Vicky’s PhD at Western Sydney University focused on the vocalisations of female Superb Lyrebirds (such as mimicry) and how females use these sounds to protect themselves and their chicks. Vicky reckons that vocalisations of female birds are just as spectacular as males and she’s here to share what she knows.

** New WONDER t-shirt out now - weekendbirder.com/store

Links:

* Vicky on Twitter - @avianbehaviour

* Vicky on Instagram - @avianbehaviour

* Vicky at the Animal Ecology Lab - animalecologylab.org/victoria-austin.html

Submit your bird mimic recordings:

* Gregory Andrews magpie mimic recording via 7news - 7news.com.au/news/nsw/magpie-filmed-mimicking-fire-truck-siren-as-bushfires-ravage-nsw-and-victoria-c-629563

* Merlin Sound ID - merlin.allaboutbirds.org/sound-id/

* BIrdNet app - https://birdnet.cornell.edu/

* iNaturalist app - inaturalist.org/posts/6315-recording-bird-calls

* Xeno-canto website - xeno-canto.org

Vicky’s recommendations:

* A First Book of Australian Backyard Bird Songs by Fred Van Gessel - au.newhollandpublishers.com/authors/fred-van-gessel.html

* Where the Lyrebird Lives by Vicky Conley and Max Hamilton - windyhollowbooks.com.au/products/where-the-lyrebird-lives

* Busy Beaks by Sarah Allen - sarahallen.com.au/shop/busy-beaks

* Bowerbird Blues by Aura Parker - illustrated.com.au/product/bowerbirdblues/13

* Google Scholar - scholar.google.com.au

Weekend Birder online:

* Website - weekendbirder.com

* Instagram - @weekend.birder

* Facebook - @weekend.birder

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