BIRD MUSIC

Manawatu Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 3489, 27 October 1926, Page 11

BIRD MUSIC

STUDY OF NEW ZEALAND’S FEATHERED SONGSTERS. The curator of the Turnbull Library, of Wellington, Mr. Johannes Anderson, is a world authority on bird music, and especially of the songs o£ New Zealand’s feathered songsters. As the guest of the Luncheon Club yesterday, he delighted members with a brief insight into his studies in this direction, and revealed a wealth of interesting information little known to the average New . Zealander, and even to many who pride themselves in an Intimate knowledge of the Dominion’s feathered life. Mr. Andersen explained that the reason he had taken up the study of New Zealand birds was because many of them were destined to become extinct. So even if the birds were lost, by his endeavour their songs would be preserved. Birds, he said, had a keen sense of hearing and they seemed to appreciate the value of harmonics. Quite a large number of the songs could be taken down and the birds had a very large repertoire. The tui alone had over 100 songs. Now Zealand birds, he had found, had definite songs with phrases combined in regular sequences. The thrush, an English bird, never did that. It might repeat the phrases, but he never put them in . the same sequence twiceThe Now Zealand tui and bell birds could sing duets and part songs. This! seemed to prove that .'• n y knew what they were going to sin ’'eforehand. The grey warbler had '>fferent song for each different 1 ity. although it also had a universal ; The speaker ably illustrated a lu number of note sequences, expla’ - ing the variations that were to be found on occasions and pointing out that these alterations were deliberate and only temporary, as the birds inevitably went back again to the definite motif. Mr. Andersen dealt chiefly with the song of the tui, and by whistling the tunes gave his audience an excellent conception of that bird’s vocal powers. He stated that he had been able to take down a p\rt song to which five tuis contributed and he had generally had ample opportunity to chock hig results and so prove his reasonings. The members’ appreciation of the lecturette was conveyed to Mr. Andersen by the club secretary, Mr, J. Tl. Stevens. Mr. C. H. Ennis presided.