The Nature of Things

Secret World of Sound: Love and Rivals (63x8)

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Sound is used to impress, find a mate, and fight off a rival. In the forests of eastern Australia, the male lyrebird, one of the greatest mimics of the natural world, attempts to wow a female with his complex song – including the sounds of other birds and a car alarm. In the vast grasslands of Alberta, male sharp-tailed grouse gather to put on an elaborate dance routine to attract a female – complete with rattling tail feathers and popping neck sacks. And on the west coast of Washington State, a fish called the male plainfin midshipman attempts to convince a female to lay her eggs in his nest by singing her a love song.