>from today's Independent
>
>http://www.independent.co.uk/
>
>Now birds brag by mimicking mobiles
>
>By Chris Gray
>18 May 2001
>
>The irritation is about to get worse. Already inescapable on the train, at
>the restaurant and in the office, the sound of a mobile phone ringing is
>about to destroy the peace hitherto offered by a country walk.
>
>Male British birds have taken to mimicking the noise made by mobile phone
>ringtones. And not unlike the first human mobile users, their noise is all
>to do with bragging about their success and attracting the opposite sex.
>
>The phenomenon has been noticed mainly among starlings - distant relatives
>of the mynah bird - and song thrushes, although the blackbird and the marsh
>warbler are not immune.
>
>Mike Everett, a spokesman for the Royal Society for the Protection of
>Birds, said birds had long imitated man-made sounds, from the human whistle
>to car brakes screeching.
>
>"Birds have always imitated mechanical and electronic sounds. Not all of
>them do it but some are great mimics. About 10 per cent of a starling's
>song is mimicry.
>
>"The better they are at a varied song and puffing their chest out, the
>better they will be at holding their territory and finding a mate. It is a
>macho thing really," he said.
>
>Mr Everett said the development could help bird populations if it
>encouraged more breeding. It would be particularly beneficial for starlings
>whose population has fallen by about 50 per cent.
>
>There is some relief: the more intricate ringtones are unlikely to be
>copied by birds, as their range is restricted to more simple tunes.

Dennis Paulson, Director phone 253-879-3798
Slater Museum of Natural History fax 253-879-3352
University of Puget Sound e-mail dpaulson at ups.edu
Tacoma, WA 98416
http://www.ups.edu/biology/museum/museum.html