Subject: birds that sound like a rattlesnake (?)
Date: Feb 8 19:30:16 2004
From: Dennis Rockwell - denrockwell at surfbest.net


I've read that Burrowing Owls can do a great rattlesnake imitation.

Dennis Rockwell Kennewick, WA denrockwell at surfbest.net

----- Original Message -----
From: jvbonham at msn.com
To: tweeters
Sent: Sunday, February 08, 2004 5:02 PM
Subject: birds that sound like a rattlesnake (?)


I guess I should apologize for taking up so much space here, but it seems like I want to know all the answers to too many questions too rapidly.

About two weeks ago I awoke from a fairly bad dream and thought I was hearing a rattlesnake.

As I had a terrible experience when I was young with a rattlesnake, I discounted this. I have, however, heard this same sound many times since. It always seems to be coming from the ground, also.

Does anyone know of any kind of bird that has a call similar to the rattles on a rattlesnake? It seems to be higher pitched than what I remember the rattlesnake to sound like, but then, it wasn't around very long, thanks to my father's great aim with a rock. This is beginning to make me very frightened to even go out to my feeders. An over reaction, I'm sure, but I would like to know about this sound!

Today I heard it just as a Scrub Jay landed and caused most of the rest of the birds to leave rapidly, so I assume it is the sound of alarm by some bird.

Thanks for any help.

J.V. Bonham
Centralia, WA
jvbonham at msn.com