0_Wizard
I can do very convincing bird calls, I can use bird vocalization to mimic their songs too. It's great at parties.
Bird vocalization includes both bird calls and bird songs.
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Bird vocalization
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Bird vocalization
Bird vocalization includes both bird calls and bird songs. In non-technical use, bird songs are the bird sounds that are melodious to the human ear. In ornithology and birding, songs (relatively complex vocalizations) are distinguished by function from calls (relatively simple vocalizations). The distinction between songs and calls is based upon complexity, length, and context. Songs are longer and more complex and are associated with courtship and mating, while calls tend to serve such functions as alarms or keeping members of a flock in contact. Other authorities such as Howell and Webb (1995) make the distinction based on function, so that short vocalizations, such as those of pigeons, and even non-vocal sounds, such as the drumming of woodpeckers and the "winnowing" of snipes' wings in display flight, are considered songs.
Origin of language
The first language in the human species has been the topic of scholarly discussions for several centuries. There is no consensus on the origin or age of human language. The topic is difficult to study because of the lack of direct evidence. Consequently, scholars wishing to study the origins of language must draw inferences from other kinds of evidence such as the fossil record, archaeological evidence, contemporary language diversity, studies of language acquisition, and comparisons between human language and systems of communication existing among animals (particularly other primates). Many argue that the origins of language probably relate closely to the origins of modern human behavior, but there is little agreement about the implications and directionality of this connection.
Mating call
A mating call is the auditory signal used by animals to attract mates. It can occur in males or females, but literature is abundantly favored toward researching mating calls in males. In addition, mating calls are often the subject of mate choice, in which the preferences of one gender for a certain type of mating call can drive sexual selection in a species. This can result in sympatric speciation of some animals, where two species diverge from each other while living in the same environment. There are many different mechanisms to produce mating calls, which can be broadly categorized into vocalizations and mechanical calls.
Birds in music
Birds have played a role in Western Classical music since at least the 14th century, when composers such as Jean Vaillant quoted birdsong in some of their compositions. Among the birds whose song is most often used in music are the nightingale and the cuckoo. Composers and musicians have made use of birds in their music in different ways: they can be inspired by birdsong; they can intentionally imitate bird song in a composition; they can incorporate recordings of birds into their works, as Ottorino Respighi first did; or, like the cellist Beatrice Harrison in 1924 and more recently the jazz musician David Rothenberg, they can duet with birds.
Birds in culture
Birds have been a part of human culture, in the broad sense of social behaviour, customs and practices including but not limited to expressive forms such as art, music and religion, for thousands of years. Human society makes use of birds both economically, including for food, and non-economically, for sport, pleasure, and inspiration. Birds have appeared in the mythology and religion of many cultures from the time of Ancient Egypt onwards. For example, the Ancient Greek goddess Athena had a little owl as her symbol, while in India the peacock represented Mother Earth. Birds have often been seen as symbols, whether bringing bad luck and death, being sacred, or being used in heraldry.
Donald J. Borror
Donald Joyce Borror (24 August 1907 – 28 April 1988) was an American entomologist and a pioneer of bioacoustics. He is famous for co-authoring a comprehensive textbook of entomology titled "An Introduction to the Study of Insects" which continues to be in print with newer editions. An entomologist with a specialization on the Odonata (dragonflies and damselflies), he also took a great interest in animal sounds and published numerous studies on bird vocalization. A longtime professor of entomology at the Ohio State University, he was a fellow of the American Ornithologists' Union as well as the Entomological Society of America.
Deception in animals
Deception in animals is the transmission of misinformation by one animal to another, of the same or different species, in a way that propagates beliefs that are not true. Deception in animals does not automatically imply a conscious act, but can occur at different levels of cognitive ability. Mimicry and camouflage enable animals to appear to be other than they are. Prey animals may appear as predators, or "vice versa"; both predators and prey may be hard to see (crypsis), or may be mistaken for other objects (mimesis). In Batesian mimicry, harmless animals may appear to be distasteful or poisonous.
1_Apprentice
Haha! Sounds like it! I love birdwatching! Which bird call are you best at?
0_Wizard
I can do a mean cuckoo clock, nobody even knows who invented them or where they were made. So mysterious!
It is unknown who invented it and where the first one was made.
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Cuckoo clock
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Cuckoo clock
A cuckoo clock is a typically pendulum-regulated clock that strikes the hours with a sound like a common cuckoo's call and has an automated cuckoo bird that moves with each note. Some move their wings and open/close their beaks while leaning forward, whereas in others, only the bird's body leans forward. The mechanism to produce the cuckoo call has been in use since the middle of the 18th century and has remained almost without variation until the present. It is unknown who invented it and where the first one was made. It is thought that much of its development and evolution was made in the Black Forest area in southwestern Germany (State of Baden-Württemberg), the region where the cuckoo clock was popularized.
Cuckoo clock in culture
The cuckoo clock, more than any other kind of timepiece, has often featured in literature, music, cinema, television, etc., in the Western culture, as a metaphor or allegory of innocence, childhood, old age, past, fun, mental disorder, etc. It has apparently been viewed more as a symbol or a toy -a folksy musical apparatus with animated figures- fascinating and a bit mysterious rather than as a serious timekeeper. Although the cuckoo clock functions as a symbol of Switzerland and Swissness, in fact it only has a slim connection with that country in terms of production. Its real home is the Black Forest of Germany.
The Cuckoo Clock
The Cuckoo Clock by Mary Louisa Molesworth is a British children's fantasy novel published in 1877. The book was published under her pen name Ennis Graham but was then reprinted with her own name in 1882. Original illustrations were done by Walter Crane. A new edition of "The Cuckoo Clock" was published in 1914 with illustrations by Maria L. Kirk. A small child and a cuckoo from a cuckoo clock become unlikely friends. At night the clock transports her to magical places. Her writing style is known to be very plain in context, and it has been criticized for this. But the plain text was most likely used so that the work was more accessible to children.
Black Forest Clock Association
In 1987 a syndicate was set up to protect traditional mechanical cuckoo clock making in the Black Forest region. The "Verein die Schwarzwalduhr" (VDS) issues authenticity certification (echtheitszertifikat) to members of the association. Verein die Schwarzwalduhr literally means "The Black Forest Clock Association". If a Black Forest clockmaker desires, they can obtain accreditation from the syndicate. Certification from the association is awarded only to mechanical clocks made entirely of wood (except the movements), with all essential parts produced in the Black Forest and that meet quality controls set by the association.
Common cuckoo
The common cuckoo ("Cuculus canorus") is a member of the cuckoo order of birds, "Cuculiformes", which includes the roadrunners, the anis and the coucals. This species is a widespread summer migrant to Europe and Asia, and winters in Africa. It is a brood parasite, which means it lays eggs in the nests of other bird species, particularly of dunnocks, meadow pipits, and reed warblers. Although its eggs are larger than those of its hosts, the eggs in each type of host nest resemble the host's eggs. The adult too is a mimic, in its case of the sparrowhawk; since that species is a predator, the mimicry gives the female time to lay her eggs without being seen to do so.
History of timekeeping devices
For thousands of years, devices have been used to measure and keep track of time. The current sexagesimal system of time measurement dates to approximately 2000  from the Sumerians. The Egyptians divided the day into two 12-hour periods, and used large obelisks to track the movement of the sun. They also developed water clocks, which were probably first used in the Precinct of Amun-Re, and later outside Egypt as well; they were employed frequently by the Ancient Greeks, who called them "clepsydrae". The Zhou dynasty is believed to have used the outflow water clock around the same time, devices which were introduced from Mesopotamia as early as 2000.
Cuckoo Clock (song)
"Cuckoo Clock" is a song written by Brian Wilson and Gary Usher for the American rock band The Beach Boys. It was released on their 1962 album "Surfin' Safari". The song was written about the myna bird of Brian's father Murry Wilson. "Cuckoo Clock" relates the story of a teenage couple who is trying to spend time together. When things start to get romantic, however, they are interrupted by a cuckoo clock. In the final verse, the teenage boy dismantles the clock so they will not be bothered again. The song is in basic verse-chorus-bridge form. The organ solo in the bridge points the way towards future Beach Boys songs.
1_Apprentice
I do love a good mystery!  Does a convincing bird call serve a purpose? Is it good for hunting?
0_Wizard
Sometimes when I do cuckoo clock sounds I lure in animals from the Black Forest of Germany since that's the cuckoo's real home
Its real home is the Black Forest of Germany.
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Cuckoo clock in culture
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Cuckoo clock
A cuckoo clock is a typically pendulum-regulated clock that strikes the hours with a sound like a common cuckoo's call and has an automated cuckoo bird that moves with each note. Some move their wings and open/close their beaks while leaning forward, whereas in others, only the bird's body leans forward. The mechanism to produce the cuckoo call has been in use since the middle of the 18th century and has remained almost without variation until the present. It is unknown who invented it and where the first one was made. It is thought that much of its development and evolution was made in the Black Forest area in southwestern Germany (State of Baden-Württemberg), the region where the cuckoo clock was popularized.
Cuckoo clock in culture
The cuckoo clock, more than any other kind of timepiece, has often featured in literature, music, cinema, television, etc., in the Western culture, as a metaphor or allegory of innocence, childhood, old age, past, fun, mental disorder, etc. It has apparently been viewed more as a symbol or a toy -a folksy musical apparatus with animated figures- fascinating and a bit mysterious rather than as a serious timekeeper. Although the cuckoo clock functions as a symbol of Switzerland and Swissness, in fact it only has a slim connection with that country in terms of production. Its real home is the Black Forest of Germany.
Black Forest
The Black Forest (, ) is a large forested mountain range in the state of Baden-Württemberg in southwest Germany. It is bounded by the Rhine valley to the west and south. Its highest peak is the Feldberg with an elevation of 1,493 metres (4,898 ft). The region is roughly oblong in shape with a length of and breadth of up to . The Black Forest stretches from the High Rhine in the south to the in the north. In the west it is bounded by the Upper Rhine Plain (which, from a natural region perspective, also includes the low chain of foothills); in the east it transitions to the , and hill country west of the .
Black Forest Clock Association
In 1987 a syndicate was set up to protect traditional mechanical cuckoo clock making in the Black Forest region. The "Verein die Schwarzwalduhr" (VDS) issues authenticity certification (echtheitszertifikat) to members of the association. Verein die Schwarzwalduhr literally means "The Black Forest Clock Association". If a Black Forest clockmaker desires, they can obtain accreditation from the syndicate. Certification from the association is awarded only to mechanical clocks made entirely of wood (except the movements), with all essential parts produced in the Black Forest and that meet quality controls set by the association.
Common cuckoo
The common cuckoo ("Cuculus canorus") is a member of the cuckoo order of birds, "Cuculiformes", which includes the roadrunners, the anis and the coucals. This species is a widespread summer migrant to Europe and Asia, and winters in Africa. It is a brood parasite, which means it lays eggs in the nests of other bird species, particularly of dunnocks, meadow pipits, and reed warblers. Although its eggs are larger than those of its hosts, the eggs in each type of host nest resemble the host's eggs. The adult too is a mimic, in its case of the sparrowhawk; since that species is a predator, the mimicry gives the female time to lay her eggs without being seen to do so.
Johann Baptist Beha
Johann Baptist Beha (1815 - 1898) was a prestigious Black Forest clockmaker born in Oberbränd (Eisenbach). He was trained by his father, the master clockmaker Vinzenz Beha (1764-1868), in his workshop where he built around 365 clocks between 1839 and 1845. At that time V. Beha was already known for the quality of his clocks, he made the so-called Shield cuckoo clocks. In 1845 Johann B. Beha founded his own clockshop in Eisenbach, beginning the manufacturing of his celebrated clocks. The clockmaker introduced the following innovations into the construction of cuckoo clocks:   The cases for Beha clocks came from case/woodcarvers shops located in different towns of the Black Forest such as Waldkirch, Furtwangen, Villingen, Vöhrenbach and Dittishausen.
Black Forest clockmakers
Craftsmanship of Black Forest clockmakers dates back to mid of the 17th century. A specialized branch of Black Forest clockmakers are the manufacturer of cuckoo clocks. Black Forest clock production began in the mid-17th century. The first range of clocks were for practical use and of simple design. The popularity of clocks from Black Forest grew, and plates and clock faces became more sophisticated. It is said that, in the early days, Black Forest clocks were copied from the Bohemian style. Gradually Black Forest clocks gained in reputation; especially the famous cuckoo clocks, which developed into their now typical style from around 1854.
1_Apprentice
I had no idea! That's really neat! Cuckoo clocks have been around a long time, haven't they?
0_Wizard
They have, they've become a symbol of Swissness!
Although the cuckoo clock functions as a symbol of Switzerland and Swissness, in fact it only has a slim connection with that country in terms of production.
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Cuckoo clock in culture
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Tomomatsu Atsunobu
Tomomatsu was born in Nagoya, Aichi prefecture, Japan in 1948. He received his B.S. degree in biological chemistry from Saitama University in 1973 and his M.S. and Ph.D. degrees, both in plant biochemistry, from Nagoya University in 1975 and 1980, respectively. He started his professional career at Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in 1980 and worked as an international development specialist in Indonesia (Bogor Agricultural University) 1980-83, the Kingdom of Thailand (Kasetsart University) in 1985, USA (International Food Policy Research Institute) 1986-88, and as a member of the delegation of the Government of Japan to General Assembly of the United Nations (UN) and International Monetary Fund (IMF) in 1987.
Swiss made
Swiss made is a label used to indicate that a product was made in Switzerland. From 2017, the legal criteria are:  The wording was formally adopted in the late 19th century and is unique in that most other countries use the phrase "Made in (Country Name)". The most obvious place where the label is found is on Swiss watches. The Swiss laws permit the use of the words "Suisse", "produit suisse", "fabriqué en Suisse", "qualité suisse" or the translations, "Swiss", "Swiss Made", or "Swiss Movement". On some older watches, for example, the word "Swiss" appears alone on the dial at the six o'clock position.
Utsunomiya University
Utsunomiya University was established in 1949 by integrating three national colleges: , and . The university at first had two faculties: Faculty of Agriculture (in Mine Campus) and Faculty of Liberal Arts (in Takaragi Campus).
Flag of Switzerland
The flag of Switzerland consists of a red flag with a white cross (a bold, equilateral cross) in the centre. It is one of only two square sovereign-state flags, the other being the flag of Vatican City. The civil and state ensign of Switzerland, used by Swiss ships, boats and non-governmental bodies, is rectangular in shape and has the more common proportions of 3:2. The dimensions of the cross were formally established only in 1889: "The coat of arms of the federation is, within a red field, an upright white cross, whose [four] arms of equal length are one and a sixth times as long as they are wide."
Early life of Mao Zedong
The early life of Chinese revolutionary and politician Mao Zedong covered the first 27 years of his life, from 1893 to 1919. Born in Shaoshanchong, Shaoshan in Hunan province, Mao grew up as the son of Mao Yichang, a wealthy farmer and landowner. Sent to the local Shaoshan Primary School, Mao was brought up in an environment of Confucianism, but reacted against this from an early age, developing political ideas from modern literature. Aged 13 his father organised a marriage for him with Luo Yigu, the daughter of another land-owning family, but Mao denounced the marriage and moved away from home.
Cuckoo clock in culture
The cuckoo clock, more than any other kind of timepiece, has often featured in literature, music, cinema, television, etc., in the Western culture, as a metaphor or allegory of innocence, childhood, old age, past, fun, mental disorder, etc. It has apparently been viewed more as a symbol or a toy -a folksy musical apparatus with animated figures- fascinating and a bit mysterious rather than as a serious timekeeper. Although the cuckoo clock functions as a symbol of Switzerland and Swissness, in fact it only has a slim connection with that country in terms of production. Its real home is the Black Forest of Germany.
Cyclops (Marvel Comics)
Cyclops (Scott Summers) is a fictional superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics and is a founding member of the X-Men. Created by writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby, the character first appeared in the comic book "The X-Men" #1 (September 1963). Cyclops is a member of a subspecies of humans known as mutants, who are born with superhuman abilities. Cyclops can emit powerful beams of energy from his eyes. He cannot control the beams without the aid of special eyewear which he must wear at all times. He is typically considered the first of the X-Men, a team of mutant heroes who fight for peace and equality between mutants and humans, and one of the team's primary leaders.