Noisy by Nature

Australian nature is full of strange, surprising and sometimes silly sounds. From cicadas that sound like sprinklers to moaning mutton birds, there are heaps of weird noises to discover. Join host and nature lover, Ann, as we use our ears to listen to the different sounds that Australian nature makes. Along the way we’ll find out some fun facts and train little ears to listen to the chorus of calls that make up the natural world around us.

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Episodes

Moaning Mutton Birds

On a tiny island off the coast, there’s lots of wind and the waves are crashing on rocks. We’re waiting for a special visitor and they’ll arrive after the dark. All of a sudden, a seabird flies in, crash lands and starts MOANING! As if it stubbed its toe! It’s a mutton bird - and here come its friends.

Sep 01, 2019•7 min

Revving Motorbike Frogs

It’s late afternoon and we’re standing by a pond. There are dark clouds in the sky and it’s starting to rain. Good thing Ann packed her raincoat! Can you hear the raindrops hitting the surface of the pond? What is that other, strange sound? It sounds like a motorbike, but there aren’t any roads close by. That revving sound is the sound of a frog!

Sep 01, 2019•6 min

Tinkling Bell Birds

Have you ever been in a forest with lots of tall trees and heard a strange, tinkling sound? Like you’re surrounded by lots of bells, all ringing at the same time? This noise is made by a bird that’s hard to see with our eyes, because they’re so well camouflaged. So, let’s use our ears to listen to the beautiful sound of bell birds.

Sep 01, 2019•7 min

Squabbling Fruit Bats

Night is falling in a local park and people are heading home to get their dinner. But humans aren’t the only ones that are hungry. There’s a strange sound, a kind of shrieking, coming from the trees. What could it be? It’s flying foxes, more commonly known as fruit bats! They’re waking up and getting ready to go find some breakfast.

Sep 01, 2019•7 min

Mimicking Lyrebirds

What bird is the best mimic in the whole rainforest? They can confuse currawongs, trick kookaburras, and even sound a bit like a laser. Let’s head down to the rainforest floor underneath the tall trees, past the creek and around the waterfall to meet the best mimic of all: the lyrebird!

Aug 29, 2019•8 min

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