Join the bushland orchestra as you identify and decipher some of the voices of our extraordinary Australian animals. Animals make sounds to communicate to others, including warnings, threats, to show dominance, and to attract a mate. Animals make two types of sound; vocal and mechanical.

For humans, communication is the bedrock of our relationships and part of how we successfully function in our daily lives. Animals make sounds to issue warnings, attract mates, signal distress, find one another and defend their territory; like us, their vocal cords fulfil a myriad purposes that lay their social foundations and ensure their survival. One of the best examples of the range of noises made by animals are those made by birds. Every bird species has a specific song and various calls that sets it apart from other birds – but why do they have these? They use different notes, patterns and noises to tell other birds what is on their mind. Of course, other animals do this too. Students may have observed wildlife responding to sounds in certain ways.

You will receive a teacher guide for this session.

No prior knowledge is required.

In this program students will:

• Identify and compare a range of Australian bird calls.
• Explore the adaptations that allow animals to produce sound.

In this video conference students will:

• Play the Australian Bird Call identification game.
• Participate in the Cricket or Frog? identification game.
• Conduct a green tree frog balloon sound experiment.
• Audition and nominate class representatives for a bird impersonation contest.

Science: Science Understanding

• Organisms have evolved over time, as seen in fossils and scientific records; the structural features and behaviours of living organisms enable them to thrive in their environments (VC2S6U02)