Tuesday 8 February 2011

ABC Wednesday, D for David Attenborough.



Sometime ago I got this video by e-mail. It's called the "Amazing Lyrebird".And amazing it is. This bird can imitate any sound it hears, even an opera singer! David Attenborough introduces this interesting bird in the way we are used to see and hear from him with a lot of humor. I am not sure if the bird in the end,really imitated David's voice saying exactly the same David said. I have the feeling that this is a joke.

The lyrebird is found in Australia, I hope to see it one day.

 

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From Wikipedia: "Attenborough, born in May 1926, grew up in College House on the campus of University of Leicester, where his father, Frederick, was principal. He is the middle of three sons (his elder brother, Richard, became an actor/film director and his younger brother, John Michael Attenborough, an executive at Alfa Romeo). During World War II his parents also adopted two Jewish refugee girls from Europe.

Attenborough spent his childhood collecting fossils, stones and other natural specimens. He received encouragement in this pursuit at age seven, when a young Jacquetta Hawkes admired his "museum". A few years later, one of his adoptive sisters gave him a piece of amber filled with prehistoric creatures; some 50 years later, it would be the focus of his programme The Amber Time Machine.

Attenborough was educated at Wyggeston Grammar School for Boys in Leicester and then won a scholarship to Clare College, Cambridge in 1945, where he studied geology and zoology and obtained a degree in Natural Sciences. In 1947, he was called up for National Service in the Royal Navy and spent two years stationed in North Wales and the Firth of Forth.

In 1950, Attenborough married Jane Elizabeth Ebsworth Oriel; the marriage lasted until her death in 1997. The couple had two children, Robert and Susan.

His son, Dr Robert Attenborough, is a senior lecturer in Bioanthropology for the School of Archaeology and Anthropology at the Australian National University in Canberra".


With thanks to Denise Nesbitt, who created ABC.We started round 8 of the fascinating meme of ABC. For more interesting ABC posts click on the logo in the sidebar or Here. This week we are looking for words beginning with D.

35 comments:

Arkansas Patti said...

I just loved his Planet Earth series. His works are a must for any animal lover.
Would definitely add him to my list of whom I would love to spend a day with.

Dina said...

It's a good joke, though. :) A beautiful and special bird with or without the human voice.
Thanks for David's life story.

anthonynorth said...

Two very worthy subjects. I've heard the lyrebird, and often watched David Attenborough. He's part of a very successful family.

Carver said...

What a fun video and a interesting post about David Attenborough.

Leslie: said...

This was hilarious! An extremely fascinating bird. Hope you're having a great week.

Leslie
ABCW Team

Sylvia K said...

Great post for the day, Wil, as always! I have heard of the lyrebird and I have really enjoyed many things that David Attenborough has done! Hope your week is off to a great start! Enjoy!

Sylvia

??? said...

Sir David is one of my heroes. I grew up watching his programmes and I've always liked how he manages to make everything interesting, even stuff people would have thought are boring. I saw so many animal behaviours for the first time ever in some Attenborough series. He rules.

My favourite Attenborough scene is the one where he imitates the mating call of a female cicada by snapping his fingers. The male cicada jumps on his hand and then on his ear and these cicadas are jackhammer-loud. He doesn't pick it up, though, just lures it down again (and if you listen closely, you can hear the cameraman giggling in the background)

photowannabe said...

Delightful...what more can I say?

EG CameraGirl said...

I LOVE the video, Wil! Very funny!

George said...

What a wonderful post for 'D' on ABC Wednesday. Thanks for the information and the video.

??? said...

I found a video of the cicada here - Sir David's encounter with the male cicada starts at about 3:00

Jane and Chris said...

David Attenborough; what a lovely man....he makes everything so interesting and his enthusiasm is infectious.
Jane x

Tumblewords: said...

Wonderfully fascinating family! I also find your header enticing and yearn to walk up those few steps with a blanket and a book!

Cloudia said...

Aloha from Honolulu
Comfort Spiral

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Anonymous said...

Thank you for introducing me to someone I did not know before; neither bird nor him.

Please have a good Wednesday.

daily athens

Roger Owen Green said...

Lovely post.

BTW, I have having this Abode 10 problem getting to your site last week and this; couldn't even get to post last week, for some reason; but I always appreciate your posts.
ROG, ABC Wednesday team

Wanda said...

Oh that was just so much fun!!! Thanks for a ear to ear smile after seeing this.

Kay L. Davies said...

What an interesting post for the letter D, Wil. David Attenborough has entertained and inspired many people!
-- K

Martha said...

I saw this video a few years back. It is a funny one. Love the bird whether or not he can sing.

Vicki Lane said...

Such fun!

Hildred said...

Great post Wil, - love the video and am a great admirer of David Attenborough.

Indrani said...

I have never seen a lyrebird, interesting video.

Ann, Chen Jie Xue 陈洁雪 said...

I enjoy watching David's documentary.

Kay said...

I've seen a bunch of David's shows and I think I've seen this one, too. However, I don't remember him imitating David's voice. It must be a joke.... but...

Chloe m said...

I have always loved David's documentaries. He is a remarkable man! I love "life of birds".
Good choice for D.

Marina said...

I hope you're ok dear Wil!!! Be careful!!!These days are too windy to use a bike!!! Ouzo can be drunk as an aperitif too! My mother in law used to use it in meat balls for better smell!!!

Sara Katt said...

Great choice for D! I love watching David Attenborough's films! What a family he comes from.
Purrs,
Sara Cat
Sara Cat's ABCWedrd-8-D 'D as in Dog'

Kim, USA said...

Wow I thought that it's only the parrot or the myna bird could imitate sound. I so love it the bird imitates every sound he hears, love it really!! I hope someday I could see this bird. Thanks for sharing the video!
ABC-Wednesday

Dhemz said...

very interesting!
Check out my ABC Wednesday entry too! Thanks a lot, much appreciated! followed your blog.

Barbara said...

I am watching David Attenborough and his new series on Madagascar as I am typing this. I do enjoy all his programmes.

Barbara Martin said...

Well, I can say, the actual wild bird sounds in the video set my lovebirds to looking frantically for their "wild" cousins!!!!

Anonymous said...

Ha ha, after watching this video of found one of a beatboxing lyrebird.
I really enjoyed these

Anya said...

Ongelooflijk :-)
Enig !!!!

Fijne vrijdag
geniet van de regen :(
hihihi....

groetjes
Kareltje =^.^= Betsie >^.^<
Anja

Bradley Hsi said...

Love it, it is so amazing, real or not. Thanks for sharing.

Janice Thomson said...

Good choice Wil for D. Attenborough is a wonderful compassionate man - I've enjoyed many of his shows. According to Wikipedia this bird copies human voices as well so it's possible this is true. Loved the video either way :)