In “Music is in the air – Attenborough’s loud animals” on March 19th at 8:15 p.m. on ORF 2
Vienna (OTS) – Sir David Attenborough opens the open-air concert season and prepares his audience for the remarkable sounds of nature. The British nature film legend embarks on a musical journey around the world and offers an unusual look into his rich archive. Presented in the BBC documentary “Music is in the Air – Attenborough’s Noisy Animals” by Mike Birkhead (ORF editing: Birgit Skulski), which “Universum” will show on Tuesday, March 19, 2024, at 8:15 p.m. on ORF 2 the legendary naturalist created his hit parade of nature – throughout his entire illustrious career, starting in childhood. They are sonorous songs that have revolutionized our understanding of animal song.
All year round, from spring to the darkest days of winter, nature is full of gifted singers. Each one tells their incredible story and shows how much more we can learn about the natural world. The melodies of great tits, nightingales and humpback whales are a revelation – some beautiful, some surprising, some tragic.
Contrary to what the founder of the modern theory of evolution, Charles Darwin, postulated in the mid-19th century, bird song is not exclusively used to defend territory or attract a mate – according to Darwin, the two main components of his theory of sexual selection. Singing in the animal kingdom fulfills far more functions than was long assumed. It is self-defense, the promise of good fatherhood, a bold deception and, above all, it is not just reserved for male animals. A new generation of scientists has discovered that in 64 percent of songbird species, females also raise their voices. But just as they are finally being heard, fears grow that we don’t have much longer to listen to them.
David Attenborough peppers finds from the archive with new scientific findings. The Australian lyrebird has a special talent. The songbird is a master of imitation. Whether it’s a camera shutter, an alarm system or a chainsaw: it can handle all types of noise. Male lyrebirds can also use this ability for quite devious purposes. They imitate the sounds of a flock of birds warning of a nearby predator. So the gullible female lyrebirds seek protection and thus their proximity.
The Hawaiian scale-throated moho sings the saddest song. The bird calls for a mate without knowing that it is the last of its kind. It was declared extinct in 2000. Habitat destruction and the spread of invasive species have decimated the population of Hawaiian songbirds.
The program and other editions of the nature film series “Universum” are available on ORF ON and in the TVthek app.