FUNCi Lyrebird weekend!

Image: FUNCi screening of The Message of the Lyrebird, 16 July, 2022. Courtesy of Bella Williams, Sun Cinema Bairnsdale.

Friends of Upper Nicholson Catchment Inc. (FUNCi) celebrated the lyrebird for an entire weekend with a movie, a survey, and a science presentation for their small but devoted Clifton Creek community in East Gippsland, Victoria.

The ‘Secrets of the Lyrebird’ weekend (July 16&17) kicked-off Saturday afternoon at Sun Cinema Bairnsdale with a screening of The Message of the Lyrebird, where the film “fit the bill”, explained John Ireland, President [aka ‘the FUNCmeister’] of FUNCi.

“The film was delightful. I’m still getting stopped in the street with lots of positive comments, including its remarkable photography.”

After the screening, FUNCi held a Q&A with cast members, Dr Alex Maisey and Norman Carter.    

Questions were answered by 40 attendees on many subjects and issues, including lyrebird ecology, and why they sing?

The Sunday lyrebird survey experience was a hit with around 15 locals participating to observe and listen to male lyrebirds and their repertoire at dawn.

“The birds were severely impacted in this region after the 2019/20 bushfires but after two seasons of good rainfall it was fabulous to hear many more of them singing again,” Dr Alex Maisey stated.

The FUNCi community has been directly involved with survey participation over the last couple of years to study the fire impacts on the birds, which was part of Dr Maisey’s bushfire report. Dr Maisey gave a science presentation to 25 attendees, outlining the ecological results of the report, as well as answering questions around lyrebird folklore, it’s mimicry of human speech, and female imitation.

“It’s important to know that the females’ use of mimicry also has a function, just as males also have functions for their imitation work. We’re just starting to learn a whole lot more about female birds,” Dr Maisey said.

The Sunday morning presentation lasted over an hour before a big lunch finale’ to the ‘Secrets of the Lyrebird’ weekend, which was funded by a government grant from Connect Well.

John Ireland concluded by stating the weekend was packed-full of lyrebird learnings.

“Despite the small size of our group, a good number of non-members attended and learnt so much over the weekend, including how the science isn’t settled on these marvellous birds. Personally, I’ve never heard any sounds of human origin come from the lyrebird in my backyard… and I’ve been here for the last 50 years. However, I did take a trip to Mallacoota many moons ago, where I witnessed a bird imitating the ringing of an old-fashioned telephone.”