Birds mimic cellphone ring

CANBERRA -- The electronic tweeting of mobile phones is becoming so widespread in Australia that some birds are mimicking the sound as part of their mating and territorial songs, an expert said on Tuesday.

Australia has six so-called mimic birds, which commonly imitate sounds in nature, particularly other bird calls, as part of their mating and territorial displays.

With one of the highest rates of mobile phones per head of population in the world, common Australian mimic birds such as the bower and lyre are increasingly hearing the ringing of mobile phones in rural areas, according to Queensland Museum bird expert, Greg Czechura.

"It's a phenomenon associated with things like picnic grounds and national parks where bower birds live next to increasing urbanisation and rural development," Czechura said.

"It's the males that are largely doing it -- it means there is a male that is up to date, on the ball and has the latest sounds," he said.

For Australia's lyre bird, considered the world's greatest mimic, a mobile phone ring is just the latest in a bizarre medley that bird experts have recorded, including imitations of the click and whir of cameras, the buzz of chain saws and even the roar of motorcycles, Czechura said. -- Sapa-AP