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#182132 - 01/28/09 04:31 PM A bird in the hand
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addict
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Registered: 12/18/06
Posts: 663
Loc: Auckland, New Zealand
While learning a new JJ Cale song to play on my guitar I came across 'Whippporwill' I'd never heard of such a thing so I looked it up and lo and behold, I found this amzing little creature referenced too in no less than Forty Five different songs. On delving deeper I found that it lives in Central America all the way up to Southeastern Canada, likely why we don't sing about them down here. Though I am not a great believer of superstition, its call is said to be a harbinger of death much like the Local Ruru or Morepork, they even look and sound similar, not surprising as they are from the same class.
Magnolia by JJ Cale
Whippoorwill’s singing
Soft summer breeze
Makes me think of my baby
I left down in new orleans
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#182135 - 01/28/09 04:50 PM Re: A bird in the hand [Re: olly]
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old hand
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Registered: 02/28/08
Posts: 796
Loc: western NY We have them all over around here, in the country. They are not city birds. And I hear them regularly, but live to tell you so... ;0)
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#182136 - 01/28/09 06:06 PM Re: A bird in the hand [Re: olly]
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old hand
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Registered: 02/20/08
Posts: 1067
Loc: Tasmania Originally Posted By: ollysaid to be a harbinger of death much like the Local Ruru or Morepork
We also have moreporks here (at least on the mainland, not sure about Tassie. They are also called mopokes. Both names are onomatopoeic of their mournful call.
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#182145 - 01/29/09 02:35 AM Re: A bird in the hand [Re: The Pook]
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Pooh-Bah
Registered: 08/27/02
Posts: 2064
Loc: British Columbia, Canada And I assumed Pratchett made it up!
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#182147 - 01/29/09 06:39 AM Re: A bird in the hand [Re: The Pook]
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Carpal Tunnel
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Registered: 12/01/00
Posts: 12530 Originally Posted By: The Pook[quote=olly]
We also have moreporks here (at least on the mainland, not sure about Tassie. They are also called mopokes. Both names are onomatopoeic of their mournful call.
Some of them are non-rhotic and some aren't.
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#182149 - 01/29/09 07:22 AM Re: A bird in the hand [Re: Faldage]
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old hand
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Registered: 02/20/08
Posts: 1067
Loc: Tasmania Originally Posted By: FaldageOriginally Posted By: The Pook[quote=olly]
We also have moreporks here (at least on the mainland, not sure about Tassie. They are also called mopokes. Both names are onomatopoeic of their mournful call.
Some of them are non-rhotic and some aren't.
Actually I heard an American today on the radio pronounce 'environmental' non-rhotically. Even an Aussie wouldn't do that. It was weird. What kind of US accent would that be? The pronunciation was something like 'envionmental' or even 'eviomennal.'
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#182150 - 01/29/09 07:53 AM Re: A bird in the hand [Re: olly]
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Carpal Tunnel
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Registered: 06/23/06
Posts: 3755
Loc: Netherlands, the Hague Before I had looked at the link I thought about how overhere owls are said to be the harbingers of death. When I looked at the bird it seemed like a very small owl to me and checked it.
(cute birdie)
Owl
They are almost identical, though one bigger that the other.(down from infraclass they differ)
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#182151 - 01/29/09 08:17 AM Re: A bird in the hand [Re: The Pook]
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Pooh-Bah
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Registered: 08/13/05
Posts: 2467
Loc: R'lyeh Might be from the South or the Northeast (link).
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#182164 - 01/29/09 04:50 PM Re: A bird in the hand [Re: The Pook]
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addict
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Registered: 12/18/06
Posts: 663
Loc: Auckland, New Zealand Originally Posted By: The PookThey are also called mopokes. Both names are onomatopoeic of their mournful call.
You mean 'Whippoorwill' and 'morepork' are onomatopoeic?
I'm not sure if 'Mopoke' is, unless its got an Ozzie accentOriginally Posted By: FaldageSome of them are non-rhotic and some aren't.
hehehe
Originally Posted By: The PookActually I heard an American today on the radio pronounce 'environmental' non-rhotically.
I can picture Gallant Ted saying 'Envieamint' He'da spelt it better fer sure.
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#182189 - 01/30/09 05:39 AM Re: A bird in the hand [Re: olly]
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Carpal Tunnel
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Registered: 06/23/06
Posts: 3755
Loc: Netherlands, the Hague Salute to Gallant Ted. May he fly like a mopoke and dance like a bear.
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