That siren-imitating lyrebird at Taronga Zoo? He lost his song culture – and absorbed some of ours
- Written by Alex Maisey, Postdoctoral research fellow, Research Centre for Future Landscapes, La Trobe University
A fortnight after five lions escaped at Sydney’s Taronga Zoo, an amused zoo visitor captured footage of Echo the superb lyrebird as he mimicked alarm sirens and evacuation calls with astonishing accuracy.
News outlets were quick to link the lyrebird’s alarm impersonation with the lion’s great escape. But while this tale made for...




