Acoustic communication is incredibly important to forest birds: It plays a major role in how they choose mates, maintain territories, find food, each other and avoid being eaten.
Until recently, however, very little was known about the complexity of acoustic communication for most forest birds in Hawaii.
Join Dr. Patrick Hart, with the University of Hawaii at Hilo’s department of biology, at the Lyman Museum for his presentation of “Acoustic Ecology of Hawaiian Forest Birds” to review the diversity of songs and calls of many of the native birds on Hawaii Island, using spectrograms, or “sound pictures,” that demonstrate both the beauty and the variability of their vocalizations.
He will also discuss some of the exciting findings being made by faculty and student researchers in the UH-Hilo Listening Observatory for Hawaiian Ecosystems Bioacoustics Laboratory.
Presentations are scheduled for 7-8:30 p.m. today and 3-4:30 p.m. Tuesday.
Admission to the program is free to museum members and $3 for nonmembers. Masks must be worn and physical distancing will be observed. Seating is very limited; you must reserve your seat/s in advance by calling the museum at 935-5021 from 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Monday-Friday. Guests must check in at the front desk. Check-in begins at 6:30 p.m. today and 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday. The Lyman Museum is located at 276 Haili St., Hilo.