Page 182 - Atlas Of The World's Strangest Animals

182 ATLAS OF THE WORLD’S STRANGEST ANIMALS

was about to vanish with the advent of war. In it,Williams
Skylark habitats
takes his theme from the acrobatic and awe-inspiring sight
of the male skylarks’ mating display, which is still a popular
sight in the British countryside to this day.
When they are on the ground, bird-watchers often refer
to skylarks as SBJs, or ‘small brown jobs’ – a label used to
refer to the large number of hard-to-identify little, brown
birds that exist. It’s in the air that these SBJs transform into
one of nature’s wonders.
Most birds go to great lengths to keep themselves
hidden from predators, but during the mating season
skylarks seems to revel in danger as they wheel upwards
through the air, singing as they ascend.The verb ‘to
skylark’, meaning to act in a foolish or mischievous way, is
said to come from way that these birds seem to risk life
and limb with such a seemingly frivolous display. In reality,
though, these acrobatics have a very serious purpose. Most
male birds sing in order to attract a mate or to defend
their territory and the skylarks do the same.And the song-
flights they use to advertise their presence and availability
to nearby females is truly spectacular.
Ever since the composer Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872–
1958) wrote The Lark Ascending in 1914, it has been a
favourite with British music lovers.Williams wrote the Dancing with death
piece while watching troop ships head out across the The skylarks’ performance begins with rapid wing beats as
English Channel at the start of World War I – (1914–18). they ascend, almost vertically into the air.After hovering
It’s a piece that conjures up everything that the composer for several minutes, while they sing their characteristically
thought was quintessentially British and which he worried melodic song, they then wheel back down to earth. Such

Comparisons

Shore larks (Eremophila alpestris) make their homes in some of the the males sprout a pair of black feathers just above and behind their
bleakest locations, flourishing and thriving amongst Arctic tundra and eyes.The aim of these ‘horns’ is to make them look bigger and more
bleak, high mountains. Unlike their lark relations, in the breeding season, aggressive to rivals and help attract mates.

Shore lark Skylark

(c) 2011 Marshall Cavendish. All Rights Reserved.