the laughing what?

Kookaburras are very large terrestrial kingfishers native to Australia and New Guinea. Kookaburras are best known for their unmistakable call which is uncannily like loud, echoing human laughter — good-natured if rather hysterical merriment in the case of the well-known Laughing Kookaburra (Dacelo novaeguineae), maniacial, almost insane cackling in the case of the slightly smaller Blue-winged Kookaburra (Dacelo leachii).

This sound is often used as background noise for movies set in jungles. Kookaburras occupy woodland territories in loose family groups, and their laughter serves the same purpose as a great many other bird calls: to demarcate territorial borders. The Laughing Kookaburra also "laughs" to greet its mate after periods of absences. It can be heard at any time of day but most frequently shortly after dawn, and especially when the colour drains from the forest after sunset. One bird starts with a low, hiccupping chuckle, then throws its head back in raucous laughter: often several others join in. If a rival tribe is within earshot and replies, the whole family soon gathers to fill the bush with ringing laughter.

Hearing kookaburras in full voice is one of the more extraordinary experiences of the Australian bush; something even locals cannot ignore, and that visitors, unless forewarned, can be quite terrified by.

The Laughing Kookaburra frequently inhabits suburban gardens and are so accustomed to humans that they will quite often eat out of your hand. It is not recommended to feed them however as it interferes with their basic dietry requirements and can lead to disease.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kookaburra

---

Bisa dibilang dari sejumlah fauna asli ostralis, yang kebanyakan berfisik, bersifat dan berperilaku "bizarrely outlandish" dari hewan-hewan benua lain, kookaburra adalah salah satu favorit saya.

Seperti yang dijelaskan panjang lebar oleh wikipedia, si burung penyanyi ini sangat disayangi semua pihak. Dan mereka tinggal tidak hanya di hutan, pun di kota. Bahkan di suburb saya pun, pagi hari mudah didengar kicauan mereka.

Dibilang kicauan, mungkin kurang tepat yah. Karena bagi saya kicauan itu lembut dan sedikit banyak bermelodi.

Tidak demikian halnya dengan nyanyian kookaburras. Mereka ber-"nyanyi" uuuuwuuuu wuuuu wuuuu wuuuu wuuhuuu waaaa wa wawawaa huuuu. Iyah, seperti itu. Memang sulit dijelaskan, apalagi ditulis di halaman blog, sayang sekali saya tidak bisa memainkan file audio.

Maka itu, kalau kamu berada di hutan atau «oz bush», apalagi untuk pertama kalinya, mungkin kamu pikir itu suara apaan, hantu? dan makhluk jejadian?

Dan beberapa tahun lalu, dengan teman, saya berada di hutan semi tropis di Queensland, di camping site. Untuk makan siang, beberapa sosis bbq telah siap saji di piring. Di antara kerindangan pepohonan sekelompok kookaburras sibuk bergerombol dengan riang. Dan saya berjalan sejenak ke ujung meja yang lain untuk mengambil air hendak mencuci tangan. Tidak sampai tiga detik, swooosh, piring kaleng bergerincing. Sosis lenyap, dijambret oleh si burung chanteur.

Dan saya hanya bisa menggigit jari, makan siang saya tinggal sisa bawang bombay saja.

Boh ...