This is bird note.

Beavers are ecosystem engineers.

They alter the environment in ways that directly affect other species.

By damning streams, they create new ponds and meadows, new habitats.

Australia is home to its own remarkable ecosystem engineers,

the lyrebirds.

A lyrebird scratches furiously on the forest floor with long strong toes.

To uncover from up to six inches deep, worms and spiders and other tasty invertebrates.

In the process, one lyre bird can shift 11 dump truckloads of soil and leaves each year.

That's thought to be more than any other digging animal.

By digging, the birds expose bare soil and mix it with leaf litter.

This helps cycle nutrients while creating new habitats and altering others in

ways that promote a more diverse ecosystem.

But that's not their only special talent.

Lirebirds are best known for their uncanny vocal abilities,

which can incorporate spot-on imitations of other bird species like

this laughing kukabur.

Between their terraforming toes and their world-renowned vocal mimicry,

Lirebirds are truly remarkable.

For Bird Note, I'm Michael Stein.

This episode is sponsored by Chris Sujicawa and her son Nicola, who say,

let's build stronger communities by helping our neighbors.

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