Book 31, Question 91 · Video
Why do loons sound like they’re wailing and laughing?
Loons live on northern lakes and make several haunting calls. A long, rising wail helps loons find each other across the water. A wobbling, laugh-like call, the tremolo, often means they are alarmed. Another call, a yodel, is used to mark a lake as home. Their voices carry for a mile or more across calm water at dawn and dusk.
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What Crafty Clover says in this video
Intro
Hi there, curious minds! I'm Crafty Clover! Let's discover something amazing. Why do loons sound like they’re wailing and laughing?
The Big Idea
On northern lakes, loons make spooky calls! Some sound like wailing, some like laughing. Why do they sound like that?
The Wail
Step one: The Wail. Loons live on northern lakes and make several haunting calls. A long, rising wail helps loons find each other across the water.
The Tremolo
Step two: The Tremolo. A wobbling, laugh-like call is called the tremolo. It often means the loon is alarmed.
The Yodel
Step three: The Yodel. Another call, the yodel, is used to mark a lake as home. Loon voices can carry for a mile or more across calm water at dawn and dusk.
A Closer Look
Let's take a closer look! Finding each other. Alarm. Home lake. Carries sound.
Quick Facts
Quick facts! A loon's call has been used in many nature films as a sound of the wilderness. Loon calls carry a mile or more. Loons live on northern lakes. Loons often call at dawn and dusk.
Think Like a Scientist
Now, think like a scientist! With a grown-up, listen to an online recording of loon calls. Draw a squiggly line for the wail. Draw one for the tremolo. Draw one for the yodel. Which one sounds most like laughing?
Outro
Loons make haunting calls on northern lakes. The rising wail helps them find each other, the laugh-like tremolo means alarm, and the yodel marks a lake as home, all carrying a mile or more over calm water. Science is amazing! What will you discover next? Every question is a new adventure, so keep wondering and keep exploring with me! Crafty Clover can be found on Amazon Books, Google Bookstore, and Apple Books. Available for purchase or download! Bye for now!