JT, Ty and I were over at the founder of Phoenix Landing Org on Saturday. She has in one room a GWM, BGM, TAG, U2. She just got a roomate who has 3 U2. They were housed in a room upstairs.

After about an hour and a half we were ready to leave and asked why the toos were so qiuet. We asked if we could peek in and see them before we parted. We did so and that started WWIII. They all started with a sqwauk here and there and then total chaos. We could here them still going as we walked to the truck! Definitely louder than macaws (heh).

I have heard their calls can travel for 5 miles in the wild open.

How is it birds can sit next to each other screaming their heads off calling the flocks and not go deaf?

Hearing works by vibrating tiny hairs in the inner ear. When those hairs are damaged, we lose our hearing. I'm told that birds can regrow those hairs, so their hearing loss is only temporary.

There's also an aspect of our ears that decouples the eardrum from the inner ear a little bit (this is why everything sounds a bit muffled right after you leave a loud place). I wonder if birds can do the same thing to larger degree, or maybe even do it deliberately when they know they'll need it.

Nate Waddoups
Redmond WA USA

they have to make loud noises because we don't 'get' the subtle attempts they make at communication. (Like sabotaging 'h's!!) :)

That's cool that their cilia can regrow!

I know this is a very old post but I just wanted to say, I'm sitting at my computer listning to the sound of wild cockatoos screaching to eachother. I can't see them from where I am but if I went outside to have a look I might be able to find them. I'm very lucky. A few beautiful large white cockatoos are regular visitors to my pigion cage (they try to steal sead from it) and live around my area. And everynow and then a pair of black cockatoons fly over head. I love the sound cockatoos make :) (although I'd probably be less fond of it if they were inside as apposed to free birds...)