Acoustic terror of hadedas

Birds are often celebrated for their beautiful songs, but not all bird sounds are created equal.

- SONJA BROWN

While the melodic chirping of a robin might bring peace to your morning, some bird calls – like the infamous hadeda ibis – strike a very different chord.

The hadeda has a call that's less melody and more soul-piercing scream. Its sound is akin to a creature announcing the apocalypse, delivered with the volume of an air horn.

I am often ripped from a peaceful dream by a loud scream for help, only to realise that it is merely an enormous, albeit irritating bird on the roof. It sounds like the bird is auditioning for a horror movie. And there's no sleeping through it.

Earplugs are futile. The hadeda does not care about your need for rest, or your fragile human nerves.