BirdNote®: Skylark – With Aretha Franklin
Air Date: September 02, 2022
The skylark is the only bird in North America that sings for three minutes straight while in flight. Aretha Franklin’s soulful rendition of “Skylark” accompanies the bird’s airborne song in this piece from BirdNote’s Mary McCann.
Transcript
BASCOMB: The beautiful song of skylarks are a delight to many, including Aretha Franklin.
BirdNotes Mary McCann has more.
BirdNote®Skylark in Spring – with Aretha Franklin
Written by Chris Peterson
This is BirdNote!
[Aretha Franklin sings Skylark] Skylark...Have you anything to say to me…
Imagine – singing for three minutes while soaring to 100 feet in the air. The Skylark – no other bird in North America has such a long song or sings so persistently in flight.
*[Long sound break with song of the Skykark and continue under the text]
Around 1902, Skylarks were brought from England to Vancouver Island, British Columbia, to satisfy the desire of English immigrants to hear the birds' exalted song. This remains the only place in North America, except for a few sightings in Alaska, where the Skylark can be heard. [Pause] Never mind. They do what so many birds do – they carry our aspirations and send our spirits soaring.
Oh skylark
I don't know if you can find all of these things
But my heart is riding on your wings...
BASCOMB: For photos flock on over to the Living on Earth website, loe dot org.
