During an exhibition in Kronach (southern FRGermany) I stood at a hostel
situated at a fortress called Festung Rosenberg (builded around 1250)
for 4 days .
Kestrels Falco tinnunculus, a lot of Common Swifts Apus apus and
Western Jackdaws Corvus monedula were breeding there. Up to 40
individuals of Jackdaws was screeming at the inner courtyard every morning.

17. July 2009, 6am, Western Jackdaws Corvus monedula, Common Swift Apus apus 

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© Pic by Marcus Held

What do you think you hear in this recording?
A clockwork? A model railroad? Or maybe a snake?

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Yesterday we ringed some juvenile Wrynecks Jynx torquila.
What you can hear is their defense call.
For us it was a really impressive experience to hear and see
this bunch of hissing and clicking young birds in the nest-box.
This defence behaviour is optical remarkable too.
The Wrynecks turn their heads all the time to impersonate a snake.
Combined with the sound it didn´t miss its effect :-)