Today we're going to follow the Way of the Whistle and its many wonderous applications in nature.
Mankind discovered the power of whistling while still living in caves.
The musical notes that cave mates shared may have been primitive, but they surely had significance to our ancestors. A whistle could be a warning, or it could be a sign of admiration depending on the circumstances.
Scientists tell us the oldest whistles ever discovered were made from bone and found in Peru and Israel dating back to 4000 BCE and 12,000 years ago respectively.
The power of the whistle can be found throughout the animal kingdom. Some animals that whistle like humans include rodents (who knew?), birds (no surprise), and dolphins.
Some people say they can't whistle. The fact is everyone can learn to whistle with their lips it just takes a lot of practice. A word to the wise; if you're having trouble whistling by blowing air out of your lips, you might want to try sucking air in instead.
I'm amazed at how many creatures can whistle.
I recently discovered that caterpillars could whistle. The walnut sphinx caterpillar compresses its body and squeezes air out of the holes in the side of their bodies, called spiracles. The shrill whistle they let out lasts for several seconds if disturbed by a predator.
Do you know why guinea pigs' whistle? Pet owners say they whistle in anticipation of food. They learn to identify the telltale signs of a pending meal and whistle wildly in response.
Stranger still, there are highly social wild dogs - dholes - that live in packs in the dense forests of Asia that are known as "whistling hunters." Dholes hunt cooperatively, breaking into smaller groups to surround prey animals hidden deep in the vegetation. To coordinate their movements in an environment that's both noisy and visually cluttered, the canines whistle to each other.
You may have heard that bottlenose dolphins have a signature whistle, a unique vocalization that acts like a name. That whistle not only provides an identity, but it also helps dolphins locate each other and deepen bonds.
Moving on.
There's an International Whistle's Guild which promotes the art of whistling as mankind's oldest and most unique musical expression.
Speaking of unique there's a World Whistling Competition every year. I guarantee you'll be awed by the people who stand in front of a mike belting out impressive tunes with just their lips. And yes, there are professional whistlers who win prizes in competitions worldwide.
As it Stands, did you know that when you whistle while you work it makes the time go by faster?
