What's it like to be a bird?

So here it is, the bird project I told you about in a previous post! A friend started this amazing project, in which he makes people sound like birds - this is my own voice in the video, and I'm re-enacting a nightingale. 


It was all just starting to take shape when we made the video above, but everything's coming along pretty fast now, and I'm really glad to be a part of the project at such an early stage.


The idea behind it is that you can experience how it feels to be a bird, but in human speed. I'm going to try and transcribe Thijs' explanation as best as possible here: Most birds live only seven to eight years, whereas humans have around 70 to 80 years. Therefore, you could say that birds live at a different pace than humans. You can see that in their quick movements, their rapid heart beat, and how many times they breathe in one minute. 

Of course, it's impossible to entirely experience what a bird's consciense is like, but you can 'humanize' and then re-enact one of their most notable features - their song. Then, if you translate the human's imitation of the bird back to a bird's perception, you get the effect you can see above.


It's quite the experience to 'be' a bird, to understand what their song sounds like from their perception instead of our own. And it's even more incredible to see the bird-version of yourself, making sounds you never would have thought could come out of your mouth. It's such an interesting cross between science and art. I'll keep you updated on interesting progress - and perhaps even a chance to try it yourself!


You can see more birds and get more info here: www.thijsvanvuure.nl.