Your chirping’s like a dying smoke alarm,
Your rapid calls a firing laser gun,
Yet neither threatens listeners with harm
Or gives them any cause to flee or run.
–Paul Burgess
Miscellaneous Inanities
Nonsense Poetry, Asinine Satire, and Occasional "Serious" Ramblings
Miscellaneous Inanities 
Very charming and very true.
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Thank you! The laser guns and smoke alarm comparisons did not require much thought. Before we’d pinned the sounds to cardinals, my wife and I used to wonder, “What’s making that sound that smoke alarms make when the battery is dying?” and “Which bird has the laser gun call?”
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It’s amazing what sounds you can hear in nature. There’s definitely a lot of inspiration to be had.
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Cardinals are one of my favorite birds and I have to admit I have never really “listened” to hear what they sound like. I think I will have to do that now.
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Until a few months ago, I never really noticed any of the birds that I can’t stop noticing now:)
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I think they use the high alarm-like beep to warn each other that something large or threatening is near. Since I have only heard males make the laser sound, I think the lasers are a mating call.
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