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Meadowlark and the Monster
Talkative Meadowlark carries an important message to Coyote
© Rick Bohn/USFWS
In this story from Nimiipuu culture, Meadowlark is likened to the ‘reporter’ of Western grasslands, singing its song from the tops of fenceposts and trees. This story takes place before the time of people. Meadowlark warned Coyote about a Monster that was eating all the animals in the Kamiah Valley in the north-central part of what is today called Idaho.
BirdNote®
Meadowlark and the Monster
Written by Monica Gokey
This is BirdNote.
The Intermountain West was once rich in native grasslands — and in grassland birds. One, in particular, played an important role in the creation story of the Nimiipuu, or Nez Perce people. And that’s Meadowlark.
[Western Meadowlark song]
Elliott Moffatt: Meadowlark was coming up the Columbia River and told Coyote that there was a monster in the Kamiah (kam-ee-EYE) Valley.
This is Elliott Moffett.
Elliott Moffett: In our language we talk about Meadowlark, what the Meadowlark characteristics were, because they were always talking, you know, and they were passing on information. So they were kind of the reporter.
Meadowlark is a talkative bird! You can often see them singing from the top of fence posts or trees.
[Western Meadowlark song]
In this story, Meadowlark warns Coyote about a monster.
Elliott Moffett: The monster was eating up all the animals in Kamiah. And Coyote was our superhero, too. And this was before people. So he went there, he developed this plan to kill the monster, and he did. And from the monster was created the Nez Perce people, the Nimiipuu. And you can still see the heart of the monster in Kamiah.
The Heart of the Monster is a small rocky butte in what is today designated as a National Park site in the Kamiah Valley of north-central Idaho.
Meadowlark continues to sing there today.
[Western Meadowlark song]
For BirdNote, I’m Monica Gokey.
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Senior Producer: John Kessler
Producer: Mark Bramhill
Managing Editor: Jazzi Johnson
Managing Producer: Conor Gearin
Bird sounds provided by The Macaulay Library of Natural Sounds at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, New York. Western Meadowlark ML457708741 recorded by Scott Tuthill.
BirdNote’s theme was composed and played by Nancy Rumbel and John Kessler.
© 2023 BirdNote January 2023
Narrator: Monica Gokey
ID# moffette-01-2023-01-03 moffette-01
Monica Gokey
Writer NarratorSights & Sounds
