Orphaned birds get music lessons

LONDON, June 16 (UPI) -- Birdsong recordings are being played for baby birds at rescue centers in Britain to teach them to become good singers, wildlife experts say.

Birds at Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals centers are undergoing music lessons twice a day in preparation for being released into the wild, The Times of London reported.

Orphaned birds can have difficulty learning how to sing because they usually learn how to sing from their parents, experts say.

"The ability to sing is extremely important to the males of most bird species because it is vital for them to form and then defend their own territory and find a mate," RSPCA wildlife officer Tim Thomas said.

Thomas said studies found most birds' singing skills increase after hearing birdsong recordings.