The kookaburra's ratcheting cry is well known to Westerners, but for a reason that is bogus.
Every soundtrack purporting to supply jungle background noises includes the cry of the kookaburra.
Go to the Australian outback to hear the real thing, particularly just before dawn. Aboriginals say that Kookaburra was appointed by Punjel to warn bush creatures that the Sky Fire is about to be relit for another day. When the Great One hangs a star in the Eastern sky, Kookaburra gives forth his most joyous laugh. More recent arrivals just call him the Bushman's Clock. By either name, the kookaburra provides a wake-up call to the sun.