The research team made replicas of the fragile originals, which they found emitted high-pitched trills resembling the calls of birds of prey. One theory is that the flutes were used attract the birds of prey - namely the Eurasian Sparrowhawk and the Common Kestrel - to frighten waterfowl, making them easier to catch. Over 500 million birds pass through the Hula Valley each year as they migrate between Europe and Africa, making it a popular destination for bird watchers. The use of flutes to communicate with the birds, Simmons said, was "really cementing that transition to a time when the relationship between humans and animals began to change". Reporting by Dedi Hayun and Ari Rabinovitch; Editing by Nick MacfieOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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Persons: Jérusalem, Tal Simmons, Simmons, Dedi Hayun, Ari Rabinovitch, Nick Macfie Organizations: Hebrew University of Jerusalem, REUTERS, de Recherche, Israel Antiquities Authority, Tal Simmons of Virginia Commonwealth University, Thomson Locations: Jerusalem, Ronen, JERUSALEM, Israel, recherche, Europe, Africa, Ain