What The Duck?!

The ostrich-riding bushranger- John Francis Peggotty Oct 26, 2024

There's a statue of an ostrich wearing a saddle in Meningie, South Australia.

The large bird statue is dedicated to the legend of "John Francis Peggotty", the Birdman of the Coorong.

He loved gold, robbed stagecoaches, and used an ostrich as a getaway car. OR DID HE?!

Featuring:

Denice Mason, teacher and Meningie resident.

Associate Professor Rohan Clarke, Monash University and co-author of the Australian Bird Guide.

Jacob Fiebig, Meningie resident and composer of "The ballad of John Peggotty".

Production:

Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer.
Petria Ladgrove, Producer.
Joel Werner, Script Editor.
Additional mastering: Angie Grant.

This episode of What the Duck?! was first broadcast in Feb 2022 and is produced on the land of the Wadawarrung, Ngarrindjeri and Kaurna people.

If you want to hear more "What the Duck?" episodes- please like and subscribe here.

Everything you need to know about flies Oct 19, 2024

What makes a true fly and do we really need them?

As per usual the What the Duck?! team is elbow-deep in crap looking for a way out.

And the way out, is flies!

Featuring:

Dr Bryan Lessard, Entomologist, Author of Eyes on Flies.

Production:

Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer.
Petria Ladgrove, Producer.
Joel Werner, Script Editing.

This episode of What the Duck?! was originally broadcast in September 2022 and is produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and the Kaurna people.

Killer whales vs boats Oct 12, 2024

A group of Killer whales have been hassling boats around Spain over the last few years.

They've been nibbling the rudders and even sinking yachts, but why?

Has anyone considered that it might be revenge? How dangerous are Orcas anyway?

Featuring:

Martin Evans, UK Sailor.
Professor Peter Keegan, History and Archaeology at Macquarie University.
Dr Rebeca Wellard, Curtin University.
Dr Luke Rendell, University of St Andrews, Scotland.
Anna Selbmann, University of Iceland.

Production:

Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer.
Petria Ladgrove, Producer.
Additional mastering: Hamish Camilleri.

This episode of What the Duck?! was originally broadcast on the 30th of September 2023 and was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and Kaurna people.

Bumping, grinding and groaning - why do animals do it? Your questions answered. Oct 05, 2024

Did you know that some squirrels, otters and goats are capable of autofellatio?

And ferrets, macaques and dolphins can use rocks, plants and other objects as sex toys?

Fresh off the back of the Sex is Weird series, Sana Qadar from All in the Mind is getting the down low on animal masturbatory behaviours.

Dr Ann Jones has all the goss and it's entirely ruined her internet search history.

Please note that this program contains adult themes and explicit language. Parental guidance is recommended.

Featuring:

Sana Qadar, Presenter All in the Mind.

Check out her podcast on the psychology of masturbation here.

Matthias Wentzlaff-Eggebert, Listener.

Production:

Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer

Petria Ladgrove, Producer

Additional mastering: Isabella Tropiano.

This episode of What the Duck?! was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and the Kaurna people.

Sex is Weird: Ep 7- Do we need sex? Sep 27, 2024

Sex comes at a cost, there’s energy, time, risks of predators, and diseases… so do we even need it?

Asexual organisms don’t seem to miss the dating scene, and yet here we are putting a whole lot of energy into sex, even when it doesn't lead to babies when same sexes attract.

Of course, sex is a chance to genetically repair faults and outrun threats, but is the pay-off really enough?

Sex is Weird is a series of What the Duck?! with Dr Ann Jones following the sexual evolution of the animal kingdom.

Please note that this program contains adult themes and explicit language. Parental guidance is recommended.

Featuring:

Associate Professor Kevin Teather, Author, The Evolution of Sex.

Assistant Professor Amanda Gibson, University of Virginia.

Professor Joseph Heitman, Duke University.

Professor Jenny Graves, La Trobe University.

Production:

Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer

Petria Ladgrove, Producer

Additional mastering: Isabella Tropiano.

This episode of What the Duck?! was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and the Kaurna people.

Sex is Weird: Ep 6- Virgin birth Sep 20, 2024

It turns out not everyone was listening when it was written ‘it takes two to tango’ and some species can go it alone in their quest to reproduce. And then there’s the plants that decided THREE or ONE was for them, never an even number.

Why is sex so... suspiciously complicated?

Sex is Weird is a series of What the Duck?! with Dr Ann Jones following the sexual evolution of the natural world.

Please note that this program contains adult themes and explicit language. Parental guidance is recommended.

Featuring:

Dr Meredith Lake, Presenter, Soul Search ABC Radio National.

Dr Michael Whitehead, Evolutionary Ecologist.

Libby Eyre, Biologist, Macquarie University.

Associate Professor Andrew Durso, Florida Gulf Coast University, Florida.

Professor Michael Kearney, University of Melbourne.

Dr Christine Dudgeon, University of Queensland.

Production:

Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer

Petria Ladgrove, Producer

Additional mastering: Isabella Tropiano.

This episode of What the Duck?! was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and the Kaurna people.

Sex is Weird: Ep 5- Why does it feel good, anyway? Sep 13, 2024

What is the role of pleasure in successful reproduction?

Evolution says it's mightily important: every female vertebrate has a clitoris.

Snakes have two!

Female pleasure has been selected for.

Making sex fun and pleasurable is a biologically sensible thing to do, more sex means more potential babies.

Some studies of pigs and dairy cows have found an increase of up to 6% in successful conception when the females are stimulated during artificial insemination.

Sex is Weird is a new series of What the Duck?! with Dr Ann Jones following the sexual evolution of the animal kingdom.

Please note that this program contains adult themes and explicit language. Parental guidance is recommended.

Featuring:

Dr Bruno Buzatto, Flinders University, South Australia.

Lynette Greenwood, Dairy farmer, Victoria.

Associate Professor Andrew Durso, Florida Gulf Coast University, Florida.

Lucy Cooke, Author and Film maker.

Associate Professor Patty Brennan, Mount Holyoke College, Massachusetts, US.

Emeritus Professor Susan Suarez, Cornell University, New York.

Production:

Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer

Petria Ladgrove, Producer

Additional mastering: Isabella Tropiano.

This episode of What the Duck?! was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and the Kaurna people

Sex is Weird: Ep 4- How to be hot according to nature Sep 06, 2024

Do animals fall in love at first sight?

Every species has different traits that are 'attractive' — they're showing off their DIY skills making a bower, vibrating sexy fruit fly songs, puffing up a wattle, or just having really massive moose… antlers.

Is this innate attraction like falling in love or is it more like meeting a (really hot) investment advisor?

Because these attractive traits are also messages about genes – who will make a good investment to partner with for the next generation.

Of course, one species beauty is another's turn off, and some species have a very low bar (looking at you guppies), so Hot or Not could end up being a very individual thing.

Sex is Weird is a new series of What the Duck?! with Dr Ann Jones following the sexual evolution of the animal kingdom.

Please note that this program contains adult themes and explicit language. Parental guidance is recommended.

Featuring:

Dr Bruno Buzatto, Flinders University, South Australia.

Nathan Finger, Bird of the Week podcast host.

Jason Graham, Pacific black duck conservation group, Tasmania.

Dr Victoria Austin, Western Sydney University.

Professor Rob Brooks, University of New South Wales.

Dr Judy Wang, Queensland Brain Institute.

Production:

Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer

Petria Ladgrove, Producer

Additional mastering: Isabella Tropiano.

This episode of What the Duck?! was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and the Kaurna people.

Sex is Weird: Ep 3- Sexy females fight back Aug 30, 2024

The energy required to grow, birth and raise young is intense, so it's only fair that the female body has some tricks to make sure reproducing is worth it.

From cryptic choice to immune system sperm blockers, the female reproductive system can be a literal maze for those seeking to gain access to her eggs.

In the battle of the sexes, this is females fight back.

Sex is Weird is a new series of What the Duck?! with Dr Ann Jones following the sexual evolution of the animal kingdom.

Please note that this program contains adult themes and explicit language. Parental guidance is recommended.

Featuring:

Professor Sarah Robertson, University of Adelaide.

Dr Diane Kelly, Assistant Professor, University of Massachusetts, Amherst.

Associate Professor Patricia Brennan, Mount Holyoke College, Massachusetts, US.

Emeritus Professor Susan Suarez, Cornell University, New York.

Professor Mariana Wolfner, Cornell University, New York.

Production:

Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer.

Petria Ladgrove, Producer.

Additional mastering: Isabella Tropiano.

This episode of What the Duck?! was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and the Kaurna people.

Sex is Weird: Ep 2- Why do penises exist? Aug 23, 2024

When it comes to sexual organs, the penis is really ‘out there.’ Name another organ that can change its form AND function in a matter of seconds!

There’s a lot of variety in the animal kingdom; from spikes and nails to coils and collagen – so, this appendage is worth investigating... close up.

Sex is Weird is a new series of What the Duck?! With Dr Ann Jones following the sexual evolution of the animal kingdom.

Please note that this program contains adult themes and explicit language. Parental guidance is recommended.

Featuring:

Dr Emily Willingham, biologist, journalist and author.

Dr Diane Kelly, Senior Research Fellow, University of Massachusetts, Amherst.

Associate Professor Andrew Durso, Florida Gulf Coast University, Florida.

Associate Professor Patty Brennan, Mount Holyoke College, Massachusetts, US.

Dr Bruno Buzatto, Flinders University, South Australia.

Philippa Holm, HFR Performance Horses, Victoria.

Production:

Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer.

Petria Ladgrove, Producer.

Additional mastering: Isabella Tropiano.

This episode of What the Duck?! was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and the Kaurna people.

Sex is Weird: Ep 1- The world’s first d*ck pic Aug 16, 2024

When you really think about it, sex to make babies is WEIRD! You take an outie that has to get stuck inside an innie that links into a production line of eggs to assemble a perfect tiny being. It’s so damn complicated!

So why does it work like that?

Join us at What the Duck for the first episode of a new series where we figure out how living things went from splitting ourselves in half to double the population, to periodically feeling compelled to copulate in such a vigorous, sometimes highly embarrassing, manner.

Earth - this is your sexual history!

Please note that this program contains adult themes and explicit language. Parental guidance is recommended.

Featuring:

Emeritus Professor David Siveter, University of Leicester, UK.

Assistant Professor Emily Mitchell, University of Cambridge, UK and curator of non-insect invertebrates, University Museum of Zoology, Cambridge, UK.

Dr Marissa Betts, geologist and palaeontologist at the University of New England, Armidale, Australia.

Dr Emily Willingham, biologist, journalist and author.

Associate Professor Patty Brennan, Mount Holyoke College, Massachusetts, US.

Production:

Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer.

Petria Ladgrove, Producer.

Additional mastering: Isabella Tropiano.

Thanks also to Will Ockenden, Belinda Smith, Corey Hague and Joel Werner.

This episode of What the Duck?! was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and the Kaurna people.

INTRODUCING: Sex is Weird (a What the Duck?! series) Aug 13, 2024

How the duck did sex evolve as a major form of reproduction?

Sex is Weird is a brand new series of What the Duck?! with Dr Ann Jones.

From the evolution of the first-ever genitals and the strange methods that animals use to copulate, to the unbelievable ways that the female body responds to sex.

So strap in and get ready for the ride of your life, you'll never think about sex the same way again!

Please note that this program contains adult themes and explicit language. Parental guidance is recommended.

Production:

Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer.

Petria Ladgrove, Producer.

Additional mastering: Russel Stapleton.

This episode of What the Duck?! was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and the Kaurna people.

Feeling Crabby Aug 10, 2024

Have the crabs been lying to us?

They usually have ten legs and eyes on stalks, but there are all sorts of things hiding under the shell, including emotions.

There are true crabs, false crabs, and even shame-faced crabs which implies that some of them, at least, are guilty.

Featuring:

Dr Rachael King, SA Museum.

Professor Judith Weis, Rutgers University, Newark.

Dr Annabel Dorrenstein, University of Western Sydney.

Production:

Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer.
Petria Ladgrove, Producer.
Additional mastering: Hamish Camilleri.

This episode of What the Duck?! was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and the Kaurna people and was first broadcast in September 2023.

Spiders - they're going to kill! Aug 03, 2024

Spiders have gravity-defying ninja skills, they can hear without ears and they work together to gang up on huge prey.

Spiders are murder machines!

Featuring:

Dr Kate Umbers, Western Sydney University.

Dr Alfonso Aceves-Aparicio, University Hamburg.

Dr Jay Stafstrom, Cornell University.

Dr Lena Grinsted, University of Portsmouth.

Production:

Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer.

Petria Ladgrove, Producer.

Joel Werner, Script Editor.

Additional mastering: Angela Grant.

This episode of What the Duck?! was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and the Kaurna people and was first broadcast on the 17th of December 2022.

Mosquitos- blood suckers Jul 27, 2024

You can run but you can't hide!

Ever wondered how a mosquito manages to hit a blood vessel without fail?

And that one mozzie that you hear buzzing and buzzing at night? It’s probably a species that prefers birds and is trying to determine whether you’re a bird.

Featuring:

Assoc Prof. Cameron Webb, NSW Pathology & University of Sydney.

Dr. Jana Batovska, Agriculture Victoria.

Production:

Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer.

Petria Ladgrove, Producer.

Joel Werner, Script Editing.

This episode of What the Duck?! was first broadcast in June 2022 and produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and the Kaurna people.

Snakes and Ladders Jul 20, 2024

How does a snake climb a pole? It's not like they have a ladder... or arms.

It turns out that snakes have some pretty crazy skills when it comes to climbing anything and everything.

The Island of Guam had between two and four million brown tree snakes in the 1980s, leading to all sorts of issues for the birds and the environment.

Guests:

Dr Aaron Collins- Assistant State Director Guam/Western Pacific Theatre at USDA-APHIS-Wildlife Services

Professor Kristin Y. Pettersen- Centre for Autonomous Marine Operations and System at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU)

Stuart McKenzie - Director/Owner at The Snake Catcher Sunshine Coast

Professor Bruce C. Jayne- Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Cincinnati.

Charlie and Olivia, Board game players.

Production:

Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer.

Petria Ladgrove, Producer.

Joel Werner, Script Editing.

Additional mastering: Hamish Camilleri.

This episode of What the Duck?! was originally broadcast on the 5th of March 2022 and was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and the Kaurna people.

The Swearing Duck Jul 13, 2024

Ripper the musk duck had many bad habits – chief among them was attacking the keepers and then swearing under his breath.

But was Ripper really angry, or was his potty mouth a symptom of something much more sinister?

FEATURING:

Peter Fullagar, wildlife sound recordist and retired CSIRO Scientist.

Nick Hayward, Film maker, The Message of the Lyrebird.

Daryl Snowdon, Duck Shooter.

Lisa Sperber, Ballarat Bird World parrot whisperer.

Victoria Austin, University of Western Sydney..

Carel Ten Cate, Institute of Biology Leiden.

EXTRA SOUND RECORDINGS:Ripper the Duck and others, Peter Fullagar via the Australian National Wildlife Collection at the CSIRO, files X49184 and X49185.

Brolgas grunting by Henry Cook.

Echo the Lyrebird imitating a (human) baby, courtesy of Taronga Zoo.

Regent Honeyeaters in the wild by Ross Crates, ANU.

Production:

Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer.
Petria Ladgrove, Producer.
Jo Khan, Field Producer.
Joel Werner, Script editor.
Additional mastering: Hamish Camilleri.

This episode of What the Duck?! was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and Kaurna people.

It was first published on the 29th of Jan 2022.

Fisticuffs, ego, and the great tomato virus discovery of the 20th century Jul 06, 2024

It's the early 20th century, a government scientist position was determined by a boxing match, and a tomato virus threatened to stop the development of Australian-style tomato sauce in its tracks.

Luckily, apart from their prowess as fighters, Australian plant scientists were leaders in identifying and controlling plant illnesses.

They wouldn't do it without some drama though, and in this very special podcast extra, Ann Jones traces some of the turbulent history of tomato virus research down under.

Featuring:

Associate Professor Andrew Geering, University of Queensland.

Production:

Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer.
Petria Ladgrove, Producer.
Additional mastering: Hamish Camilleri.

This episode of What the Duck?! was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and Kaurna people.

Can plants get cancer? Jun 29, 2024

Plants are fully sick right now - and not just because indoor plants are in fashion.

They have an immune system, they get infections, and can catch viruses... they just can't move away from their sick neighbours.

While we depend on white blood cells to fight off and remember pathogens, plants rely on inherited knowledge of past threats in their DNA, plus the effective altruism of individual cells to sacrifice themselves rather than damage the whole.

Featuring:

Associate Professor Andrew Geering, University of Queensland.
Professor John Rathjen, Australian National University.
Dr Amy MacKenzie, University of Adelaide.
Belinda Smith, ABC Science reporter.

Production:

Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer.
Petria Ladgrove, Producer.
Additional mastering: Emrys Cronin

This episode of What the Duck?! was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and Kaurna people.

Electric Eel- an attitude problem and access to its own taser Jun 22, 2024

It seems absolutely bonkers that an animal can muster ELECTRICITY, especially enough to send out a zap like a taser.

But that's exactly what electric eels can do, and the world record holder more than doubles the voltage of the Australian electricity supply.

More than that, electric eels inspired the design of Volta's first batteries, but (hold onto your socks so they don't get blown off) they're not the only ones who've got electricity pumping through their bodies.

Featuring:

Professor Will Crampton, University of Central Florida.
Professor Ken Catania, Vanderbilt University.
Professor Kate Trinajstic, Curtin University.

Production:

Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer.
Petria Ladgrove, Producer.
Additional mastering: Emrys Cronin

This episode of What the Duck?! was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and Kaurna people.

Flaco the escapee owl flew free in New York City ... until he met his end on a window pane Jun 15, 2024

A superhero origin story would absolutely be 12 years in a cage and then set free by secretive criminals.

That’s the story of Flaco, the Eurasian Eagle Owl, released from his vandalised cage in Central Park Zoo, New York City.

He turned up in the middle of an intersection nearby, looking dazed and people in the know thought, ‘This is going to end badly,’ because animals released from captivity have an extremely low survival rate.

But Flaco – ‘skinny’ in Spanish – flew in the face of all that. Flaco not only learned to live, he seemed to thrive.

He turned up on fire escapes and windowsills, and was photographed around Manhattan like a coked-up socialite with wide eyes and fabulous ear tufts.

But, how long could Flaco possibly last in the graveyard of bird diversity that is the city? How long could he fly without confusing a window for the sky?

Featuring:

Ed Shanahan, Metro reporter, The New York Times.
Julia Wang, Project Leader, Cornell Lab of Ornithology.
Brendon Samuels, Fatal Light Awareness Program and Western University in Canada.
Dr Kylie Soanes, Urban ecologist at The University of Melbourne.
Mat Howard, Midjuburi Ward (Marrickville), Inner West Council, NSW.
Kat and Zach, Flaco Song.

Production:

Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer.
Petria Ladgrove, Producer.
Additional mastering: Hamish Camilleri.

This episode of What the Duck?! was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and Kaurna people.

When animals put other animals in jail Jun 08, 2024

Usually, it's humans putting animals in cages, but sometimes the animals do it to themselves.

Female platypus lock themselves in burrows to breed, great hornbill males lock females up in the hollow of a tree (they seal it up with fruit and poop) and potter wasps paralyse caterpillars for their babies to eat.

Today on What The Duck?!, Dr Ann Jones investigates the wild and hostile world of animal jails.

Are the animals just psycho killers or do they have their reasons?

Featuring:

Geoff Williams, Biologist, Australian Platypus Conservancy.
Pooja Pawar, Nature Conservation Foundation of India.
Dr. George Binns , Entomologist, Macquarie University.
Dr. Graham Brown, Entomologist, Darwin.

Production:

Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer.
Petria Ladgrove, Producer.
Additional mastering: Hamish Camilleri.

This episode of What the Duck?! was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and Kaurna people.

Why snakes remain deadly even after they're dead Jun 01, 2024

At first, you might think it is a plot from a zombie movie: that undead animals are coming for you.

But it turns out that Australia's animals aren't just dangerous when they're alive — they can be deadly even when they're dead.

Ann Jones is joined by science reporter Belinda Smith to examine why snakes can still bite up to 45 minutes after death and are potentially dangerous for years.

Think we're lying? Belinda found a guy whose great aunt (and her dog) were killed by a decapitated snake!

So if a snake could commit multiple murders from beyond the grave, what other animals are going to get you?

Featuring -

Ray Miller, relative died after being bitten by a dead snake.
Dr Christina Zdenek, Australian Reptile Academy.
Professor Kylie Pitt, Griffith University.
Dr Olaf Meynecke, Griffith University.
Len Zell, retired marine scientist and author of Australian Wildlife – Roadkill.

Production:

Belinda Smith, ABC Science Reporter/Producer.
Ann Jones, Presenter/Producer.
Petria Ladgrove, Producer.
Additional mastering: Hamish Camilleri.

This episode of What the Duck?! was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung, Wurundjeri and Kaurna people.

Do animals dream? May 25, 2024

Cassie and Claire have watched their parrot talk in its sleep... so is it dreaming?

And, if animals DO dream... will we ever know what they’re dreaming about? Ann Jones tries to find out.

Featuring:

Cassie, Claire and Pidgey the Parrot. Associate Professor Nicole Lovato, Flinders University. Associate Professor John Lesku, La Trobe University. Professor David Pena Guzman, author of ‘Animal Dreaming’ and San Francisco State University. Professor Sidarta Ribeiro, neuroscientist at Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil. Dr Shauni Omond, @shauniomond.sleepsci on Instagram, La Trobe University.Professor Niels Rattenborg, Research leader on Avian Sleep, Max Planck Institute.

Production:

Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer.Petria Ladgrove, Producer.Additional mastering: Hamish Camilleri.

This episode of What the Duck?! was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and Kaurna people and was originally broadcast in July 2023.

Do worms sleep? May 18, 2024

Birds can fly while half their brain is sleeping and some spiders sleep dangling on a silk thread, but what about worms.

Do worms sleep?

Featuring:

Associate Professor John Lesku, La Trobe University.
Dr Shauni Omond, @shauniomond.sleepsci on Instagram, La Trobe University.
Professor Niels Rattenborg, Research leader on Avian Sleep, Max Planck Institute.
Dr Daniela Roessler, University of Konstanz.

Production:

Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer.
Petria Ladgrove, Producer.
Additional mastering: Roi Huberman.

This episode of What the Duck?! was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and Kaurna people and was originally broadcast in July 2023.

The Sage-grouse dance May 11, 2024

Female sage-grouse birds have decided that they want to see a weird sexy dance when deciding on a mate.

Ann Jones explores the creativity of female choice in the animal world in this episode of What the Duck?!

Featuring:

Lucy Cooke, Zoologist and author of Bitch A Revolutionary Guide to Sex, Evolution and the Female Animal.Professor Gail L Patricelli, University of California, Davis.

Production:

Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer.Petria Ladgrove, Producer.

Additional mastering: John Jacobs.

This episode of What the Duck?! was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and Kaurna people andwas originally broadcast in July 2023.

Hyenas and lab mice - does sex matter? May 04, 2024

Female lab mice have been bred to be passive and breed with ease.

But, in the wild they're feisty and even pugnacious.

How much of our biological understanding of the world is based on misogyny?

Featuring:

Lucy Cooke, Zoologist and author of Bitch A Revolutionary Guide to Sex, Evolution and the Female Animal.Professor Arthur Georges, University of Canberra.Professor Catherine Dulac, Harvard University.

Production:

Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer.
Petria Ladgrove, Producer.
Additional mastering: Carey Dell

This episode of What the Duck?! was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and Kaurna people. It was originally broadcast in July 2023.

Shells with stories to tell Apr 27, 2024

There's a whole world of mystery, and quite a bit of maths, inside the humble sea shell.

Forget ancestry searches online, shells can tell you the history of the world!

Featuring:

Amy Prendergast, University of Melbourne.

Jann Vendetti, Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County.

Dr Paul Butler, Researcher at the University of Exeter.

This episode was originally broadcast in March 2023.

Production:

Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer.
Petria Ladgrove, Producer.
Additional mastering: Carey Dell

This episode of What the Duck?! was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and Kaurna people.

The merits of menopause. End of. Period. Apr 20, 2024

There's only a handful of animals on earth that go through menopause, where females get to hang up the ovaries and enjoy a change of life.

So, why have we (humans, chimps and some toothed whales) established a sexual retirement of sorts? What is everyone else missing out on?

Featuring:

Associate Professor Kevin Langergraber, Primatologist, Arizona State University.
Charli Grimes, PhD student, University of Exeter.

Production:

Belinda Smith, Reporter/Producer.
Ann Jones, Presenter/Producer.
Petria Ladgrove, Producer.
Additional mastering: Hamish Camilleri.

This episode of What the Duck?! was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung, Wurundjeri and Kaurna people.

Extreme traps in nature Apr 13, 2024

We will all go to trouble to get a good meal, but some animals take it to the extreme.

Some build architectural masterpieces to entrap their prey, or use body parts as lures.

But what is your cat doing when it makes the 'ek ek ek ek?' Is it trying to bewitch the birds?

Featuring:

Professor Kris Helgen, Australian Museum.
Julia Henning, PhD candidate, University of Adelaide.
Associate Professor Inon Scharf, Tel Aviv University.
Dr David Merritt, Entomologist.
Associate Professor Ajay Narendra, Macquarie University.

Extra audio: Cat Ek ek ek by @thiscatisdumpling.

Ann Jones, Presenter/Producer.
Petria Ladgrove, Producer.
Belinda Smith, Producer.
Additional mastering: Hamish Camilleri.

This episode of What the Duck?! was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and Kaurna people.

Phantasmic Mr Fox Apr 06, 2024

Despite spending years and millions of dollars, the Tasmanian Fox Eradication team never, not once, not ever, spotted a live fox on the Apple Isle.

While their efforts yielded zero foxes, it spawned a tale of lies, alleged corruption, and more scats than you could poke a stick at.

Featuring:

Ian Townsend, former ABC Radio National Journalist.
David Kelly, Manager of the Threatened Species Unit, NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service.
Jonah Yick, Program leader (Carp Management) Inland Fisheries Service Tasmania.
Brent Beaven, Predator Free programme lead (Senior Manager Predator Free 2050), Department of Conservation, NZ.

Production:

Ann Jones, Presenter/Producer.
Petria Ladgrove, Producer.
Additional mastering: Nathan Turnbull.

This episode of What the Duck?! was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and Kaurna people.

What the [sheeping] flock? Mar 30, 2024

You have a lot to thank sheep for. Yes, sheep.

More than just wool and meat — sheep have played a part in the development of contraception and reproduction in humans.

It's not as dodgy as it sounds, but it is absolutely surprising. Listening to this show will have you thanking every sheep you see from here on out.

Featuring:

Tara Farms, YouTuber, and sheep farmer.
Sally Coulthard, historian, smallholder, and author of A Short History of the World according to Sheep.
Dr Charles Roselli, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland.
Professor Emeritus Gareth Evans, University of Sydney.
Dr Stephan Leu, The University of Adelaide.

Production:

Ann Jones, Presenter/Producer.
Petria Ladgrove, Producer.
Additional mastering: Nathan Turnbull.

This episode of What the Duck?! was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and Kaurna people.

Purely for pleasure Mar 23, 2024

For years we've barely even talked about the human clitoris let alone the fact that snakes have TWO.

This program has adult themes.

Featuring:

Belinda Smith, ABC Science Online Reporter.

Lucy Cooke, Author and Film maker.

Megan Folwell, University of Adelaide.

Dr Jenna Crowe-Riddell, La Trobe University.

Production:

Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer.
Petria Ladgrove, Producer.
Additional mastering: Angie Grant

This program was first broadcast in 2023.

This episode of What the Duck?! was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and Kaurna people.

Face your fear of snakes Mar 16, 2024

Would you meet a stranger in a park with a pile of snakes?

Comedian Craig Quartermaine took the risk in an attempt to overcome his fears.

Featuring:

Craig Quartermaine, comedian.
Sandy Dickinson, Urban Reptiles.
Jonathan Wright, announcer's voice.

Production:

Ann Jones, presenter/producer.
Petria Ladgrove, producer.
Joel Werner, script editor.
Field recording: Dylan Prins.
Additional mastering: Angie Grant.

This episode was originally broadcast in 2023.

This episode of What the Duck?! was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung, Yuggera, Turrbal and Kaurna people.

Animals with extreme minimalist mindsets Mar 09, 2024

Could a legless lizard be 'minimalist of the year' for famous podcaster T. K. Coleman?

Ann Jones leads an unlikely gang of animal experts on a tidy dance through the philosophy of minimalism. There are moths without mouths, flies without wings, and a worm-lizard that will even declutter its own tail.

Move over Marie Kondo, Minimalist Mother Nature is in town.

Featuring:

T. K. Coleman, Co-host of the Minimalists Podcast.
Dr. Bryan Lessard, aka Bry the Fly Guy, entomologist and author of 'Eyes on Flies'.
Dr. George Binns, Entomologist, Macquarie University.
Dr. David Wong, Ecologist.

Production:

Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer.
Petria Ladgrove, Producer.
Additional mastering: Russell Stapleton.

This episode of What the Duck?! was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and Kaurna people.

Mother Nature does it better (ASMR edition) Mar 02, 2024

ASMR (autonomous sensory meridian response) is a tingly sensation that can bring relaxation, and it's spawned a growing industry of videos online of whispering, tapping, mouth noises and soft speaking.

But, if you wanted quiet, intimate sounds, well, Nature does it so. much. better.

Ann Jones goes on an ASMR journey with vibrating caterpillars, whispering monkeys and birds who want to keep secrets.

Featuring:

Dr Giulia Poerio, University of Sussex.
Thanh Sagris, ASMR artist, Melbourne.
Associate Professor Rachel Morrison, University of North Carolina at Pembroke.
Associate Professor Rindy Anderson, Florida Atlantic University.
Associate Professor Mandy Ridley, University of Western Australia.
Professor Jayne Yack, Carleton University.

Production:

Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer.
Petria Ladgrove, Producer.
Additional mastering: Russell Stapleton.

This episode of What the Duck?! was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and Kaurna people.

Why do Quolls have spots? Feb 24, 2024

Imagine you've just been cancelled for a controversial opinion about Taylor Swift's musical output, and you have to go to ground.

You can act like the Olsen twins, and hide behind big glasses and a big coat.

Or you could take a lesson from nature and blend in, like a proverbial spotty quoll into the bush.

When it comes to camouflage and animal markings, there's a lot we can learn from the animal kingdom.

Featuring:

Dr Belinda Wilson, The Australian National University.
Associate Professor Tanya Latty, University of Sydney.
Dr Quentin Fogg, University of Melbourne.
Dr Kaia Tombak, Purdue University.
Professor Marc Holderied, Bristol University.

Production:

Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer.
Petria Ladgrove, Producer.
Additional mastering: Isabella Tropiano.

This episode of What the Duck?! was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and Kaurna people.

Butts. What are they good for? Feb 17, 2024

Right now, you’re probably sitting on one of the most unique things about humans. One thing that separates us from the apes, from the birds, from EVERYTHING on earth. The thing that allows us to walk upright, on two legs.We have big butts and I cannot lie,This sort of exceptionalism doesn’t deny,That when a bird walks in with a little bit of hasteAnd drumsticks in your face, you have to admit that bipedalism ISN’T what’s interesting.It's actually our peachy butts.

Featuring:

Professor Daniel Lieberman, Harvard University, US.

Professor Jo Setchell, Durham University, UK.

Dr Peter Bishop, Harvard University, US.

Lauren Thornton, University of Sunshine Coast.

Production:

Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer.
Petria Ladgrove, Producer.
Additional mastering: Russell Stapleton.

How many animals REALLY live in your house? Feb 10, 2024

How many species live around your house?

In the COVID lockdown of 2020, three housemates decided to count.

They thought there’d only be a handful, but the number kept rising and rising.

Could their simple suburban Queenslander house be the next candidate for a new national park?

What the Duck?! is back for Season 6.

Featuring:

Dr Matt Holden, Mathematician, University of Queensland.

Dr Andrew Rogers, Ecologist, University of Melbourne.

Dr Russell Yong, Taxonomist.

Production:

Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer.
Petria Ladgrove, Producer.
Additional mastering: Nathan Turnbull.

Space race- the animal edition Feb 03, 2024

Fruit flies, guinea pigs, frogs, monkeys, turtles, cats and dogs… all sorts of animals have been to space.

Find out who made small steps for mankind before we could even spacewalk as Ann goes through the emotional turmoil of hearing animals in space.

Featuring:

James Foley, Author and Illustrator.

Kerrie Dougherty OAM, Senior Heritage and Outreach Officer, Australian Space Agency.

Emeritus Professor John P. Gluck, University of New Mexico and Kennedy Institute of Ethics, Georgetown University.

Michael Coggan, News Voice.

What the Duck?! Season 6 will be back next week.

Production:

Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer.
Petria Ladgrove, Producer.
Additional mastering: Matthew Crawford.

SUMMER - Silence of the vultures Jan 20, 2024

An ornithologist, a veterinarian and a religious devotee must find the serial killer before every last vulture in India is dead.

The episode was first published on the 2nd of September 2023.

Featuring:

Dr Campbell Murn, Head of Conservation at Hawk Conservancy Trust and University of Reading, UK.

Dr Kishor Rithe, Interim Director, Bombay Natural History Society.

Dr Andrea Santangeli, Mediterranean Institute for Advanced Studies, Spain.

Dr Percy Avari, Mumbai Vetinarary College.

Sherally Munshi, Georgetown.

Vulture sounds provided by Nikita Mathur, India.

Production:

Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer.

Petria Ladgrove, Producer.

Additional mastering: Hamish Camilleri.

This episode of What the Duck?! was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and Kaurna people.

SUMMER - Are Naked Mole-rats the weirdest animals on earth? Jan 13, 2024

They look like… 'sabre-toothed sausages', they can barely see, they live for a really long time and have a queen who oppresses them.

Find out all about the Naked Mole-rat this week and let us know your weirdest animal on earth suggestions at whattheduck@abc.net.au.

Featuring:

Dr Alison Barker, Max Planck Institute for Brain Research.

Adjunct Professor Rochelle Buffenstein, University of Illinois at Chicago.

Extra information: Professor Gary R. Lewin, Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine.

Production:

Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer.

Petria Ladgrove, Producer.

Additional mastering: Angie Grant

This episode of What the Duck?! was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and Kaurna people.

SUMMER - The ostrich-riding bushranger Jan 06, 2024

He loved gold, so he robbed stagecoaches in South Australia and used an ostrich as a getaway car. OR DID HE?!

This episode was first published on the 11th of February 2023.

Featuring:

Denice Mason, teacher and Meningie resident.

Associate Professor Rohan Clarke, Monash University and co-author of the Australian Bird Guide.

Jacob Fiebig, Meningie resident and composer of "The ballad of John Peggotty".

Production:

Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer.

Petria Ladgrove, Producer.

Additional mastering: Angie Grant.

This episode of What the Duck?! was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung, Ngarrindjeri and Kaurna people.

SUMMER- Kneel before the eel Dec 30, 2023

For thousands of years eels have made people rich and powerful, literally. Now it's time to pay it back.

This episode was originally published on the 18th of March 2023.

Featuring:

Dr. John Wyatt Greenlee, Historian Cornell University.

Erin Rose, Budj Bim World Heritage Executive Officer at Gunditj Mirring Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation.

Braydon Saunders, Tour Guide Coordinator at Budj Bim Cultural Landscape Tourism.

Tyson Lovett-Murray, Budj Bim World Heritage Ranger at Gunditj Mirring Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation.

Wayne Koster, Research Scientist at the Arthur Rylah Institute, Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action, Victorian Government.

Production:

Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer.

Petria Ladgrove, Producer.

Additional mastering: Timothy Jenkins.

This episode of What the Duck?! was produced on the land of the Gunditjmara, Wadawarrung and Kaurna people.

SUMMER- Birds, bees and a wang wang with a problem. Dec 23, 2023

A tiny penis, a 12-hour annual fertilisation window, picky females and strawberry bubble bath – these are just a few of the issues that pop up when making a panda cub.

This is a repeat of an episode first published on the 1st of April 2023.

Featuring:

Chad Crittle, Acting Assistant Curator for Carnivores and Ungulates at Zoos SA.

Mr Li Zhang, Consul, Head of Bilateral Section at the Chinese Consulate-General in Adelaide.

Dr Meghan Martin Wintle, Director, Conservation Ecologist at PDX Wildlife.

Production:

Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer.

Petria Ladgrove, Producer.

Additional mastering: Carey Dell.

This episode of What the Duck?! was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and Kaurna people.

Who's a good girl? Dec 16, 2023

Ann Jones does a DNA test to see if she is a dog!

This is the final episode for Season 5 of What the Duck?! We will be back in February with new episodes.

Featuring:

Skyla Seltzer, What The Duck?! listener.
Beanz and Henry the dog.
Link Olson, Curator of Mammals, University of Alaska Museum.
Dr Nicola Rivers, Monash University.
Professor Paul Hebert, Scientific Director, International Barcode of Life.
Dr Leo Joseph, Australian National Wildlife Collection CSIRO.
Tim Low, Biologist and author.

Thanks also Ying Luo for background information.

Production:

Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer.
Petria Ladgrove, Producer.
Additional mastering: Hamish Camilleri.

This episode of What the Duck?! was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and Kaurna people.

Is the pigeon the weirdest animal on earth? Dec 09, 2023

It is related to the dodo, makes milk and even played a role in the French Revolution. Surely this bird deserves some recognition?

Featuring:

Rosemary Mosco, Science writer and author of 'The Pocket Guide to Pigeon Watching'.

Nathan Finger, Host of 'Bird of the Week' podcast

Dr Robin Leppitt, Ornithologist.

April Broadbent, Pigeon Rehabber.

Aaron and Aria, Pigeon Fanciers.

Production:

Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer.
Petria Ladgrove, Producer.
Additional mastering: Hamish Camilleri.

This episode of What the Duck?! was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and Kaurna people.

Can you speak fish? Dec 02, 2023

Someone get a translator app because the fish are ready to speak.

Featuring:

Lauren Hawkins, Centre for Marine Science and Technology at Curtin University.

Dr Aaron Rice, Research Scientist at Cornell University.

Featured sounds :

Thanks to Aaron and Lauren for providing sounds as well as Professor Robert McCauley and the Centre for Marine Science and Technology at Curtin University.

Production:

Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer.
Petria Ladgrove, Producer.
Additional mastering: Hamish Camilleri.

This episode of What the Duck?! was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and Kaurna people.

Nature's vibrators Nov 25, 2023

They make THEMSELVES scream.

Featuring:

Dr. Perry Beasley Hall, Adelaide University.

Ernesto Caliari Pinheiro, Acoustic biologist, Brazil.

Professor Mario Vallejo-Marin, University of Uppsala, Sweden.

Lisa Schonberg, Ecological sound artist, New York.

Professor Link Olson, University of Alaska Museum.

Dr Andy Reid, University of Strathclyde, Scotland.

Dr Ying Luo, Australian National Insect Collection.

Featured sounds :

Son of a Bee by Dusty Dubs, David Rentz and Vicki Powys.

Production:

Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer.
Petria Ladgrove, Producer.
Additional mastering: Hamish Camilleri.

This episode of What the Duck?! was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and Kaurna people.

Mike-owl Jackson, Gorillaz and The Pussycat Dolls- are animals musical? Nov 18, 2023

Can animals create, or even enjoy music? Ann rips through the animal kingdom to check out the musical talent of some likely and unlikely animals.

Featuring:

Dr. Stuart Watson, University of Zurich.

Dr. Chiara De Gregorio, University of Torino.

Assistant Professor Adena Schachner, University of California.

David Teie, Musician and composer, Music for Cats.

Associate Professor Cameron Webb, University of Sydney and NSW Health Pathology.

Featured sounds :

Musical Stimuli for Parrots by Adena Schachner, Fostog's Touch by David Teie (music for cats) and Marlene McCohen (YouTube) and her Amazon parrot Lucy.

Production:

Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer.
Petria Ladgrove, Producer.
Additional mastering: Hamish Camilleri.

Glow your own way Oct 07, 2023

Are you high, or is that a sheep glowing?

Featuring:

Linda Reinhold, Zoologist at James Cook University.
Professor Simon Lewis, Curtin University.
Dr. Kenny Travouillon, Western Australian Museum.
Caitlin Grieve, Hillend Dorsets.

Killer whales vs boats Sep 30, 2023

A group of Killer whales have been hassling boats around Spain over the last few years.

They've been nibbling the rudders and even sinking yachts, but why?

Has anyone considered that it might be revenge? How dangerous are Orcas anyway?

Featuring:

Martin Evans, UK Sailor.
Professor Peter Keegan, History and Archaeology at Macquarie University.
Dr Rebeca Wellard, Curtin University.
Dr Luke Rendell, University of St Andrews, Scotland.
Anna Selbmann, University of Iceland.

Production:

Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer.
Petria Ladgrove, Producer.
Additional mastering: Hamish Camilleri.

This episode of What the Duck?! was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and Kaurna people.

Petrel heads in love Sep 23, 2023

They smell like a squid in a wool jumper, they sound like a duck on helium, and devoted 'Petrel Heads' travel thousands of kilometres just to hear them moan.

Featuring:

Peter Vaughan, Monash University.
Stephen Totterman, Northern NSW Naturalist and seabird enthusiast.
Rolenas Tavue Baereleo, Department of Environmental Protection and Conservation, Government of Vanuatu.

Production:

Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer.
Petria Ladgrove, Producer.
Additional mastering: Hamish Camilleri.

This episode of What the Duck?! was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and Kaurna people.

Feeling crabby Sep 16, 2023

Have the crabs been lying to us? There are true crabs, false crabs, and even shame-faced crabs which implies that some of them, at least, are guilty.

Featuring:

Dr Rachael King, SA Museum.

Professor Judith Weis, Rutgers University, Newark.

Dr Annabel Dorrenstein, University of Western Sydney.

Production:

Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer.
Petria Ladgrove, Producer.
Additional mastering: Hamish Camilleri.

This episode of What the Duck?! was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and Kaurna people.

Who's your Daddy? Sep 09, 2023

You probably have a daddy-long-legs in your house right now.

But when is having a weird housemate in the corner ACTUALLY a good thing? Dr Ann Jones investigates.

Featuring:

Dr Samantha Nixon, University of California, San Francisco (UCSF).
Dr Lizzy Lowe, Invertebrates Australia.

Thanks also to Dr Bernhard Huber, Arachnid Curator at Museum Koenig.

Production:

Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer.
Petria Ladgrove, Producer.
Additional mastering: Hamish Camilleri.

This episode of What the Duck?! was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and Kaurna people.

POD EXTRA: Johnny Cash and the Condor fire Sep 03, 2023

An extra special, podcast only, five-minute story for you!

A bird that stands over a metre tall hardly seems like it'd bow down to a rock star, but Johnny Cash played a burning role in the near-extinction of Californian Condors.

Featuring:

Dr. Maggie Watson, Zoologist at Charles Sturt University

Production:

Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer.

This episode of What the Duck?! was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and Kaurna people.

Silence of the vultures Sep 02, 2023

An ornithologist, a veterinarian and a religious devotee must find the serial killer before every last vulture in India is dead.

Featuring:

Dr Campbell Murn, Head of Conservation at Hawk Conservancy Trust and University of Reading, UK.
Dr Kishor Rithe, Interim Director, Bombay Natural History Society.
Dr Andrea Santangeli, Mediterranean Institute for Advanced Studies, Spain.
Dr Percy Avari, Mumbai Vetinarary College.
Sherally Munshi, Georgetown.

Vulture sounds provided by Nikita Mathur, India.

Production:

Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer.
Petria Ladgrove, Producer.
Additional mastering: Hamish Camilleri.

This episode of What the Duck?! was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and Kaurna people.

Do worms dream? Jul 29, 2023

We get a bit philosophical and try to find out that if animals do dream, will we ever be able to know what they’re dreaming about?

Featuring:

Cassie, Claire and Pidgey the Parrot.
Associate Professor Nicole Lovato, Flinders University.
Associate Professor John Lesku, La Trobe University.
Professor David Pena Guzman, author of ‘Animal Dreaming’ and San Francisco State University.
Professor Sidarta Ribeiro, neuroscientist at Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil.
Dr Shauni Omond, @wormgirl on Instagram, La Trobe University.
Professor Niels Rattenborg, Research leader on Avian Sleep, Max Planck Institute.

Production:

Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer.
Petria Ladgrove, Producer.
Additional mastering: Hamish Camilleri.

This episode of What the Duck?! was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and Kaurna people.

Sleep like a log Jul 22, 2023

Birds can fly while half their brain is sleeping and some spiders sleep dangling on a silk thread, but what about worms. Do worms sleep?

Featuring:

Associate Professor John Lesku, La Trobe University.
Dr Shauni Omond, @shauniomond.sleepsci on Instagram, La Trobe University.
Professor Niels Rattenborg, Research leader on Avian Sleep, Max Planck Institute.
Dr Daniela Roessler, University of Konstanz.

Production:

Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer.
Petria Ladgrove, Producer.

This episode of What the Duck?! was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and Kaurna people.

Why don't you act like a girl? Jul 15, 2023

Boob-shaping hiccups are very sexy in the sage grouse world, but whose chesticles are in charge?

Featuring:

Lucy Cooke, Zoologist and author of Bitch A Revolutionary Guide to Sex, Evolution and the Female Animal.
Professor Gail L Patricelli, University of California, Davis.

Production:

Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer.
Petria Ladgrove, Producer.
Additional mastering: John Jacobs.

This episode of What the Duck?! was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and Kaurna people.

Bitch! Who is really in charge? Jul 08, 2023

Female lab mice have been bred to be passive and breed with ease. But, in the wild they're feisty and even pugnacious. How much of our biological understanding of the world is based on misogyny?

Featuring:

Lucy Cooke, Zoologist and author of Bitch A Revolutionary Guide to Sex, Evolution and the Female Animal.
Professor Arthur Georges, University of Canberra.
Professor Catherine Dulac, Harvard University.

Production:

Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer.
Petria Ladgrove, Producer.
Additional mastering: Ann-Marie Debettencor.

Birds, bees and a wang wang with a problem. Apr 01, 2023

A tiny penis, a 12-hour annual fertilisation window, picky females and strawberry bubble bath – these are just a few of the issues that pop up when making a panda cub.

Featuring:

Chad Crittle, Acting Assistant Curator for Carnivores and Ungulates at Zoos SA.

Mr Li Zhang, Consul, Head of Bilateral Section at the Chinese Consulate-General in Adelaide.

Dr Meghan Martin Wintle, Director, Conservation Ecologist at PDX Wildlife.

This is the last show of season 2 of What The Duck but Season 3 is on its way! The best way to stay in touch is to follow or subscribe and turn notifications on.

Shells with stories to tell Mar 25, 2023

Forget ancestry searches online. Shells can tell you the history of the world.

Featuring:

Amy Prendergast, University of Melbourne.

Jann Vendetti, Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County.

Dr Paul Butler, Researcher at the University of Exeter.

Kneel before the eel Mar 18, 2023

For thousands of years eels have made people rich and powerful, literally. Now it's time to pay it back.

Featuring:

Dr. John Wyatt Greenlee, Historian Cornell University.

Erin Rose, Budj Bim World Heritage Executive Officer at Gunditj Mirring Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation.

Braydon Saunders, Tour Guide Coordinator at Budj Bim Cultural Landscape Tourism.

Tyson Lovett-Murray, Budj Bim World Heritage Ranger at Gunditj Mirring Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation.

Wayne Koster, Research Scientist at the Arthur Rylah Institute, Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action, Victorian Government.

Production:

Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer.
Petria Ladgrove, Producer.
Additional mastering: Timothy Jenkins.

This episode of What the Duck?! was produced on the land of the Gunditjmara, Wadawarrung and Kaurna people.

Purely for pleasure Mar 11, 2023

For years we've barely even talked about the human clitoris let alone the fact that snakes have TWO.

This program has adult themes.

Featuring:

Belinda Smith, ABC Science Online Reporter.

Lucy Cooke, Author and Film maker.

Megan Folwell, University of Adelaide.

Dr Jenna Crowe-Riddell, La Trobe University.

Production:

Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer.
Petria Ladgrove, Producer.
Additional mastering: Angie Grant

This episode of What the Duck?! was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and Kaurna people.

Are Naked Mole-rats the weirdest animals on earth? Mar 04, 2023

They look like... 'sabre-toothed sausages', they can barely see, they live for a really long time and have a queen who oppresses them.

Find out all about the Naked Mole-rat this week and let us know your weirdest animal on earth suggestions at whattheduck@abc.net.au.

Featuring:

Dr Alison Barker, Max Planck Institute for Brain Research.

Adjunct Professor Rochelle Buffenstein, University of Illinois at Chicago.

Extra information: Professor Gary R. Lewin, Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine.

Production:

Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer.
Petria Ladgrove, Producer.
Joel Werner, Script Editor.
Additional mastering: Angie Grant

This episode of What the Duck?! was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and Kaurna people.

Craig Vs Snakes Feb 25, 2023

Would you meet a stranger in a park with a pile of snakes?

Comedian, Craig Quartermaine, took the risk in an attempt to overcome his fears!

Featuring:

Craig Quartermaine, Comedian.

Sandy Dickinson, Urban Reptiles.

Jonathan Wright, Announcer voice.

Production:

Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer.
Petria Ladgrove, Producer.
Joel Werner, Script Editor.
Field recording: Dylan Prins
Additional mastering: Angie Grant

Would you meet a stranger in a park with a pile of snakes?

Comedian Craig Quartermaine, took the risk in an attempt to overcome his fears.

Featuring:

Craig Quartermaine, Comedian.

Sandy Dickinson, Urban Reptiles.

Jonathan Wright, Announcer voice.

Production:

Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer.
Petria Ladgrove, Producer.
Joel Werner, Script Editor.
Field recording: Dylan Prins
Additional mastering: Angie Grant

This episode of What the Duck?! was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung, Yuggera, Turrbal and Kaurna people.

Animals in Space Feb 18, 2023

Who made small steps for man before man could even space walk?

Featuring:

James Foley, Author and Illustrator.

Kerrie Dougherty OAM, Senior Heritage and Outreach Officer, Australian Space Agency.

Emeritus Professor John P. Gluck, University of New Mexico and Kennedy Institute of Ethics, Georgetown University.

Michael Coggan, News Voice.

Production:

Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer.
Petria Ladgrove, Producer.
Joel Werner, Script Editor.
Additional mastering: Matthew Crawford.

This episode of What the Duck?! was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and Kaurna people.

The ostrich-riding bushranger Feb 11, 2023

He loved gold, so he robbed stage coaches in South Australia and used an ostrich as a getaway car. OR DID HE?!

Welcome to the first episode of 'What The Duck?!' Season 2.

Featuring:

Denice Mason, teacher and Meningie resident.

Associate Professor Rohan Clarke, Monash University and co-author of the Australian Bird Guide.

Jacob Fiebig, Meningie resident and composer of "The ballad of John Peggotty".

Production:

Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer.
Petria Ladgrove, Producer.
Joel Werner, Script Editor.
Additional mastering: Angie Grant.

This episode of What the Duck?! was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung, Ngarrindjeri and Kaurna people.

Spider murder methods Dec 17, 2022

Gravity defying ninja skills, being able to hear even if you don't have ears, working together to gang up on huge prey. Spiders are murder machines.

This is the final episode of Season 1 What the Duck?!

Stay subscribed for Season 2 coming on Feb 11th, 2023.

Featuring:

Dr Kate Umbers, Western Sydney University.

Dr Alfonso Aceves-Aparicio, University Hamburg.

Dr Jay Stafstrom, Cornell University.

Dr Lena Grinsted, University of Portsmouth.

Production:

Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer.

Petria Ladgrove, Producer.

Joel Werner, Script Editor.

Additional mastering: Angela Grant.

This episode of What the Duck?! was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and the Kaurna people.

The politics of being a cow Dec 10, 2022

If you think that cow politics is just about the live export business, you are wrong.

Cows have politics of their own – machinations to sort out who is the leader and who will be led.

Featuring:

Dr Rebecca Doyle, Faculty of Veterinary & Agricultural Sciences, The University of Melbourne.

Joe Gelonisi - the voice of cow facts.

Derek Klingenberg, cattle trombonist.

Production:

Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer.

This episode of What the Duck?! was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and the Kaurna people.

Inside a cow pat Dec 03, 2022

Here’s a field guide you probably don’t have — “Introduced Dung Beetles in Australia".

Hitchhikers guide to ecology Nov 26, 2022

Grabbing a lift can go from bad to worse when your uber drops you outside your evolutionary niche.

FEATURING

Dr Matt Greenlees, Sydney University.

Arthur White, NSW frog and tadpole study group.

David Chapple, Monash University.

Dr Maggie Watson, Charles Sturt University.

Dr Robert Streit, Reef Function Hub at James Cook University.

Voice of the Internet: Nikolai Beilharz.

Production:

Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer.

Petria Ladgrove, Producer.

Joel Werner, Script Editor.

Additional mastering: Angela Grant.

This episode of What the Duck?! was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and the Kaurna people.

Field guide to car ecology Nov 19, 2022

Ever wondered about the spiders in your car mirror? How they got there and ‘where the duck’ they’re going?

FEATURING

Dr Ken Walker, Senior Curator of Entomology, Museums Victoria Research Institute.

Dr Laurent Keller, University of Lausanne

Production:

Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer.

Petria Ladgrove, Producer.

Joel Werner, Script Editor.

Additional mastering: Angela Grant.

This episode of What the Duck?! was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and the Kaurna people.

How to speak Cicada Nov 12, 2022

The 'sound of summer' is actually thousands of blokes screaming 'PICK ME' at the top of their screaming cicada voices.

Never skip leg day Nov 05, 2022

A millipede has a thousand legs right? WRONG!

FEATURING

Dr Juanita Rodriguez, Australian National Insect Collection, CSIRO.

Dr Bruno Alves Buzatto, Flinders University.

Luis Villazon, Science Educator UK.

Production:

Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer.

Petria Ladgrove, Producer.

Additional mastering: Angela Grant.

This episode of What the Duck?! was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and the Kaurna people.

Animals on acid Oct 29, 2022

It turns out self medicating and herbal remedies are not exclusive to humans…

FEATURING

Dr Kevin Feeney, Central Washington University.

Adjunct Professor Michael Huffman, University of Kyoto.

Dr Sophia Daoudi-Simison, Newcastle University UK.

Production:

Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer.

Nick Kilvert, Presenter/ Producer.

Petria Ladgrove, Producer.

This episode of What the Duck?! was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and the Kaurna people.

The big bad wolf – have we got it wrong? Oct 22, 2022

How far from reality are the folk stories about wolves and dogs? We’re going right back to Aesop’s fables with zoologist and author Jo Wimpenny.

Listen to part one (Aesop’s animals) here:

FEATURING

Dr Jo Wimpenny- Zoologist and Author

Production:

Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer.

Petria Ladgrove, Producer.

This episode of What the Duck?! was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and the Kaurna people.

It DOES fart! Oct 15, 2022

The world's oldest fart is frozen in amber, and it is the source of the world's oldest fart joke.

Listen to part one (Does it Fart?!) here.

FEATURING

Dani Rabaiotti, Author of Does it Fart? and Zoological Society of London.

Dr Nick Gales, Former Head of Australian Antarctic Division.

Prof Dave Watson, Charles Sturt University.

Prof Jeffrey Stillwell, Adjunct Monash Uni

Dr Adam Munn, Biologist.

Production:

Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer.

Petria Ladgrove, Producer.

Jo Khan, Producer.

This episode of What the Duck?! was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and the Kaurna people.

What's in your freezer? Oct 08, 2022

Move the peas over to find that Australian freezers have seals, kangaroo penises and the DNA of 'the Chanel of goats.'

FEATURING:

Dr Natalie Warburton, Murdoch University.

Dr Jillian Garvey, La Trobe University.

Dr Nicola Rivers, Monash University.

Dianne Hakof, Hospital Manger Animal Health Department Zoos SA

PRODUCTION:

Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer.

Petria Ladgrove, Producer.

This episode of What the Duck?! was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and the Kaurna people.

It's still brown and sticky! Oct 01, 2022

There are so many sticky things in nature, but what's the nature of their stickiness? Ann puts on her spider-woman gloves to find out.

FEATURING:

Ella Tyler, wife of the late Prof Mike Tyler.

Prof Andrew Smith, Biology, Ithaca College.

Prof George Murrell, Director Orthopaedic Research Institute, St George Hospital, NSW.

PRODUCTION:

Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer.

Petria Ladgrove, Producer.

This episode of What the Duck?! was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and the Kaurna people.

What's brown and sticky? Sep 24, 2022

If you ever wanted to be able to stick to walls like spider man, then listen to this.

The flies have it Sep 17, 2022

As per usual the What the Duck?! team is elbow-deep in crap looking for a way out. And the way out, is flies.

FEATURING:

Dr Bryan Lessard, Entomologist, Author of Eyes on Flies.

PRODUCTION:

Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer.

Petria Ladgrove, Producer.

Joel Werner, Script Editing.

This episode of What the Duck?! was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and the Kaurna people.

A short break for What the Duck?! Aug 27, 2022

What the Duck?! is taking a short break so instead you'll be hearing Radio New Zealand’s 'Our Changing World' on the radio for the next three weeks.

Trees call out fake news Aug 20, 2022

Sawing through tree myths with Arborists Maja and Sam.

No matter how good your job is, there’s always something that really cheeses you off, and Maja and Sam are SICK TO DEATH of all your misconceptions about trees.

Why is my tree weeping? Aug 13, 2022

The duckie inbox has been swamped with tree mysteries.

Could you eat an animal that does it in the missionary position? Aug 06, 2022

Ann revisits the release site of a bunch of (almost extinct) Murray Crayfish to find out the crays have been completing sexy rhythmic gymnastics in the mud on the bottom of the murray river.

Stinging Science Jul 30, 2022

He makes things sting him on purpose. WHY.

The bird-eating centipede Jul 23, 2022

It’s like a serial killer movie, a classic horror film. There are huge fangs, a segmented body, a remote location, the ocean bashes against cliffs, you’re all alone and there’s no one to help. The first bodies that turn up are of the children... of petrels.

Become the Cuckoo Jul 16, 2022

How does a cuckoo know it's a cuckoo?

Animals that mine Jul 09, 2022

So... what do you do when a crocodile and a shark end up in your mine pit? AT THE SAME TIME.

Does it fart? Jul 02, 2022

Farts can be a matter of life or death, but not in the way that you're thinking. This is SERIOUS.

Little Penguins Jun 25, 2022

Promiscuous penguins, climate change and penguin first aid.

Koala AIDS (that’s all we need!) Jun 18, 2022

How much more can the koala bear?

Blood suckers Jun 11, 2022

You can run but you can't hide! Ever wondered how a mosquito manages to hit a blood vessel without fail?

The Roast Chook Fungi Jun 04, 2022

It looks as if a roast chook had been tied to a four-poster bed.

Guess who’s back? May 28, 2022

Back again!? The thylacine has made its last appearance alive on earth. Or has it? Ann chases the elusive Tasmanian Tiger with geneticists, conservationists and a bloke who saw one while he was coming home from the shops.

True Blue May 21, 2022

Ann finds out that birds are not really blue. Not even bluebirds. They’re not blue. Then what the duck are they?

BONUS - Who the Duck am I? The ANSWER May 20, 2022

Dr Ann Jones has the answer to the game of 'Who the duck?!' this week.

Thanks for your many guesses and emails... it is now time for the big reveal.

Stay tuned for the newest episode of What the Duck?! this Saturday!

BONUS - Who the Duck am I? #3 May 14, 2022

Dr Ann Jones is out filming for ABC TV , but she hasn't forgotten the loyal subscribers.

Here's the final clue to a game of 'Who the duck?!' just for you!

Please send your guesses to whattheduck@abc.net.au.

BONUS - Who the Duck am I? #2 May 07, 2022

Dr Ann Jones is out filming for ABC TV , but she hasn't forgotten the loyal subscribers.

Here's another clue to a game of 'Who the duck?!' just for you!

Please send your guesses to whattheduck@abc.net.au.

BONUS - Who the Duck am I? Apr 30, 2022

Dr Ann Jones is out filming for ABC TV , but she hasn't forgotten the loyal subscribers.

Here's a clue to a game of 'Who the duck?!' just for you!

Please send your guesses to whattheduck@abc.net.au.

Australian native animals as pets. Yes/No Apr 23, 2022

Ann stumbles across spinifex hopping mice on gumtree and then finds herself cornered by a bloke with a crocodile (and more).

A girl walks in the woods Apr 16, 2022

After receiving a heartbreaking email, Ann goes on a mission to prove that ‘girls DO like spiders.’

How to catch an Emu Apr 09, 2022

Taking on an Emu is 100% a mind game.

Man vs quoll Apr 02, 2022

Between 1831 and 1916 there were 111 published reports of quolls eating human corpses. What. The. Duck?!

Aesop's Animals Mar 26, 2022

What is the science behind the famous fables like the tortoise and the hare?

Wearing the skins of your enemies Mar 19, 2022

Sometimes it’s not enough to liquify your enemies and drink them through a straw. Sometimes you have to wear their skins as you hunt down their friends and families.

Salty extremophiles Mar 12, 2022

This place is so extreme that NASA sends scientists to test equipment for Mars missions. And yet, Australia's salty lakes are full of life.

Snakes and Ladders Mar 05, 2022

How does a snake climb a pole? It's not like they have a ladder... or arms.

The kookaburra that conquered Hollywood Feb 26, 2022

Yes, that was a kookaburra at the start of Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark. But WHY?

Tits, boobies and hooters Feb 19, 2022

Why is it that bird names seem so… childishly misogynistic?

Are you really better than a bum-licking ant? Feb 12, 2022

Humans totally were the first farmers, right?! Think again.

Eat sh*t and prosper Feb 05, 2022

Evolution has resulted in a million ways that animals succeed on this earth, we just didn’t realise so many of them involved eating your own poo.

Duck the Ripper Jan 29, 2022

Ripper the musk duck had many bad habits – chief among them was attacking the keepers and then swearing under his breath. But was Ripper really angry, or was his swearing a symptom of something much more sinister?

INTRODUCING — What The Duck?! Jan 21, 2022

Australia is full of weird plants and animals. And Dr Ann Jones is on speaking terms with most of them! Each week Ann explores the most unusual elements of our natural world — the ones that make you go What the Duck?! Like why do quolls have spots? Who farts (and who doesn't)? And how do snakes climb trees? Join Ann alongside experts and ordinary Aussies alike to solve mysteries, smash myths and uncover the bizarre truth about nature down under.

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