Stay ConnectedAustralia 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.
Copyright: © Copyright 2024, Australian Broadcasting Corporation. All right reserved.
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:
This episode of What the Duck?! was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and Kaurna people.
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:
This episode of What the Duck?! was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and Kaurna people.
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:
This episode of What the Duck?! was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and Kaurna people.
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:
Are you high, or is that a sheep glowing?
Featuring:
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:
Production:
This episode of What the Duck?! was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and Kaurna people.
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:
Production:
This episode of What the Duck?! was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and Kaurna people.
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:
This episode of What the Duck?! was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and Kaurna people.
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:
Thanks also to Dr Bernhard Huber, Arachnid Curator at Museum Koenig.
Production:
This episode of What the Duck?! was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and Kaurna people.
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:
This episode of What the Duck?! was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and Kaurna people.
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