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.