What The Duck?!

Did you know that pigeons make milk? 

The pigeon gets a bad rap, but it is actually an incredible bird with a rich history.

It is related to the dodo 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.

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

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

Are you high, or is that a sheep glowing?

Yep- sheep glow, but that's not all... when it comes to glowing the list of animals includes the platypus, dolphin teeth, bilby ears and Tasmanian Devil feet. 

Featuring:

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

Production:

• Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer.
• Petria Ladgrove, Producer.
• Joel Werner, Script editing.
• Additional mastering:  Simon Branthwaite.

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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

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.