Bird of the Week
59 episodes - English - Latest episode: 11 days ago - ★★★★★ - 8 ratingsA podcast about birds, released on a non-weekly basis.
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Episodes
Patriot Parrots
April 09, 2024 10:00 - 23 minutes - 16 MBIn the last episode we said there were no parrots in the United States of America. But that was only a half truth. A better truth would have been to say that once upon a time there was a parrot, the Carolina Parakeet that went extinct about 100 years. And in its place today there is an invasive species, the Monk Parakeet. So what is the story of these two birds, why did one die while the other has thrived? Today we are going to try and find out. To support Bird of the Week and gain access t...
Parrots
March 24, 2024 01:00 - 43 minutes - 29.6 MBHave you been hankering for a cracker, well has polly got one for you today as we look at Parrots. This is a big old family of birds, so join me as we do a speed run of parrots and find out what these birds are all about. To support Bird of the Week and gain access to our second podcast, What's up with that's Bird's Name? click on through to Patreon: www.patreon.com/birdoftheweek Want birds in your inbox? Drop me a line at [email protected] and I'll hook you up with a free weekly bir...
My Grandmother and the Budgerigar
March 06, 2024 09:00 - 24 minutes - 17 MBThis will be a different episode. I have also had a strong association between my grandmother and Budgerigars, she owned one and gifted me one of my own for my sixth birthday. So this episode will be part memoir, part eulogy, part ... Budgerigar discussion...? Maybe not one for everyone, but let's give it a spin. To support Bird of the Week and gain access to our second podcast, What's up with that's Bird's Name? click on through to Patreon: www.patreon.com/birdoftheweek Want birds in your...
The Unicorn Bird
February 15, 2024 07:00 - 20 minutes - 13.9 MBSadly our world is not populated with magical unicorns. But what we lack in horned horses we make up for with horned birds. Join me this week as we meet one of the strangest birds, the avian equivalent of the unicorn, the Horned Screamer. To support Bird of the Week and gain access to our second podcast, What's up with that's Bird's Name? click on through to Patreon: www.patreon.com/birdoftheweek Want birds in your inbox? Drop me a line at [email protected] and I'll hook you up with ...
The Sparrow, the Moon and the Emu-wren
January 28, 2024 04:00 - 16 minutes - 11.2 MBIn the 1960s the United States of America lost a unique sub-species of bird when the Kennedy Space Centre was developed as part of the space race. Today, Australia is on the cusp of repeating this history, with the home of the endangered Southern Emu-wren being earmarked for the development of a launch site. Until 2 February 2024 public submissions are open on the site's proposed development. To help protect the Emu-wren visit Birdlife Australia and use their form to voice your opposition:...
Lazarus Rising
January 21, 2024 06:00 - 31 minutes - 21.4 MBSo if it's one thing we know people are good at it's making other things go extinct. We are living during one of the great mass extinct events. But every now and again, we come across a bird that was thought to have gone extinct, only for them to be rediscovered, sometimes hundreds of years later. Well, this year, we are going to meet three birds that were thought to be extinct only to be found alive and (not so) well many years later. To support Bird of the Week and gain access to our seco...
Bird of the Century
January 08, 2024 11:00 - 21 minutes - 15 MBLast year New Zealand crowned the Puteketeke as their Bird of the Century. This raise a lot of questions: who has the authority to name a bird for the century, why is 2023 the year it happened, and what the heck is the Puteketeke? Join me in this episode to learn more and to find out how John Oliver made a dramatic entry to saw the vote in favour of an underdog. To support Bird of the Week and gain access to our second podcast, What's up with that's Bird's Name? click on through to Patreon:...
Christmas Robin
December 23, 2023 02:00 - 11 minutes - 8.2 MBAs we enter the festive season there is no better bird to feature than the European Robin. These bright little birds have an association with Christmas that extends way waaaaay back. So let's dive in with a short min Christmas stocking stuffer Bird of the Week special to find out what the deal is with Christmas and Robins. To support Bird of the Week and gain access to our second podcast, What's up with that's Bird's Name? click on through to Patreon: www.patreon.com/birdoftheweek Want bir...
The Night Parrot Scandal
December 11, 2023 11:00 - 1 hour - 52.1 MBThe Night Parrot is known as one of the most elusive birds in the world. Between 1912 and 1990 there was no evidence that they lived, and even then it would be another 23 before a living one was even seen. But then in 2013, the Night Parrot was re-discovered to much fanfare. However, it later emerged that much subsequent evidence for their existence was falsified. Just what happened and why is a wild tale, so joy me as we tell the story of the Night Parrot. To support Bird of the Week and g...
Australia's Extinct Birds
November 26, 2023 07:00 - 25 minutes - 17.4 MBIt's a common story throughout the world: when people turn up we tend to kill things, with many animals being driven to extinction. So join me today as we do a review of the Australian birds that have gone extinct since European colonisation. But would you be shocked if I told you there was only one? It's true, the Paradise Parrot is the only Australian bird that has gone extinct. So let's find out who they were, what happened, and if we can stop their close cousin from going the same way. ...
TAXONOMY!
November 11, 2023 11:00 - 34 minutes - 23.8 MBWe finally got to the TAXONOMY episode. Join me as we explain what taxonomy is, how it works, and how we use it to arrange a big old family tree that contains every bird and maps how they're all related to each other. It's an overview of bird family tree from the dinosaurs to today. To support Bird of the Week and gain access to our second podcast, What's up with that's Bird's Name? click on through to Patreon: www.patreon.com/birdoftheweek Want birds in your inbox? Drop me a line at weekl...
Kiwis: Fruit, People, Birds
October 14, 2023 22:00 - 24 minutes - 16.6 MBWithout a question, the Kiwi is one of the most unusual birds in the world. A lifetime of isolation on New Zealand has lead to a bird that is doing an impersonation of a rodent. This week we will find out who the Kiwi is, where they came from, how they live and where they're going. To support Bird of the Week and gain access to our second podcast, What's up with that's Bird's Name? click on through to Patreon: www.patreon.com/birdoftheweek Want birds in your inbox? Drop me a line at weekly...
The Five Cosmo Birds
September 25, 2023 10:00 - 33 minutes - 22.9 MBSo birds can fly, and as result they have spread themselves every corner of the world. And yet, despite this fact, very few individual species have managed to find a way to conquer the world on their own. Well, nearly none, because there are five birds, just five that have found their way onto every continent. These birds, the cosmopolitan birds make up an exclusive club. Join me in this episode to meet the five birds that have spread themselves around the world. Find out how they did, and w...
Puffin Time
August 28, 2023 12:00 - 26 minutes - 18.2 MBIt's time to talk Puffins. The auks are a fascinating group of ocean going birds. They have fancy plumes, fancy beaks, some of them even smell like citrus, and the evolved to fly under the waves and in the air. So let's meet these penguins for the northern hemisphere and find out what they got going on. To support Bird of the Week and gain access to our second podcast, What's up with that's Bird's Name? click on through to Patreon: www.patreon.com/birdoftheweek Want birds in your inbox? Dr...
Bird Song
August 08, 2023 01:00 - 30 minutes - 20.6 MBA bird's ability to sing has long fascinated and enchanted we people. But how do birds sing, do all birds sing and why do they sing? These are important questions, and maybe we will ever answer some of them. To support Bird of the Week and gain access to our second podcast, What's up with that's Bird's Name? click on through to Patreon: www.patreon.com/birdoftheweek Want birds in your inbox? Drop me a line at [email protected] and I'll hook you up with a free weekly bird. Notes: L...
How Much Wood Can a Woodpecker Peck?
July 18, 2023 08:00 - 27 minutes - 19.2 MBToday we are meeting the Woodpeckers, those chisel faced birds that spend all day banging their head into a tree, sounds frustrating. Well as it turns out the Woodpeckers are evolved for a life of a tree pecking. In this episode we will find out how they do it, why they do it, and how they avoid a concussion. To support Bird of the Week and gain access to our second podcast, What's up with that's Bird's Name? click on through to Patreon: www.patreon.com/birdoftheweek Want birds in your in...
The Rooster that Committed Heresy
July 04, 2023 05:00 - 34 minutes - 23.5 MBThere is a famous Swiss case from 1474 of a rooster that was put on trial for the unnatural crime of laying an egg. It is a silly story of human folly, as is so often the case. But this strange tale does lead to a deeper and more interesting point about avian gender, how it is radically different to mammals, and how in some rare cases a hen can maybe turn into a rooster. How is that possible? Tune in to find out and we even have a little surprise at the start of the show as well. To support...
Fake Wrens
June 15, 2023 04:00 - 28 minutes - 19.2 MBWho doesn't love a Wren? They're adorable stub-tailed birds with beautiful voices. But wait! Are we talking about the same bird? As it turns out there are hundreds of unrelated birds that are called Wrens. The state of play when it comes to what is and isn't a Wren is wild, and this episode we do a full review of all the wrens buzzing around out there. To support Bird of the Week and gain access to our second podcast, What's up with that's Bird's Name? click on through to Patreon: www.patre...
Three Strange Names
May 29, 2023 11:00 - 23 minutes - 16 MBA slightly different episode to look at three birds with odd names. We will look at how the Turkey, the Jamaican Mango and the Gouldian Finch got their names. What do these birds have to do with each other? Nothing whatsoever, but maybe we can find a theme in there somewhere. Really though, this is just a shameless plug for my second podcast, What's Up With That Bird's Name, available only through Patreon. www.patreon.com/birdoftheweek Want birds in your inbox? Drop me a line at weekly.bi...
The Egg War
May 16, 2023 12:00 - 1 hour - 43.7 MBThe Egg War is the rather bizarre story of how a colony of Common Murres on the Farallon Islands off the coast of San Francisco sparked conflict during the American Gold Rush in the 1850-60s. It is a wild tale of murder, piracy, lighthouse keepers with delusions of grandeur and an awful lot of people wearing hats. Join me for a silly story. To support Bird of the Week and gain access to our second podcast, What's up with that's Bird's Name? click on through to Patreon: www.patreon.com/bird...
How do Eggs Work?
April 27, 2023 11:00 - 22 minutes - 15.6 MBEggs may be an every day mundane thing. Something that lives in your fridge and that you see all the time. And yet, they are little marvels of nature. So join me today as we learn everything there is to know about eggs. To support Bird of the Week and gain access to our second podcast, What's up with that's Bird's Name? click on through to Patreon: www.patreon.com/birdoftheweek Want birds in your inbox? Drop me a line at [email protected] and I'll hook you up with a free weekly bird....
The Things We Do To Chickens
March 29, 2023 09:00 - 37 minutes - 25.7 MBThis is Part II of our story on the Chicken. In this episode we will find out how the Chicken was domesticated, and how we changed them to suit our needs and transitioned them from Junglefowl to industrialised factory production line. To support Bird of the Week and gain access to our second podcast, What's up with that's Bird's Name? click on through to Patreon: www.patreon.com/birdoftheweek Want birds in your inbox? Drop me a line at [email protected] and I'll hook you up with a fr...
The World's Most Delicious Bird
March 22, 2023 10:00 - 25 minutes - 17.6 MBIn the world today there are some 20 billion chickens. They are the most abundant bird in the world, and almost all of them exist to feed us people. They are the world's most delicious bird, but where did they come from and what makes them special? Good news, I have the answers to these questions. So join me for Part 1 of our exploration on the domesticated chicken. To support Bird of the Week and gain access to our second podcast, What's up with that's Bird's Name? click on through to Pat...
More Reasons to Love Pigeons
March 05, 2023 10:00 - 38 minutes - 26.7 MBLong time listeners may remember our episode on pigeons, where I tried to convince two friends that pigeons are amazing. But that episode only looked at the Rock Dove, and the world of pigeons is so much bigger than that. So in this episode we will take a proper tour of the family and learn some reasons to love pigeons. To support Bird of the Week and gain access to our second podcast, What's up with that's Bird's Name? click on through to Patreon: www.patreon.com/birdoftheweek Want birds...
The Birds of Norfolk Island
February 14, 2023 02:00 - 19 minutes - 13.3 MBYou know me, I love me a good island, and Norfolk Island is a good island. I recently did a short talk on the birds of Norfolk Island, and I thought, hey, why not share it with anyone who has a care to listen. So please enjoy this slightly shorter episode about the birds that call Norfolk home. To support Bird of the Week and gain access to our second podcast, What's up with that's Bird's Name? click on through to Patreon: www.patreon.com/birdoftheweek Want birds in your inbox? Drop me a l...
How do Birds Sleep?
January 26, 2023 01:00 - 50 minutes - 34.9 MBBecause sleep is something we all do it is understandable that we might think the experience would be similar for other animals. And birds have developed a whole range of unique sleep tactics to help them get through their day. In this special episode I am joined by a guest, clinical psychologist Lucienne Shenfield. Join us on a discussion about how people sleep, how birds sleep, and the difference and similarities between the two. To support Bird of the Week and gain access to our second...
Bowerbirds - Avian Architects
January 05, 2023 04:00 - 29 minutes - 20 MBNowhere in the avian kingdom is there another bird that makes a structure as amazing as the Bowerbirds. But why do they do it? Why, to impress the ladies of course. But as always, there is a lot to unpack, so join me today to find out everything is to know about the Bowerbirds and the bowers they make. To support Bird of the Week and gain access to our second podcast, What's up with that's Bird's Name? click on through to Patreon: www.patreon.com/birdoftheweek Want birds in your inbox? Dro...
Owls: Who Gives a Hoot?
December 06, 2022 10:00 - 28 minutes - 19.7 MBWho are the Owls? They are the ninjas of the night, swooping on silent wings to snatch their preys. They have a range of unique attributes that allows them to hunt totally blind, and without making a sound. They are unlike any other family of birds, and today we're going to learn all about them. To support Bird of the Week and gain access to our second podcast, What's up with that's Bird's Name? click on through to Patreon: www.patreon.com/birdoftheweek Want birds in your inbox? Drop me a ...
Spooky Birds
November 14, 2022 09:00 - 23 minutes - 15.9 MBOur two week late Halloween special. Join me for a quick romp to meet five birds with some creepy vibes. To support Bird of the Week and gain access to our second podcast, What's up with that's Bird's Name? click on through to Patreon: www.patreon.com/birdoftheweek Want birds in your inbox? Drop me a line at [email protected] and I'll hook you up with a free weekly bird. Would you like some bird art in your life? Then visit Seni Illustration for some bespoke bird art: https://www.s...
The Nest Review
October 27, 2022 11:00 - 50 minutes - 34.9 MBToday we're going to talk about nests. What are, how are they made, what's their deal? Also, how does each type of nest design compare to the others on a five star scale? It's a question no-one thought to ask until now. So join me as I review nests. To support Bird of the Week and gain access to our second podcast, What's up with that's Bird's Name? click on through to Patreon: www.patreon.com/birdoftheweek Want birds in your inbox? Drop me a line at [email protected] and I'll hook y...
The Great Emu War
September 29, 2022 12:00 - 1 hour - 53.3 MBMaybe you've heard of the Great Emu War, popularly known as that time Australia declared war on a bird, and lost. But what is the real story? Was in a war, or was it a tokenistic pest control operation ... with machine guns? This week we dive into the misguided story. We learn some fun facts about Emus and meet the mysterious Major G. P. W. Meredith, the officer placed in command of the operation. *Correction, I say the men were armed with Maxim Machine guns, they were actually Lewis Machin...
Flightless Birds
September 14, 2022 11:00 - 36 minutes - 24.8 MBFor birds, flight is their whole schtick. To come across a bird that doesn't fly gives us pause. Flight gives a bird so many advantages, why would they ever give it up? Well, if conditions are just right sometimes it can make sense. Join me today to discover what forces can compel a bird to give up the sky. To support Bird of the Week and gain access to our second podcast, What's up with that's Bird's Name? click on through to Patreon: www.patreon.com/birdoftheweek Want birds in your inbox...
Let's Go Cuckoo
August 23, 2022 10:00 - 37 minutes - 25.5 MBIn part two of our exploration of the parasites of the bird world we meet the brood parasites: the birds that lay their eggs in other birds' nests. They are the dead-beat parents who can't be bothered raising their own young. But while we might think of these birds as the lowest of cheats, when we dig further we discover that being a freeloader isn't as easy as it seems. They have evolved a range of impressive traits that make them successful birds. So join me today to learn about Cuckoos an...
Parasite Bird
August 07, 2022 12:00 - 36 minutes - 25.1 MBWhen we think of parasites we're more likely to think of a mosquito or a leech, some gross bug that latches onto you and sucks your blood. We wouldn't normally think of a bird, but there are many freeloading birds out there, more than willing to take advantage of another animal. There are even some birds that suck blood. Today we're going to a rarely visited corner of the avian world to find vampires, pirates and changelings. It's going to be fun. To support Bird of the Week and gain access...
Where'd all my Vultures go?
July 23, 2022 05:00 - 33 minutes - 23.1 MBThey may not be the prettiest bird flapping about, but the humble vultures plays an incredibly important role in their ecosystem, performing waster removal, disease reduction and recycling nutrients back into the food chain. Sadly though, vultures are in trouble, having seen a 90% reduction in their population in recent years. To find out more about these fascinating birds, and learn what's killing them all in one handy 30 minute episode. To support Bird of the Week and gain access to our ...
Murray-Darling Basin Bird Breeding Bonanza
June 22, 2022 12:00 - 27 minutes - 18.6 MBThe Murray-Darling Basin is an important ecosystem in Australia that supports thousands of birds and this year there has been a bird breeding boom, thanks to a couple of floods. This is the first time in nearly a decade that there has been a breeding event on this scale. It means many birds have had a vital boost to their population. Join me to find out more. Special thanks to the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment for providing information and a fact check on this episode...
Magpies are murder birds, change my mind
June 08, 2022 11:00 - 41 minutes - 28.8 MBThere are few Australian birds as famous as the Magpie. They are famous/infamous for exactly two things: their beautiful song and their murderous nature. Most people love them, some people loath them. Today I am joined by our old friend Bradly, an avid Magpie hater, as we try to learn something more about this famous bird and see if we can't spread the bird love. To support Bird of the Week and gain access to our second podcast, What's up with that's Bird's Name? click on through to Patreo...
The Great Auk
May 12, 2022 11:00 - 21 minutes - 15.1 MBLast time we met the Penguins, and learned that they are almost totally confined to the Southern Hemisphere. Despite how perfect it would be, there are no Penguins in the Artic. But did you know, Penguins were named after a now extinct northern dwelling bird, the Great Auk? So, what was this bird's deal and where did they go? Great questions, and as always I have the answers. Join me for a romp to the past and the far north and we'll learn a thing to two. To support Bird of the Week and gai...
Penguin Extravaganza!
April 19, 2022 12:00 - 30 minutes - 21.1 MBPenguins are one of the least bird-like birds getting around. We're told we should never judge a fish by its ability to fly, but this is a bird that wants to be judged by its ability to swim. Where the heck did Penguins come from, why did they abandon the sky and how do they stand on ice all day without getting frost bite? These are all questions, and if you join me on this journey you might even get a couple of answers. To support Bird of the Week and gain access to our second podcast, Wha...
The Great Feather Heist Part II
April 03, 2022 12:00 - 1 hour - 51.5 MBOne summer night in June 2009, Edwin Rist broke into the Tring natural history museum and stole nearly 300 preserved birds worth some quarter of a million pounds. Join us for the second part of our story as we go through the details of how Edwin committed his heist, was eventually caught and then how the court case shook out. It is one wild ride, so strap yourself in. This story was brought to public attention by Kirk Wallace Johnson in his amazing book, The Feather Thief: https://www.pengu...
The Great Feather Heist Part I
March 23, 2022 11:00 - 56 minutes - 39.1 MBOne summer night in June 2009, Edwin Rist broke into the Tring natural history museum and stole nearly 300 preserved birds worth some quarter of a million pounds. How he pulled off this crime, what motivated him, and how he was caught is one wild story. Join us for part one of this story as we lay the ground work and explain how some quirks of history lead to this crime. This story was brought to public attention by Kirk Wallace Johnson in his amazing book, The Feather Thief: https://www.pe...
Avian Sugar Junkies
March 07, 2022 10:00 - 38 minutes - 26.4 MBEver wanted to know everything there is know about Hummingbirds? Good news, this is your one-stop shop for all things humming. Notes: Buff-tailed Sicklebill: https://ebird.org/species/butsic1 Sword-billed Hummingbird: https://ebird.org/species/swbhum1 Tooth-billed Hummingbird: https://ebird.org/species/tobhum1 Marvelous Spatuletail: https://ebird.org/species/marspa1 Ruby-throated Hummingbird: https://ebird.org/species/rthhum?siteLanguage=en_AU Love your weekly bird (delivered on a non-w...
A Special Announcement
February 08, 2022 09:00 - 9 minutes - 6.8 MBWe interrupt your normal podcast to bring you a special announcement. Bird of the Week is changing how it is delivered. Too many people want birds and we've outgrown our old email server. The Weekly Bird is switching to a new provider, but sadly such services don't come cheap. To help cover some costs Bird of the Week now has a patreon page. If you love your weekly bird and would like to help us so we don't accidentally bankrupt ourselves sending whimsical bird emails, they click on over. ...
Migration Part II
January 19, 2022 10:00 - 23 minutes - 16.4 MBLast time we learned about how birds preform their great feats of migration. This week we learn about the long scientific history and the many experiments ornithologists conducted to discover the truth of how they do. From birds on the moon and sleeping under frozen ponds to satellite tracking, we've come a long way with our science. Join me as we retrace the theories. Also see if you can spot the places that were re-recorded... NOTES Birds on the Moon: https://www.wired.com/2014/10/fanta...
The Heck's Migration?
January 05, 2022 11:00 - 33 minutes - 22.7 MBWe all know that birds fly south for the winter ... unless you're in the southern hemisphere, then they fly north. But for for a migrating bird it isn't a simply case of flying from A to B. A bird not only has to find its way but build up the strength to make marathon flights, and no two birds perform their migration in the same way. So join me this week as in dig into one of the most remarkable bird behaviour. Notes The world's largest dyke: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saemangeum_Sea...
The Six Birds of Christmas
December 23, 2021 23:00 - 13 minutes - 9.45 MBThe 12 Days of Christmas is an old yuletide favourite, doubly so because of all the birds in its lyrics. But the history of this song is rather long and complex. Just why is that Partridge in a pear tree, and what even is a Calling Bird? Join me this festive season as we break down some birds and get to the bottom of this old, folk carol. Notes Frank Kelly's The 12 Days of Christmas The Greek Myth of Perdix Bresse Gauloise Theme music: Jingle Bells, by Scott Holmes Music
Pigeons Are Disgusting, Change My Mind
December 08, 2021 11:00 - 57 minutes - 39.7 MBThere is maybe no bird more polarising than the pigeon. While some people (me) look at these city-dwelling birds and see perfection in avian form, other (wrong) people see disgusting sky rats. Today, I've invited two friends to join me in conversation to see if I can turn a pigeon hater into a pigeon lover. Notes Our friend the Rock Dove Squab Pigeons can identify cancer Pigeons can (sorta) read Pigeons and sea search and rescue Project Pigeon B. F. Skinner and gambling Other B. F. ...
How Do Birds Get Their Names?
November 13, 2021 05:00 - 29 minutes - 20.4 MBThe fact that birds have names is an incredibly handy thing. Instead of just pointing and making a grunting noise every time a pretty bird flies by we can label it with a name, which is ever so frightfully convenient. But how do birds get their names? This there some mysterious bird naming authority? Do they have rules? Can they be broken? Is there any controversy? Well, the answer to all of those questions is yes. And in this episode I would like to take you on journey through the strange...
How Many Birds Are There?
October 22, 2021 05:00 - 33 minutes - 23 MBTake a step out your front door and you'll be instantly confronted with many species of bird. But have you ever wondered, just how many different ones are there. Simple enough questions, just grab a clipboard and start counting... Except no. It turns out this is one of the trickiest problems in biology, and isn't helped by the fact that we don't even have a consistent definition for a species is. This week we're going to dive in and try to untangle this problem, and see if we can't come up w...
The Lost Birds-of-Paradise
September 28, 2021 23:00 - 31 minutes - 21.5 MBToday we know of 42 Birds-of-Paradise, but if we went back to 1930, there were nearly 60 in the family. So where did those 20 or so birds go? They are sometimes known as the Lost Birds-of-Paradise, and still today they're a bit of a mystery. In this week's episode we're going to meet a couple, find out where they went and try to get to the bottom of these forgotten members of this most stunning family.