086 Tongan Megapode with Ann Goth
The Bird Emergency
Ann Göth spent some of her formative years as a scientist studying one of the most curious birds on the planet, the Tongan Megapode, that uses the heat of the volcanoes of the isolated islands of Tonga, in the Pacific Ocean, to incubate their eggs, rather than build a mound like their close relatives. Learn about this astounding bird, and the adventues Ann had as a budding ecologist! Ann has collected her experiences with the Tongan Megapode, and turned them into a book, that has been recently published. You can check out the of Ann's book . The book is available as ebook and...
info_outline
085 Avian Influenza (Bird Flu) Update with Michelle Wille
The Bird Emergency
You have probably seen the devastating reports about the infestations of avian influenza sweeping parts of the world, affecting nesting colonies of seabirds, migratory birds and domesticated birds? I invited Dr Michelle Wille back to the show to talk about the current situation with bird flu. Follow Michelle on . Follow The Bird Emergency on or and , because, you know, Elon. You can support the show by making a contribution by buying Grant a coffee here - You can now also for some extra special access. If you enjoy the show, how about share with your friends or colleagues? Or you...
info_outline
084 Milly Formby - Wing Threads Flight Around Australia for Shorebirds Update
The Bird Emergency
Almost exactly a year ago, Milly Formby told me about the planning and the extraordinary fundraising campaign that had enabled her to embark on a flight around the continent of Australia, in a microlight aircraft that she built herself (with some great mates assisting), as part of a mission to raise awareness of the extraordinary migrations undertaken each year by shorebirds, flying from the arctic regions, to Australia, and back! MIlly is now about half way through the journey, and has been visiting schools to let the students and teachers know about these amazing birds, and share the...
info_outline
Bonus - Achieving DeGrowth with Martin Tye
The Bird Emergency
Have you heard the term "DeGrowth" being thrown around in recent years? Have you wondered what it really means, and can it be achieved in a modern society? Hear Martin Tye explain to Grant what it means, and how a modern, industrialised society might move towards a sustainable existence. Follow The Bird Emergency on or and we are beginning on , because, you know, Elon. You can support the show by making a contribution by buying Grant a coffee here - If you enjoy the show, how about share with your friends or colleagues? Or you can review us at If you want to see interviews before...
info_outline
Bonus - Art in Conservation - Brenton See and Sally Edmonds
The Bird Emergency
How does art influence attitudes to nature, and how can it help to create positive outcomes in conservation? These two artists who put nature and wildlife at the centre of their art, and birds feature prominently. Meet Brenton See and Sally Edmonds, prominent artists based in Perth in Western Australia. See the artwork mentioned in this episode, and get all the links at Follow The Bird Emergency on or and we are beginning on , because, you know, Elon. You can support the show by making a contribution by buying Grant a coffee here - If you enjoy the show, how about share with your friends...
info_outline
Bonus - The toll of feral cats on Australian wildlife with Judy Dunlop
The Bird Emergency
Predation by feral cats is one of the biggest threats to the unique wildlife of Australia. is working to reduce the threat. Feral cats are a major threat to wildlife in Australia, with their predation causing declines in many native species. These non-native predators were introduced to the continent by European settlers and have since spread widely to almost all of the continent, causing significant damage to the delicate ecosystem. Feral cats prey on a wide range of animals, including small mammals, reptiles, and birds. They are particularly dangerous to ground-dwelling birds, such as the...
info_outline
Bonus - Monday with Grant - Gregory Andrews
The Bird Emergency
Gregory Andrews is a D’harawal man and was Australia’s first-appointed Threatened Species Commissioner. He owns and manages Wombat Ridge Nature Reserve near Goulburn in NSW and is an Associate Adjunct Professor at the University of Canberra’s Institute for Applied Ecology. Grant spoke with Gregory about his project at Wombat Ridge, where he has placed a covenant over land he owns with his wife, and is managing for wildlife, in a way that uses time honoured and tested methods employed by the First Australians, for thousands of years. Gregory also shared how he is creating a garden for...
info_outline
083 Designing and running a crowdfunded reseach project with Matt Herring
The Bird Emergency
Giving you a special Christmas present, and celebrating the work Dr. Matt Herring and the team behind the , Dr. Matt Herring and I talk about Matt's back story, the need for the project, and we recognise and celebrate the research team, and the fabulous Bird Nerds who have donated to make the project a reality. BIrd Nerds are the best nerds, without a doubt! Thank you all, and Good onya! I have one wish for the season - please head over to I will be doing much more there in 2023, in addition to continuing with the podcast, as usual. Follow The Bird Emergency on or and we are...
info_outline
Bonus - Monday with Holly - The Urban Powerful Owls of Brisbane
The Bird Emergency
Maybe you have seen the great photos that Dr. Nick and Lucy have been posting on Twitter and other social media of the Powerful Owls they have come to know in Brisbane? They discuss these #Powls with Dr. Holly Parsons, Manager of Birdlife Australia's Urban Birds program and Birds In Backyards, and Grant. Get to know how these impressive, nocturnal raptors are thriving in the inner suburbs of one of Australia's largest cities. If you want to see The Bird Emergency interviews as they happen, bookmark Follow The Bird Emergency on or and we are beginning on , because, you know, Elon. You can...
info_outline
082 - The Critically Endangered birds of SW Western Australia wth Sarah Comer
The Bird Emergency
Managing isoloated populations is difficult, more so when bushfire places and entire population in peril. Sarah Comer explains how the Western Australian Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions is managing Western Ground Parrot, Noisy Scrub-birds, Western Bristlebird and Western Whipbird. If you want to see The Bird Emergency interviews as they happen, bookmark Follow The Bird Emergency on or and we are beginning on , because, you know, Elon. You can support the show by making a contribution by buying Grant a coffee here - If you enjoy the show, how about share with your...
info_outlineA year or so back I spoke with Dan Nugent about one of Australia's strangest and rarest birds, the Plains-wanderer, and the work that Dan was doing monitoring the birds in the grasslands of Victoria and New South Wales. (If you haven't heard that episode already, you can grab it here)
In this episode we will hear about current work monitoring a western population of the Plains-wanderer that occurs in the state of South Australia, with Saskia Gerhardy, from the Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, at the University of Adelaide.
Saskia's work has been conducted alongside a project with Bush Heritage Australia, at Boolcoomatta Reserve, a property managed by this important conservation organisation. Bioacoustics are one of the major tools employed to monitor the very cryptic, nocturnal Plains-wanderer.
Here is a recent article from the Bush Heritage magazine, Bushtracks, about the work that is happening at Boolcoomatta and the Plains-wanderer.
If you want to follow the project with Saskia, and get updates, follow her on Instagram here. (@saskiagerhardy)
If you want to see The Bird Emergency interviews as they happen, bookmark thebirdemergency.com/live
Follow The Bird Emergency on Twitter @birdemergency or Instagram @thebirdemergency and we are beginning on Mastodon, because, you know, Elon.
You can support the show by making a contribution by buying Grant a coffee here - https://www.buymeacoffee.com/birdemergency
If you enjoy the show, how about share with your friends or colleagues? https://followthepodcast.com/birdemergency
Or you can review us at https://lovethepodcast.com/birdemergency
If you want to see interviews before they make into into the podcast feed, check out the YouTube channel, where the interviews are usually posted first.