What The Duck?!

How many species live around your house?In the COVID lockdown of 2020, three housemates decided to count.They thought there’d only be a handful, but the number kept rising and rising.Could their simple suburban Queenslander house be the next candidate for a new national park?Featuring:Dr Matt Holden, Mathematician, University of Queensland.Dr Andrew Rogers, Ecologist, University of Melbourne.Dr Russell Yong, Taxonomist. Production:Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer.Petria Ladgrove, Producer.Additional mastering: Nathan Turnbull.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 Feb 2024 and is produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and Kaurna people.

Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer is a Christmas classic... but how much do we really know about reindeer? In the last instalment of "Hollywood lied to us" for 2024, Ann Jones fact-checks the festive fairytale for biological accuracy.What would it take for a reindeer to fly? What are their noses really like? Would a glowing nose even make a decent fog light??Featuring:Belinda Smith, ABC Science Online reporterTim Horstkotte, Staff scientist at Department of Ecology and Environmental Science, Umeå UniversityProduction:Ann Jones, Presenter / ProducerPetria Ladgrove, ProducerNat Tencic, ProducerIsabella Tropiano, additional masteringThis episode of What the Duck?! was produced on the lands of the Wadawarrung, Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung and Kaurna people.If you want to hear more "What the Duck?" episodes- please like and subscribe here.

The Lion King (1994), aka Hamlet with Cats, is an iconic family classic. But would The Lion King's portrayal of a pride make biologists proud?Ann Jones presents “Hollywood lied to us” - a What The Duck?! podcast that takes your favourite movies and puts them under the microscope to work out what would happen in the real world and what’s just Hollywood magic.Would Simba really end up with Nala?Would the hyena henchmen really fall in line for a lion?They’re the big questions and Ann Jones has all the answers."Featuring:Amanda Finn, The Lion King super fan,  Theatre, travel, and lifestyle journalist.Dr Neil Jordan, Conservation Scientist in the Centre for Ecosystem Science at the University of New South Wales and Taronga Conservation Society Australia, and researcher with Botswana Predator Conservation.The Lion King, 1994, Disney Studios.Production:Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer.Petria Ladgrove, Producer.Additional mastering: Isabella TropianoCheck out our Hyena episode here!This episode of What the Duck?! was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and Kaurna people.

The movie is fictional but Groundhog Day (asking a groundhog for a long-term weather report)  IS A REAL THING!But wait, what even ARE groundhogs? AND do they have any qualifications in meteorology?Ann Jones is examining the biological accuracy of classic movies with the help of scientists and fans in the series "Hollywood Lied to Us."Featuring:Link Olson, Curator of Mammals, University of Alaska Museum.Dr Adam Daniel, Western Sydney University. Associate Professor Mike Rennie, Lakehead University.Groundhog Day by Columbia Pictures Production:Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer.Petria Ladgrove, Producer.Additional mastering: Isabella TropianoThis episode of What the Duck?! was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and Kaurna people.If you want to hear more "What the Duck?" episodes- please like and subscribe here.

Yes, the Little Mermaid is an animated movie, but if it were real, where would this mermaid paradise be? Is it plausible that Ursula the Octo-woman would have henchmen in the form of eels? Ann Jones is examining the biological accuracy with the help of scientists and fans  of classic movies in the series "Hollywood Lied to Us."Featuring:Flo Rama- The Little Mermaid super fan. Professor Peter Godfrey-Smith, Sydney University. The Little Mermaid, Disney Studios.Production:Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer.Petria Ladgrove, Producer.Additional mastering: Isabella TropianoThis episode of What the Duck?! was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and Kaurna people.If you want to hear more "What the Duck?" episodes- please like and subscribe here.

Jaws (1975) was a massive hit that also created a whole lot of fear, but does anything in the film really stand up to shark science? Do sharks stalk humans? Do they roar? What can they sense? There are so many misconceptions when it comes to sharks that even now, 50 years later, these are impacting shark policies in Australia, and have come to be known as 'the jaws effect.'Featuring:Sophie Maycock, shark obsessive and founder of SharkSpeak. Chris Pepin-Neff – Shark policy expert at the University of Sydney. Jaws (1975) Universal Studios.Production:Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer.Petria Ladgrove, Producer.Additional mastering: Isabella TropianoThis episode of What the Duck?! was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and Kaurna people.If you want to hear more "What the Duck?" episodes- please like and subscribe here.

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 / ProducerPetria Ladgrove, ProducerAdditional 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 / ProducerPetria Ladgrove, ProducerAdditional 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 / ProducerPetria Ladgrove, ProducerAdditional 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 / ProducerPetria Ladgrove, ProducerAdditional 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 / ProducerPetria Ladgrove, ProducerAdditional mastering: Isabella Tropiano.This episode of What the Duck?! was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and the Kaurna people.

The energy required to grow, birth and raise young is intense, so it's only fair that the female body has some tricks to make sure reproducing is worth it.From cryptic choice to immune system sperm blockers, the female reproductive system can be a literal maze for those seeking to gain access to her eggs.In the battle of the sexes, this is females fight back.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:Professor Sarah Robertson, University of Adelaide.  Dr Diane Kelly, Assistant Professor, University of Massachusetts, Amherst.Associate Professor Patricia Brennan, Mount Holyoke College, Massachusetts, US.Emeritus Professor Susan Suarez, Cornell University, New York.Professor Mariana Wolfner, 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.

When it comes to sexual organs, the penis is really ‘out there.’  Name another organ that can change its form AND function in a matter of seconds! There’s a lot of variety in the animal kingdom; from spikes and nails to coils and collagen – so, this appendage is worth investigating... close up.  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 Emily Willingham, biologist, journalist and author.  Dr Diane Kelly, Senior Research Fellow, University of Massachusetts, Amherst.  Associate Professor Andrew Durso, Florida Gulf Coast University, Florida.  Associate Professor Patty Brennan, Mount Holyoke College, Massachusetts, US. Dr Bruno Buzatto, Flinders University, South Australia.   Philippa Holm, HFR Performance Horses, Victoria. 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.

When you really think about it, sex to make babies is WEIRD! You take an outie that has to get stuck inside an innie that links into a production line of eggs to assemble a perfect tiny being. It’s so damn complicated!So why does it work like that?Join us at What the Duck for the first episode of a new series where we figure out how living things went from splitting ourselves in half to double the population, to periodically feeling compelled to copulate in such a vigorous, sometimes highly embarrassing, manner.Earth - this is your sexual history!Please note that this program contains adult themes and explicit language. Parental guidance is recommended. Featuring:Emeritus Professor David Siveter, University of Leicester, UK.Assistant Professor Emily Mitchell, University of Cambridge, UK and curator of non-insect invertebrates, University Museum of Zoology, Cambridge, UK.Dr Marissa Betts, geologist and palaeontologist at the University of New England, Armidale, Australia. Dr Emily Willingham, biologist, journalist and author.Associate Professor Patty Brennan, Mount Holyoke College, Massachusetts, US. Production:Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer.Petria Ladgrove, Producer.Additional mastering: Isabella Tropiano.Thanks also to Will Ockenden, Belinda Smith, Corey Hague and Joel Werner. This episode of What the Duck?! was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and the Kaurna people.

How the duck did sex evolve as a major form of reproduction?Sex is Weird is a brand new series of What the Duck?! with Dr Ann Jones. From the evolution of the first-ever genitals and the strange methods that animals use to copulate, to the unbelievable ways that the female body responds to sex. So strap in and get ready for the ride of your life, you'll never think about sex the same way again!Please note that this program contains adult themes and explicit language. Parental guidance is recommended. Production:Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer.Petria Ladgrove, Producer.Additional mastering: Russel Stapleton.This episode of What the Duck?! was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and the Kaurna people.