What The Duck?!
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- 13. Nov. 2026
Über den Podcast
Australia is full of weird plants and animals. And Dr Ann Jones is on speaking terms with most of them! Each week Ann explores the most unusual elements of our natural world — the ones that make you go What the Duck?! Like why do quolls have spots? Who farts (and who doesn't)? And how do snakes climb trees? Join Ann alongside experts and ordinary Aussies alike to solve mysteries, smash myths and uncover the bizarre truth about nature down under.
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Nature’s best vibrators
We have been listening to insects vibrating (or rubbing themselves) our whole lives. But what do WE sound like to them? How does our noise pollution impact nature's vibrators? Featuring:Dr. Perry Beasley Hall …
Shownotes
We have been listening to insects vibrating (or rubbing themselves) our whole lives. But what do WE sound like to them? How does our noise pollution impact nature's vibrators?
Featuring:
Dr. Perry Beasley Hall, Adelaide University.
Ernesto Caliari Pinheiro, Acoustic biologist, Brazil.
Professor Mario Vallejo-Marin, University of Uppsala, Sweden.
Lisa Schonberg, Ecological sound artist, New York.
Professor Link Olson, University of Alaska Museum.
Dr Andy Reid, University of Strathclyde, Scotland.
Dr Ying Luo, Australian National Insect Collection.
Featured sounds :
Son of a Bee by Dusty Dubs, David Rentz and Vicki Powys.
Production:
- Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer.
- Petria Ladgrove, Producer.
- Additional mastering: Hamish Camilleri.
This episode of What the Duck?! was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and Kaurna people.
Find more episodes of the ABC podcast, What the Duck?! with the always curious Dr Ann Jones exploring the mysteries of nature on ABC Listen (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. You'll learn more about the weird and unusual aspects of our natural world in a quirky, fun way with easy to understand science.
Are animals musical?
Can animals create, or even enjoy music?Ann rips through the animal kingdom to check out the musical talent of some likely and unlikely performers.Featuring:Dr. Stuart Watson, University of Zurich.Dr. Chiara De …
Shownotes
Can animals create, or even enjoy music?
Ann rips through the animal kingdom to check out the musical talent of some likely and unlikely performers.
Featuring:
- Dr. Stuart Watson, University of Zurich.
- Dr. Chiara De Gregorio, University of Torino.
- Assistant Professor Adena Schachner, University of California.
- David Teie, Musician and composer, Music for Cats.
- Associate Professor Cameron Webb, University of Sydney and NSW Health Pathology.
Featured sounds:
Musical Stimuli for Parrots by Adena Schachner, Fostog's Touch by David Teie (music for cats) and Marlene McCohen (YouTube) and her Amazon parrot Lucy.
Production:
- Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer.
- Petria Ladgrove, Producer.
- Additional mastering: Hamish Camilleri.
For more about bird song and music click here.
This episode of What the Duck?! was originally broadcast in 2023 and produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and the Kaurna people.
Find more episodes of the ABC podcast, What the Duck?! with the always curious Dr Ann Jones exploring the mysteries of nature on the ABC Listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. You'll learn more about the weird and unusual aspects of our natural world in a quirky, fun way with easy to understand science.
It it just me, or is that sheep glow in the dark?
Ann heads to a hunting shop (stay with us) to pick up a UV torch. What she discovers? Ewe won’t believe it.Featuring:Linda Reinhold, Zoologist at James Cook University.Professor Simon Lewis, Curtin …
Shownotes
Ann heads to a hunting shop (stay with us) to pick up a UV torch.
What she discovers?
Ewe won’t believe it.
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.
This is the final episode of Season 4 for What the Duck?! Season 5 will begin in November.
This episode of What the Duck?! was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and Kaurna people.
Find more episodes of the ABC podcast, What the Duck?! with the always curious Dr Ann Jones exploring the mysteries of nature on ABC Listen (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. You'll learn more about the weird and unusual aspects of our natural world in a quirky, fun way with easy to understand science.
Killer whales attack boat
Martin was sailing from the UK to Greece when a pod of orcas tried to sink his boat. Sounds like a one-off? Think again. Reports of killer whales attacking ships date back to the 6th century. So, after all …
Shownotes
Martin was sailing from the UK to Greece when a pod of orcas tried to sink his boat. Sounds like a one-off? Think again. Reports of killer whales attacking ships date back to the 6th century. So, after all these centuries, have we finally figured out why?
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 produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and Kaurna people.
Find more episodes of the ABC podcast, What the Duck?! with the always curious Dr Ann Jones exploring the mysteries of nature on ABC Listen (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. You'll learn more about the weird and unusual aspects of our natural world in a quirky, fun way with easy to understand science.
Fully sick plants
Can plants get cancer? Do they get tumours? WAIT.. is that what those big knobbly bits are on trees? Dr Ann Jones pulls on her experience as a broadcaster with a brain, to find out what's going on with plants …
Shownotes
Can plants get cancer? Do they get tumours? WAIT.. is that what those big knobbly bits are on trees? Dr Ann Jones pulls on her experience as a broadcaster with a brain, to find out what's going on with plants and cancer.
Won't someone think of the eucalypt!
Featuring:
- Associate Professor Andrew Geering, University of Queensland.
- Professor John Rathjen, Australian National University.
- Dr Amy MacKenzie, University of Adelaide.
- Belinda Smith, ABC Science reporter.
Production:
- Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer.
- Petria Ladgrove, Producer.
- Additional mastering: Emrys Cronin
This episode of What the Duck?! was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and Kaurna people.
Find more episodes of the ABC podcast, What the Duck?! with the always curious Dr Ann Jones exploring the mysteries of nature on ABC Listen (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. You'll learn more about the weird and unusual aspects of our natural world in a quirky, fun way with easy to understand science.
Butts. What are they good for?
Two million years ago, our ancestors had tiny ape-like butts. Then something strange happened.. our butts grew bigger. Butt, why?It turns out humans aren’t the only primates whose butt took a bizarre …
Shownotes
Two million years ago, our ancestors had tiny ape-like butts. Then something strange happened.. our butts grew bigger. Butt, why?
It turns out humans aren’t the only primates whose butt took a bizarre evolutionary turn.
These peaches have a lot to answer for.
Featuring:
Professor Daniel Lieberman, Harvard University, US.
Professor Jo Setchell, Durham University, UK.
Dr Peter Bishop, Harvard University, US.
Lauren Thornton, University of Sunshine Coast.
Production:
- Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer.
- Petria Ladgrove, Producer.
- Additional mastering: Russell Stapleton.
This episode of What the Duck was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung people.
Find more episodes of the ABC podcast, What the Duck?! with the always curious Dr Ann Jones exploring the mysteries of nature on ABC Listen (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. You'll learn more about the weird and unusual aspects of our natural world in a quirky, fun way with easy to understand science.
Flaco the owl escapes cage in Central Park Zoo
A superhero origin story would absolutely be 12 years in a cage and then set free by secretive criminals.That’s the story of Flaco, the Eurasian Eagle Owl, released from his vandalised cage in Central Park Zoo …
Shownotes
A superhero origin story would absolutely be 12 years in a cage and then set free by secretive criminals.
That’s the story of Flaco, the Eurasian Eagle Owl, released from his vandalised cage in Central Park Zoo, New York City.
But how long could Flaco possibly last in the graveyard of bird diversity that is the city? How long could he fly without confusing a window for the sky?
Featuring:
- Ed Shanahan, Metro reporter, The New York Times.
- Julia Wang, Project Leader, Cornell Lab of Ornithology.
- Brendon Samuels, Fatal Light Awareness Program and Western University in Canada.
- Dr Kylie Soanes, Urban ecologist at The University of Melbourne.
- Mat Howard, Midjuburi Ward (Marrickville), Inner West Council, NSW.
- Kat and Zach, Flaco Song.
Production:
- Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer.
- Petria Ladgrove, Producer.
- Additional mastering: Hamish Camilleri.
This episode of What the Duck was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung people.
Find more episodes of the ABC podcast, What the Duck?! with the always curious Dr Ann Jones exploring the mysteries of nature on ABC Listen (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. You'll learn more about the weird and unusual aspects of our natural world in a quirky, fun way with easy to understand science.
Bumblebees have BIG feelings
Mum says it’s ok to be angry. But it’s not ok to take over a whole island state.Featuring: Andrew Barron - Comparative Neuroscientist from Macquarie University, NSWTim Low - Biologist and a founder of the …
Shownotes
Mum says it’s ok to be angry. But it’s not ok to take over a whole island state.
Featuring:
- Andrew Barron - Comparative Neuroscientist from Macquarie University, NSW
- Tim Low - Biologist and a founder of the Invasive Species Council
Production:
- Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer
- Sarah Prosser, Producer
- Harvey O'Sullivan, Mastering Engineer
This episode of What the Duck was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung people.
Find more episodes of the ABC podcast, What the Duck?! with the always curious Dr Ann Jones exploring the mysteries of nature on ABC Listen (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. You'll learn more about the weird and unusual aspects of our natural world in a quirky, fun way with easy to understand science.
What will we eat in space?
How will we survive the cosmic void? Scientists have a superfood diet in mind, but will the smallest flowering plant on Earth REALLY save humanity? Featuring:Jenny Mortimer - Professor of Plant Synthetic …
Shownotes
How will we survive the cosmic void? Scientists have a superfood diet in mind, but will the smallest flowering plant on Earth REALLY save humanity?
Featuring:
- Jenny Mortimer - Professor of Plant Synthetic Biology in the School of Agriculture, Food and Wine at Adelaide University. Chief investigator in the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence in Plants for Space
- Gareth Prosser – Professional Voice Over Artist whose wife roped him in
Production:
- Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer
- Sarah Prosser, Producer
- Mastering Engineer, Emyrs Cronin
This episode of What the Duck was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung people.
Find more episodes of the ABC podcast, What the Duck?! with the always curious Dr Ann Jones exploring the mysteries of nature on ABC Listen (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. You'll learn more about the weird and unusual aspects of our natural world in a quirky, fun way with easy to understand science.
Tits, boobies and hooters
Why is it that bird names seem so… childishly misogynistic? Featuring: Professor Andrew Cockburn, bird watcher and word batcher, ANUJeannie Gray, Author, Australian Bird Names: Origins and Meanings.Ian Fraser …
Shownotes
Why is it that bird names seem so… childishly misogynistic?
Featuring:
Professor Andrew Cockburn, bird watcher and word batcher, ANU
Jeannie Gray, Author, Australian Bird Names: Origins and Meanings.
Ian Fraser, Author, Australia Bird Names: Origins and Meanings.
Stephen Downes, the brains behind @Parrotoftheday social media accounts
Stephen Moss, Author, Mrs Moreau's Warbler: How Birds Got Their Names.
Nola Turner-Jensen, Culture Inclusion Specialist and Wiradjuri Historian
Dr Ayesha Tulloch, Research Fellow, QUT.
This episode was first broadcast in 2022.
Featuring extra sounds from listeners:
Large-tailed Nightjar from Briony Barnett.
Cat Bird from Scott Fisher.
And extra sounds from bird enthusiasts:
Marc Anderson, XC287030. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/287030 ( Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 4.0)
Yong Ding Li, XC57231. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/57231 (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.5)
Phil Gregory, XC690345. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/690345 (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0)
Production:
Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer.
Petria Ladgrove, Producer.
Joel Werner, Script Editing.
This episode of What the Duck?! was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and the Kaurna people.
Find more episodes of the ABC podcast, What the Duck?! with the always curious Dr Ann Jones exploring the mysteries of nature on ABC Listen (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. You'll learn more about the weird and unusual aspects of our natural world in a quirky, fun way with easy to understand science.
Can you speak fish?
Someone get a translator app because the fish are ready to speak. FEATURING: Lauren Hawkins - Centre for Marine Science and Technology at Curtin University.Dr Aaron Rice - Research Scientist at Cornell …
Shownotes
Someone get a translator app because the fish are ready to speak.
FEATURING:
- Lauren Hawkins - Centre for Marine Science and Technology at Curtin University.
- Dr Aaron Rice - Research Scientist at Cornell University.
FEATURED SOUNDS :
Thanks to Aaron and Lauren for providing sounds as well as Professor Robert McCauley and the Centre for Marine Science and Technology at Curtin University.
PRODUCTION:
- Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer
- Petria Ladgrove, Producer
- Additional mastering: Hamish Camilleri
This episode of What the Duck was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung people.
Find more episodes of the ABC podcast, What the Duck?! with the always curious Dr Ann Jones exploring the mysteries of nature on ABC Listen (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. You'll learn more about the weird and unusual aspects of our natural world in a quirky, fun way with easy to understand science.
Hitchhikers guide to ecology
Grabbing a lift can go from bad to worse when your uber drops you outside your evolutionary niche. FEATURING:Dr Matt Greenlees - Sydney University.Arthur White - NSW frog and tadpole study group.David Chapple …
Shownotes
Grabbing a lift can go from bad to worse when your uber drops you outside your evolutionary niche.
FEATURING:
- Dr Matt Greenlees - Sydney University.
- Arthur White - NSW frog and tadpole study group.
- David Chapple - Monash University.
- Dr Maggie Watson - Charles Sturt University.
- Dr Robert Streit - Reef Function Hub at James Cook University.
- Voice of the Internet: Nikolai Beilharz.
PRODUCTION:
- Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer.
- Petria Ladgrove, Producer.
- Joel Werner, Script Editor.
- Additional mastering: Brendan O'Neill.
This episode of What the Duck was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung people.
Find more episodes of the ABC podcast, What the Duck?! with the always curious Dr Ann Jones exploring the mysteries of nature on ABC Listen (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. You'll learn more about the weird and unusual aspects of our natural world in a quirky, fun way with easy to understand science.
G.O.A.T AUSTRALIAN WILDFLOWER
Does Australia have a BEST wildflower? Hang on... what even is a flower? Dr Ann Jones and Belinda Smith count down the top 10 best wildflowers as voted by YOU in a special live show, The Hour of Flower …
Shownotes
Does Australia have a BEST wildflower? Hang on... what even is a flower? Dr Ann Jones and Belinda Smith count down the top 10 best wildflowers as voted by YOU in a special live show, The Hour of Flower.
FEATURING:
- Tim Entwisle – Author, The Sceptical Botanist. Former CEO of the Royal Botanic Gardens in Melbourne
- Chantelle Doyle - Research Associate, Centre for Ecosystem Science, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences UNSW
- Kingsley Dixon - Professor, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia
- Mira Jordan - PhD candidate, Biological, Earth & Environmental Sciences, Centre for Ecosystem Science and Evolution & Ecology Research Centre, UNSW
- Costa Georgiadis - Presenter, Gardening Australia
PRODUCTION:
- Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer
- Belinda Smith, Presenter / Producer
- Petria Ladgrove, Executive Producer
- Sarah Prosser, Producer
- Studio Engineer, Carey Dell
This episode of What the Duck was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung people.
Find more episodes of the ABC podcast, What the Duck?! with the always curious Dr Ann Jones exploring the mysteries of nature on ABC Listen (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. You'll learn more about the weird and unusual aspects of our natural world in a quirky, fun way with easy to understand science.
Flowers are disgusting, filthy, badasses
Quackery and Catfishing. Fake news doesn’t only happen on the human internet. Welcome to nature’s dark web.We didn’t TRY to make a spooky and disturbing episode... we just wanted to talk about plants with DUCK …
Shownotes
Quackery and Catfishing. Fake news doesn’t only happen on the human internet. Welcome to nature’s dark web.
We didn’t TRY to make a spooky and disturbing episode... we just wanted to talk about plants with DUCK in the title. But oh boy, these flowers are savage! One of them has become internet famous for a detox that could literally kill you. Another catfishes its pollinators by pretending to be (and even feeling like) the ‘private’ parts of a female fly! Nature isn’t safe from this algorithm.
Featuring:
- Tim Entwisle – Author, The Sceptical Botanist. Former CEO of the Royal Botanic Gardens in Melbourne
- Katherine Isoardi - Associate Professor, University of Queensland. Senior Staff Specialist Emergency Physician and Clinical Toxicologist
- Julie Radford - Threatened Species expert
- Gareth Prosser – Professional Voice Over Artist whose wife roped him in
Production:
- Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer
- Sarah Prosser, Producer
- Mastering Engineer, Harvey O’Sullivan
This episode of What the Duck was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung people.
Find more episodes of the ABC podcast, What the Duck?! with the always curious Dr Ann Jones exploring the mysteries of nature on ABC Listen (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. You'll learn more about the weird and unusual aspects of our natural world in a quirky, fun way with easy to understand science.
Wombat scratches butt on recorder, snorts, gurgles and leaves.
WTF NATURE. I give up.||A Message from Dr Ann - the What the Duck?! host and general dork.||I don't really give up. The recording I took for the latest season of Nature Sounds by Ann Jones was a ripper (in …
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WTF NATURE. I give up.
||A Message from Dr Ann - the What the Duck?! host and general dork.||
I don't really give up. The recording I took for the latest season of Nature Sounds by Ann Jones was a ripper (in terms of wombat farts).
This bit got edited out of the longer soundscape over there, because, it was determined, that a wombat walking in and scratching its butt ON THE MICROPHONES in the middle of a meditation soundscape would harsh the high of the listener.
So. What the Duck?! subscribers.
Enjoy. A wombat scratching its butt on my very VERY expensive recorder.
RECORDING: Ann Jones
MASTERING ENGINEER: Isabella Tropiano
Dinosaur died. No flowers at funeral
In fact, most dinosaurs never got the chance to stop and smell a flower... and it was all because of bad timing. Sad face.The meteor that killed all the dinosaurs (rude) actually kicked off flower supremacy on …
Shownotes
In fact, most dinosaurs never got the chance to stop and smell a flower... and it was all because of bad timing. Sad face.
The meteor that killed all the dinosaurs (rude) actually kicked off flower supremacy on planet earth.
Flowering plants are only about 135 million years old, yet they’re the most bio-diverse plants on the planet. Without them, no birds, no bees. Again, sad face.
So where did flowers come from? And how did they end up being top bud?
FEATURING:
- Mario Vallejo-Marin - Professor in Evolutionary Ecology, Uppsala University, Sweden.
- Professor Michelle Waycott - Chief Botanist at the Adelaide Botanic Gardens State Herbarium / Professor in Systematic Biology, Adelaide University.
- Morris Lake - Author, Australian Rainforest Woods.
- Gareth Prosser - Professional Voice Over Artist whose wife roped him in.
PRODUCTION:
- Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer
- Sarah Prosser, Producer
- Mastering Engineer: Tegan Nicholls
This episode of What the Duck was produced on the land of the Wadawurrung people.
Find more episodes of the ABC podcast, What the Duck?! with the always curious Dr Ann Jones exploring the mysteries of nature on ABC Listen (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. You'll learn more about the weird and unusual aspects of our natural world in a quirky, fun way with easy to understand science.
Duck on a screaming rampage wrecks Australia's 'quiet time'
It was a perfect night. But this duck had other ideas.The scene: A perfect, wonderful, windless night at a wetland.You couldn't ask for better conditions. The sun sets and the insects hum and eventually you …
Shownotes
It was a perfect night. But this duck had other ideas.
The scene: A perfect, wonderful, windless night at a wetland.
You couldn't ask for better conditions. The sun sets and the insects hum and eventually you hear a boobook and it's lovely… except one very loud duck keeps on yelling periodically the whole way through.
It's like the thing KNEW I was recording. It goes on for hours.
Anyway, I've got a passion project at the ABC.
A podcast called Nature Sounds by Ann Jones.
It's all these looooong form sounds scapes. The idea is that you can use them to relax, or go to sleep, or drown out your colleagues or whatever.
You can find it on the ABC listen app or any other podcast app. I promise this screaming duck didn't make the cut.
RECORDING: Ann Jones
MASTERING ENGINEER: Isabella Tropiano
Its survival relies on idiotic male wasps bonking it
This flower takes needy to a whole new level! It was almost extinct. That was, until 2015, when a woman called Julie took it upon herself to make sure we didn’t lose the species altogether, and as it happened …
Shownotes
This flower takes needy to a whole new level!
It was almost extinct. That was, until 2015, when a woman called Julie took it upon herself to make sure we didn’t lose the species altogether, and as it happened (baby) Ann Jones went along with a microphone.
Now, it’s 10 years on, and Ann is older, greyer and more closely resembles a bearded orchid. But, given she hasn’t been made redundant yet, we can revisit the forest to ask – was all that effort worth it? Did the orchids survive?
Featuring:
- Julie Radford, Threatened species ecologist in Central Victoria
Production:
- Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer
- Sarah Prosser, Producer
- Mastering Engineer: Tegan Nicholls
This episode of What the Duck was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung people.
Find more episodes of the ABC podcast, What the Duck?! with the always curious Dr Ann Jones exploring the mysteries of nature on ABC Listen (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. You'll learn more about the weird and unusual aspects of our natural world in a quirky, fun way with easy to understand science.
Who's your Daddy?
You probably have a daddy-long-legs in your house right now.But when is having a weird housemate in the corner ACTUALLY a good thing? Dr Ann Jones investigates.Featuring:Dr Samantha Nixon, University of …
Shownotes
You probably have a daddy-long-legs in your house right now.
But when is having a weird housemate in the corner ACTUALLY a good thing? Dr Ann Jones investigates.
Featuring:
- Dr Samantha Nixon, University of California, San Francisco (UCSF).
- Dr Lizzy Lowe, Invertebrates Australia.
- Thanks also to Dr Bernhard Huber, Arachnid Curator at Museum Koenig for helping us get the facts right.
Production:
- Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer.
- Petria Ladgrove, Producer.
- Additional mastering: Hamish Camilleri.
This episode of What the Duck?! was originally broadcast in 2023 and was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and Kaurna people.
Find more episodes of the ABC podcast, What the Duck?! with the always curious Dr Ann Jones exploring the mysteries of nature on ABC Listen (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. You'll learn more about the weird and unusual aspects of our natural world in a quirky, fun way with easy to understand science.
Flies are probably better at picking up than you are
Flies have rhythm and choreography, could their moves make the next TikTok dance fad?Dune flies groove to their own beat in dance-circles and hoverflies use rhythmic movements in mating.Researchers found the …
Shownotes
Flies have rhythm and choreography, could their moves make the next TikTok dance fad?
Dune flies groove to their own beat in dance-circles and hoverflies use rhythmic movements in mating.
Researchers found the dancing dune fly’s repertoire has specific moves for impressing a female and others for rival dance battles. Pretty fly for a dune fly.
In Costa Rica the male red hoverfly rhythmically squeezes and strokes his mate during copulation.
They also have a pattern of coupling and uncoupling as many as 17 times during the act!
Featuring:
- Dr Keith Bayless, research scientist, National Research Collections Australia, CSIRO
- Professor William Eberhard, emeritus scientist, Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute; emeritus professor, Universidad de Costa Rica
Further reading:
- Genital behaviour in Menidon falcatus (Diptera, Syrphidae) and the possible significance of repeated, rhythmic movements
- Courtship choreography is stabilized among genetically isolated populations
Production:
- Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer
- Rebecca McLaren, Producer
- Tegan Nicholls, Sound Engineer
This episode of What the Duck?! was recorded on Ngunnawal Country and produced on the lands of the Wadawarrung and Taungurung people.
Find more episodes of the ABC podcast, What the Duck?! with the always curious Dr Ann Jones exploring the mysteries of nature on ABC Listen (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. You'll learn more about the weird and unusual aspects of our natural world in a quirky, fun way with easy to understand science.
Duck, marry, avoid, friendzone
Live from the World Science Festival Brisbane What the Duck?! is playing a game and you get to decide: duck, marry, avoid, or friendzone.You'll hear about the natural world's romance, reproduction, and …
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Live from the World Science Festival Brisbane What the Duck?! is playing a game and you get to decide: duck, marry, avoid, or friendzone.
You'll hear about the natural world's romance, reproduction, and relationships
Once you've listened you can email [email protected] to vote for how you would categorise snakes, birds, insects and mammals.
Featuring:
- Dr Chstina Zdanek, Australian Reptile Academy
- Dr Cesar Puechmarin, wildlife veterinarian and podcaster
- Dr Bryan Lessard, entomologist
- Jacinta Bowler, ABC Science journalist
Production:
- Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer
- Rebecca McLaren, Producer
- Hamish Camilleri, Sound Engineer
- Recorded by Steve Fieldhouse and Daniel Shapland
- With thanks to the World Science Festival Brisbane
This episode of What the Duck?! was recorded on the land of the Turrbal and Jagera people and produced on the lands of the Kulin Nation.
Find more episodes of the ABC podcast, What the Duck?! with the always curious Dr Ann Jones exploring the mysteries of nature on ABC Listen (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. You'll learn more about the weird and unusual aspects of our natural world in a quirky, fun way with easy to understand science.
What's with the electric eel's shocking attitude?
It seems absolutely bonkers that an animal can muster ELECTRICITY, especially enough to send out a zap like a taser.But that's exactly what electric eels can do, and the world record holder more than doubles …
Shownotes
It seems absolutely bonkers that an animal can muster ELECTRICITY, especially enough to send out a zap like a taser.
But that's exactly what electric eels can do, and the world record holder more than doubles the voltage of the Australian electricity supply.
More than that, electric eels inspired the design of Volta's first batteries, but (hold onto your socks so they don't get blown off) they're not the only ones who've got electricity pumping through their bodies.
Featuring:
- Professor Will Crampton, University of Central Florida.
- Professor Ken Catania, Vanderbilt University.
- Professor Kate Trinajstic, Curtin University.
Production:
- Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer.
- Petria Ladgrove, Producer.
- Additional mastering: Emrys Cronin
This episode of What the Duck?! was originally broadcast in 2024 and was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and Kaurna people.
Find more episodes of the ABC podcast, What the Duck?! with the always curious Dr Ann Jones exploring the mysteries of nature on ABC Listen (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. You'll learn more about the weird and unusual aspects of our natural world in a quirky, fun way with easy to understand science.
Gay animals: same-sex science
For around 700 years scientists observed same-sex pairings in as many as 1500 different species, but didn't record or publish their findings due to public perceptions.Now research is catching up and many papers …
Shownotes
For around 700 years scientists observed same-sex pairings in as many as 1500 different species, but didn't record or publish their findings due to public perceptions.
Now research is catching up and many papers on queer behaviour in nature have been published in the past two decades.
This discussion was recorded live at Mardi Gras 2026 and presented by the Royal Zoological Society of NSW for Wildlife at the Watering Hole.
Featuring :
- Daphne Willemsen, behavioural ecologist, PhD candidate at the University of NSW
- Lucien Alperstein, microbial ecologist, PhD candidate at the University of NSW
- Dr Caitlin Creak, behavioural ecologist and arachnologist, University of NSW
- Cody Williams, marine biologist, PhD candidate at the University of NSW
- With research by Neve Kelly, geneticist, PhD candidate at the University of NSW
Production:
- Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer
- Rebecca McLaren, Producer
- Hamish Camilleri, Sound Engineer
- Recording by Harvey O'Sullivan
This episode of What the Duck?! was recorded and produced on the lands of the Eora and Kulin Nations.
Find more episodes of the ABC podcast, What the Duck?! with the always curious Dr Ann Jones exploring the mysteries of nature on ABC Listen (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. You'll learn more about the weird and unusual aspects of our natural world in a quirky, fun way with easy to understand science.
Sex is Weird 7: Do we need sex?
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 …
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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 originally broadcast in 2024 and was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and the Kaurna people.
Find more episodes of the ABC podcast, What the Duck?! with the always curious Dr Ann Jones exploring the mysteries of nature on ABC Listen (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. You'll learn more about the weird and unusual aspects of our natural world in a quirky, fun way with easy to understand science.
Sex is Weird 6: Virgin birth
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 …
Shownotes
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 originally broadcast in 2024 and was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and the Kaurna people.
Find more episodes of the ABC podcast, What the Duck?! with the always curious Dr Ann Jones exploring the mysteries of nature on ABC Listen (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. You'll learn more about the weird and unusual aspects of our natural world in a quirky, fun way with easy to understand science.
Sex is Weird 5: Why does it feel good, anyway?
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 …
Shownotes
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 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 originally broadcast in 2024 and was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and the Kaurna people.
Find more episodes of the ABC podcast, What the Duck?! with the always curious Dr Ann Jones exploring the mysteries of nature on ABC Listen (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. You'll learn more about the weird and unusual aspects of our natural world in a quirky, fun way with easy to understand science.
Sex is Weird 4: How to be hot according to nature
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 …
Shownotes
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 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 originally broadcast in 2024 and was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and the Kaurna people.
Find more episodes of the ABC podcast, What the Duck?! with the always curious Dr Ann Jones exploring the mysteries of nature on ABC Listen (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. You'll learn more about the weird and unusual aspects of our natural world in a quirky, fun way with easy to understand science.
Sex is Weird 3: Sexy females fight back
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 …
Shownotes
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 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 originally broadcast in 2024 and was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and the Kaurna people.
Find more episodes of the ABC podcast, What the Duck?! with the always curious Dr Ann Jones exploring the mysteries of nature on ABC Listen (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. You'll learn more about the weird and unusual aspects of our natural world in a quirky, fun way with easy to understand science.
Sex is Weird 2: Why do penises exist?
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 …
Shownotes
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 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 originally broadcast in 2024 and was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and the Kaurna people.
Find more episodes of the ABC podcast, What the Duck?! with the always curious Dr Ann Jones exploring the mysteries of nature on ABC Listen (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. You'll learn more about the weird and unusual aspects of our natural world in a quirky, fun way with easy to understand science.
Sex is Weird 1: The world's first d*ck pic
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 …
Shownotes
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 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 and Russell Stapleton
- Thanks also to Will Ockenden, Belinda Smith, Corey Hague and Joel Werner.
This episode of What the Duck?! was originally broadcast in 2024 and was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and the Kaurna people.
Find more episodes of the ABC podcast, What the Duck?! with the always curious Dr Ann Jones exploring the mysteries of nature on ABC Listen (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. You'll learn more about the weird and unusual aspects of our natural world in a quirky, fun way with easy to understand science.
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