blurbs

• The Hawaiian Honeyeaters (Mohoidae)

  Come and hear about the only entire bird family to go extinct in recent times...Footage of the last Kauaʻi ʻōʻō :https://youtu.be/x2KH5AoyeBc?si=rEONFaoyUNL6Cpsm References:Fleischer, R. C., Campana, M. G., & James, H. F. (2022). Hawaiian songbird radiations. Current Biology, 32(20), R1070-R1072.Fleischer, R. C., James, H. F., & Olson, S. L. (2008). Convergent evolution of Hawaiian and Australo-Pacific honeyeaters from distant songbird ancestors. Current Biology, 18(24), 1927-1931.Lovette, I. J. (2008). Convergent evolution: raising a family from the dead. Current Biology, 18(24), R1132-R1134.Pender, R. J., Morden, C. W., & Paull, R. E. (2014). Investigating the pollination syndrome of the Hawaiian lobeliad genus Clermontia (Campanulaceae) using floral nectar traits. American journal of botany, 101(1), 201-205.Schmitt, C. J., & Edwards, S. V. (2022). Passerine birds. Current Biology, 32(20), R1149-R1154.Zhao, M., Kimball, R. T., & Braun, E. L. (2025). The phylogenetic position of the extinct Hawaiian honeyeaters: Overcoming the limitations of antique DNA. bioRxiv, 2025-06.Support the show

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• The Saddleback (Tīeke)

  Saddle up for another episode of blurbs!Links to Jimmy’s workInstagram: @jimmy_birds Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@JimmyR_BirdsPodcast: https://www.youtube.com/@FeelGoodBirderReferences:Cash, W., & Briskie, J. V. (2012). Abnormally long bill in a South Island Saddleback (Philesturnus carunculatus). Notornis, 59, 88-89.Hooson, S., & Jamieson, I. G. (2003). Breeding biology of the South Island saddleback (Philesturnus carunculatus carunculatus, Callaeatidae). Notornis, 50(4), 191-200.Hooson, S., & Jamieson, I. G. (2003). The distribution and current status of New Zealand saddleback Philesturnus carunculatus. Bird conservation international, 13(2), 79-95.Jenkins, P. F., & Veitch, C. R. (1991). Sexual dimorphism and age determination in the North Island saddleback (Philesturnus carunculatus rufaster). New Zealand journal of zoology, 18(4), 445-450.Lloyd-Jones, D. (2014). Wattle function and territoriality in the South Island saddleback (Philesturnus carunculatus). Parker, K. A., Ludwig, K., King, T. M., Brunton, D. H., Scofield, R. P., & Jamieson, I. G. (2014). Differences in vocalisations, morphology and mtDNA support species status for New Zealand saddleback Philesturnus spp. New Zealand Journal of Zoology, 41(2), 79-94.Sutherland, K. (2021). Temporal changes in cultural diversity across a growing meta-population of North Island saddleback (tīeke; Philesturnus rufusater): effects of mixed versus single-source translocations: a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Masters of Science in Biology at Massey University, Auckland, New Zealand (Doctoral dissertation, Massey University).Taylor, S. S., & Jamieson, I. G. (2007). Determining sex of South Island saddlebacks (Philesturnus carunculatus carunculatus) using discriminant function analysis. Notornis, 54(2), 61.Support the show

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• The Ig Nobel Prize: Bird Research

  Thanks @theweenuthatch for the topic idea! (go give him a follow on instagram!)Become an "endemic blurb" on Patreon to suggest your own episode topic ideas  (through the support the show link!).References:Bubier, N. E., Paxton, C. G., Bowers, P., & Deeming, D. C. (1998). Courtship behaviour of ostriches (Struthio camelus) towards humans under farming conditions in Britain. British Poultry Science, 39(4), 477-481.Ghirlanda, S., Jansson, L., & Enquist, M. (2002). Chickens prefer beautiful humans. Human Nature, 13(3), 383-389.Grossi, B., Iriarte-Díaz, J., Larach, O., Canals, M., & Vásquez, R. A. (2014). Walking like dinosaurs: chickens with artificial tails provide clues about non-avian theropod locomotion. PloS one, 9(2), e88458. Meyer-Rochow, V. B., & Gal, J. (2003). Pressures produced when penguins pooh—calculations on avian defaecation. Polar Biology, 27(1), 56-58.Watanabe, S., Sakamoto, J., & Wakita, M. (1995). Pigeons’ discrimination of paintings by Monet and Picasso. Journal of the experimental analysis of behavior, 63(2), 165-174.Yuan, Z. M., Chen, M., Jia, L., Ji, C., & Incecik, A. (2021). Wave-riding and wave-passing by ducklings in formation swimming. Journal of Fluid Mechanics, 928, R2.Support the show

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• Ornithomycology (Birds & Fungi)

  This is an evolving area of research! Come and hear abit about the fascinating world of birds and fungi...Support Jen, a.k.a StagPath, (the inspiration for this episode)instagram: @stagpath                   Nature guidance work: stagpath.comNote - at 14:18, it sounds like I say "pop"rolites, but the correct word (and what I said) was coprolites!References:Boast, A. P., Weyrich, L. S., Wood, J. R., Metcalf, J. L., Knight, R., & Cooper, A. (2018). Coprolites reveal ecological interactions lost with the extinction of New Zealand birds. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 115(7), 1546-1551.Brunton-Martin, A., Wood, J., & Gaskett, A. C. (2024). Evidence for adaptation of colourful truffle-like fungi for birds in Aotearoa-New Zealand. Scientific Reports, 14(1), 18908.Elliott, T. F., Jusino, M. A., Trappe, J. M., Lepp, H., Ballard, G. A., Bruhl, J. J., & Vernes, K. (2019). A global review of the ecological significance of symbiotic associations between birds and fungi. Fungal Diversity, 98(1), 161-194.Wood, J. R., Dickie, I. A., Moeller, H. V., Peltzer, D. A., Bonner, K. I., Rattray, G., & Wilmshurst, J. M. (2015). Novel interactions between non‐native mammals and fungi facilitate establishment of invasive pines. Journal of Ecology, 103(1), 121-129.Support the show

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• The Eastern Spinebill

  Come and learn about my favourite Australian bird!Support the show: patreon.com/blurbs439Follow me on instagram: matt.rossellaReferences:Chan, K., Ford, H. A., & Ambrose, S. J. (1990). Ecophysiological adaptations of the Eastern Spinebill Acanthorhynchus tenuirostris to a high altitudinal winter environment. Emu-Austral Ornithology, 90(2), 119-122.Ford, H. A. (1991). Coping with an erratic nectar source—eastern spinebills Acanthorhynchus tenuirostris at New England National Park. Emu-Austral Ornithology, 91(1), 53-56.Ford, H. A., & Paton, D. C. (1982). Partitioning of nectar sources in an Australian honeyeater community. Australian Journal of Ecology, 7(2), 149-159.Ford, H. A., & Pursey, J. F. (1982). Status and feeding of the Eastern Spinebill Acanthorhynchus tenuirostris at New England National Park, north-eastern NSW. Emu-Austral Ornithology, 82(4), 203-211.Guppy, M., Guppy, S., Carlisle, N., & Fullagar, P. (2016). The Eastern Spinebill'Acanthorhynchus tenuirostris' as a nest-predator. Australian Field Ornithology, 33, 20-21.Johnson, K. A., McQuillan, P. B., & Kirkpatrick, J. B. (2010). Bird pollination of the climbing heath Prionotes cerinthoides (Ericaceae). International Journal of Plant Sciences, 171(2), 147-157.McFarland, D. C. (1983). Ritualized aggression in the Eastern Spinebill'Acanthorhynchus tenuirostris'. Sunbird: Journal of the Queensland Ornithological Society, The, 13(4), 78-81.McFarland, D., & Ford, H. (1987). Aspects of population biology of the Eastern spinebill Acanthorhynchus tenuirostris (Meliphagidae) in New England National Park, NSW. Corella, 11, 52-58.Pyke, G. H. (1981). Why hummingbirds hover and honeyeaters perch. Animal Behaviour, 29(3), 861-867.Sarker, S., Athukorala, A., Talukder, S., & Phalen, D. N. (2020). Phylogenetic analyses to uncover the evolutionary relationship of a newly sequenced mitochondrial genome from an Eastern spinebill (Acanthorhynchus tenuirostris). Mitochondrial DNA Part B, 5(3), 3234-3238.Scoble, J., & Clarke, M. F. (2006). Nectar availability and flower choice by eastern spinebills foraging on mountain correa. Animal Behaviour, 72(6), 1387-1394.Support the show

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