Winging it: Recent Episodes
UNC Charlotte Biology of Birds
UNC Charlotte’s Biology of Birds class brings you Winging It, an entertaining and educational podcast about birds.
In this podcast, the listener will first learn about the first ever type of feather, called a “protofeather,” that began in dinosaurs. They will then learn about a dinosaur that had feathers and wings, called Archaeopteryx. The last part of the podcast will teach the listener about modern day feathers and how they have evolved. […]
The origin of bird flight is a complicated story. Studies of ancient fossils have provided the scientific world with insight into primitive stages of this evolutionary process. This new knowledge has allowed scientists to create a variety of theories for the origins of flight, but which one explains the truth? Join Brian and Aidan as […]
This podcast will talk about similarities that modern birds have with ancient non-aviantheropods. It will also talk about the evolution of flight in birds. We will also look closely at onebird and use it as supporting evidence for the two theories of wing evolution.
As North Carolina becomes more urbanized birds have to adapt to these environments. An important species, the Red-Tailed Hawk, has been impacted by this urbanization. Luckily, they are better at adapting than other birds. Sunny Cooper from the Carolina Raptor Center helps us understand how these hawks are affected and what we can do to […]
This podcast discusses the vocal calls, mating and hunting skills of the Tawny Frogmouth, which is a bird very similar to an owl.
Ever look at a bat or and wonder how these creatures can look so different but both fly? Well in this episode of Winging it we do a deep dive on the differences in membrane and feathered wings to try and make sense of these evolutionary wonders. Join us in finding out if membrane or […]
All birds respond in many different–and sometimes–unique ways. Humans and other predators are typically evaded by birds through flight, but in very rare cases they can be poisoned. In a few living birds today such as the hooded pitohui and common quail, toxicity and poisonous traits can be seen and are an extreme example of […]
This podcast was focused mainly on the infusion of bird songs and their likeness into the arts that we appreciate today. It is set to highlight the nuances seen in poetry, music, stories, and social activism that provoke and answer critical questions about the evolution of birds as the worlds’ greatest singers and freedom symbols. […]
Birds have been found to imprint on other birds, humans, and even inanimate objects. There is a specific mechanism that birds go through in order for them to gain a sense of species identification and realize what they actually are. The intermediate and medial mesopallium (IMM) in the forebrain of birds is the site of […]
Listeners to Birds in Distress will learn about the consequences birds face by losing flock mates and how such loss influences the social and biological behavior of the remaining birds. The will understand how, fitness, as a result of losing flock mates, will be impacted which in turn affects birds ability to survive. Along with […]
Caroline and Courtney dive into a discussion focused on how urban birds in cities are adapting to the global pandemic. Urban birds rely on human interactions, such as food waste, as their primary food source. With more people staying at home and avoiding large crowds and busy sidewalks, how are these urban birds adapting?
Navigational superpowers! How can birds travel such long distances so accurately? What senses do they use to allow them to do this? Do they have a super sense? These questions and more will be answered on this episode of Winging it!
Like humans in a club, birds acquire mates in many different ways; from the song of a chickadee to the display of a peacock. This podcast episode dives deep into three vastly different examples of such, including the male dance of the twelve-wired bird of paradise, the male coalitions of wild turkey leks, and the […]
There are so many similarities seen between swifts and swallows that they were originally classified as the same family. But what makes them so similar? Convergent Evolution! These birds are shaped by their environment. Since they live in the same area and do the same things, eating the same food/insects, they are seen to be […]
Vultures are like zombies — they love eating rotting flesh! Unlike the dead, they are the living whose diet consists of pathogenic and dangerous microbes. How are vultures able to feed on the decayed, which are taboo to other organisms, yet fly away without dropping dead itself? Although vultures may look like death, step into […]
Some bird species are able to find their prey without using their main sensory systems like their olfactory or auditory senses but rather through vibrational analysis of movements under the ground. By interviewing experts in this field we will explore what this hidden skill is, the structures that enable them. We will also discover why […]
Migratory birds have the ability to fly thousands of miles, and then return to the same exact spot every year. Scientists’ most prevalent theory for how birds accomplish this is through special magnetic sensors in their eyes, but data from new study challenges this belief. Listen by clicking here to find out just how this […]
Our podcast is how our everyday sounds that may be normal noise or even just a little disruptive to us is extremely disruptive to the birds. This episode is all about what is happening to birds as the noise around them becomes more constant. The podcast highlights corticosterone as a major component of what is […]
Parrot Fever! Parrots are a super common household pet. However, did you know that there are various risks associated with owning one. Zoonotic diseases can be transmitted from birds to humans and pose possible health risks. Here we discuss the positives and negatives of pet birds and dive into Parrot Fever!
By listening to this podcast, the listener should be able to recognize two main differences. One of them being how some birds, like the owl in particular, are able to fly and virtually make no sound at all, including the physiological traits that make this possible. Another is how the club winged manakins can produce […]
The listeners will learn about cryptic speciation, and the method by which cryptic species are detected and taxonomically classified. The podcast cites two examples of cryptic species, the Bulbul from Borneo and the Raven, to better illustrate their topic. Lastly, the listeners will learn about the intricacies of classifying cryptic species.
In this podcast the main topic was how waterfowl feathers get damaged from things like waterlogging or oil spills. You will get a brief description of what waterfowls are and the types of feathers they have and how their waterproof properties work. Then you will learn how waterlogging and oil spill actually affects the feather’s. […]
You may be familiar with “The Big Five” in Africa: lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and rhino. What you may not know is that there are other smaller animals calling the shots behind the scene. Today we take a look at the red-billed oxpecker and its dynamic role in Southern African ecology. We’ll learn that, though […]
Bearded vultures are unique and provide vital ecosystem services. Due to habitat loss, they are changing their mating practices. This negative change affects the conservation efforts for increasing their population to keep the surrounding ecosystem healthy.
In this podcast, listeners will learn about ecosystem services birds provide. I go into depth about how they are great at helping us farm, keep pest away and pollinate our plants.
These days we’re so concerned about getting sick and argue about the ways that we can prevent it. This episode is to clear the air about at least one virus we are susceptible to. The bird flu, among other diseases that birds carry, is a dangerous disease, but thankfully if we remain cognizant of it, […]
Broiler chickens are used to make most of the chicken dishes in US. They are grown in poor condition with lack of welfare due to high demand. The chickens have shown multiple health related issues leading us to improve their growing conditions. The environmental enrichment plans with potential in better chicken health are discussed in […]
This episode explores the evolutionary relationships and links between ancient dinosaurs and modern day birds.
Birds have evolved to use songs as means of communication. These songs are developed in different steps as birds mature. These songs are used in many different socialization scenarios including matting, territorial defense and threat.
Going outside and hearing different bird songs have you ever stopped and wondered how these birds learn these songs? This episode talks about the basics of song learning for birds and the phases that are implemented to learn a song or call. Later in the podcast two birds are introduced to compare the similar song […]
Parrots, one of the world’s most beautiful and colorful group of diverse birds can also be your best friend. Their abilities to talk, sing and mimic noises they are exposed to makes them one of the best avian pets to have. What makes their mimicking abilities so good? Find out in this new episode of […]
Urban noise pollution has a big impact on songbirds by affecting their ways of communication and behaviors. When COVID-19 lockdown occurred, songbirds were found to be singing softer without having to increase their amplitude to overcome the noises from their environment. It is, therefore, important to think about conservation in terms of noise reduction since […]
This podcast is meant to dive into the nickname of bird brain and if it is accurate to its description. The listener will learn about some of the differences between the anatomy of the bird and mammalian brain.The listener will learn about the brain organization and the function of the bird brain such as the […]
This podcast will focus on teaching the listeners about two specific bowerbird species and how they make different structures to attract a mate. The satin bowerbird builds an archway bower and decorates using blue items. The Vogelkop bowerbird builds a tent like bower that is decorated with various colored items. This is both based on […]
Leave the nest? I don’t think so. In some bird species, offspring reach sexual maturity and decide that it is best to stay home and help raise the young of their parents. But what advantages does this cooperative behavior have? In this episode of Winging It we explore cooperative breeding and how a study done […]
This podcast is great for a listener to learn more about how cuckoo birds perform brood parasitism! This podcast also discusses other birds that brood parasitize as well as how brood parasitism affects other birds in the wild. In the podcast, we talk about how this form of parasitism occurs and the benefits and costs […]
Cuckoo birds preform brood parasitism which is when they lay their eggs in another bird’s nest which they mark as their host bird. In this case, the great reed warbler is the host, so the cuckoo watches over them and lays her eggs without the warbler noticing. The warbler takes care of the cuckoos bird […]
In this episode listeners will learn what code breaking and brood parasitism it. They will also learn what other things drive evolution and how they drive evolution. This will provide context to what code breaking is and why parasitism is important to study evolutionarily.
Nearly a century ago the United States was home to two parrots, the Carolina parakeet,and the Thick-billed parrot. Human causes and general disinterest drove these two toextinction. Despite this there is much that can be learned from these two birds.
During this podcast you will learn a couple of things. The first is how urbanization is affecting owls in general. The second thing you will learn is how urbanization has affected specifically the Barred Owl and how it has adapted to meet these changes. The last thing is things that can be done to help […]
Oil is something that is used for many different reasons in the world today. Very few know the lasting effects this fossil fuel has on birds and many other animals. This podcast will inform the listeners about the short- and long-term effects that oil has on birds. They will also learn about where it comes […]
The listener should learn three things: an example of how building lights at a local level can affect birds flight disruption, how/ why birds crash into buildings, and the beacon effect. We talked about the Nascar Hall of Fame museum as a great example of how large reflective windows and lights being emitted from it […]
Our listeners will receive information on how fires can impact bird species. You will hear a story of a little bird living in a forest who gets displaced by a spreading wildfire and the struggles he faced from being displaced such as flying a long distance to find a new place to call home and […]
In this podcast, we will be exploring the effects that urbanization has on birds. We will begin by looking into behavior changes, specifically those concerning bird song, migration, and interactions with humans. Then, we will look into phenotypic changes, with a focus on pollution, and these will include feather pigmentation and immune systems. Finally, we […]
It is fair to say that 2020 has been a difficult year, especially in terms of the endless hurricanes we have encountered. But these hurricanes have not only impacted humans, but birds as well. Join Ola and Aaron as they discuss how increased hurricane frequency impacts the Veery specifically and what changes they are forced […]
During this podcast the listener will learn the importance of vultures as ecosystems engineers, and what the world would look like if we didn’t have them cleaning up carrion. We focus on how promoting public awareness is a useful method of vulture conservation, and how organizations such as the Carolina Raptor Center have been using […]
Listeners will be introduced to the history of Raptor killings in Scotland for the profit of grouse moor owners. They will learn what grouse moors are and why the owners benefit from from killing raptors. They will learn what this has done to the population of raptors in Scotland and what is being done to […]
In this edition of the BIOL 4242’s “Winging It” podcast, we discuss the biology and conservation of raptors. We discuss steps that people can take in their everyday lives to help protect these important birds, and highlight some of the key issues impacting their ecological success in cities like Charlotte. We also interview Audrey Blackburn, […]
The listener will learn about how important birds are to our world. They will also learn about how important Red-Cockaded Woodpeckers are to the Southeastern USA. The listeners will learn about the importance of birds as keystone species.
Birdwatching is often viewed as a simple backyard hobby, but for many people it has become their livelihood. Tourist interactions, and a lack of education for guides in many areas have had detrimental impacts on native bird species. How does this happen, and why?
Bowerbird courtship is unique and elaborate. Both males and females give a lot of energy to find a successful match, whether this be for construction or selection. The combination of decorations and a bower arch allow for visual acuity of quality that allow for a partnership to have healthier offspring.
Global warming. Its effect on birds can be detrimental, including unprecedented changes in population size, migration patterns, and habitat destruction, resulting from the earth’s rising temperatures. These factors are not all that there is to worry about. Birds are key indicators in providing information on environmental health, and as species of birds begin to disappear, […]