#085 Listening to the Language of Birds with Professor Paul McDonald

From a young age, birds captivated Paul McDonald. Growing up on the South Coast of New South Wales, he was surrounded by their presence, and that early fascination never faded. Studying at the University of Wollongong gave Paul his first serious opportunity in the field—carrying gear for avian physiologists. That simple task gradually evolved into a lifelong career.Their vocalisations intrigue Paul most. Australia’s birds are not just visually prominent; they are audibly unavoidable. Some produce melodic calls, many are raucous, but all are distinctive. Over the past two decades, recording technology has transformed dramatically. The bulky microphones and metal dishes of the past have been replaced by discreet, solar-powered recorders capable of capturing sound around the clock for an entire year.Acoustics remain central to Paul’s conservation work. Sound is used to track breeding raptors, monitor hunger through chick begging calls, and conduct playback experiments that test avian memory and recognition. Carefully designed and ethically reviewed, these experiments reveal how birds identify one another and remember past interactions. In some species, calls are innate; in others, such as the regent honeyeater, they are learned. This poses a challenge when young birds lack elders to teach them. Encouragingly, playback training has shown promise in restoring their distinctive songs.More Informationhttps://abel.une.edu.auhttps://abel.une.edu.au/bioacoustic-monitoring.htmlhttps://www.une.edu.au/about-une/faculty-of-science-agriculture-business-and-law/school-of-environmental-and-rural-science/study-areas/zoologyIf you enjoy this podcast, please like and subscribe to our show wherever you get your podcasts.Leave us a comment and share this show with your friends.It really helps us to reach more citizen scientists, like you.Contact the ShowWe are always looking for more guests to tell us about interesting citizen science projects, research and events.You can email us at: [email protected] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.