1 00:00:00,120 --> 00:00:02,840 Speaker 1: Guess what gave what's that mango? So I read this 2 00:00:02,960 --> 00:00:07,600 Speaker 1: great story in Scientific American. It's called Saving California Condors 3 00:00:07,640 --> 00:00:10,959 Speaker 1: with a chisel and hand puppets, So it has to 4 00:00:11,039 --> 00:00:12,920 Speaker 1: be one of the greatest titles I've read in a while. 5 00:00:13,039 --> 00:00:14,960 Speaker 1: But are you familiar with these birds? 6 00:00:16,400 --> 00:00:19,400 Speaker 2: I mean, I know they're huge birds, and I think 7 00:00:19,400 --> 00:00:20,880 Speaker 2: they're in danger too, aren't they. 8 00:00:20,960 --> 00:00:23,279 Speaker 1: Yeah, that's right, So they were close to extinction a 9 00:00:23,320 --> 00:00:25,720 Speaker 1: few decades ago. I think their count was down to 10 00:00:25,920 --> 00:00:28,960 Speaker 1: just over twenty birds in the early eighties, and that's 11 00:00:28,960 --> 00:00:32,199 Speaker 1: actually when the Oregon Zoo stepped in. So one of 12 00:00:32,240 --> 00:00:34,680 Speaker 1: the strange things about condor eggs is that sometimes the 13 00:00:34,760 --> 00:00:37,440 Speaker 1: chicks aren't actually strong enough to break out of the shells. 14 00:00:38,000 --> 00:00:41,040 Speaker 1: So the caretakers at the zoo like they stand by 15 00:00:41,240 --> 00:00:43,800 Speaker 1: ready with a chisel to help them break out. And 16 00:00:44,080 --> 00:00:46,360 Speaker 1: in fact, it worked so well that the zoo has 17 00:00:46,400 --> 00:00:48,880 Speaker 1: now raised more than seventy condor chicks. 18 00:00:49,320 --> 00:00:51,800 Speaker 3: That's awesome. But what do they do then? Do they 19 00:00:51,880 --> 00:00:52,840 Speaker 3: release them into the while? 20 00:00:53,479 --> 00:00:55,960 Speaker 1: Yeah, but if the chicks are raised in captivity without 21 00:00:55,960 --> 00:00:58,400 Speaker 1: their parents, the minders have to be really careful about 22 00:00:58,440 --> 00:01:00,680 Speaker 1: how they feed them, because you know, they don't want 23 00:01:00,680 --> 00:01:03,240 Speaker 1: these birds to be too trusting of humans, so they 24 00:01:03,240 --> 00:01:06,520 Speaker 1: have these hand puppets made to look like condors, and 25 00:01:06,640 --> 00:01:09,000 Speaker 1: that's what they used to feed the little hatchlings. But 26 00:01:10,200 --> 00:01:12,920 Speaker 1: reading that story made me think, you know, maybe it's 27 00:01:12,959 --> 00:01:14,600 Speaker 1: time to do an episode on some of the world's 28 00:01:14,680 --> 00:01:17,960 Speaker 1: largest birds and also all the secrets we definitely don't 29 00:01:18,000 --> 00:01:42,160 Speaker 1: know about them, So let's dive in. Hey, their podcast listeners, 30 00:01:42,160 --> 00:01:44,560 Speaker 1: welcome to Part Time Genius. I'm Mongish articular, and my 31 00:01:44,600 --> 00:01:48,600 Speaker 1: good pal Will Pearson's on vacation today. But I'm so 32 00:01:48,920 --> 00:01:51,320 Speaker 1: thrilled because I get to hang out with the wonderful 33 00:01:51,440 --> 00:01:54,040 Speaker 1: Gave Lucier, who's on the line with me. Hey, Gabe, 34 00:01:54,080 --> 00:01:54,680 Speaker 1: how's it going. 35 00:01:54,960 --> 00:01:56,720 Speaker 2: Hey, it's going well. Thanks for having me. 36 00:01:56,800 --> 00:01:58,480 Speaker 1: It's great to have you, Gabe. And on the other 37 00:01:58,520 --> 00:02:01,680 Speaker 1: side of the soundproof glass car into the biggest, fattest 38 00:02:01,800 --> 00:02:04,919 Speaker 1: turkey I've seen this side of Thanksgiving, that's our friend 39 00:02:04,960 --> 00:02:08,040 Speaker 1: and producer Tristan McNeil. And I've got to say, while 40 00:02:08,040 --> 00:02:11,079 Speaker 1: Tristan's on theme as usual, it does feel a little 41 00:02:11,120 --> 00:02:13,280 Speaker 1: weird to watch him chow down on a bird while 42 00:02:13,320 --> 00:02:17,560 Speaker 1: we're also talking about birds. Yeah, I mean, I. 43 00:02:17,600 --> 00:02:19,280 Speaker 2: Was hoping we'd get to see Tristan in like a 44 00:02:19,280 --> 00:02:22,320 Speaker 2: big bird costume today, or maybe find out that he's 45 00:02:22,360 --> 00:02:25,160 Speaker 2: secretly been taking falconry classes or something. 46 00:02:25,800 --> 00:02:27,720 Speaker 1: Well, we should put that in the suggestion box for 47 00:02:27,880 --> 00:02:31,399 Speaker 1: next time, I think. But today's episode is all about 48 00:02:31,440 --> 00:02:33,720 Speaker 1: the world's largest birds. 49 00:02:34,520 --> 00:02:35,240 Speaker 3: Yeah, that's right. 50 00:02:35,360 --> 00:02:38,720 Speaker 2: We scoured the skies to find the most oversized birds 51 00:02:38,720 --> 00:02:41,640 Speaker 2: out there, and now it's time to spill all their 52 00:02:41,720 --> 00:02:45,680 Speaker 2: juicy secrets, like how have large birds adapted for survival 53 00:02:45,840 --> 00:02:47,240 Speaker 2: and how they got so big in. 54 00:02:47,200 --> 00:02:47,960 Speaker 3: The first place. 55 00:02:48,080 --> 00:02:50,040 Speaker 2: But you know, a mango, I'm curious, where do you 56 00:02:50,120 --> 00:02:51,320 Speaker 2: want to start with this one? 57 00:02:51,800 --> 00:02:53,880 Speaker 1: So I thought I kicked things off with a nice, 58 00:02:53,919 --> 00:02:56,639 Speaker 1: feel good story about one of the world's largest birds, 59 00:02:56,760 --> 00:03:01,040 Speaker 1: which is the wandering albatross. And this species of albatross 60 00:03:01,120 --> 00:03:03,600 Speaker 1: is big by just about any measure. Their bodies are 61 00:03:03,639 --> 00:03:05,680 Speaker 1: about three and a half feet from bill to tail. 62 00:03:06,160 --> 00:03:09,760 Speaker 1: They weigh twenty some pounds on average. But without a doubt, 63 00:03:09,919 --> 00:03:12,639 Speaker 1: their biggest and most striking feature has to be their 64 00:03:12,919 --> 00:03:16,639 Speaker 1: enormous wingspan. Because you know, I'm sure you probably know this. 65 00:03:17,000 --> 00:03:20,480 Speaker 1: Wandering albatrosses have the largest wingspan of any living bird. 66 00:03:20,639 --> 00:03:23,680 Speaker 1: It's between eleven and twelve feet from tip to tip, 67 00:03:24,280 --> 00:03:26,920 Speaker 1: and with wings that big, you know, these birds are 68 00:03:26,960 --> 00:03:30,600 Speaker 1: obviously built for flight. They've actually been known to circumnavigate 69 00:03:30,600 --> 00:03:33,320 Speaker 1: the Southern Ocean up to three times in a single year, 70 00:03:33,840 --> 00:03:35,960 Speaker 1: and one bird in particular is known to have traveled 71 00:03:36,000 --> 00:03:38,720 Speaker 1: nearly four thousand miles in just twelve days. 72 00:03:38,680 --> 00:03:41,680 Speaker 2: Which is so impressive of course, but like, what's their 73 00:03:41,760 --> 00:03:44,680 Speaker 2: secret for covering that kind of distance? Because you have 74 00:03:44,760 --> 00:03:46,960 Speaker 2: to think that flapping a pair of twelve foot wings 75 00:03:47,040 --> 00:03:48,800 Speaker 2: must take an awful lot of energy. 76 00:03:49,080 --> 00:03:51,120 Speaker 1: Yeah, there's really no way in albatross could do that 77 00:03:51,160 --> 00:03:55,400 Speaker 1: by flapping like they'd be exhausted within an hour tops. Instead, 78 00:03:55,440 --> 00:03:59,200 Speaker 1: albatross has actually used this method called dynamics soaring, and 79 00:03:59,280 --> 00:04:02,960 Speaker 1: it allows them to glide across these incredible distances without 80 00:04:03,040 --> 00:04:05,920 Speaker 1: needing to flap their wings. And this works because the 81 00:04:05,960 --> 00:04:08,600 Speaker 1: birds have this special tendon in each of their shoulders 82 00:04:08,600 --> 00:04:11,360 Speaker 1: that helps lock their wings into place. It's kind of 83 00:04:11,680 --> 00:04:15,520 Speaker 1: a birdie cruise control, and once their wings are locked 84 00:04:15,520 --> 00:04:19,359 Speaker 1: into position, albatross is simply glide along, swooping as needed 85 00:04:19,360 --> 00:04:22,080 Speaker 1: to catch the wind and gradually rise back up. 86 00:04:22,880 --> 00:04:25,719 Speaker 2: That's really cool, but I mean, they never have to 87 00:04:25,800 --> 00:04:27,960 Speaker 2: stop and take a rest or anything. 88 00:04:28,400 --> 00:04:30,599 Speaker 1: No, not really, I mean it's hard to walk on 89 00:04:30,720 --> 00:04:34,000 Speaker 1: land with that twelve foot wingspan. So apart from mating season, 90 00:04:34,360 --> 00:04:36,800 Speaker 1: wandering albatrosses tend to stick to the air as much 91 00:04:36,800 --> 00:04:40,039 Speaker 1: as possible. And there is one exception though, if an 92 00:04:40,040 --> 00:04:43,080 Speaker 1: albatross goes crazy and just eats way too many fish, 93 00:04:43,320 --> 00:04:44,839 Speaker 1: they might need to take a break and float on 94 00:04:44,880 --> 00:04:46,800 Speaker 1: top of the water for a while, you know, until 95 00:04:46,800 --> 00:04:47,560 Speaker 1: they've digested. 96 00:04:48,760 --> 00:04:51,120 Speaker 2: Well that's pretty cute, but I think you said you 97 00:04:51,200 --> 00:04:54,279 Speaker 2: had a feel good story about albatrosses, Like, well, what 98 00:04:54,360 --> 00:04:55,360 Speaker 2: exactly does that mean? 99 00:04:56,360 --> 00:04:59,480 Speaker 1: Yeah, that's right, and it's actually about one albatross in particular. 100 00:05:00,120 --> 00:05:02,760 Speaker 1: Name is Wisdom, and as of this year, she's going 101 00:05:02,839 --> 00:05:06,160 Speaker 1: to be sixty seven years old, which makes her the 102 00:05:06,200 --> 00:05:09,839 Speaker 1: world's oldest known wild bird. She was born sometime in 103 00:05:09,920 --> 00:05:13,120 Speaker 1: nineteen fifty one, but this biologist started tracking her in 104 00:05:13,200 --> 00:05:16,400 Speaker 1: nineteen fifty six, and since then, Wisdom has managed to 105 00:05:16,480 --> 00:05:19,320 Speaker 1: rack up somewhere between two to three million miles in 106 00:05:19,400 --> 00:05:22,160 Speaker 1: flying time, which is the equivalent of about four to 107 00:05:22,240 --> 00:05:23,960 Speaker 1: six trips to the moon and back. 108 00:05:24,279 --> 00:05:28,280 Speaker 2: Gosh, that's incredible, or at least I think it's incredible. 109 00:05:28,520 --> 00:05:31,600 Speaker 2: I mean, I actually don't know how long albatross has 110 00:05:31,600 --> 00:05:32,880 Speaker 2: typically lived, do you. 111 00:05:33,279 --> 00:05:35,159 Speaker 1: Yeah, I mean it depends on the species, but they'll 112 00:05:35,200 --> 00:05:37,719 Speaker 1: live I guess four to fifty years if they're lucky. 113 00:05:37,960 --> 00:05:40,240 Speaker 1: Albatrosses are one of those rare species of birds and 114 00:05:40,720 --> 00:05:43,520 Speaker 1: wild animals in general. I guess that sometimes live long 115 00:05:43,640 --> 00:05:44,839 Speaker 1: enough to die of old age. 116 00:05:45,880 --> 00:05:47,599 Speaker 2: Well, I guess that's, you know, one of the perks 117 00:05:47,600 --> 00:05:50,840 Speaker 2: of that wandering lifestyle, right, because I mean, if you're 118 00:05:50,880 --> 00:05:54,200 Speaker 2: constantly on the move, flying over an ocean, you pretty 119 00:05:54,240 --> 00:05:57,120 Speaker 2: much have an unlimited food supply right there below you, 120 00:05:57,200 --> 00:05:59,479 Speaker 2: and most predators wouldn't be able to keep up with 121 00:05:59,480 --> 00:06:00,280 Speaker 2: you anyway. 122 00:06:00,400 --> 00:06:03,800 Speaker 1: Yeah, that's definitely true, and amazingly the biggest threats to 123 00:06:03,839 --> 00:06:07,880 Speaker 1: albatross's are natural disasters and also I guess the consumption 124 00:06:07,920 --> 00:06:10,400 Speaker 1: of plastic, both of which Wisdom has managed to avoid 125 00:06:10,480 --> 00:06:15,000 Speaker 1: for almost seven decades now. But perhaps the most interesting 126 00:06:15,040 --> 00:06:17,799 Speaker 1: thing to me was that she's birth and raised over 127 00:06:17,880 --> 00:06:21,080 Speaker 1: forty chicks over her long lifetime, and that includes her 128 00:06:21,080 --> 00:06:23,680 Speaker 1: most recent one, which was hatch just this spring. 129 00:06:24,160 --> 00:06:27,200 Speaker 2: I've always thought albatrosses were really cool, you know, partially 130 00:06:27,240 --> 00:06:29,599 Speaker 2: because of all the old sea myths around them, and 131 00:06:29,960 --> 00:06:33,840 Speaker 2: also that epic Collridge poem. But you know, nowadays they 132 00:06:33,880 --> 00:06:36,040 Speaker 2: mostly make the news, you know, and there's like YouTube 133 00:06:36,080 --> 00:06:38,120 Speaker 2: videos and stuff that just kind of make fun of 134 00:06:38,160 --> 00:06:40,679 Speaker 2: how silly they look when they're trying to walk on land, 135 00:06:40,760 --> 00:06:41,760 Speaker 2: which kind of a bummer. 136 00:06:42,600 --> 00:06:45,640 Speaker 1: I mean, even the name albatross, which is pretty awkward 137 00:06:45,640 --> 00:06:47,960 Speaker 1: in its own right, Like it was apparently just taken 138 00:06:47,960 --> 00:06:51,200 Speaker 1: from words used to describe other sea birds. So it 139 00:06:51,240 --> 00:06:54,919 Speaker 1: comes from algatas, which was I guess, this Arabic word 140 00:06:55,000 --> 00:06:58,440 Speaker 1: for a sea eagle, and then that was adapted into 141 00:06:58,480 --> 00:07:01,760 Speaker 1: a Spanish word alcatraz, which was the word for a pelican, 142 00:07:01,839 --> 00:07:04,640 Speaker 1: and then finally the word made into English I guess 143 00:07:04,640 --> 00:07:06,800 Speaker 1: this was in the seventeenth century, and that's when we 144 00:07:06,839 --> 00:07:08,120 Speaker 1: got the word albatross. 145 00:07:09,720 --> 00:07:10,040 Speaker 3: Well. 146 00:07:10,400 --> 00:07:13,600 Speaker 2: As poorly conceived as that name is, I think penguins 147 00:07:13,680 --> 00:07:16,560 Speaker 2: might have it even worse. And that's because way back 148 00:07:16,600 --> 00:07:21,600 Speaker 2: when sailors actually used to call them ourse feet. That's ridiculous, 149 00:07:22,280 --> 00:07:28,640 Speaker 2: I know, and I mean you can guess why it's ony, yeah, 150 00:07:28,680 --> 00:07:30,640 Speaker 2: I mean, it's on account of their short legs and 151 00:07:30,640 --> 00:07:33,800 Speaker 2: their feet being so close to their backsides. But you know, 152 00:07:33,880 --> 00:07:37,240 Speaker 2: thankfully the Welsh did come up with their own name penguin, 153 00:07:37,600 --> 00:07:39,760 Speaker 2: which literally translates as white head. 154 00:07:40,520 --> 00:07:42,640 Speaker 1: So I like, how both these names that are on 155 00:07:42,720 --> 00:07:46,200 Speaker 1: such random characteristics, Like, you know, if I was defining 156 00:07:46,200 --> 00:07:49,640 Speaker 1: a penguin, the fact that it's bum touches his feet 157 00:07:49,760 --> 00:07:52,560 Speaker 1: like that would be a defining characteristic, you know, or 158 00:07:53,200 --> 00:07:55,440 Speaker 1: that they have white heads, like do penguins even have 159 00:07:55,480 --> 00:07:58,920 Speaker 1: white heads? Well, I mean the white head name it 160 00:07:58,960 --> 00:08:02,680 Speaker 1: was actually another case of mistaken bird identity, you know, 161 00:08:02,800 --> 00:08:06,080 Speaker 1: just like with the albatross. The Welsh applied the name 162 00:08:06,160 --> 00:08:09,680 Speaker 1: penguin to their local great Auk population, and you know, 163 00:08:09,840 --> 00:08:12,640 Speaker 1: an awk being another kind of giant, black and white 164 00:08:12,680 --> 00:08:15,560 Speaker 1: sea bird. Sure, so the thinking is that some sailors 165 00:08:15,640 --> 00:08:19,280 Speaker 1: just mistook penguins for ox and the name just stuck. 166 00:08:20,120 --> 00:08:22,160 Speaker 1: I mean, I think we've got to make emotion to 167 00:08:22,440 --> 00:08:26,000 Speaker 1: stop letting sailors name things because they always get it wrong. 168 00:08:26,240 --> 00:08:29,520 Speaker 2: But I'm with you, But also this is kind of random. 169 00:08:29,520 --> 00:08:32,000 Speaker 2: But have you heard Benedict Cumberbatch try to say the 170 00:08:32,000 --> 00:08:36,360 Speaker 2: word penguins, Like, for whatever reason, he always winds up 171 00:08:36,360 --> 00:08:41,520 Speaker 2: calling them peng wings or penglings. It's just hilarious because 172 00:08:41,520 --> 00:08:44,880 Speaker 2: he winds up doing all this like penguin content, Like 173 00:08:44,920 --> 00:08:47,120 Speaker 2: he was in this cartoon penguin movie and he did 174 00:08:47,160 --> 00:08:51,800 Speaker 2: the narration for a BBC documentary about penguins, and the 175 00:08:51,840 --> 00:08:54,760 Speaker 2: whole time he's just butchering the name, Like I have 176 00:08:54,920 --> 00:08:57,600 Speaker 2: no idea how he lands these gigs or why no 177 00:08:57,640 --> 00:08:58,439 Speaker 2: one corrects it. 178 00:08:59,040 --> 00:09:01,520 Speaker 1: That's pretty hilarious. I had no idea, but I'm going 179 00:09:01,559 --> 00:09:03,600 Speaker 1: to YouTube it right after this episode. 180 00:09:04,080 --> 00:09:06,600 Speaker 2: Should but you know, since we're on the subject of 181 00:09:06,679 --> 00:09:09,679 Speaker 2: penguins or penguins if you prefer, we should really take 182 00:09:09,720 --> 00:09:12,360 Speaker 2: a few minutes to talk about the largest of their kind, 183 00:09:12,480 --> 00:09:16,120 Speaker 2: which of course are emperor penguins. And these big birds 184 00:09:16,160 --> 00:09:19,640 Speaker 2: stand around four feet tall, which makes them the largest 185 00:09:19,640 --> 00:09:22,560 Speaker 2: of the eighteen penguin species found on Earth. And you know, 186 00:09:22,640 --> 00:09:26,920 Speaker 2: also a far cry from the smallest penguin species, and 187 00:09:26,960 --> 00:09:30,600 Speaker 2: that's the little blue penguin, which is only about sixteen 188 00:09:30,720 --> 00:09:33,560 Speaker 2: inches tall, and that's when it's fully grown. 189 00:09:33,920 --> 00:09:36,600 Speaker 1: I love that blue penguins are so little, like like 190 00:09:36,720 --> 00:09:38,880 Speaker 1: they're almost like a pocket penguin. I just want to 191 00:09:38,920 --> 00:09:41,240 Speaker 1: pick one off, like stuff it into my pockets. But 192 00:09:42,040 --> 00:09:44,240 Speaker 1: let's talk more about these emperors, Like is it just 193 00:09:44,360 --> 00:09:46,719 Speaker 1: their size that sets the emperors apart, or are they 194 00:09:46,800 --> 00:09:49,120 Speaker 1: different from other penguins in other ways as well? 195 00:09:49,320 --> 00:09:52,600 Speaker 2: Yeah, well, one difference is that emperor penguins don't do 196 00:09:52,800 --> 00:09:56,120 Speaker 2: anything the easy way, like, for instance, other penguins in 197 00:09:56,120 --> 00:09:59,439 Speaker 2: the southern hemisphere, they make the sensible decision to lay 198 00:09:59,480 --> 00:10:02,280 Speaker 2: their eggs, you know, during the relatively warm summer months, 199 00:10:02,600 --> 00:10:06,080 Speaker 2: and that's the same time when Antarctic cruises make their rounds. 200 00:10:06,559 --> 00:10:11,080 Speaker 2: But emperor penguins they actually wait until winter arrives to 201 00:10:11,120 --> 00:10:13,840 Speaker 2: do their mating. And even then, emperors don't head for 202 00:10:13,880 --> 00:10:16,800 Speaker 2: the warmth of the coasts, you know, to lay their eggs. Instead, 203 00:10:16,840 --> 00:10:21,319 Speaker 2: they do the opposite and head south into the harshest weather. 204 00:10:23,240 --> 00:10:26,520 Speaker 1: That's not if I've learned anything from Marsha the penguins. 205 00:10:26,559 --> 00:10:29,280 Speaker 1: It's that emperors don't make things any easier on themselves 206 00:10:29,360 --> 00:10:33,000 Speaker 1: during their incubation periods. Like I know, most penguin species 207 00:10:33,040 --> 00:10:35,920 Speaker 1: will build nests out of like loose feathers or tiny 208 00:10:35,960 --> 00:10:38,720 Speaker 1: pebbles and keep their eggs there until they've hashed. But 209 00:10:39,360 --> 00:10:42,520 Speaker 1: emperor penguins have a different system, right, Like, they incubate 210 00:10:42,600 --> 00:10:45,160 Speaker 1: their one egg for the entire season, and they do 211 00:10:45,240 --> 00:10:48,160 Speaker 1: it by standing still and I think balancing it on 212 00:10:48,280 --> 00:10:49,120 Speaker 1: top of their feet. 213 00:10:49,720 --> 00:10:53,160 Speaker 2: Yeah, that's right, and this method, it really wouldn't work 214 00:10:53,200 --> 00:10:56,160 Speaker 2: at all if it weren't for some pretty impressive teamwork 215 00:10:56,200 --> 00:10:58,679 Speaker 2: on the part of their parents. Like because as soon 216 00:10:58,760 --> 00:11:01,680 Speaker 2: as the mother penguin lays her egg, she high tails 217 00:11:01,679 --> 00:11:04,320 Speaker 2: it towards the sea to feed and build up her 218 00:11:04,320 --> 00:11:07,200 Speaker 2: fat reserves. So for the next eight or nine weeks 219 00:11:07,200 --> 00:11:09,640 Speaker 2: after that, the task of incubation is left to the 220 00:11:09,640 --> 00:11:12,760 Speaker 2: emperor dads, who are able to keep their egg warm 221 00:11:12,840 --> 00:11:16,600 Speaker 2: thanks to this special loose fold of skin that contains 222 00:11:16,600 --> 00:11:20,400 Speaker 2: a high concentration of blood vessels and this featherless patch 223 00:11:20,400 --> 00:11:22,720 Speaker 2: of skin it kind of drapes over the egg at 224 00:11:22,760 --> 00:11:25,800 Speaker 2: all times to keep it from freezing. And that's while 225 00:11:25,840 --> 00:11:28,360 Speaker 2: the father stands still for months on end. 226 00:11:29,440 --> 00:11:32,960 Speaker 1: I've actually read that male emperor penguins typically burn through 227 00:11:33,000 --> 00:11:35,560 Speaker 1: nearly half their body weight while waiting for their mates 228 00:11:35,559 --> 00:11:37,960 Speaker 1: to return. So this is actually one of those rare 229 00:11:38,040 --> 00:11:40,840 Speaker 1: cases in the animal kingdom where the plumpest and pudgest 230 00:11:40,880 --> 00:11:45,480 Speaker 1: males are also the most desirable. I mean, there are 231 00:11:45,520 --> 00:11:48,120 Speaker 1: you know, easily the best equipped to survive those long 232 00:11:48,160 --> 00:11:51,679 Speaker 1: ones without a meal. Yeah that's true, but you know, 233 00:11:51,800 --> 00:11:55,000 Speaker 1: just so people know that we aren't body shaming penguins 234 00:11:55,080 --> 00:11:58,800 Speaker 1: or anything. I want to mention that emperor penguins male 235 00:11:58,920 --> 00:12:02,280 Speaker 1: and female, are actually quite athletic, or you know, at 236 00:12:02,360 --> 00:12:04,640 Speaker 1: least they are in the water. In fact, well, most 237 00:12:04,679 --> 00:12:07,080 Speaker 1: aquatic birds would be lucky to dive two hundred feet 238 00:12:07,160 --> 00:12:10,200 Speaker 1: or so underwater. The emperor penguin is capable of diving 239 00:12:10,280 --> 00:12:12,280 Speaker 1: a stunning fifteen hundred. 240 00:12:11,960 --> 00:12:13,120 Speaker 3: Feet or more. 241 00:12:13,720 --> 00:12:16,240 Speaker 2: And the amount of time they can stay under is 242 00:12:16,400 --> 00:12:19,240 Speaker 2: just as impressive. Like I read, the longest dive on 243 00:12:19,360 --> 00:12:22,520 Speaker 2: record for an emperor is just under twenty eight minutes, 244 00:12:23,120 --> 00:12:24,319 Speaker 2: so that actually is. 245 00:12:24,240 --> 00:12:26,000 Speaker 1: Stunying to me. Like the fact that they can go 246 00:12:26,160 --> 00:12:30,000 Speaker 1: fifteen hundred feet under the water, that's incredible. But what 247 00:12:30,240 --> 00:12:30,959 Speaker 1: is their secret? 248 00:12:32,120 --> 00:12:35,040 Speaker 2: Well, it comes down to this amazing trick of physiology. 249 00:12:35,120 --> 00:12:39,080 Speaker 2: So basically, they can metabolize oxygen at a slower rate 250 00:12:39,240 --> 00:12:42,079 Speaker 2: during a dive than they would otherwise, like when resting. 251 00:12:42,640 --> 00:12:45,920 Speaker 2: And this is how Live Science explains it. Quote, the 252 00:12:45,920 --> 00:12:49,839 Speaker 2: penguins can switch between two modes of oxygen use, either 253 00:12:49,960 --> 00:12:53,000 Speaker 2: starving their muscles or giving them an extra shot of 254 00:12:53,040 --> 00:12:56,560 Speaker 2: oxygen to help keep them working. And so emperors they 255 00:12:56,559 --> 00:12:58,959 Speaker 2: actually have one other trick up their sleeves as well, 256 00:12:59,160 --> 00:13:02,440 Speaker 2: which is that their brainans have evolved to tolerate extremely 257 00:13:02,520 --> 00:13:06,680 Speaker 2: low levels of oxygen without shutting down. So not only 258 00:13:06,720 --> 00:13:09,240 Speaker 2: can these birds control their flow of oxygen, they can 259 00:13:09,280 --> 00:13:12,160 Speaker 2: survive on a reduced flow for periods of time that 260 00:13:12,160 --> 00:13:15,240 Speaker 2: would result in brain damage or even death and just 261 00:13:15,320 --> 00:13:17,640 Speaker 2: about any other animal all. 262 00:13:17,600 --> 00:13:20,360 Speaker 1: Right, So clearly they're the Olympic divers of the animal kingdom, 263 00:13:20,640 --> 00:13:23,280 Speaker 1: even if their parenting habits are a little unusual. But 264 00:13:23,840 --> 00:13:26,720 Speaker 1: now that we've covered everyone's favorite flightless waterbirds, what do 265 00:13:26,720 --> 00:13:28,920 Speaker 1: you say we switch gears and talk about some of 266 00:13:29,000 --> 00:13:30,520 Speaker 1: their land loving cousins. 267 00:13:31,520 --> 00:13:32,439 Speaker 3: Plummed out for that. 268 00:13:32,559 --> 00:13:47,040 Speaker 4: But first, let's take a quick break. 269 00:13:49,559 --> 00:13:51,360 Speaker 1: You listen to part Time Genius and we're talking about 270 00:13:51,360 --> 00:13:53,960 Speaker 1: the secrets of the world's largest birds. Okay, Gabe, So 271 00:13:54,080 --> 00:13:58,040 Speaker 1: we've already covered the biggest fire a big swimmer, but 272 00:13:58,679 --> 00:14:02,200 Speaker 1: inch for inch and pound, the planet's tallest and heaviest 273 00:14:02,200 --> 00:14:05,200 Speaker 1: bird actually does neither of those things. And of course 274 00:14:05,200 --> 00:14:08,520 Speaker 1: we're talking about the ostridge here. Now. However awkward they 275 00:14:08,600 --> 00:14:12,199 Speaker 1: might look, ostriches are actually built for land speed. In fact, 276 00:14:12,240 --> 00:14:14,480 Speaker 1: they're capable of sprinting up to forty three miles per 277 00:14:14,520 --> 00:14:17,600 Speaker 1: hour in the short bursts, and that actually makes them 278 00:14:17,640 --> 00:14:21,440 Speaker 1: the fastest bipedal runners on the planet. But it's not 279 00:14:21,600 --> 00:14:24,920 Speaker 1: just their speed that's so impressive. Their endurance is absolutely 280 00:14:24,920 --> 00:14:27,760 Speaker 1: staggering as well. Ostriches are able to maintain speeds of 281 00:14:27,840 --> 00:14:30,840 Speaker 1: thirty one miles per hour for up to ten miles 282 00:14:30,840 --> 00:14:31,160 Speaker 1: at a. 283 00:14:31,120 --> 00:14:33,520 Speaker 2: Time, which is you know why you never want to 284 00:14:33,600 --> 00:14:35,840 Speaker 2: challenge an ostrich to a foot race, right we all 285 00:14:35,840 --> 00:14:39,560 Speaker 2: know that old saying. Yeah, but you know, I did 286 00:14:39,600 --> 00:14:42,680 Speaker 2: some reading on what makes ostriches such great runners, and 287 00:14:42,720 --> 00:14:45,040 Speaker 2: it turns out the key to their speed is actually 288 00:14:45,120 --> 00:14:45,760 Speaker 2: their toes. 289 00:14:46,400 --> 00:14:47,680 Speaker 1: Really, so why is that? 290 00:14:47,840 --> 00:14:50,720 Speaker 2: Well, so most birds have three or four toes on 291 00:14:50,760 --> 00:14:54,320 Speaker 2: each foot, but ostriches only have two. And while you 292 00:14:54,440 --> 00:14:57,280 Speaker 2: might think this would hinder the bird's balance in some way, 293 00:14:57,440 --> 00:15:01,040 Speaker 2: the reduced number of toes actually greatly improves the running form. 294 00:15:01,520 --> 00:15:03,880 Speaker 2: And as it turns out, two toed feet result in 295 00:15:04,080 --> 00:15:06,520 Speaker 2: less mass at the end of each leg, and that's 296 00:15:06,560 --> 00:15:09,560 Speaker 2: why ostriches can cover up to sixteen feet in a 297 00:15:09,640 --> 00:15:10,720 Speaker 2: single stride. 298 00:15:11,160 --> 00:15:14,640 Speaker 1: Sixteen feet in a single stride. That's crazy, But you know, 299 00:15:14,720 --> 00:15:17,240 Speaker 1: this whole two toe thing actually does make sense. I 300 00:15:17,520 --> 00:15:20,560 Speaker 1: read somewhere that hoofed animals once had more toes than 301 00:15:20,600 --> 00:15:23,360 Speaker 1: they do now, but gradually, over the course of millennia, 302 00:15:23,400 --> 00:15:27,040 Speaker 1: their toes dwindled down to just two per foot, and they, 303 00:15:27,320 --> 00:15:29,360 Speaker 1: I guess it, became some of the fastest runners in 304 00:15:29,400 --> 00:15:31,400 Speaker 1: the world as a result of that. But that's really 305 00:15:31,440 --> 00:15:33,680 Speaker 1: fascinating to me. Yeah, that is interesting. 306 00:15:33,880 --> 00:15:36,080 Speaker 2: And you know, another thing I didn't realize is that 307 00:15:36,120 --> 00:15:39,680 Speaker 2: people have been racing ostridges, you know, for sport, like 308 00:15:39,720 --> 00:15:41,880 Speaker 2: the way we race horses. And this has been going 309 00:15:41,880 --> 00:15:44,400 Speaker 2: on for over one hundred years at this point. And 310 00:15:44,560 --> 00:15:48,120 Speaker 2: weirder still, the practice got its start in Florida, and 311 00:15:48,360 --> 00:15:52,480 Speaker 2: that's where ostrich of course it did, right, of course, 312 00:15:52,840 --> 00:15:56,160 Speaker 2: and that's where ostrich racetracks first started popping up. And 313 00:15:56,200 --> 00:15:59,240 Speaker 2: this was in the late nineteenth century. Taurus would pay 314 00:15:59,280 --> 00:16:02,520 Speaker 2: fifty cents to mount these giant birds and attempt to 315 00:16:02,600 --> 00:16:05,560 Speaker 2: ride them. And you know, I say attempt because of course, 316 00:16:05,640 --> 00:16:08,720 Speaker 2: riding an ostrich is easier said than done, right, Like, 317 00:16:09,000 --> 00:16:11,560 Speaker 2: they don't take well to training, and it's next to 318 00:16:11,680 --> 00:16:14,400 Speaker 2: impossible to make them run in a straight line. Not 319 00:16:14,480 --> 00:16:16,480 Speaker 2: to mention how hard it is to hang on to 320 00:16:16,600 --> 00:16:19,200 Speaker 2: the back of something that's moving at forty miles per hour. 321 00:16:19,720 --> 00:16:21,960 Speaker 1: You know, there's actually a way around that problem now 322 00:16:22,000 --> 00:16:25,280 Speaker 1: that there's this annual event at the Meadowlands called the 323 00:16:25,360 --> 00:16:28,640 Speaker 1: Ostrich Derby, and I've never gone, but it just sounds 324 00:16:28,680 --> 00:16:31,440 Speaker 1: so great to me. So instead of riding the bird's bareback, 325 00:16:31,440 --> 00:16:33,800 Speaker 1: the jockeys are actually being pulled along in these brightly 326 00:16:33,840 --> 00:16:38,240 Speaker 1: colored chariots and the whole thing is completely ridiculous, but 327 00:16:38,640 --> 00:16:41,640 Speaker 1: it's got its own audience. Twenty eighteen was actually the 328 00:16:41,680 --> 00:16:44,080 Speaker 1: seventh year of the races have been held, and you 329 00:16:44,120 --> 00:16:45,400 Speaker 1: and I should really go to this. 330 00:16:46,160 --> 00:16:48,160 Speaker 3: Oh yeah, we gotta get tickets next year. 331 00:16:49,440 --> 00:16:51,400 Speaker 2: I do want to mention though, that if you ever 332 00:16:51,560 --> 00:16:54,440 Speaker 2: come face to face with a wild ostridge, running away 333 00:16:54,640 --> 00:16:56,320 Speaker 2: is not in your best interest. 334 00:16:56,560 --> 00:16:56,880 Speaker 1: Why not? 335 00:16:58,080 --> 00:16:59,960 Speaker 2: Well, I mean there's a good chance the ostrich will 336 00:17:00,120 --> 00:17:02,600 Speaker 2: give chase. And remember these things can top out at 337 00:17:02,680 --> 00:17:05,040 Speaker 2: like forty five miles per hour, so. 338 00:17:05,240 --> 00:17:09,680 Speaker 1: They will catch you right. And male ostriches can grow 339 00:17:09,720 --> 00:17:12,040 Speaker 1: to be I think nine feet tall and over three 340 00:17:12,119 --> 00:17:14,359 Speaker 1: hundred pounds, so you definitely don't want to be on 341 00:17:14,359 --> 00:17:17,920 Speaker 1: the receiving end of that. But ostriches are sometimes known 342 00:17:17,920 --> 00:17:20,720 Speaker 1: to attack humans if they feel their territory is being threatened. 343 00:17:21,080 --> 00:17:24,000 Speaker 1: But if running is out, like, what is your best 344 00:17:24,000 --> 00:17:26,240 Speaker 1: bet for surviving an angry ostrich attack? 345 00:17:27,200 --> 00:17:30,679 Speaker 2: Well, I looked into that because obviously ostrich attacks are 346 00:17:30,840 --> 00:17:34,280 Speaker 2: such a common threat that it's really just irresponsible to 347 00:17:34,320 --> 00:17:38,040 Speaker 2: not be prepared for one. And so this is the 348 00:17:38,040 --> 00:17:41,240 Speaker 2: advice I found in Discovery News. Instead of running away 349 00:17:41,359 --> 00:17:45,879 Speaker 2: in terror, they recommend quote hiding, playing dead until the 350 00:17:45,880 --> 00:17:50,560 Speaker 2: bird becomes bored and leaves, or standing your ground and 351 00:17:50,640 --> 00:17:53,280 Speaker 2: fighting the ostriche off with a long pole. 352 00:17:55,160 --> 00:17:57,280 Speaker 1: I like this idea of like fighting an ostrich off 353 00:17:57,280 --> 00:17:58,960 Speaker 1: in a long pull. It makes a lot of sense 354 00:17:59,000 --> 00:17:59,159 Speaker 1: to me. 355 00:18:00,080 --> 00:18:03,320 Speaker 2: Yeah, right, never go anywhere without your ostrich pole and 356 00:18:03,400 --> 00:18:04,440 Speaker 2: you'll be just fine. 357 00:18:05,160 --> 00:18:07,639 Speaker 1: That's good advice. But you know, before we move on 358 00:18:07,680 --> 00:18:09,720 Speaker 1: from ostriches, I do want to talk about a couple 359 00:18:09,800 --> 00:18:12,119 Speaker 1: other ways that these massive birds tip the scales. So, 360 00:18:12,640 --> 00:18:14,960 Speaker 1: for one thing, they have the largest eyes of any 361 00:18:15,040 --> 00:18:18,240 Speaker 1: land mammal on Earth. Each eye is roughly two inches across, 362 00:18:18,240 --> 00:18:20,640 Speaker 1: which means they're about as big as a billiard ball 363 00:18:20,920 --> 00:18:24,280 Speaker 1: and even larger than the bird's own brains. Ostriches also 364 00:18:24,320 --> 00:18:27,200 Speaker 1: have the largest eggs in the world, which I guess 365 00:18:27,200 --> 00:18:29,359 Speaker 1: an average one comes in at about six inches in 366 00:18:29,440 --> 00:18:32,879 Speaker 1: diameter and weighs more than three pounds, which is about 367 00:18:32,920 --> 00:18:35,000 Speaker 1: as much as two dozen chicken eggs. 368 00:18:35,440 --> 00:18:39,439 Speaker 2: Good lawyer, That is one big omelet. Also, though, like 369 00:18:39,560 --> 00:18:41,919 Speaker 2: people do eat them right like current Ostrich eggs a 370 00:18:41,920 --> 00:18:42,840 Speaker 2: delicacy in some. 371 00:18:42,760 --> 00:18:46,040 Speaker 1: Places, definitely, and a single egg provides quite a meal. 372 00:18:46,280 --> 00:18:49,960 Speaker 1: I think it's roughly two thousand calories, so basically a 373 00:18:50,119 --> 00:18:50,800 Speaker 1: day's worth. 374 00:18:52,080 --> 00:18:52,399 Speaker 3: Wow. 375 00:18:52,680 --> 00:18:55,560 Speaker 2: Well, I know there's at least one more giant bird 376 00:18:55,600 --> 00:18:57,800 Speaker 2: we wanted to cover today, But if you don't mind, 377 00:18:57,800 --> 00:19:01,360 Speaker 2: there are a couple misconceptions about oscar that have always 378 00:19:01,440 --> 00:19:03,480 Speaker 2: bugged me, So I'd like to take a couple of 379 00:19:03,520 --> 00:19:05,879 Speaker 2: minutes to set the record straight on those. And actually 380 00:19:05,880 --> 00:19:08,159 Speaker 2: I want to start with the idea that ostriches bury 381 00:19:08,200 --> 00:19:09,440 Speaker 2: their heads in the sand. 382 00:19:10,280 --> 00:19:13,080 Speaker 1: Sure, so I remember this from mental class, but I 383 00:19:13,320 --> 00:19:16,159 Speaker 1: remember thinking it was just an illusion, right, Like, ostrich 384 00:19:16,200 --> 00:19:18,240 Speaker 1: heads are pretty tiny compared to the rest of their bodies, 385 00:19:18,280 --> 00:19:20,719 Speaker 1: so if you're looking at them at a distance and 386 00:19:20,760 --> 00:19:23,280 Speaker 1: they're like nibbling at food, it just might look like 387 00:19:23,280 --> 00:19:24,439 Speaker 1: they're heads stuck in the ground. 388 00:19:25,280 --> 00:19:28,639 Speaker 2: Yeah, that's definitely true. But you know, actually, some researchers 389 00:19:28,680 --> 00:19:30,879 Speaker 2: think the real root of the myth has more to 390 00:19:30,920 --> 00:19:34,280 Speaker 2: do with the nesting habits of ostriches. So the birds 391 00:19:34,320 --> 00:19:37,040 Speaker 2: they have to dig some pretty big holes to stow 392 00:19:37,080 --> 00:19:40,040 Speaker 2: those massive eggs you mentioned, and sometimes these holes are 393 00:19:40,119 --> 00:19:43,200 Speaker 2: up to eight feet wide and two feet deep. And 394 00:19:43,359 --> 00:19:45,960 Speaker 2: you know, it's during the egg incubation period where all 395 00:19:45,960 --> 00:19:50,040 Speaker 2: the confusion comes in. Like ostrich parents take turns rotating 396 00:19:50,080 --> 00:19:53,560 Speaker 2: their eggs with their beaks, which you know obviously requires 397 00:19:53,600 --> 00:19:56,080 Speaker 2: them to stick their heads pretty far into the nest. 398 00:19:56,240 --> 00:19:58,919 Speaker 2: So you know, to an observer, it might look like 399 00:19:58,960 --> 00:20:01,640 Speaker 2: the ostriches bear its head in the sand, but that's 400 00:20:01,680 --> 00:20:03,080 Speaker 2: actually not what's going on at all. 401 00:20:03,600 --> 00:20:06,280 Speaker 1: That's really fascinating. I never heard that. But do you 402 00:20:06,320 --> 00:20:09,560 Speaker 1: have like another ostrich myth you wanted to share? Yeah? 403 00:20:09,640 --> 00:20:12,760 Speaker 2: Yeah, And this one it actually goes beyond just ostriches 404 00:20:12,840 --> 00:20:15,879 Speaker 2: because it concerns the origin of an entire family of 405 00:20:15,920 --> 00:20:20,159 Speaker 2: flightless birds known as ratites. So along with ostriches, the 406 00:20:20,240 --> 00:20:24,840 Speaker 2: radites family also includes other big birds like EMUs and rheas, 407 00:20:25,200 --> 00:20:29,679 Speaker 2: as well as tiny flightless birds like kiwis. And for 408 00:20:29,720 --> 00:20:33,240 Speaker 2: the longest time, researchers have assumed that ratites never had 409 00:20:33,240 --> 00:20:36,040 Speaker 2: the ability to fly at all. And that's because we 410 00:20:36,119 --> 00:20:39,480 Speaker 2: know that the wings of these birds are still functional 411 00:20:39,600 --> 00:20:44,040 Speaker 2: rather than ornamental. So an ostrich for example, uses its 412 00:20:44,080 --> 00:20:46,399 Speaker 2: wings like a rudder. Not only are they good for 413 00:20:46,600 --> 00:20:50,080 Speaker 2: maintaining balance, they also help the birds turn and break 414 00:20:50,119 --> 00:20:53,119 Speaker 2: when running at high speeds. So the thinking has been that, 415 00:20:53,200 --> 00:20:55,919 Speaker 2: you know, since their wings don't seem to be vestigial, 416 00:20:56,160 --> 00:20:59,479 Speaker 2: ratites probably always lack the ability to fly, and instead 417 00:20:59,480 --> 00:21:03,080 Speaker 2: they simply evolved from other ancient flightless birds. 418 00:21:03,800 --> 00:21:06,240 Speaker 1: Which is really interesting. But I think we're saying is 419 00:21:06,280 --> 00:21:09,360 Speaker 1: that theory is now being challenged. Is that right, right? 420 00:21:09,440 --> 00:21:10,160 Speaker 3: Yeah, that is right. 421 00:21:10,320 --> 00:21:14,000 Speaker 2: More recent research suggests that the ancestors of Ratite spread 422 00:21:14,000 --> 00:21:17,160 Speaker 2: to more isolated regions at a time when their wings 423 00:21:17,240 --> 00:21:20,640 Speaker 2: were still used for flying, and you know, they likely 424 00:21:20,680 --> 00:21:22,960 Speaker 2: did this as a way to avoid becoming the lunch 425 00:21:23,040 --> 00:21:26,719 Speaker 2: of their larger dinosaur cousins. And you know, then as 426 00:21:26,760 --> 00:21:29,640 Speaker 2: the dinosaurs died out and the continents began to separate, 427 00:21:30,000 --> 00:21:33,240 Speaker 2: these now isolated birds found themselves at the top of 428 00:21:33,240 --> 00:21:36,240 Speaker 2: the food chain and suddenly without the need to escape 429 00:21:36,240 --> 00:21:39,560 Speaker 2: to higher ground anymore. So once the need for flight 430 00:21:39,680 --> 00:21:42,520 Speaker 2: was removed, so too was the need to stay small. 431 00:21:42,600 --> 00:21:44,240 Speaker 2: And you know, in order to be able to fly, 432 00:21:44,480 --> 00:21:48,520 Speaker 2: and that enabled the birds to independently evolve and become 433 00:21:48,640 --> 00:21:51,159 Speaker 2: larger as well as flightless. 434 00:21:51,280 --> 00:21:53,119 Speaker 1: Which you know, makes a lot of sense, and it 435 00:21:53,119 --> 00:21:55,600 Speaker 1: also explains why far flung islands are home to so 436 00:21:55,640 --> 00:21:59,280 Speaker 1: many big flightless birds. Right Like New Zealand had this 437 00:21:59,520 --> 00:22:03,399 Speaker 1: twelve but tall, five hundred pound moa bird, and that 438 00:22:03,480 --> 00:22:06,760 Speaker 1: was until humans hunted it to extinction in the thirteenth century. 439 00:22:06,800 --> 00:22:10,159 Speaker 1: And Madagascar was also home to this elephant bird. I'd 440 00:22:10,240 --> 00:22:12,919 Speaker 1: never heard of this bird, but it's amazing. It was 441 00:22:12,960 --> 00:22:18,040 Speaker 1: an astonishing ten feet tall and nine hundred pounds. Yeah, 442 00:22:18,080 --> 00:22:20,719 Speaker 1: and I mean jackbirds can thrive in these island settings, 443 00:22:20,720 --> 00:22:23,400 Speaker 1: partially because there aren't any you know, predators for them 444 00:22:23,440 --> 00:22:26,359 Speaker 1: to worry about, aside from humans. 445 00:22:26,240 --> 00:22:26,920 Speaker 3: Right exactly. 446 00:22:27,000 --> 00:22:29,080 Speaker 2: Well, with all that in mind, what do you say 447 00:22:29,080 --> 00:22:31,120 Speaker 2: we talk a little about another member of the rat 448 00:22:31,080 --> 00:22:35,320 Speaker 2: tite family, one of the world's biggest and most misunderstood birds, 449 00:22:35,520 --> 00:22:37,359 Speaker 2: the island dwelling cassowary. 450 00:22:38,160 --> 00:22:40,320 Speaker 1: Sure, so this is actually what I've been waiting to 451 00:22:40,359 --> 00:22:42,840 Speaker 1: talk about. But before we do, let's take another quick. 452 00:22:42,680 --> 00:23:00,879 Speaker 2: Break, all right, Mango, So you said you were excited 453 00:23:00,920 --> 00:23:03,800 Speaker 2: to talk about cassawerries, just like I am, so would 454 00:23:03,840 --> 00:23:06,240 Speaker 2: you mind giving us a quick rundown of their stats, 455 00:23:06,320 --> 00:23:09,400 Speaker 2: because I somehow feel they're not as well known as 456 00:23:09,480 --> 00:23:11,840 Speaker 2: ostriches and penguins and. 457 00:23:11,680 --> 00:23:13,240 Speaker 3: All these other birds we've been talking about. 458 00:23:13,359 --> 00:23:17,159 Speaker 1: Yeah, that's definitely true. So cassowaries are large, flightless birds. 459 00:23:17,160 --> 00:23:20,679 Speaker 1: They've got black and blue feathers and these big protective 460 00:23:20,800 --> 00:23:23,920 Speaker 1: frills on the sides of their heads called casks. And 461 00:23:24,080 --> 00:23:25,960 Speaker 1: there are only three species in the world at this point. 462 00:23:26,000 --> 00:23:27,960 Speaker 1: Two live in the rainforest of New Guinea off the 463 00:23:27,960 --> 00:23:31,960 Speaker 1: coast of Australia, and the third and largest one lives 464 00:23:31,960 --> 00:23:34,440 Speaker 1: in the wet tropics. This is in the northern tip 465 00:23:34,480 --> 00:23:37,840 Speaker 1: of Australia. You know. Birds of this third species are 466 00:23:37,840 --> 00:23:41,520 Speaker 1: called southern cassowarys, and they typically weigh in around one 467 00:23:41,600 --> 00:23:44,520 Speaker 1: hundred and thirty pounds. They stand about six feet tall, 468 00:23:44,560 --> 00:23:49,000 Speaker 1: and they're also fiercely territorial. If you intrude on their habitats, 469 00:23:49,160 --> 00:23:52,200 Speaker 1: they'll happily slice you up with their terrifying five inch 470 00:23:52,280 --> 00:23:53,680 Speaker 1: long claws. Ough. 471 00:23:53,960 --> 00:23:57,200 Speaker 2: Yeah, cassowaries are famous for that kind of deadliness, and 472 00:23:57,720 --> 00:24:00,760 Speaker 2: with good reason, honestly, Like, I was reading this article 473 00:24:00,800 --> 00:24:04,560 Speaker 2: on smithsonian dot Com and the author Jacob Brogan. He 474 00:24:04,680 --> 00:24:09,200 Speaker 2: said that cassawaries resemble quote an ostriche as described by 475 00:24:09,440 --> 00:24:14,680 Speaker 2: HP Lovecraft, or maybe a turkey fused with a veloci raptor. 476 00:24:16,119 --> 00:24:18,840 Speaker 2: And I mean, if those descriptions don't sell you on 477 00:24:18,920 --> 00:24:22,400 Speaker 2: how dangerous these birds are, consider that they're also sometimes 478 00:24:22,520 --> 00:24:27,000 Speaker 2: nicknamed murder birds. What yeah, And I mean, not only 479 00:24:27,040 --> 00:24:30,280 Speaker 2: do they have those razor sharp clause you mentioned, they 480 00:24:30,280 --> 00:24:32,920 Speaker 2: also have one of the strongest kicks of any animal, 481 00:24:33,280 --> 00:24:36,359 Speaker 2: and they also have a tendency to charge their victims 482 00:24:36,400 --> 00:24:39,240 Speaker 2: at up to thirty miles per hour and then they 483 00:24:39,320 --> 00:24:41,800 Speaker 2: pounce on them by leaping up to five feet in 484 00:24:41,840 --> 00:24:42,320 Speaker 2: the air. 485 00:24:42,640 --> 00:24:45,679 Speaker 1: Ah. That's terrifying. And it also makes me wonder, like 486 00:24:45,920 --> 00:24:48,520 Speaker 1: what if they remade the movie Birds with murder birds 487 00:24:48,560 --> 00:24:51,639 Speaker 1: like that would be so much scarier. But you know, 488 00:24:51,840 --> 00:24:54,600 Speaker 1: you mentioned before the break that cassowaris are somewhat misunderstood, 489 00:24:54,640 --> 00:24:56,520 Speaker 1: and I was hoping you clarify that a little bit. 490 00:24:57,520 --> 00:25:00,840 Speaker 2: Yeah, well, it's just like with ostriches, you know, cassawaryes 491 00:25:01,000 --> 00:25:04,520 Speaker 2: aren't some kind of malicious human hunters like we might 492 00:25:04,560 --> 00:25:08,440 Speaker 2: think of them. They're actually shy, peaceful, and pretty harmless 493 00:25:08,480 --> 00:25:11,800 Speaker 2: when left to themselves. And in fact, a cassowary hasn't 494 00:25:11,880 --> 00:25:15,400 Speaker 2: killed a human since nineteen twenty six, and even then 495 00:25:15,440 --> 00:25:18,600 Speaker 2: that was only in self defense. And you know, while 496 00:25:18,680 --> 00:25:22,440 Speaker 2: over one hundred humans have been injured by cassawiris since then, 497 00:25:22,800 --> 00:25:26,440 Speaker 2: we've actually done way more damage to them, like car 498 00:25:26,520 --> 00:25:30,640 Speaker 2: accidents and habitat loss. Those kinds of things have decimated 499 00:25:30,680 --> 00:25:34,960 Speaker 2: the southern cassawary population in Australia and in fact, they're 500 00:25:35,000 --> 00:25:38,720 Speaker 2: now listed as endangered and only around fifteen hundred to 501 00:25:38,800 --> 00:25:41,159 Speaker 2: two thousand are thought to be left in the wild 502 00:25:41,280 --> 00:25:44,160 Speaker 2: at this point, and it really it could be even 503 00:25:44,240 --> 00:25:45,639 Speaker 2: fewer than that for all we know. 504 00:25:46,520 --> 00:25:48,159 Speaker 1: So one of the things I didn't get to that 505 00:25:48,240 --> 00:25:50,560 Speaker 1: was curious about the castowarrias is how did the locals 506 00:25:50,560 --> 00:25:54,119 Speaker 1: feel about them, Because on one hand, I think the 507 00:25:54,119 --> 00:25:57,639 Speaker 1: birds would figure into like culture and folklore, and on 508 00:25:57,640 --> 00:26:00,560 Speaker 1: the other hand, people probably don't want these giant dinosaur 509 00:26:00,600 --> 00:26:02,240 Speaker 1: birds just slicing up their neighbors. 510 00:26:02,280 --> 00:26:05,600 Speaker 2: Right, Yeah, that's a good point, and you know, I'd 511 00:26:05,600 --> 00:26:08,640 Speaker 2: say it's kind of a rocky relationship at the best. 512 00:26:08,760 --> 00:26:13,280 Speaker 2: But the cassowaries definitely have their supporters, like in fact, 513 00:26:13,400 --> 00:26:16,800 Speaker 2: you'll often see signs along the highways in Australia now 514 00:26:16,840 --> 00:26:23,639 Speaker 2: that encourage motorists to be CASSOWERI fun, right, and you 515 00:26:23,680 --> 00:26:25,320 Speaker 2: know that's just a you know, get people to keep 516 00:26:25,359 --> 00:26:27,719 Speaker 2: an eye out for the birds while they're driving. And 517 00:26:28,160 --> 00:26:31,520 Speaker 2: as for folklore, cassowaries have always been a big part 518 00:26:31,520 --> 00:26:35,879 Speaker 2: of the mythologies of Australia's rainforest tribes. For example, some 519 00:26:36,000 --> 00:26:39,960 Speaker 2: locals believe the cassawerys are cousins to human beings, while 520 00:26:40,000 --> 00:26:42,560 Speaker 2: others say that they are human beings who have been 521 00:26:42,560 --> 00:26:46,840 Speaker 2: reincarnated as birds. And actually, this last part there, it's 522 00:26:46,880 --> 00:26:49,960 Speaker 2: actually even inspired a bit of envy in some of 523 00:26:50,000 --> 00:26:53,159 Speaker 2: the female locals, Like they'll joke that they'd like to 524 00:26:53,240 --> 00:26:57,399 Speaker 2: reincarnate as female cassowaries since it's the males of that 525 00:26:57,480 --> 00:27:00,280 Speaker 2: species rather than the females who sit on all the 526 00:27:00,320 --> 00:27:03,680 Speaker 2: eggs and then raise the chicks that hatch from them. 527 00:27:04,200 --> 00:27:07,520 Speaker 1: Well, you know, even apart from the stress free reincarnation 528 00:27:07,600 --> 00:27:10,199 Speaker 1: for females, Australians do have another reason to stand up 529 00:27:10,240 --> 00:27:11,920 Speaker 1: for the cassawerret cousins. 530 00:27:11,920 --> 00:27:12,800 Speaker 3: Oh yeah, what's that. 531 00:27:13,320 --> 00:27:17,280 Speaker 1: Well, apparently cassowarys are masters of seed dispersal, which means 532 00:27:17,280 --> 00:27:19,600 Speaker 1: they're a big part of why Australia still has as 533 00:27:19,720 --> 00:27:22,720 Speaker 1: much rainforest as it does. And this is something I 534 00:27:22,760 --> 00:27:25,439 Speaker 1: learned from a NAT Geo article by Olivia Judson, so 535 00:27:25,640 --> 00:27:27,320 Speaker 1: I just want to go ahead and read her explanation 536 00:27:27,400 --> 00:27:31,879 Speaker 1: of this relationship quote as Australia's fruit eaters and chief 537 00:27:32,040 --> 00:27:35,320 Speaker 1: cassawerres are also chief architects of the forest. In the 538 00:27:35,359 --> 00:27:38,400 Speaker 1: course of a day, a single adult cassowery eats hundreds 539 00:27:38,400 --> 00:27:42,040 Speaker 1: of fruits and berries. Cassowary digestion is gentle, though, and 540 00:27:42,119 --> 00:27:45,080 Speaker 1: does not harm the seeds which emerge intact. And so 541 00:27:45,400 --> 00:27:49,200 Speaker 1: as a cassawery wanders through its territory, eating, drinking, bathing, 542 00:27:49,240 --> 00:27:51,639 Speaker 1: and defecating, it moves seeds from one part of the 543 00:27:51,640 --> 00:27:54,840 Speaker 1: forest to another, sometimes over distances of half a mile 544 00:27:54,960 --> 00:27:58,240 Speaker 1: or more. It also moves seeds uphills and across rivers. 545 00:27:58,600 --> 00:28:01,240 Speaker 1: In short, it transports the seeds in ways that gravity 546 00:28:01,280 --> 00:28:04,320 Speaker 1: alone cannot by means of their fruit scented droppings, then 547 00:28:04,560 --> 00:28:07,720 Speaker 1: cassawerris are a powerful vehicle for spreading seeds around. 548 00:28:08,840 --> 00:28:11,600 Speaker 2: That is pretty awesome, and you know now that you 549 00:28:11,680 --> 00:28:14,960 Speaker 2: mention it. That's something I read about large birds in general, 550 00:28:15,119 --> 00:28:18,800 Speaker 2: like how the growth or loss of rainforests is directly 551 00:28:18,880 --> 00:28:22,720 Speaker 2: tied to their presence. I mean, the tallest, hardiest trees, 552 00:28:22,920 --> 00:28:26,280 Speaker 2: those tend to come from bigger seeds, and without birds 553 00:28:26,320 --> 00:28:29,119 Speaker 2: big enough to carry or swallow them, the odds of 554 00:28:29,160 --> 00:28:33,239 Speaker 2: those seeds ever taking root is pretty slim. So in 555 00:28:33,280 --> 00:28:36,760 Speaker 2: a very real way, the future of our rainforest depends 556 00:28:36,800 --> 00:28:40,480 Speaker 2: on the existence of big, weirdo birds like the castlary. 557 00:28:40,800 --> 00:28:41,400 Speaker 1: I like that. 558 00:28:42,160 --> 00:28:44,280 Speaker 2: And you know, in fact, there was this one study 559 00:28:44,320 --> 00:28:47,040 Speaker 2: done on a particular tree that only grows in a 560 00:28:47,080 --> 00:28:50,600 Speaker 2: small region of Australia's coastal rainforests, and it went a 561 00:28:50,640 --> 00:28:54,120 Speaker 2: long way towards showing just how crucial castaways are for 562 00:28:54,200 --> 00:28:57,719 Speaker 2: the trees survival. And that's because, according to the report, 563 00:28:57,880 --> 00:29:01,440 Speaker 2: without passing through one of these giant bds, only four 564 00:29:01,520 --> 00:29:05,080 Speaker 2: percent of these tree seeds ever take root and grow. 565 00:29:05,840 --> 00:29:09,600 Speaker 2: But after passing through a casawary a lopping ninety two 566 00:29:09,760 --> 00:29:12,440 Speaker 2: percent were shown to grow into adult trees. 567 00:29:12,680 --> 00:29:15,200 Speaker 1: I mean, that's remarkable, Like ninety two percent of the 568 00:29:15,360 --> 00:29:17,840 Speaker 1: seeds that go through casseawarris end up growing into trees. 569 00:29:17,880 --> 00:29:19,960 Speaker 1: But why is that exactly? 570 00:29:21,000 --> 00:29:23,120 Speaker 3: That's the thing no one knows exactly. 571 00:29:23,240 --> 00:29:26,360 Speaker 2: It's it's still one of the best kept bird secrets 572 00:29:26,360 --> 00:29:29,880 Speaker 2: out there. And you know, because I like that idea 573 00:29:29,960 --> 00:29:32,320 Speaker 2: of going out, you know, with an air of mystery. 574 00:29:32,600 --> 00:29:34,560 Speaker 2: What do you say we just leave the discussion there 575 00:29:34,640 --> 00:29:35,880 Speaker 2: and jump straight into. 576 00:29:35,680 --> 00:29:36,280 Speaker 3: The fact off. 577 00:29:36,440 --> 00:29:36,920 Speaker 1: I'm for it. 578 00:29:37,040 --> 00:29:47,320 Speaker 2: Let's do it, Okay, So I'll go first, because I 579 00:29:47,360 --> 00:29:49,840 Speaker 2: can't bear going through an episode like this without at 580 00:29:49,920 --> 00:29:53,960 Speaker 2: least mentioning the fastest predator on the planet, the peregrine falcon, 581 00:29:55,120 --> 00:29:58,800 Speaker 2: And they have two unbelievable abilities. The first is their eyesight, 582 00:29:59,200 --> 00:30:01,800 Speaker 2: and I read somewhere that their vision it's about twelve 583 00:30:01,920 --> 00:30:05,000 Speaker 2: times that of humans, and they can actually use it 584 00:30:05,040 --> 00:30:08,240 Speaker 2: to spot a smaller bird from up to five miles away. 585 00:30:09,000 --> 00:30:11,400 Speaker 2: And once this prey is spotted, I mean it might 586 00:30:11,440 --> 00:30:14,320 Speaker 2: as well call it quits. Because peregrine falcons can fly 587 00:30:14,480 --> 00:30:17,480 Speaker 2: over one hundred and eighty miles per hour when they 588 00:30:17,560 --> 00:30:18,360 Speaker 2: hit peak speed. 589 00:30:18,760 --> 00:30:19,840 Speaker 1: Yeh, that's terrifying. 590 00:30:19,880 --> 00:30:20,040 Speaker 4: You know. 591 00:30:20,280 --> 00:30:24,360 Speaker 1: I was at the beach and walking with like a 592 00:30:24,440 --> 00:30:28,040 Speaker 1: tray of food and fries on it for my kids, 593 00:30:28,160 --> 00:30:31,520 Speaker 1: and this seagull just swooped down and picked up one 594 00:30:31,560 --> 00:30:34,920 Speaker 1: fry off the plate, and I just remember being stunned 595 00:30:34,960 --> 00:30:36,960 Speaker 1: at like how fast it was, and how accurate, and 596 00:30:37,000 --> 00:30:38,920 Speaker 1: the fact that like a falcon can do that at 597 00:30:38,920 --> 00:30:41,600 Speaker 1: one hundred and eighty miles per hour is so scary 598 00:30:41,600 --> 00:30:46,280 Speaker 1: to me. But you know, we talked about penguins earlier, 599 00:30:46,280 --> 00:30:47,880 Speaker 1: but I wanted to note that while we think of 600 00:30:47,880 --> 00:30:50,560 Speaker 1: penguins mainly being at the South Pole, there are definitely 601 00:30:50,600 --> 00:30:53,400 Speaker 1: a few other spots where you can find them. In fact, 602 00:30:53,440 --> 00:30:56,080 Speaker 1: the majority of the world's eighteen penguin species also live 603 00:30:56,120 --> 00:30:58,680 Speaker 1: around New Zealand. But the reason I bring this up 604 00:30:58,760 --> 00:31:01,040 Speaker 1: is because a few years ago there was this fossil 605 00:31:01,120 --> 00:31:03,640 Speaker 1: that was discovered on what might be the largest penguin 606 00:31:03,680 --> 00:31:07,400 Speaker 1: species to ever live. It was probably over fifty million 607 00:31:07,480 --> 00:31:10,960 Speaker 1: years ago, but the penguin was six feet tall and 608 00:31:11,040 --> 00:31:14,480 Speaker 1: two hundred twenty pounds, So even the Emperor penguin, which 609 00:31:14,520 --> 00:31:17,040 Speaker 1: is gigantic, would seem tiny next to this thing. 610 00:31:18,040 --> 00:31:19,560 Speaker 3: That's scary to even think about. 611 00:31:20,520 --> 00:31:23,720 Speaker 2: If if you search online for the bird hat craze 612 00:31:23,760 --> 00:31:26,600 Speaker 2: of the late eighteen hundreds, or if you listen to 613 00:31:26,600 --> 00:31:30,160 Speaker 2: the podcast Dressed, you will realize that this was a 614 00:31:30,240 --> 00:31:31,440 Speaker 2: really serious fad. 615 00:31:31,520 --> 00:31:33,080 Speaker 3: At some point these bird hats. 616 00:31:33,440 --> 00:31:36,080 Speaker 2: Women all over the US and Europe were wearing these 617 00:31:36,120 --> 00:31:39,560 Speaker 2: hats with feathers and even entire birds propped on top. 618 00:31:40,040 --> 00:31:42,560 Speaker 2: Like I was reading an article from Popular Science that 619 00:31:42,640 --> 00:31:46,800 Speaker 2: talked about how someone reported back after taking two strolls 620 00:31:46,920 --> 00:31:51,440 Speaker 2: through Manhattan in eighteen eighty six, and on this stroll 621 00:31:51,520 --> 00:31:55,640 Speaker 2: they counted seven hundred hats, and five hundred and twenty 622 00:31:55,680 --> 00:32:00,000 Speaker 2: five of them were topped by feathers or just entire birds. 623 00:32:00,680 --> 00:32:03,680 Speaker 2: So I mean the craze it actually got so big 624 00:32:03,760 --> 00:32:07,600 Speaker 2: that several bird species became at risk of or even 625 00:32:07,640 --> 00:32:11,800 Speaker 2: outright endangered, and a campaign to stop the practice launched, 626 00:32:11,800 --> 00:32:13,760 Speaker 2: and much of this work led to the birth of 627 00:32:13,800 --> 00:32:17,560 Speaker 2: the earliest autobonn societies, as well as the first federal 628 00:32:17,600 --> 00:32:22,160 Speaker 2: conservation legislation, which was the Lacy Act of nineteen hundred. 629 00:32:23,200 --> 00:32:25,560 Speaker 1: So do you know that one of the ways researchers 630 00:32:25,600 --> 00:32:27,920 Speaker 1: can take a census of large birds on remote islands 631 00:32:27,920 --> 00:32:30,680 Speaker 1: is from space, And this is how a researcher is 632 00:32:30,680 --> 00:32:33,520 Speaker 1: studying albatross in New Zealand and on islands off the 633 00:32:33,560 --> 00:32:36,760 Speaker 1: coast of Argentina actually keep a better count of the birds. 634 00:32:37,200 --> 00:32:39,760 Speaker 1: So it's with a little help from cameras on satellites 635 00:32:39,920 --> 00:32:43,000 Speaker 1: orbiting the Earth, researchers can actually look at images and 636 00:32:43,080 --> 00:32:46,840 Speaker 1: count the pixelated white dots to see how many albatrosses 637 00:32:46,880 --> 00:32:50,280 Speaker 1: are there, and ends up being way cheaper and much 638 00:32:50,400 --> 00:32:52,800 Speaker 1: less labor intensive than having to travel and count them 639 00:32:52,840 --> 00:32:53,440 Speaker 1: all in person. 640 00:32:53,960 --> 00:32:54,560 Speaker 3: Oh I bet. 641 00:32:55,160 --> 00:32:57,479 Speaker 2: Well, you know, they might be able to count birds 642 00:32:57,520 --> 00:32:59,920 Speaker 2: from space, but one thing they won't be able to 643 00:32:59,920 --> 00:33:02,280 Speaker 2: do is take birds into space. 644 00:33:02,360 --> 00:33:04,920 Speaker 1: Why is that, Well, it's because. 645 00:33:04,640 --> 00:33:06,840 Speaker 3: Birds need gravity to swallow. 646 00:33:07,000 --> 00:33:10,040 Speaker 2: So unless we come up with another way to assist 647 00:33:10,080 --> 00:33:13,760 Speaker 2: birds in swallowing, chances are you know, NASA's not going 648 00:33:13,840 --> 00:33:16,640 Speaker 2: to be bringing any birds on future Shuttle launches, at 649 00:33:16,720 --> 00:33:17,720 Speaker 2: least not anytime soon. 650 00:33:18,720 --> 00:33:20,800 Speaker 1: Well, it just seemed wrong to me to do an 651 00:33:20,840 --> 00:33:23,680 Speaker 1: episode on Big Birds and not at least mentioned Big 652 00:33:23,720 --> 00:33:27,240 Speaker 1: Bird himself. So, you know, Carol Spinney, who is the 653 00:33:27,320 --> 00:33:30,000 Speaker 1: voice of Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch. It turns 654 00:33:30,040 --> 00:33:32,680 Speaker 1: out that if it wasn't for the encouragement of a mentor, 655 00:33:33,080 --> 00:33:34,880 Speaker 1: he might not have made it past the first year 656 00:33:34,880 --> 00:33:37,200 Speaker 1: of the show. When Spinney moved to New York City, 657 00:33:37,240 --> 00:33:39,600 Speaker 1: he didn't have much money. New York City is obviously 658 00:33:39,800 --> 00:33:42,160 Speaker 1: very expensive, and he didn't feel like he was fitting 659 00:33:42,160 --> 00:33:44,320 Speaker 1: in with the rest of the cast. So just a 660 00:33:44,320 --> 00:33:47,440 Speaker 1: few months into the gig. He mentioned this to Kermit Love, 661 00:33:47,480 --> 00:33:50,640 Speaker 1: who's the man who built Big Bird, and you know, 662 00:33:50,680 --> 00:33:53,560 Speaker 1: he said I might be quitting, and Kermit encouraged him 663 00:33:53,600 --> 00:33:55,560 Speaker 1: to give it some time, and in fact, he told him, 664 00:33:55,840 --> 00:33:58,560 Speaker 1: you'll never get an opportunity like this again. It'll get 665 00:33:58,640 --> 00:34:02,840 Speaker 1: better given another momth and nearly five decades later, I'm 666 00:34:02,880 --> 00:34:04,959 Speaker 1: pretty sure he's glad he got that advice. 667 00:34:05,680 --> 00:34:08,560 Speaker 2: Yeah, I would say so, and I mean, because there's 668 00:34:08,640 --> 00:34:11,200 Speaker 2: just no way I could beat a Big Bird. Fact, 669 00:34:12,160 --> 00:34:14,400 Speaker 2: I think you'll have to take the trophy for today. 670 00:34:15,040 --> 00:34:17,520 Speaker 1: Well, I'll take that honor from you, Gabe. So thank 671 00:34:17,560 --> 00:34:19,520 Speaker 1: you so much, and for all you out there. If 672 00:34:19,520 --> 00:34:22,200 Speaker 1: we missed any Bird facts, be sure to email us 673 00:34:22,200 --> 00:34:24,799 Speaker 1: at part Time Genius at HowStuffWorks dot com, where hit 674 00:34:24,840 --> 00:34:27,399 Speaker 1: us up on Facebook or Twitter. Thank you so much 675 00:34:27,440 --> 00:34:39,080 Speaker 1: for listening. 676 00:34:42,480 --> 00:34:43,520 Speaker 3: Thanks again for listening. 677 00:34:43,640 --> 00:34:45,799 Speaker 5: Part Time Genius is a production of How Stuff Works 678 00:34:45,840 --> 00:34:48,400 Speaker 5: and wouldn't be possible without several brilliant people who do 679 00:34:48,440 --> 00:34:51,000 Speaker 5: the important things we couldn't even begin to understand. 680 00:34:51,280 --> 00:34:52,879 Speaker 1: Christa McNeil does the editing thing. 681 00:34:53,120 --> 00:34:55,080 Speaker 5: Noel Brown made the theme song and does the mixy 682 00:34:55,120 --> 00:34:55,920 Speaker 5: mixy sound thing. 683 00:34:56,440 --> 00:34:58,560 Speaker 1: Jerry Roland does the exact producer thing. 684 00:34:58,760 --> 00:35:01,160 Speaker 5: Gabe Bluesier is our lead researcher, with support from the 685 00:35:01,200 --> 00:35:04,560 Speaker 5: Research Army including Austin Thompson, Nolan Brown and Lucas Adams 686 00:35:04,640 --> 00:35:04,960 Speaker 5: and Eves. 687 00:35:05,000 --> 00:35:07,440 Speaker 1: Jeffcote gets the show to your ears. Good job, Eves. 688 00:35:07,560 --> 00:35:09,440 Speaker 5: If you like what you heard, we hope you'll subscribe, 689 00:35:09,480 --> 00:35:11,359 Speaker 5: And if you really really like what you've heard, maybe 690 00:35:11,360 --> 00:35:12,879 Speaker 5: you could leave a good review for us. 691 00:35:13,040 --> 00:35:14,360 Speaker 1: Do we forget Jason? 692 00:35:14,560 --> 00:35:15,120 Speaker 3: Jason who