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