blurbs – Details, episodes & analysis

Podcast details

Technical and general information from the podcast's RSS feed.

blurbs

Matt Ross

Science

Education

Science

Frequency: 1 episode/23d. Total Eps: 44

Hi, I'm Matt, a bird enthusiast from New Zealand! So, not surprisingly, this is a podcast about birds! I want to learn all of the interesting things about our avian friends, and to share that journey with you.

Follow me/message me on Instagram: matt.rossella

Support the podcast on Patreon: patreon.com/blurbs439

Read moreCollapse

Site

RSS

Apple

Data updated on 04/07/2026

Recent rankings

Latest chart positions across Apple Podcasts and Spotify rankings.

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

No recent rankings available

Shared links between episodes and podcasts

Links found in episode descriptions and other podcasts that share them.

See all

https://www.patreon.com/c/blurbs439
37 shares
http://patreon.com/blurbs439
7 shares
https://www.patreon.com/blurbs439
4 shares

RSS feed quality and score

Technical evaluation of the podcast's RSS feed quality and structure.

See all

RSS feed quality

To improve

Score global : 48%

Publication history

Monthly episode publishing history over the past years.

Year

Latest published episodes

Recent episodes with titles, durations, and descriptions.

See all

The Hawaiian Honeyeaters (Mohoidae)

Episode 32

Sunday, October 26, 2025 • Duration 19:05

Come and hear about the only entire bird family to go extinct in recent times...

Footage of the last Kauaʻi ʻōʻō :

https://youtu.be/x2KH5AoyeBc?si=rEONFaoyUNL6Cpsm

References:

Fleischer, R. C., Campana, M. G., & James, H. F. (2022). Hawaiian songbird radiations. Current Biology, 32(20), R1070-R1072.

Fleischer, R. C., James, H. F., & Olson, S. L. (2008). Convergent evolution of Hawaiian and Australo-Pacific honeyeaters from distant songbird ancestors. Current Biology, 18(24), 1927-1931.

Lovette, I. J. (2008). Convergent evolution: raising a family from the dead. Current Biology, 18(24), R1132-R1134.

Pender, R. J., Morden, C. W., & Paull, R. E. (2014). Investigating the pollination syndrome of the Hawaiian lobeliad genus Clermontia (Campanulaceae) using floral nectar traits. American journal of botany, 101(1), 201-205.

Schmitt, C. J., & Edwards, S. V. (2022). Passerine birds. Current Biology, 32(20), R1149-R1154.

Zhao, M., Kimball, R. T., & Braun, E. L. (2025). The phylogenetic position of the extinct Hawaiian honeyeaters: Overcoming the limitations of antique DNA. bioRxiv, 2025-06.

Support the show

Read moreCollapse

The Saddleback (Tīeke)

Episode 31

Sunday, September 28, 2025 • Duration 20:00

Saddle up for another episode of blurbs!

Links to Jimmy’s work

Instagram: @jimmy_birds

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@JimmyR_Birds

Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@FeelGoodBirder

References:

Cash, W., & Briskie, J. V. (2012). Abnormally long bill in a South Island Saddleback (Philesturnus carunculatus). Notornis, 59, 88-89.

Hooson, S., & Jamieson, I. G. (2003). Breeding biology of the South Island saddleback (Philesturnus carunculatus carunculatus, Callaeatidae). Notornis, 50(4), 191-200.

Hooson, S., & Jamieson, I. G. (2003). The distribution and current status of New Zealand saddleback Philesturnus carunculatus. Bird conservation international, 13(2), 79-95.

Jenkins, P. F., & Veitch, C. R. (1991). Sexual dimorphism and age determination in the North Island saddleback (Philesturnus carunculatus rufaster). New Zealand journal of zoology, 18(4), 445-450.

Lloyd-Jones, D. (2014). Wattle function and territoriality in the South Island saddleback (Philesturnus carunculatus).

Parker, K. A., Ludwig, K., King, T. M., Brunton, D. H., Scofield, R. P., & Jamieson, I. G. (2014). Differences in vocalisations, morphology and mtDNA support species status for New Zealand saddleback Philesturnus spp. New Zealand Journal of Zoology, 41(2), 79-94.

Sutherland, K. (2021). Temporal changes in cultural diversity across a growing meta-population of North Island saddleback (tīeke; Philesturnus rufusater): effects of mixed versus single-source translocations: a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Masters of Science in Biology at Massey University, Auckland, New Zealand (Doctoral dissertation, Massey University).

Taylor, S. S., & Jamieson, I. G. (2007). Determining sex of South Island saddlebacks (Philesturnus carunculatus carunculatus) using discriminant function analysis. , (2), 61.

The Ig Nobel Prize: Bird Research

Episode 30

Saturday, August 30, 2025 • Duration 20:36

Thanks @theweenuthatch for the topic idea! (go give him a follow on instagram!)

Become an "endemic blurb" on Patreon to suggest your own episode topic ideas (through the support the show link!).

References:

Bubier, N. E., Paxton, C. G., Bowers, P., & Deeming, D. C. (1998). Courtship behaviour of ostriches (Struthio camelus) towards humans under farming conditions in Britain. British Poultry Science, 39(4), 477-481.

Ghirlanda, S., Jansson, L., & Enquist, M. (2002). Chickens prefer beautiful humans. Human Nature, 13(3), 383-389.

Grossi, B., Iriarte-Díaz, J., Larach, O., Canals, M., & Vásquez, R. A. (2014). Walking like dinosaurs: chickens with artificial tails provide clues about non-avian theropod locomotion. PloS one, 9(2), e88458.

Meyer-Rochow, V. B., & Gal, J. (2003). Pressures produced when penguins pooh—calculations on avian defaecation. Polar Biology, 27(1), 56-58.

Watanabe, S., Sakamoto, J., & Wakita, M. (1995). Pigeons’ discrimination of paintings by Monet and Picasso. Journal of the experimental analysis of behavior, 63(2), 165-174.

Yuan, Z. M., Chen, M., Jia, L., Ji, C., & Incecik, A. (2021). Wave-riding and wave-passing by ducklings in formation swimming. Journal of Fluid Mechanics, 928, R2.

Support the show

Read moreCollapse

Ornithomycology (Birds & Fungi)

Episode 29

Saturday, July 26, 2025 • Duration 19:01

This is an evolving area of research! Come and hear abit about the fascinating world of birds and fungi...

Support Jen, a.k.a StagPath, (the inspiration for this episode)

instagram: @stagpath

Nature guidance work: stagpath.com

Note - at 14:18, it sounds like I say "pop"rolites, but the correct word (and what I said) was coprolites!

References:

Boast, A. P., Weyrich, L. S., Wood, J. R., Metcalf, J. L., Knight, R., & Cooper, A. (2018). Coprolites reveal ecological interactions lost with the extinction of New Zealand birds. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 115(7), 1546-1551.

Brunton-Martin, A., Wood, J., & Gaskett, A. C. (2024). Evidence for adaptation of colourful truffle-like fungi for birds in Aotearoa-New Zealand. Scientific Reports, 14(1), 18908.

Elliott, T. F., Jusino, M. A., Trappe, J. M., Lepp, H., Ballard, G. A., Bruhl, J. J., & Vernes, K. (2019). A global review of the ecological significance of symbiotic associations between birds and fungi. Fungal Diversity, 98(1), 161-194.

Wood, J. R., Dickie, I. A., Moeller, H. V., Peltzer, D. A., Bonner, K. I., Rattray, G., & Wilmshurst, J. M. (2015). Novel interactions between non‐native mammals and fungi facilitate establishment of invasive pines. Journal of Ecology, 103(1), 121-129.

Support the show

The Eastern Spinebill

Episode 28

Saturday, June 28, 2025 • Duration 19:22

Come and learn about my favourite Australian bird!

Support the show: patreon.com/blurbs439

Follow me on instagram: matt.rossella

References:

Chan, K., Ford, H. A., & Ambrose, S. J. (1990). Ecophysiological adaptations of the Eastern Spinebill Acanthorhynchus tenuirostris to a high altitudinal winter environment. Emu-Austral Ornithology, 90(2), 119-122.

Ford, H. A. (1991). Coping with an erratic nectar source—eastern spinebills Acanthorhynchus tenuirostris at New England National Park. Emu-Austral Ornithology, 91(1), 53-56.

Ford, H. A., & Paton, D. C. (1982). Partitioning of nectar sources in an Australian honeyeater community. Australian Journal of Ecology, 7(2), 149-159.

Ford, H. A., & Pursey, J. F. (1982). Status and feeding of the Eastern Spinebill Acanthorhynchus tenuirostris at New England National Park, north-eastern NSW. Emu-Austral Ornithology, 82(4), 203-211.

Guppy, M., Guppy, S., Carlisle, N., & Fullagar, P. (2016). The Eastern Spinebill'Acanthorhynchus tenuirostris' as a nest-predator. Australian Field Ornithology, 33, 20-21.

Johnson, K. A., McQuillan, P. B., & Kirkpatrick, J. B. (2010). Bird pollination of the climbing heath Prionotes cerinthoides (Ericaceae). International Journal of Plant Sciences, 171(2), 147-157.

McFarland, D. C. (1983). Ritualized aggression in the Eastern Spinebill'Acanthorhynchus tenuirostris'. Sunbird: Journal of the Queensland Ornithological Society, The, 13(4), 78-81.

McFarland, D., & Ford, H. (1987). Aspects of population biology of the Eastern spinebill Acanthorhynchus tenuirostris (Meliphagidae) in New England National Park, NSW. , , 52-58.

Robotic Birds

Episode 27

Friday, May 30, 2025 • Duration 30:10

This is a serious episode, I promise! Come and learn a bit about the role of robotic birds in conservation and research!

References:

Araguas, A., Guellaï, B., Gauthier, P., Richer, F., Montone, G., Chopin, A., & Derégnaucourt, S. (2022). Design of a robotic zebra finch for experimental studies on developmental song learning. Journal of Experimental Biology, 225(3), jeb242949.

Badri-Spröwitz, A., Aghamaleki Sarvestani, A., Sitti, M., & Daley, M. A. (2022). BirdBot achieves energy-efficient gait with minimal control using avian-inspired leg clutching. Science Robotics, 7(64), eabg4055.

Butler, S. R., & Fernández-Juricic, E. (2014). European starlings recognize the location of robotic conspecific attention. Biology Letters, 10(10), 20140665.

Simon, R., Varkevisser, J., Mendoza, E., Hochradel, K., Elsinga, R., Wiersma, P. G., ... & Halfwerk, W. (2023). RoboFinch: a versatile audio‐visual synchronised robotic bird model for laboratory and field research on songbirds. Methods in Ecology and Evolution, 14(4), 1092-1103.

Storms, R. F., Carere, C., Musters, R., Van Gasteren, H., Verhulst, S., & Hemelrijk, C. K. (2022). Deterrence of birds with an artificial predator, the RobotFalcon. Journal of the Royal Society Interface, 19(195), 20220497.

Storms, R. F., Carere, C., Musters, R., Hulst, R., Verhulst, S., & Hemelrijk, C. K. (2024). A robotic falcon induces similar collective escape responses in different bird species. Journal of the Royal Society Interface, 21(214), 20230737.

Other:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_lmQN6xXjY

(2024 10 University of Canterbury M39 final year engineering animatronic project: South Island kōkako)

Support the show

Birding In Victoria

Episode 26

Wednesday, April 30, 2025 • Duration 12:52

Here's a quick catchup about some of the birding I got up to on a recent trip to Victoria, Australia.

Follow these legends on Instagram:

@superb_gzyd (and check out https://gary-dickson.com/photography/)

@birdable

Support the show

Read moreCollapse

Birds &... Brews: The Re-brew-nion

Episode 5

Tuesday, April 15, 2025 • Duration 40:08

Well it's been a minute! but I'm finally back in the booth with Jimmy Rosebrock, and he's brought along his co-host from the Feel Good Birder Podcast, Jeff!

We talk trips, encounters, instagram, Pokémon and more! It's one big ole' glorious catchup!

Support the show

Read moreCollapse

The Black-Billed Gull (Tarāpuka)

Episode 25

Saturday, March 29, 2025 • Duration 23:00

You'll be gull-ad you listened to this episode!

Follow me on instagram: matt.rossella

Support the show: patreon.com/blurbs439

References:

Bell, M., & Harborne, P. (2019). The use of an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle to census large breeding colonies of black-billed gull (Larus bulleri) and white-fronted tern (Sterna striata) at the Ashburton River/Hakatere River mouth. Notornis, 66, 95-97.

Brown, D. (2001). Black-billed gulls hawking cicadas over shrubland. Notornis, 48, 111-112.

Dowding, J. E. (2020). Eggs salvaged from an abandoned black-billed gull (Larus bulleri) colony on the Ashley/Rakahuri River, North Canterbury. Notornis, 67, 583-585.

McClellan, R. K. (2009). The ecology and management of Southland's black-billed gulls (Doctoral dissertation, University of Otago).

Mischler, C. P. (2018). Estimating the breeding population of black-billed gulls Larus bulleri in New Zealand, and methods for future count surveys. Notornis, 65, 67-83.

Mischler, C. (2018). Population status and genetic diversity of the endemic black-billed gull Larus bulleri of New Zealand (Doctoral dissertation, University of Otago).

Mischler, C., Veale, A., Van Stijn, T., Brauning, R., McEwan, J. C., Maloney, R., & Robertson, B. C. (2018). Population connectivity and traces of mitochondrial introgression in New Zealand black-billed gulls (Larus bulleri). Genes, 9(11), 544.

Rebergen, A. (2016). Changes in the number of black-billed gulls (Larus bulleri) nesting on the Ruamahanga River, Wairarapa, between 1998 and 2012. Notornis, 63, 50-53.

Weston, K. A., & Fraser, I. (2020). Large-scale hail-induced mortality in white-fronted tern (Sterna striata) and black-billed gull (Larus bulleri) breeding colonies on the Rangitata River, New Zealand. , , 481-484.

The Dawn Chorus

Episode 24

Sunday, February 23, 2025 • Duration 25:00

Come and learn about the functions and evolution of the dawn chorus, and how human activity is changing it.

Listening back, i think it's important to note that this research applies to diurnal (awake in the daytime) birds. Nocturnal birds never came up in my research, probably for that very reason, but I thought i'd mention it here nonetheless!

Also, I'm not sure why the last birdsong transition sounds a bit funky - it occurred during the final mastering step, and the rest were fine, so I don't know! Oh well, there's beauty in imperfection!

This episode is dedicated to my Aunty Christine.

Follow me on instagram: matt.rossella

Support the show on patreon: patreon.com/blurbs439

References:

De Framond, L., & Brumm, H. (2022). Long-term effects of noise pollution on the avian dawn chorus: a natural experiment facilitated by the closure of an international airport. Proceedings of the Royal Society B, 289(1982), 20220906.

Gil, D., & Llusia, D. (2020). The bird dawn chorus revisited. Coding strategies in vertebrate acoustic communication, 45-90.

Gupta, P., Sinha, A., Malik, S., & Rani, S. (2023). Dawn and dusk chorus as a potential zeitgeber. Biological Rhythm Research, 54(1), 41-51.

Hill, S. D., Pawley, M. D., Anderson, M. G., & Ji, W. (2018). Higher song complexity and intruder pressure at dawn in a vocally complex songbird. Emu-Austral Ornithology, 118(2), 147-157.

Hodgson, L., Waas, J. R., & Foote, J. R. (2018). Early singers attend to conspecific but not heterospecific behavioural cues at dawn. Journal of Avian Biology, 49(7), e01749.

Hutchinson, J. M. (2002). Two explanations of the dawn chorus compared: how monotonically changing light levels favour a short break from singing. , (4), 527-539.

blurbs – Details, episodes & analysis

Podcast details

Recent rankings

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Shared links between episodes and podcasts

RSS feed quality and score

Publication history

Latest published episodes

Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

blurbs – Details, episodes & analysis

Podcast details

Recent rankings

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Shared links between episodes and podcasts

Patreon3

Youtube7

RSS feed quality and score

Publication history

Latest published episodes

Similar podcasts and content

Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

Patreon3

Youtube7

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Other4