ABOUT THIS EPISODE
Dr Stephanie Mason is an evolutionary biologist at The University of Western Australia researching how magpies learn to communicate, and what their calls could reveal about the evolution of human language. Her field research followed 11 young magpies over 200 days, tracking how their social relationships shape the development of complex call sequences.
She joins Kurt Krispyn to explore magpie alarm calls, neighbourhood “dialects”, lifelong vocal learning and the difference between birdsong and meaningful communication. How do young magpies learn to combine sounds? Why do neighbouring groups communicate differently? And what can a magpie that laughs like a toddler teach us about vocal learning?
From surprising mating behaviour to the reasons behind swooping, this conversation offers a fascinating look at an Australian icon hiding in plain sight. Hear examples of their calls, learn how researchers investigate their meaning, and discover what we still haven’t decoded.
Host: Kurt Krispyn
Guest: Dr Stephanie Mason, The University of Western Australia
Podcast: Paramount Importance
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