DOC Sounds of Science Podcast

#15 The rare kākāriki karaka

Did you know that Aotearoa’s rarest parakeet is a small, forest-dwelling bird, and there are only about 360 estimated to be left in the wild? The kākāriki karaka, or orange-fronted parakeet are in serious trouble. Listen and learn about the work to monitor and track this species, control predators in critical areas, and boost numbers with captive breeding. 
Show notes available at www.doc.govt.nz/podcast 

Episode 14: Predator Free and me (part two)

This is the much awaited second part of Brent Beaven’s Predator Free interview. In this episode, we’re talking about upcoming innovations as well as current predator control tools, and yes that includes 1080. This episode is a big swing and we hope it gives you some important context. Show notes available at www.doc.govt.nz/podcast

Episode 13: Predator Free and me (part one)

Brent Beaven tells us everything we need to know about New Zealand's goal to be Predator Free by 2050. How will we? What is this? Is it even possible? Brent has the answers. In fact he has so many, we’ve split his interview in two.
Brent is an expert on predator control and has decades of hands-on field experience. He's herded sea lions, been hounded by kiwi, and caught mohua in his socks. In the world of threatened species conservation, you name it and Brent has done it. Listen and learn. Show notes available at www.doc.govt.nz/podcast

Episode 12: Marine Magic

Anton van Helden is a marine scientist by day moonlighting as a magician by night (although one could make the point that magic never sleeps). In this episode you’ll hear talk of strandings, toxoplasmosis, pub magic and climate; as well as working with Iwi on recovery of bones. Abracadabra, are you listening closely?
 
CONTENT WARNING: Please be advised that the following episode contains specific discussion of dissection (we kept it reasonably high level) which some listeners may find graphic. This is 8.03 – 11.22. And at 23.25 we talk about taonga and why dissections are important for Iwi.

Episode 11: Best bits so far

This is a supercut of all our favourite moments from the past ten episodes, as guided by Erica Wilkinson. Lichens, bats, kākāpō sperm helmets (we couldn’t make this up) GPS, poo patches and more. 

Episode 10: Time to talk climate

Jenny Christie is used to seeing eyebrows go up when she tells people what her job is. Perhaps a few years ago, this could be chalked up as scepticism, but nowadays it’s more likely to mean, ‘wow, big job’. Jenny’s job is climate change. She approaches this from an adaptation point of view, which means working on what we can be doing to manage and reduce the impacts of climate change on our native species and ecosystems. In this episode, Jenny talks about adaptation work underway, what she says to naysayers, and some of the impacts on native species we’re seeing right now.

Episode 9: Non-vascular plants

Kelly Frogley is an expert when it comes to non-vascular plants. In this episode, Kelly explains what exactly they are, and shares some stories about unexpected discoveries and making the most of non-optimum spaces for optimum plant identification. She also talks about green-blindness and the importance of looking down. And up. And around – well, you get it.
www.doc.govt.nz/podcast

Episode 8: The Batman

Colin O’Donnell knows everything there is to know about pekapeka/bats, and he’s accumulated some wild stories along the way. In the name of science, Colin has encountered popping bats, game-changing technology, tiger prints (!) and gelatinous excretions – which is exactly as gross as it sounds. Most importantly, in this episode we talk about the impact of predators on Aotearoa’s only endemic land mammal; highlighting the reason for us to work towards a Predator Free New Zealand.
www.doc.govt.nz/podcast

Episode 7: History with Herb

Conservation enthusiast and DOC legend Herb talks to Nic about his experience as a science communicator, navigating the bush before sat nav, being trolled by kea, and species protection on offshore islands. Plus he treats us to some of his famous bird calls.
If there were such thing as conservation bingo, (sidebar: should we make that?) Herb would be a square all of his own, given how many times his name is mentioned in conservation conversation. “Ask Herb”, “See what Herb thinks” or “Herb might know” are popular refrains around here. Cheers to this stalwart of species survival.
www.doc.govt.nz/podcast

Episode #6: Our invertebrates

Insect expert Eric Edwards talks to us about ecosystems, climate change and cataloguing critters. He also shares his adventures catching true bugs in Micronesia and navigating poo patches (!) in the Subantarctic Islands.
www.doc.govt.nz/podcast