The clip is on Metro Morning's website and runs under 5:30 minutes.

Stutchbury is the and a Distinguished Research Professor in the Department of Biology in 91ŃÇɫ’s . She is the author of , which describes her journeys through forests and jungles studying the sexual antics and social lives of birds, and details the science behind their surprisingly sophisticated and often amusing behavior. The book, published by April 16, also explains how understanding birds’ behaviour will help to conserve increasingly-threatened species.

Posted by Elizabeth Monier-Williams, research communications officer, with files courtesy of YFile– 91ŃÇɫ’s daily e-bulletin.

The post Audio: Professor Stutchbury on how of Mexico oil spill's dangers to migrating Canadian birds this winter appeared first on UAP 2026-30.

In , Bridget Stutchbury roams forests and jungles studying the sexual antics and social lives of birds, and details the science behind their surprisingly sophisticated and often amusing behavior. The book, published by , hits shelves April 16.

Stutchbury, a and a professor in the Department of Biology in 91ŃÇɫ’s Faculty of Science & Engineering, also explains how understanding birds’ behaviour will help to conserve increasingly-threatened species.

Using radio-tracking technology, Stutchbury and 91ŃÇÉ« post-doctoral student Bonnie Wolfenden solved a mystery that had puzzled biologists: how were female Acadian flycatchers getting fertilized by neighbouring males who lived hundreds of metres away?

“We had the genetic evidence of their infidelity, but we never did catch a female sneaking away from its nest. It turned out to be the males making clandestine visits to the females,” Stutchbury says.

Divorce is a regular part of life for almost all birds; most live with one partner for only a few months or years, depending on the species. Annual divorce rates range from 99 percent in the Greater Flamingo to zero in the Wandering Albatross.

“There are a number of theories about why birds go their separate ways,” Stutchbury says. “One hypothesis is that birds that are genetically or behaviourally incompatible separate when both can benefit from finding a new partner.” Another theory is that birds, like humans, realize they can do better: one pair member initiates divorce for selfish gain, leaving its former partner high and dry.

Left: Bridget Stutchbury

As in humans, divorce can take its toll on offspring, creating a situation where one partner is left to care for eggs or young. “In the worst-case scenario, birds may abandon the breeding attempt and leave the offspring to die in favour of starting over with a new, better partner,” Stutchbury says.

Birds are also known to exhibit favouritism when it comes to their young. They must invest more effort into raising sons, as males are larger and require more food.

“We see birds providing extra food and care to one gender of offspring over another, depending on environmental circumstances,” says Stutchbury. In ye

ars where food is plentiful, some birds may raise male hatchlings exclusively.

In The Bird Detective, Stutchbury also gives a first-hand account of how she and her team became the first researchers in the world to track migratory songbirds from breeding to wintering grounds. Last winter, she published a paper in the journal showing the tiny birds’ astonishing speed in migration, finding that they fly three times faster than previously suspected.

Stutchbury emphasizes that these aspects of behaviour aren’t mere curiosities: they’re crucial puzzle pieces that will help researchers protect birds from threats like climate change, habitat destruction, and other environmental concerns.

“There’s truly a pressing need for behavioural research – otherwise there’s no way for us to know how to best protect species.”

A book launch for The Bird Detective will take place Thursday April 29, at 7:30pm at .

Stutchury is also the author of , which was a finalist for the .

By Melissa Hughes, media relations officer, with photos courtesy of YFile– 91ŃÇɫ’s daily e-bulletin.

The post Sex, adultery, betrayal, divorce: 91ŃÇÉ« prof investigates birds’ clandestine behaviours appeared first on UAP 2026-30.