Episode 138 - March 27, 2024

A report on new research that describes how the Nightingale, an Old World flycatcher that got a mention in Homer's Iliad, William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet and countless other poetic and dramatic works over many centuries on its way to literary stardom, has a new claim to fame. It develops a capacity for mimicking the territorial songs of competing males in perfect pitch. Ornithologists are investigating whether other birds have similar abilities. Bird of the episode: the Mallard. Birding hotspot: Las Legunas de Anza Wetlands. Friends of wildlife organization: Natural Restorations based in Gilbert, AZ. Calendar of bird friendly events coming up in Arizona