The Documentary Podcast Birding the gender gap
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Aug 14, 2025 Join an all-female team in New Jersey as they tackle the unique challenge of identifying only female birds during the World Series of Birding. This fascinating narrative unveils the historical bias in ornithology while highlighting the active roles of female birds in sexual selection. Hear about the groundbreaking Galbatross Project, which aims to shift perspectives on female species, and explore the compelling disparities in birdwatching participation. With exciting discoveries and a call for conservation, this journey celebrates the often-overlooked contributions of female birds.
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All-Female Team With A Purpose
- Team Galbatross intentionally counted only female birds during the World Series of Birding as a form of activism.
- They aimed to expose how ornithology historically prioritized male birds and to shift attention to overlooked females.
Early Struggles And Field Debates
- The Galbatrosses spent early morning hours in Belle Plain State Forest and struggled to find any female birds.
- They relied on sound, deduction, and heated team debates to decide whether to count ambiguous sightings.
Darwin Framed A Male-Centric View
- Darwin's sexual selection framework emphasized male displays and led to long-standing assumptions that females are passive.
- Later research shows many female birds sing and perform behaviors once assumed exclusive to males.