EDMONTON — Spring (technically) arrives on Friday, and the U of A has experts who can illuminate the sights, sounds and challenges of the season.
What makes for a ‘sexy’ birdsong?
Birdsongs are starting to fill the air once again, but are some of those songs more attractive to potential bird mates than others? And what qualities do female birds look for in a “sexy” birdsong? Researchers are divided on the issue, says graduate student Prateek Sahu. He’s trying to uncover how much of a bird’s desirability lies in the physical characteristics of the bird, and how much lies in the song itself.
Why some birds refuse to follow the flock
Avian homeowners association be damned. Research by Julia Self and Lauren Guillette found that some birds have strong colour preferences for nest-building material. The stronger the preference, the less likely these picky birds were to conform to the colour preferences of their feathered neighbours.
The end of growing seasons?
What if Canada’s spring planting season lasted all year long? Newer technologies like vertical farming make growing food year-round a possibility. Rickey Yada says Canada’s agricultural industry should be investigating these technologies, especially as climate change and tense geopolitics impact our food sovereignty. Yada is available after 3 p.m. on Friday, March 20.
Spring weather whiplash wreaking havoc above – and below – city streets
Spring means volatile weather fluctuations in Alberta, an issue that is happening more often. These rapid freeze-thaw cycles affect our roads and underground infrastructure on which our cities rest, making issues like the recent Calgary water main bursts a more frequent risk. Alireza Bayat is available to explain how our infrastructure responds to radical weather shifts as well as the risks and the solutions his team are working on.
Signs of spring
Bats darting across dusky skies, birdsongs brightening the cool morning air, insects hovering near blooming flowers – Matina Kalcounis-Rueppell can detail the spring signals we should watch for as the wildlife that has gone dormant over the winter months returns to enliven Alberta’s natural environments. And she can explain how these sights and sounds of spring have been changing due to human interventions in wildlife habitats. Kalcounis-Rueppell is available between 10 - 11 a.m. and 5 - 6 p.m. on Friday, March 20.
Health benefits of developing a green thumb
Helping children develop a green thumb could have lifelong health benefits including preventing cancer, according to research by Christina Gillies. She can explain how gardening improves health outcomes and detail the barriers to making community gardens more accessible. Gillies is available for phone and video call interviews.
To speak with any of these experts, please contact:
Riley Tjosvold | University of Alberta communications coordinator | riley.tjosvold@ualberta.ca