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Weird Tech

Weird Tech

Birds Aren’t Real (This Robot One, Anyway)

Jul 29, 2026 · 9 min · 8 segments

Want to hear something weird about robot birds? 👀 WHO ARE WE? Weird Tech is a Weird Tech Media production and a proud member of the iHeart Network. 🎙️ Hosts: Rae Johnston and Tegan Jones 💻…

Want to hear something weird about robot birds? 👀 WHO ARE WE? Weird Tech is a Weird Tech Media production and a proud member of the iHeart Network. 🎙️ Hosts: Rae Johnston and Tegan Jones 💻 Edited by Sam Blacker from the Podcast Butler 🎵 Music: More Than A Game by ColorFilm Music 🔔 FOLLOW US: YouTube Instagram TikTok See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Want to hear something weird about robot birds? 👀 WHO ARE WE? Weird Tech is a Weird Tech Media production and a proud member of the iHeart Network. 🎙️ Hosts: Rae Johnston and Tegan Jones 💻…

Speakers: Rae JohnstonHostTegan JonesHost

Spotify Apple Podcasts YouTube Website

Top entities: RMIT University×7 Tegan Jones×5 Rae Johnston×3 Instagram TikTok

Show signals: SuitabilitySafeBiasNot politicalAudience≈440 followers

Introducing the Kestrel Robot Project1:57 – 3:14

Rae JohnstonHost

1:57

Why kestrels? So they're a small type of falcon.

Tegan JonesHost

2:00

Yeah.

Rae JohnstonHost

2:01

The particular species that we're looking at though is the Nankine kestrel.

Rae JohnstonHost

2:06

They're an Australian native bird.

Rae JohnstonHost

2:08

They're known for hovering in one spot in the air, even in really windy conditions.

Tegan JonesHost

2:13

Oh, no, this is going to be for military purposes.

Tegan JonesHost

2:16

These are going to be military robot birds.

Tegan JonesHost

2:19

Oh, gosh.

Rae JohnstonHost

2:21

Prove me wrong, Leigh.

Rae JohnstonHost

2:23

I can't because you're correct.

Rae JohnstonHost

2:26

So to study the Kestrel's movements, the team used – RMIT has an industrial wind tunnel – Cool.

Rae JohnstonHost

2:37

It's like F1.

Rae JohnstonHost

2:39

I need to visit RMIT's industrial wind tunnel.

Rae JohnstonHost

2:42

But it's in the wind tunnel.

Rae JohnstonHost

2:43

RMIT, hit us up.

Rae JohnstonHost

2:45

We want to record an episode from the wind tunnel.

Rae JohnstonHost

2:48

It's actually, it's one of the largest in Australia and they tracked real kestrels flying through turbulence in this wind tunnel using motion caption.

Rae JohnstonHost

2:57

That's so bad.

Rae JohnstonHost

2:58

I reckon they love it.

Rae JohnstonHost

2:59

There is no evidence to the contrary.

Rae JohnstonHost

3:01

I'm pretty sure the kestrels enjoy this.

Tegan JonesHost

3:03

So they're just sitting there with their unique superhero power of being able to just like stay in one.

Tegan JonesHost

3:08

They're just going, bring it.

Tegan JonesHost

3:10

I am a god as it's flapping its wings and not moving.

Tegan JonesHost

3:14

Yeah,

RMIT UniversityEntityPublic university in the City of Melbourne, Australia
96%7 mentions
Tegan JonesPerson
88%5 mentions
Rae JohnstonPersonJournalist
81%3 mentions
InstagramSoftware ApplicationSocial networking service
73%1 mention
TikTokSoftware ApplicationWebsite
62%1 mention
YouTubeWebsiteVideo sharing company
62%1 mention
KestrelEntityBird
50%2 mentions
AustraliaCountryCountry in Oceania
42%3 mentions
University of BristolCollege or UniversityPublic university in Bristol, England
35%1 mention
Formula 1Sports OrganizationSports league
27%1 mention
United KingdomCountryCountry in Europe
19%1 mention
iHeartRadioCompanyCompany
12%1 mention
Ride of the ValkyriesMusic CompositionMusic drama by Richard Wagner
4%1 mention

Flight MechanicsScience > Biology > Animal Behavior
Military TechnologyTechnology > Robotics
DronesTechnology > Robotics > Military Technology
Military TechnologyMilitary
Surveillance DronesMilitary > Military Technology > Drone Warfare
Drone WarfareMilitary > Military Technology
Animal BehaviorScience > Biology
Technology
Military
Science
Animals
KestrelsAnimals > Birds > Falcons
BirdsAnimals
FalconsAnimals > Birds
RoboticsTechnology
BiologyScience
Nankine KestrelAnimals > Birds > Falcons > Kestrels
Robotic BirdsTechnology > Robotics > Military Technology > Drones
Kestrel FlightScience > Biology > Animal Behavior > Flight Mechanics
Robotic ApplicationsMilitary > Military Technology > Drone Warfare > Surveillance Drones

Introducing the Kestrel Robot Project1:57 – 3:14

Rae JohnstonHost

1:57

Why kestrels? So they're a small type of falcon.

Tegan JonesHost

2:00

Yeah.

Rae JohnstonHost

2:01

The particular species that we're looking at though is the Nankine kestrel.

Rae JohnstonHost

2:06

They're an Australian native bird.

Rae JohnstonHost

2:08

They're known for hovering in one spot in the air, even in really windy conditions.

Tegan JonesHost

2:13

Oh, no, this is going to be for military purposes.

Tegan JonesHost

2:16

These are going to be military robot birds.

Tegan JonesHost

2:19

Oh, gosh.

Rae JohnstonHost

2:21

Prove me wrong, Leigh.

Rae JohnstonHost

2:23

I can't because you're correct.

Rae JohnstonHost

2:26

So to study the Kestrel's movements, the team used – RMIT has an industrial wind tunnel – Cool.

Rae JohnstonHost

2:37

It's like F1.

Rae JohnstonHost

2:39

I need to visit RMIT's industrial wind tunnel.

Rae JohnstonHost

2:42

But it's in the wind tunnel.

Rae JohnstonHost

2:43

RMIT, hit us up.

Rae JohnstonHost

2:45

We want to record an episode from the wind tunnel.

Rae JohnstonHost

2:48

It's actually, it's one of the largest in Australia and they tracked real kestrels flying through turbulence in this wind tunnel using motion caption.

Rae JohnstonHost

2:57

That's so bad.

Rae JohnstonHost

2:58

I reckon they love it.

Rae JohnstonHost

2:59

There is no evidence to the contrary.

Rae JohnstonHost

3:01

I'm pretty sure the kestrels enjoy this.

Tegan JonesHost

3:03

So they're just sitting there with their unique superhero power of being able to just like stay in one.

Tegan JonesHost

3:08

They're just going, bring it.

Tegan JonesHost

3:10

I am a god as it's flapping its wings and not moving.

Tegan JonesHost

3:14

Yeah,

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