About this podcast
Daily two-minute stories about birds, the environment, and more.
Episodes
The newest 20 of 45 episodes
- Birding 101: Don’t Get Discouraged by LookalikesIf you’re a new birder and find yourself feeling confused by lookalike birds, don’t be too hard on yourself. Some bird species look almost identical, and some of the most…
- Goldeneyes and Whistling WingsOn a still winter afternoon, you may hear Common Goldeneyes flying low across the water. Whistlers, their wings sibilant, make the sound – as Ernest Hemingway wrote – of ripping…
- Common Mergansers Pushed by the IceAround this time of year, Common Mergansers cross the U.S.-Canadian border on their way to wintering grounds in the Lower 48. But how do they know when to go? Ducks are well…
- The Western Sandpiper’s Winter MigrationAlong the coast of Sinaloa in México, there are species of shorebirds with one of the longest migrations in the Western Hemisphere. One such species is the Western Sandpiper…
- Bird Feeders and Whaling ShipsIn the opening lines of Moby Dick, the narrator, Ishmael, confesses to "a damp, drizzly November in my soul." One sure way to brighten November's damp and drizzly mood is to…
- John Mittermeier and the Lost BirdsWhat happens when a bird disappears—and how do you find it again? Dr. Deja Perkins sits down with John Mittermeier to explore American Bird Conservancy’s conservation…
- El adorablemente extraño chorlo de MagallanesEl chorlo de Magallanes ( Pluvianellus socialis), también conocido como chorlito ceniciento, tiene fama de ser un poco raro. Estas aves playeras tienen un cuerpo redondo como el…
- Calling Ducks Like A ChampEvery November, duck callers flock to Stuttgart, Arkansas to compete in the annual World Championship Duck Calling Contest. Hunters traditionally use calls to lure in ducks by…
- Chorus Line in the SkyA flock of small shorebirds, like Western Sandpipers, twists and turns, glittering in the sky. When threatened by a falcon, these birds take to the air, flying so close together…
- The Vampire FinchVampire Ground-Finches menace their victims in broad daylight, stabbing holes in their flesh, then devouring the blood. During the dry season, when their usual diet of seeds can…
- Who’s That Spooky Bird?Do you like to guess the bird calls before we identify them? Then here’s a short quiz of spooky, scary, and creepy bird sounds! This Halloween edition features three common…
- Hovering with Horned LarksHorned Larks rival meadowlarks as the most colorful birds of North American grasslands. They live in prairies, fields, and tundra, but agriculture and development now intrude on…
- Audubon's Expedia for BirdsDr. Deja Perkins talks with Audubon’s Aurelio Ramos and Catalina Casas about Audubon Americas’ long-running effort to build bird-based tourism across Latin America and the…
- Sunset Camp RavenWriter and naturalist J. Drew Lanham tells the story of watching – and being watched by – a Common Raven.
- The Whip-poor-will’s WhiskersNear their frog-like mouths, Eastern Whip-poor-wills sport long, thin feathers that look a little like cat whiskers. Called rictal bristles, scientists are still investigating…
- Great Horned Owls in the NeighborhoodNot all owls live in the deep woods. Many Great Horned Owls make their homes in urban areas. Though mostly nocturnal, Great Horned Owls are also active early in the morning and…
- Seabirds Drink Salt WaterSeabirds have no problem drinking sea water. The salt they take in is absorbed and moves through their blood stream into a pair of salt glands above their eyes. The densely salty…
- Songbirds Teach Each Other TricksIn the UK for years, milk came in bottles with foil caps. Great Tits, a common songbird, learned how to peck through the foil. The skill spread. But how? Researchers trained…
- The Sound of a Thousand Geese Taking Off at OnceDuring migration, Snow Geese gather in the tens of thousands. They coordinate their movements, flying in a big, compact flock, which makes it harder for a predator to pick off a…
- Scott’s Wild Bird PreserveWhen we first interviewed Isaiah Scott a few years ago, he was a sophomore in college with big dreams about conservation. Now, as a Cornell graduate, he’s back to talk about…
