This award winning podcast shares Canadian information, insights and inspiration on the world of birds and bird conservation. The lively discussions are hosted by Andrea Gress whose curiosity leads to discovering fun facts and useful tips while travelling uncommon flight paths to learn from expert guests. Thanks to our incredible listeners, The Warblers podcast was named the winner of the 2022 Nature Inspiration Award - Canadian Museum of Nature in the non-profit (large) category! We would l ...
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Grassland ecosystems and birds are increasingly under threat as agricultural operations expand to meet growing food demands. Yet, agriculture itself can be the solution! Through personal anecdotes and a deep appreciation for the unique wildlife of the Canadian prairies, Ian Cook highlights the importance of grasslands and the need to find collabora…
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"Quick, three beers!" Jody Allair joins us to propose that the Olive-sided Flycatcher is one of Canada's best boreal birds. Will you agree? While they do breed in the boreal forest, the cosmopolitan Olive-sided Flycatcher can be seen right across Canada during migration. Join us to learn more about their charming song and hunting habits, so that yo…
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This bonus episode is all about getting to know swifts and swallows, those speedy aerial acrobats that make summer skies so lively. Rielle Hoeg joins us to help shed some light on these two groups of birds. You'll get pointers on how to tell them apart, and which species are present across Canada. We also learn about their population status and a c…
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Around 37 warbler species nest in Canada each summer. But how much do you really know about them? Long overdue, this episode is all about warblers! We explore the quirkiest behaviours, the best warbler songs, marvel over fun facts, and hear tips on where to find warblers no matter where you are in Canada. If you've ever wondered what that quick fla…
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A Writer's Guide to Conserving Grasslands
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Trevor Herriot grew up exploring the aspen parkland and grasslands of southern Saskatchewan, deeply connected to the natural world around him. His passion for the prairies led him to become one of Canada’s most vocal proponents for the protection of grassland birds through his writing. With a recently released first novel, The Economy of Sparrows, …
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NatureCounts: Helping Birds with Your Data
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Do you track bird sightings on eBird? Or have you participated in a citizen science project that helps to monitor bird populations, like Project FeederWatch or the Christmas Bird Count? In this episode we learn what happens after the binoculars are put away. Whether reporting a single American Goldfinch at your feeder, or the efforts of a really su…
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The Roseate Tern is a dapper looking seabird that spends much of its breeding season far away from humans....yet most of the threats it faces are human related. Julie McKnight joins us to explore the challenges and joys of protecting and monitoring this threatened species. Share Roseate Tern sightings and photos using eBird, you'll make Julie very …
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To celebrate Superb Owl weekend (or the big football game for some folks), we decided to throw you an episode about one of our star players, the Snowy Owl! We all love owls! Please take a moment to learn more about safely observing and photographing owls. Join the Great Backyard Bird Count. It takes as little as 15 minutes to make a difference and …
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January is a tough time of year, but birds can help! We guarantee *good feels* by the end of this episode. We're joined by Dr. Melissa Lem who directs Canada's nature prescription program. She helps us explore the science behind why nature makes us feel good. Also joining the podcast, is Melissa Hafting, a powerhouse birder from British Columbia wh…
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How do birds survive the extremes of winter?!
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Brrrr! A polar vortex is chilling western Canada while the east is being battered by snowy winter storms! Yet, we can still see birds out the window...how do they do it? In this bonus episode you'll learn how tough birds really are, plus get some tips to help the winter birds near you! Join Project FeederWatch today! It's the perfect winter activit…
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A Year for the Birds: 2023 highlights from across Canada
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From British Columbia to Newfoundland, and everywhere in between...join Yousif Attia, Jared Clarke, and Andrea Gress, as they discuss some of the biggest birding news from 2023. Learn about how Red Crossbills might be more mysterious than you realize, hear their takes on Bird Names for Birds, and marvel over some of the best rare bird sightings of …
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Join Black Swift researchers on a journey through the forest to find one of the most elusive species in Canada....will they succeed? As Black Swift populations decline, the crews at Birds Canada strive to understand the whole picture, and find ways that we can all help these aerial insectivores. In this episode you'll learn all about Black Swifts, …
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Burrowing Owls...those weird little owls that nest underground, and scowl disapprovingly at us with their bright yellow eyes. This episode is for them! We've invited Graham Dixon-MacCallum from the Wilder Institute to share quirky facts about this captivating species, help us understand why they're threatened, and learn more about a few of the cons…
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Indigenous-led Conservation Protects Bird Habitats
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We can learn a lot about conservation by looking to Indigenous leadership. In this episode, we head to Wolastoqey Nation in New Brunswick to learn about how Indigenous-led conservation may be exactly what the birds need. Our guests, Gordon Grey from Bilijk First Nation, Jamie Gorman from Neqotkuk First Nation, and Kelsey Butler of Birds Canada, off…
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Sharing Anishinaabe Bird Names through Tourism
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You might remember Joe Pitawanakwat from a previous episode, Bneshiinyik, where he shared knowledge about how birds are named in the Anishinaabe language. Since we last spoke with him, Joe has been working on many projects to continue expanding and sharing Indigenous Knowledge. In this episode, we tag along with him for one of those projects. Join …
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Every egg counts; an extraordinary conservation story
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With only 150 individuals in the Great Lakes region, every single egg matters. In 2023, the Piping Plover conservation effort went to great lengths, as Ontario eggs were raised and released from captive rearing in Michigan, for the very first time. Sydney Shephard joins us to share the juicy details about this effort, the chaos of a Piping Plover f…
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This episode features two groups that are working to improve representation in the outdoors. They're creating welcoming spaces for Indigenous, Black and/or Racialized people, and the 2SLGBTQ+ community to have outdoor and nature based experiences, often centralized around the thing that we all love....birds! Learn more about FREED, or support their…
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The Whooping Crane population plummeted to a mere 15 birds in the 1900s, but thanks to intensive conservation efforts we now have over 500 individuals in the wild.... but Whooping Crane populations are not in the clear. John and Mark explain what conservation efforts currently look like, and the challenges they anticipate for the species in the com…
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This epic battle featured 6 beaks from around the world; Loggerhead Shrike, Wrybill, African Openbill, Atlantic Puffin, Laysan Albatross and White-tipped Sicklebill...but wait! If you haven't listened to the first two episodes of the "Battle of the Beaks", you absolutely must listen to those before learning who the winner is in this minisode. Huge …
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On this episode Andrea and Amie MacDonald nerd out about shorebirds! Amie shares the joys of researching Red Knots in James Bay in northern Ontario, and helps us explore the threats these long distance migrants face across their full range. Did someone say...horseshoe crabs?! Bird-friendly coffee is an easy way to help birds every morning! Birds an…
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This is the second episode in the ultimate Battle of the Beaks!! We're featuring six of the worlds most unique and specially adapted bird beaks over two episodes. Only one will be crowned the winner! VOTE HERE for your favorite beak. If you think we missed a reeeally cool beak, let us know! Leave a review, or comment on our socials. Find us on Inst…
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Six beaks enter the ring, only one will be crowned the ultimate BEST BEAK! In this special two part episode, we explore some of the weirdest, and most fascinating bird beaks, with experts from around the world. Voting will open after the second episode is released, and YOU will decide which beak is the best! Learn more about the good work that Wild…
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Join us for a morning of spring birding in Calgary! We get some birding pointers from from the team as they seek out Common Goldeneyes, Lesser Scaups, Wood Ducks, and welcome back many of our summer songbird friends, like the classic American Robin. Check out the full list of their sightings on eBird. Inspired to get a new pair of binoculars or sco…
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Have you noticed little cigars in the sky? Perhaps they torpedo into a chimney in your neighbourhood? ....no, those aren't strange escaped creatures from Alice in Wonderland, they are Chimney Swifts! In this episode we learn more about these captivating birds who many of us can call our neighbours. We explore their steep population decline, and lea…
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In this episode, Andrea speaks with Adam Dhalla - a 17-year-old birder, designer of the game Find the Birds, and recipient of the ABA's Young Birder of the Year award. Adam's passion is the intersection of nature and technology. Adam describes becoming interested in birds and bird conservation as an 11-year-old. He quickly realized that birds are i…
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“One day a black-capped chickadee landed on my hand and a birding monster was born.” Paul has been an active birder for decades and he has dedicated himself to changing how the hobby is perceived, what people picture when they think of birders, and how to connect more people to birds through art and gaming. In 2011, Paul cut his hair into a mohawk …
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What's so great about the Great Backyard Bird Count?
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Season 3 of the Warblers Podcast launches today with an episode about the Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC). Andrea connects with experts from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Audubon Society, and our own Kerrie Wilcox, who all work together to organize the GBBC in Canada and the US. They talk program history, the evolution of birding and technology,…
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Patrick Nadeau returns for a follow-up chat about his time at COP15; the Convention on Biological Diversity. He highlights some of the key outcomes and what they mean for biodiversity in Canada and the world as a whole. Tune in for some feel good vibes and what to watch for in 2023. The Warblers is brought to you by Birds Canada a non-profit, chari…
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'Tis the season for the Christmas Bird Count
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This isn't your typical holiday tradition, but it might become your favourite! The Christmas Bird Count runs from December 14th to January 5th each year. It is a long-running program that helps researchers get a grasp on how the bird populations are faring across the western hemisphere. Yousif Attia joins the podcast to help us understand the signi…
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You are soon to hear a lot of buzz about COP15, as the Convention on Biological Diversity kicks off in Montreal. These big conventions can get a little confusing. What are the outcomes? Does it make a difference for the planet? For the birds? We think this one does! We're very excited that it's happening here in Canada, where we can ALL be a part o…
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What do you do when you get a chance to go birding with one of your favorite authors?? Go birding...but also, record a podcast! Jody Allair catches up with Neil Pasricha near Edmonton, AB, for some fall birding. They chat about birding culture, the value of getting into nature, and geek out about some of their favourite bird sightings. Please consi…
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We are beyond thrilled to have received a Nature Inspiration Award from the Canadian Museum of Nature. Andrea and Andres take a moment to react to the positive news. Thank you to everyone who has been listening and supporting the podcast, and of course a big thank you to everyone taking action for birds! Andrea Gress studied Renewable Resource Mana…
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The Marbled Murrelet keeps researchers on their toes. Their nests are tucked away in the mossy upper branches of old growth forests...the last place we'd ever expect to find a seabird! David joins us from British Columbia to shed some light on these fascinating birds; where you might spot one, the challenges they face, and how to help. Get some Bir…
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Key Biodiversity Areas - Canada's Critical Places for Nature
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Key Biodiversity Areas or KBAs are sites that are important for the survival of a species or ecosystem. Canada is a global leader in identifying KBAs which will play a critical role in our efforts to halt and reverse biodiversity loss before it’s too late. As part of the KBA Canada Secretariat, together with our partners and volunteers, Birds Canad…
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Bicknell's Thrush field work sounds like a dream job for those who love extreme, dense forest conditions. Bears, moose, getting thwacked in the face with branches...utter bliss for the diehard biologists! For most people though, those conditions are less than ideal. This makes learning about the Bicknell's Thrush quite challenging. How do we track …
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Minisode: An update on Chewie the Piping Plover
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Chewie is a Piping Plover that brings much drama with her everywhere she goes, and we love her for it! Find out what she got up to since she was featured in the June minisode "Piping Plovers- A Love Story". If you have not listened to that episode, go back and check it out BEFORE listening to this one! Learn more about band combos, and report a ban…
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The sound of Leach's Storm-Petrels returning to their burrows under the cover of darkness is what you might expect to hear in a fairy tale. Like elves giggling in the distance. Laura Tranquilla of Birds Canada, joins us to share what it's like to work with one of Canada's smallest and most mysterious seabirds. Leach's Storm-Petrels breed in colonie…
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Falling in love with chonky floofs, and how to help them! From navigating crowds of people to avoiding cow footprints on beaches, Piping Plovers have no shortage of challenges. Andrea chats with plover researchers from Saskatchewan and Nova Scotia about these challenges and more, and how the conservation approaches can be radically different across…
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In this minisode Andrea shares a glimpse into the world of Piping Plovers and the struggles they face through a fascinating tale about 'Chewie', a very determined Piping Plover female. The story provides an introduction to these birds and leaves listeners wanting to know more. Fortunately we'll be learning more in our next episode! Stay tuned. What…
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The Wake-up Call: conserving Canada's most threatened bird species
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The Wake-up Call is a special series where we'll be learning about Canada's most threatened, and at-risk bird species. Experts working with each species will help us fall in love with these often elusive birds; we'll learn about the greatest threats, and how we can help. This first episode in the series provides background information to help us un…
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Minisode: More awesome band recovery stories from Stu Mackenzie and the importance of bird safety
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When we visited Long Point Bird Observatory for the previous episode we could not get enough of Stu Mackenzie's bird banding stories, and incredible level of knowledge! So here are some more tidbits from Stu. Don't forget to check out the full length episode to experience the awe of life at a banding station! Remember to report bands! Stu MacKenzie…
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A bird banding day at Long Point Bird Observatory
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Bird observatories are an essential starting place for young biologists, but also for members of the public; to watch, to learn, and to fall in love with birds in a more intimate and up-close setting. Long Point Bird Observatory is where it all begins for many of us. It is the founding program of Birds Canada, ultimately leading to everything we do…
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Minisode: Getting Ready for Spring Migration
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Spring is here! And so are the birds! Andrea quizzes Jody Allair on his best spring birding tips. They chat about favorite spring bird songs, how to brush up on ID skills, where to meet local birders ...and so much more! Want access to BirdWatch Canada magazine? Subscribe here. Out of coffee? Want to slurp on a cup that supports both bird conservat…
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Spring approaches and the birds are rapidly migrating back to their summer homes. They are taking up residence across Canada, preparing to nest in our backyards, local parks, and even in industrial areas. We love seeing and hearing them return for the summer. With three-quarters of Canada’s population residing in urban areas, and many of our favour…
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Did you have an obsession with dinosaurs as a kid? Yep, us too! In this minisode, we’re chatting more with Dr. Francois Therrien from the Royal Tyrrell Museum in Drumheller about the bird dinosaur connection, and a favourite classic movie….Jurassic Park. Out of coffee? Want to slurp on a cup that supports both bird conservation and this podcast?! G…
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Our producer, Jody Allair, never stopped loving dinosaurs. He is always telling us about how birds are actually just dinosaurs. Is he right? In this episode, we hear from Dr. François Therrien at the Royal Tyrrell Museum in Drumheller, Alberta. We learn about the evolution of birds, and their similarities with theropod dinosaurs. This episode goes …
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The Year in Birds Minisode: Positive News Stories of 2021
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A lot happened for birds in 2021, for example, Andrés found the Razorbills... Now, seriously, In this minisode, we cover some of the good news stories that we didn’t have a chance to touch on in our last episode, such as the strengthening of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, and significant funding for Indigenous stewardship programs in Canada. Jody A…
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The Year in Birds: Canadian bird and birding highlights from 2021
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We sat down with our friends, Yousif and Mike, expecting to chat about the past year in birding—but we couldn’t settle on one topic! In this episode, we marvel over rare bird sightings, like the Steller’s Sea Eagle that visited multiple Canadian provinces this year. We dig into what it means to be a “birder”, and how the birding community has chang…
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Drinking what we love: the case for a bird-friendly coffee revolution
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Wondering what you can do to help birds? Drink (the right) coffee! Specifically, bird-friendly certified coffee. Bird-Friendly coffee is great for birds and people, yet many bird lovers haven’t made the switch. Kirstin Hill from the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Centre joins us to talk about why it’s important to buy bird-friendly CERTIFIED coffee. Sp…
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Drinking what we love: the link between birds and coffee
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When it comes to coffee and birds there’s a surprising amount we can learn. Many of our beloved migrant birds spend their winters in southern climes. In coffee plantations in fact. Shade-grown, organic, fair-trade, and bird-friendly coffee – what’s up with all the certifications? What difference does it make if my coffee is certified bird-friendly?…
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