Best Birds Podcasts (2024)

1
Ep. 612 – Why We Hunt: New Research Sheds Light on What Motivates Us 1:05:07

3h ago1:05:07

1:05:07

Host Dr. Jerad Henson is joined by co-hosts Katie Burke, Derek Christians, Dr. Mike Brasher, and Matt Harrison in the new studio. They welcome guest Rob Southwick from Southwick Associates to discuss what motivates people to hunt, sharing new research on hunter personas for R3 and other insights from his 35 years of experience in understanding and …

1
08-36: Random Birds XII with Ted Floyd 58:26

14m ago58:26

58:26

1
The Secret Lives of Goldfinches 1:41

27m ago1:41

1:41

American Goldfinches are one of our most familiar birds, but they lead lives that are anything but ordinary. These birds will sometimes raise two broods a year, have a secret weapon against cowbirds, and have the ability to distinguish between songs that — to our ears — sound the same. Backyard birds they may be, but American Goldfinches never ceas…

1
How Studying Turkey Hens Helps Conservation Efforts 1:45

28m ago1:45

1:45

Mike Chamberlain is a wildlife ecologist at the University of Georgia and co-founder of the Wild Turkey Lab. He’s spent the majority of his 30-year career studying wild turkeys and says one recent, critical discovery about the nesting habit of hens has made a crucial impact on the conservation efforts. More info and transcript at BirdNote.org. Want…

1
Birdbaths! 5:45

1d ago5:45

5:45

On Labor Day, Laura had a most unexpected visitor at her birdbath.

1
Ep. 611 – Finding Inspiration in the Outdoors: A Wildlife Artist's Journey 1:12:09

2d ago1:12:09

1:12:09

Chuck Black, the 2023 Federal Duck Stamp Competition winner and wildlife artist, joins the Ducks Unlimited podcast to discuss his busy year and upcoming events. Chuck talks about the competition, his duties, and the transition to selling prints after the first day of sales. Tune in to hear about Chuck's experiences as the Federal Duck Stamp winner …

1
Migration: Long, Short, and In-Between 1:42

43m ago1:42

1:42

In September, this Arctic Tern flies from Alaska all the way to Antarctica. Rufous Hummingbirds follow pathways of mountain wildflowers, from as far north as Alaska south to Mexico. Ruby-crowned Kinglets, migrate altitudinally from the mountains to the lowlands. Each of these birds migrates, but on a very different course. All make the most of food…

1
Can Crows Laugh at Me? 1:42

1h ago1:42

1:42

The American Crow’s rattle call is uncommon, and researchers aren’t sure what it means. It could be a gathering call, a predator alarm, or a call between mates. But if you hear it, you might think it sounds like cackling laughter. However, no one has identified a crow noise that indicates glee at the expense of another creature. It’s just a coincid…

1
#1,001 Sept. 1, 2024 30:00

2h ago30:00

30:00

On our latest show: Good birding news from Chicago; avian audio postcards from Florida and Wisconsin; and the rebirth of a great birding magazine.By Ray Brown's Talkin' Birds

1
Does a Robin Hear Its Worm? 1:45

28m ago1:45

1:45

How does a robin know a worm is in one exact spot? Does it see the worm or hear it? Smell it? Sense its movements through its feet? To find the answer, researchers buried worms in soil in a tray. They covered the soil with a thin but opaque sheet of cardboard, followed by more soil, so the robin couldn’t see the worms. Still, the robin found them w…

1
Catching Insects 1:45

16m ago1:45

1:45

Birds that depend on flies for food have many creative ways of catching their prey. Swallows execute sharp turns and quick changes of speed. Bluebirds watch from a perch, pouncing when the time is right. A Chuck-will’s-widow flies with its scoop-like mouth wide open, engulfing moths and other insects. A Merlin snares dragonflies in its talons. Humm…

1
Warning Eggs About a Warming World 1:45

2h ago1:45

1:45

For birds, learning starts early. Birds listen to their parents’ songs and calls from inside the egg. Recent findings have shown that calls from Zebra Finch parents can even prepare their chicks for warmer temperatures before they hatch. Researchers noticed that Zebra Finches make a special high-pitched call, called a heat call, when sitting on the…

1
Ep. 610 – Ramsey Russell and Dr. Phil on duckDNA, Season 1 1:10:35

7d ago1:10:35

1:10:35

With duckDNA season 1 now in the books, DU teams up with Ramsey Russell of It’s Duck Season Somewhere and Dr. Phil Lavretsky to review early scientific insights, odd ducks, and the overall excitement around the project. Co-hosts Dr. Mike Brasher and Dr. Jerad Henson visit with Ramsey and Phil compare notes on their experiences and take a deep dive …

1
08-35: This Month in Birding - August 2024 1:04:19

5d ago1:04:19

1:04:19

It's the end of the month and time for This Month in Birding, our monthly panel with birding friends discussing the month's birding and ornithology news. For August 2024, we have a panel of Jody Allair, Tim Healy, and Sarah Swanson talking vultures, bustards, and the winners of the birding Olympic games. Links to articles discussed in this episode:…

1
Migrations: Molt Migration 1:45

33m ago1:45

1:45

At the end of summer, the once-bright feathers of a male American Goldfinch look ragged. Growing new flight feathers in a process called molting makes him more vulnerable to predators. Before migrating to wintering grounds, many songbirds stop at a secondary location to undergo the indignities of molting. It’s called molt migration. The places bird…

1
Nighthawks! 5:17

8h ago5:17

5:17

Duluth birders, and even many non-birders, have been enjoying a huge nighthawk migration this week.

1
Do Woodpeckers Suffer Brain Injuries? 1:41

31m ago1:41

1:41

When woodpeckers drum, they slam their beaks against bark many times per second. Scientists have long hypothesized that woodpeckers have a way of protecting their brains from injury. However, more recent work provides a different picture. High-speed cameras showed scientists that woodpeckers aren’t softening the impacts to their skulls. And researc…

1
Peabody Street Update: The Good News and the Bad News 5:17

4h ago5:17

5:17

There's a lot happening on Peabody Street these days.

1
Ep. 609 – From Essex to America: Carver Guy Taplin's Decoys, Part 2 46:43

9d ago46:43

46:43

In this second part of host Katie Burke's interview with carver Guy Taplin, we explore his fascination with past American decoy carvers and his understanding of the landscape and place where they worked. He delves into his experiences in America and the influence of key figures like Henry Fleckenstein and John Sullivan. He reflects on how his curre…

1
Wood Ducks Succeed 1:37

19m ago1:37

1:37

Your eye may be drawn to the gorgeous male Wood Duck, but it is the call of the modestly plumaged female you’ll hear. This call tells the male where his mate is, important as the pair stays together through much of the winter and spring. Wood Ducks are among a small number of North American waterfowl that nest in cavities, and many of them nest in …

1
Hummingbirds! 4:56

9d ago4:56

4:56

Are this year's numbers normal?

1
The Broad-tailed Hummingbird’s Dazzling Dives 1:45

1h ago1:45

1:45

Broad-tailed Hummingbirds are small but hardy creatures built for life in the mountains. They survive freezing cold nights by slowing their heart rate and metabolism. And they perform a death-defying stunt for potential mates. Male Broad-tailed Hummingbirds begin their performance by flying up 60 feet or more in the air. Then they dive toward the e…

1
#1,000 Aug. 25, 2024 30:00

3h ago30:00

30:00

On our latest show (#1,000!): We hear memorable bird experience stories from Mike O’Connor, David Clapp, and our Talkin’ Birds team members. Plus, we learn fascinating facts about the Mountain Chickadee, and we listen to an audio postcard from the Ecuadoran rainforest.By Ray Brown's Talkin' Birds

1
Swallow or Swift? 1:41

1h ago1:41

1:41

At a glance, swallows and swifts, both graceful fliers, look much alike. But swifts — like this Chimney Swift — have longer, slimmer wings and short bodies, enabling them to glide for long periods. Their glides are punctuated by rapid, stiff bursts of wing-beats. Swallows, on the other hand, flex and flap their wings. Why do swifts have such a pecu…

1
What’s a Beak Made Of? 1:29

1h ago1:29

1:29

Bird beaks, or bills, come in many shapes and sizes. And birds use them for just about everything: to collect food, preen, fight, court (as this pair of Laysan Albatrosses is doing), chop holes in trees, weave nests, and more. In order for a bird to fly, its beak must weigh as little as possible. Beaks are covered with a sheath of a tough material …

1
Learning More About Birds by Sketching Them 1:45

41m ago1:45

1:45

Many people take an interest in birds as they get older. But others start very early, like one young BirdNote listener named Ben Bradmon. He has been learning how to identify birds by their calls. His favorite is the Tufted Titmouse. He has also begun deepening his knowledge of birds by sketching them, letting him focus on details of the birds’ app…

1
Ep. 608 – From Essex to America: Carver Guy Taplin's Decoys, Part 1 32:07

14d ago32:07

32:07

Today on the Ducks Unlimited podcast, Katie Burke is joined by special guest Guy Taplin from Essex, England, to discuss waterfowl carving and the unique landscape of Essex. Taplin describes his early life growing up in the countryside during and after World War II and how he first became enamored with waterfowl and waterfowl hunting. Tune in to lea…

1
08-34: Figuring out Flamingos with Amy Davis and José Ramirez-Garafalo 33:31

3h ago33:31

33:31

The flamingo phenomenon last summer was one of the more exciting birding events in recent memory, but American Flamingo has long been an intriguing species in the ABA Area. Amy Davis and José Ramirez-Garafalo are the authors of an article in the most recent issue of the ABA's North American Birds that looks at the past, present, and future of these…

1
The Brown Thrasher's Never-Ending Songbook 1:39

1d ago1:39

1:39

The Northern Mockingbird isn’t the only mimic bird in town. Brown Thrashers also learn songs from nearby birds and add them to their repertoire. The species has been documented singing over 1,100 different songs: a mix of imitations and invented little melodies. While mockingbirds usually repeat a song or phrase three or more times before moving on…

1
Ep. 607 – Duck Numbers Increase For First Time Since 2015 39:29

15d ago39:29

39:29

On this special episode, Dr. Mike Brasher and Dr. Scott Stephens break down the freshly released U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 2024 Waterfowl Population Status report and important changes coming to hunters. Listen in to find out which species increased, where the major surprises were, and how rainfall in April and May affected prairie pond condit…

1
The Common Kingfisher 50:09

14m ago50:09

50:09

In this episode—which is Number 102—we dive into the fascinating world of the Common Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis), a small but mighty bird known for its striking blue and orange plumage and remarkable fish-hunting skills. We'll look at this species' behavior, from its iconic plunges into water to catch prey, to how it breeds, including courtship ritu…

1
The Ulūlu's Comeback 2:05

1h ago2:05

2:05

There are promising signs that a native Hawaiian bird called the ulūlu is on the way to recovery. Also known as the Millerbird, this small gray songbird nearly disappeared when invasive species including rabbits destroyed most of their habitats on the island of Laysan in the early 1900s. In the 2010s, biologists brought 50 individuals from the Niho…

1
Ep. 606 – A Freelancer's Guide to the Prairies 35:17

16d ago35:17

35:17

Host Chris Jennings is joined by DU magazine contributor John Pollmann to discuss a popular topic – freelancing the prairies. Pollmann’s experiences as a South Dakota resident provides a different perspective to freelancing and the pair discuss common tactics, including best practices to approach landowners. www.ducks.org/DUPodcast…

1
Phainopeplas Glisten 1:43

5h ago1:43

1:43

A slim, sleek bird with a spiky crest, Phainopepla comes from the Greek for “shining cloak.” The name refers to the male’s glistening, inky black feathers, which are set off by piercing red eyes. And if the Greek name isn’t helping you picture it, a common nickname might: the goth cardinal. From February to April, they nest in pairs in the arid Son…

1
Joan Brigham at 100! 7:27

11h ago7:27

7:27

Laura and Russ drove to Michigan this weekend to celebrate the 100th birthday of one of the most important people in Laura's birding life.

1
Minnesotans Embrace Their Inner Loons 1:45

2d ago1:45

1:45

Each year, adults and children gather in Crosslake, Minnesota to celebrate the incredible sounds of the Common Loon — the state bird of the land of 10,000 lakes — by belting out their best impressions. Some of the most impressive competitors are in the Youth category, like 2023’s second place winner Malakai. Hear some strikingly accurate loon calls…

1
#999 Aug. 18, 2024 30:00

2d ago30:00

30:00

On our latest show: We talk with Jennifer Ackerman about her newest book and NY Times Best Seller: What An Owl Knows. Plus, we hear some great audio postcards from Arizona and New Hampshire; and Mike explains where all the birds have gone this month.By Ray Brown's Talkin' Birds

1
Turkey Vulture - Sky Sailor 1:39

1h ago1:39

1:39

Although some of the Turkey Vulture's habits may evoke our disgust, these remarkable birds also inspire our awe. With wingspans approaching six feet, Turkey Vultures ride currents of air to make their spring and fall journeys, and to cover the miles of their home range in summer. Gliding on updrafts, or pushed along by weather fronts, Turkey Vultur…

1
When Does a Crossbill's Bill Cross? 1:31

1h ago1:31

1:31

A young crossbill starts life with a wedge-shaped beak. As it grows up and starts to feed itself by removing conifer seeds from their tough packaging, the tips of its bill begin to grow rapidly — and then they cross. By the time the bird is a month and a half old, the tips of its bill become fully crossed. More info and transcript at BirdNote.org. …

1
Hovering with Horned Larks 1:41

4d ago1:41

1:41

Horned 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 many of the Horned Lark's traditional nesting areas. The farmland Conservation Reserve Program encourages agricultural landowners to plant resource-conserving vegetation. T…

1
Crafting Invincible Environmental Protections, Part 5B: Why Vilify Rachel Carson? 6:00

11m ago6:00

6:00

The many forces funded by anti-environmental think tanks and the chemical industry are still vilifying Rachel Carson, accusing her of being responsible for the deaths of millions of children. Why are they so persistent?

1
Ep. 605 – Botulism in the Klamath and 2024 State Waterfowl Survey Roundup 1:26:29

21d ago1:26:29

1:26:29

As waterfowlers peer ahead to the approaching hunting season, botulism has become a headline in the West and state agencies have released results from their 2024 waterfowl breeding population surveys. Today’s conversation begins with Jeff McCreary, DU’s director of operations for the Western Region, giving the latest update on avian botulism in the…

1
08-33: Take It or Leave It - Banding, eBird, and Taxonomy 59:06

2h ago59:06

59:06

Break out the oven mitts because it's time to welcome a panel of birders to tackle the hottest birding takes we can find in Take It or Leave It. This time around we welcome ABA colleagues Michael Retter, editor of Birding special editions and North American Birds, and Jennie Duberstein, wildlife biologist and ABA Young Birder liaison to offer opini…

1
Looking Two Ways at Once 1:45

12m ago1:45

1:45

Great-tailed Grackles are known for their long, expressive tails, and their wide vocabulary of odd sounds. But this bird has another special trait. A researcher named Jessica Yorzinski has shown that Great-tailed Grackles can look at two different objects at once. In a careful experiment, she demonstrated that grackles could point one eye up and on…

51
Crafting Invincible Environmental Protections, Part 5 A: The battle on the DDT front 6:15

10d ago6:15

6:15

Human beings won a huge battle when DDT was banned. The powerful anti-environmental forces quickly regrouped to ensure that the success would not be repeated, and did their best to vilify the woman whose book sparked so much of the environmental movement.

1
Making a Home Among the Saguaros 1:44

13d ago1:44

1:44

In the arid Arizona desert, where cacti thrive but trees are scarce, the Gila Woodpecker and Gilded Flicker carve out nest cavities in living saguaros. Tall, old saguaros may be pocked with twenty or more nest holes, bearing witness to decades of woodpecker families. The woodpeckers excavate a new nest every year, leaving the old, now-empty cavitie…

1
Ep. 604 – Communicating with Landowners 25:06

23d ago25:06

25:06

So, you want to hunt that field where there’s a big feed? Time to start knocking on doors. Host Chris Jennings is joined by John Pollmann, freelance contributor to Ducks Unlimited magazine and ducks.org, to talk about the best, and worst ways to ask for permission. The pair also discuss some different tactics to improve success rates on getting per…

1
The Peabody Ducks 5:59

23d ago5:59

5:59

Twice every day, a rapt audience gathers at the Peabody Hotel in Memphis, Tennessee to see six local celebrities: five ducks and the hotel’s head Duckmaster, Kenon Walker, who leads them in “The Duck March.” With John Philip Sousa music playing, the ducks march across a red carpet through the hotel’s lobby to a fountain. The ducks swim about the fo…

1
Scintillating Starlings 1:45

1d ago1:45

1:45

In Africa, where there are dozens of starling species, a quick look reveals a variety of visual stunners. Some of the names hint at their dazzle: Superb Starling, as well as Golden-breasted, Emerald, Purple, Violet-backed, and Splendid Glossy Starlings. Starlings sparkle because they have special extra structures in their feather cells called melan…

1
#998 Aug. 11, 2024 30:00

2d ago30:00

30:00

On our latest show (#998 Aug. 11): fledgling chickadees in Maine; a fight over Florida’s state bird; Mike O’Connor reveals some surprises about goldfinch behavior; and Matthew Metz talks about EVs in urban areas.By Ray Brown's Talkin' Birds

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