Best RJ Pole Podcasts (2024)

1
Happy Fourth of July! - Teaser for Upcoming Episodes + Spreading the joy of birds 2:05

1h ago2:05

2:05

Send us a Text Message. We'll be down this week for the Fourth of July - but back next week. Upcoming episodes on Osprey, Giant Hummingbird, and Northern Flicker. We have a few asks to spread the joy of birding over the Fourth of July. Listen to hear more. Also here is a link to when John was on Ologies with Alie Ward: https://podcasts.apple.com/us…

1
47: Light-footed Ridgway's Rail with Aiyana Reissman from Living Coast Discovery Center 48:44

7d ago48:44

48:44

Send us a Text Message. We talk about the endangered Light-footed Ridgway's Rail this week with guest Aiyana Reissman. Aiyana is the Animal Care Manager at the Living Coast Discovery Center in San Diego, California. She oversees the care for 25+ species of rescued bird native to the area along with the propagation programs for the endangered Light …

1
46: Cicadas with Maureen Turcatel - impact on birds, blue-eyed cicada, and fungus! 50:15

11d ago50:15

50:15

Send us a Text Message. This week is a little different as we aren't discussing a bird, but rather the cicada phenomenon happening in Illinois right now. Maureen Turcatel of the Field Museum joins us to talk about the two different broods of cicadas both happening at the same time (the 13 year cicada and the 17 year cicada). We talk about how this …

1
45: Ruby-Throated Hummingbird - Also a question on feather iridescence and/or mutation 36:00

22d ago36:00

36:00

Send us a Text Message. Somehow it has taken us 45 episodes to get to our first hummingbird - but it's finally here! We have a ton of fun talking about the ruby-throated hummingbird today. John Bates, Shannon Hackett, RJ Pole, and Amanda Marquart are all here for our hummingbird discussion. Enjoy! Please send us your questions for us to answer as w…

1
44: House Wren, we also talk about The Archaeopteryx at the Field Museum 34:17

25d ago34:17

34:17

Send us a Text Message. This week we talk about the house wren, but first we talk a little bit about the newest addition to the Field Museum: The Archaeopteryx. A fossil called Archaeopteryx, with feathers, hollow bones, clawed wings, fifty tiny teeth, and a long bony tail, is the earliest known dinosaur that also qualifies as a bird. The Chicago A…

1
43: Kirtland's Warbler - Back From the Endangered Species List, Connection to Leopold and Loeb? 38:03

1M ago38:03

38:03

Send us a Text Message. We talk about a bird that was majorly affected by the parasitic brown-headed cowbird so much that it was on the endangered species list for nearly 50 years. One of the rarest songbirds in North America, the Kirtland’s Warbler migrates back and forth from the Bahamas to Michigan every year. We also learn that this bird was st…

1
42: Brown-Headed Cowbird - Laying eggs in someone else's nest 32:33

1M ago32:33

32:33

Send us a Text Message. Brown-headed cowbirds don't build nests - instead they sneak into other nests and lay their eggs and let other birds raise their young for them. Many consider them 'mafia' birds, as they will destroy another bird's nest if they aren't raising their young correctly. These parasitic birds will outgrow the other chicks in the n…

1
41: Southern Cassowary with Tooth and Claw's Wes Larson 50:35

2M ago50:35

50:35

Send us a Text Message. The host of Tooth and Claw Podcast Wes Larson joins us to talk about the Southern Cassowary. Wes is a wildlife biologist, and hosts a podcast that talks about human wildlife conflict, or extreme wild animal attacks. Wes recently went to Australia and saw Cassowaries in the wild, so we asked him to join us for a full episode …

1
40: Blackpoll Warbler - Impressive Migration, Also More About Warblers... 45:36

2M ago45:36

45:36

Send us a Text Message. Warbler season is officially here. We talk about the Blackpoll Warbler - the warbler with one of the longest and most impressive migration. Enjoy! Please follow our instagram @birds_of_a_feather_podcast Please send us your questions for us to answer as well! You can send them to podcast.birdsofafeather@gmail.com…

1
39: Bald Eagles - Massive Nests, Aerial Cartwheels, and Coming Back From DDT 35:19

2M ago35:19

35:19

Send us a Text Message. Bald Eagles are amazing - everyone knows it. We touch on everything from Benjamin Franklin, to how DDT decimated their population and the significant comeback that they've made, to their aerial cartwheel performances. It's a really fascinating episode, and we learn about the 'eagle suit' that Amanda's sister's dog wears so h…

1
38: Florida Trip - Osprey, Brown Pelican, Shorebirds, and we also talk about the Eclipse 47:19

2M ago47:19

47:19

Send us a Text Message. This week's episode is a little different than usual. Instead of discussing one bird, we talk about RJ and Amanda's recent trip to Florida and all of the birds that they saw. RJ and Amanda ask John and Shannon about the Osprey, Brown Pelicans, Cormorants, Black Skimmers, American Oystercatchers, and many more. We also plead …

1
37: European Roller - Migration Across the Sahara, Vomiting for Self-Defense 26:15

3M ago26:15

26:15

Send us a Text Message. John and Shannon's son moved to Slovakia to play professional hockey - so we discuss a bird native to that area: The European Roller. These birds are super cool and so much fun to learn about. From their interesting leapfrogging migration pattern to Africa, to the self-defense method that many of their chicks use: vomiting. …

1
36: The Brown Creeper, How Animals Evolved to Fly, and Round 2 of Round Robin Voting! 30:35

3M ago30:35

30:35

Send us a Text Message. This week we talk about one of Shannon’s favorite birds: The Brown Creeper. The way these tiny little birds climb all over trees, and look like a piece of bark, is truly amazing, and adorable. We also answer a mailbag question about evolution, and when animals learned how to fly. We finish out the episode with the next round…

1
35: European Starlings with Louise Bodt + Round Robin Tourney First Round Voting :) 35:55

3M ago35:55

35:55

Send us a Text Message. This week we talk to Louise Bodt about the European Starlings. Louise Bodt is a PhD candidate at the University of Chicago and the Field Museum using introduced birds to study rapid evolutionary change. Prior to joining the Field Museum birds lab, she worked as a science educator in NYC where she got her MS in biology invest…

1
34: European Goldfinches with Louise Bodt - European birds introduced in the U.S. 36:01

4M ago36:01

36:01

Send us a Text Message. This week we talk to Louise Bodt about the European Goldfinch. Although they are native to Europe, there is actually a population living in Northern Illinois and Southern Wisconsin. Louise tells us how they got there, other examples of them being introduced, and much more. Louise Bodt is a PhD candidate at the University of …

1
33: Tufted Puffins - Shannon's Favorite Puffin 32:15

4M ago32:15

32:15

Send us a Text Message. This week Shannon makes her case for why Tufted Puffins are the best. Amanda points out that the tufts look like the hair on the back of Donald Trump's head, which doesn't go over well with Shannon :). It's a blast and a ton of fun discussing the Tufted Puffin. Marky Mutchler joins us again on this one, Marky is a PHD studen…

1
32: Common Puffin (Or Atlantic Puffin) - John's Favorite Puffin 26:40

4M ago26:40

26:40

Send us a Text Message. A listener wrote in and asked for us to do a puffin episode. It turns out that John and Shannon each have a different favorite puffin. This week we'll talk about John's favorite: the Common Puffin (or Atlantic Puffin.) Next week we'll talk about the Tufted Puffin. Puffins are so cool, you'll enjoy this one and next week's as…

1
31: Limpkins Interview Part 2 with Marky Mutchler 25:33

4M ago25:33

25:33

Send us a Text Message. Part 2 of our interview Marky Mutchler to talk about Limpkins. Marky is a PHD student at the University of Chicago, and is studying limpkins. Limpkins have been seen outside of their range, as far north as Chicago and even Nova Scotia. One limpkin was found dead in Illinois recently, and the dead bird was brought to the Fiel…

1
30: Limpkins Interview Part 1 with Marky Mutchler 24:29

4M ago24:29

24:29

Send us a Text Message. We interview Marky Mutchler this week and talk about Limpkins. Marky is a PHD student at the University of Chicago, and is studying limpkins. If you’re not familiar, Limpkins are a bird that is native to South America and their range covers Florida as well. They’ve been expanding northwards lately, and there were many citing…

1
29: Flame Bowerbird - Building A Bower and Attracting A Mate 28:12

5M ago28:12

28:12

Send us a Text Message. Join John Bates, Shannon Hackett, RJ Pole, and Amanda Marquart as we talk about flame bowerbirds. John and Shannon provide a lot of really fascinating information on these incredible birds, from how they can manipulate the size of their pupils, how they use blue objects to attract a mate, and why we don’t know more about the…

1
28: Blue Jays - Acorns and Oak Trees 35:51

5M ago35:51

35:51

Send us a Text Message. On this week's episode we discuss Blue Jays. Join John Bates, Shannon Hackett, RJ Pole, and Amanda Marquart as we talk all about Blue Jays. We talk about how bird flu changed their population, their inconsistent migration, and their relationship with acorns and oak trees. We kick off the episode talking about Sharp-Tailed Gr…

1
27: Birds of a Feather Talk Together Backstory - Our Origin Story 14:13

5M ago14:13

14:13

Send us a Text Message. This week we are doing something a little different - we are telling you our origin story. With so many episodes out on different birds, we wanted to give our listeners an explanation of who we are, how we got together, and why we are making this podcast. Join John Bates, Shannon Hackett, RJ Pole, and Amanda Marquart in our …

1
26: Mallard Duck - We Also Talk About Christmas Bird Count 41:16

5M ago41:16

41:16

Send us a Text Message. John talks about the Christmas Bird Count, and then we talk all about the Mallard Duck. From their sexual dimorphism (for part of the year), to their matching speculum stripes, to how they differ from other ducks. Join John Bates, Shannon Hackett, RJ Pole, and Amanda Marquart in our most recent episode. Questions? Reach out …

1
25: Puteketeke or Great Crested Grebe - Thanks John Oliver for Making This 'Bird of the Century' 36:52

6M ago36:52

36:52

Send us a Text Message. We kick off the new year talking about the Puteketeke or the Great Crested Grebe. We were following closely while John Oliver's campaign to make this New Zealand's bird of the century, and are so excited to talk about this super cool bird. John Oliver used his show 'Last Week Tonight' to raise awareness about these birds, an…

1
24: The Hoatzin - A Link To The Dinosaurs? 26:04

7M ago26:04

26:04

Send us a Text Message. These birds have claws on their wings when they are young, and may be a link back to the dinosaurs. Join John Bates, Shannon Hackett, RJ Pole, Amanda Marquart, and our guest Jacob Drucker to talk about the Hoatzin. This is a fun episode where we talk about these strange, unique, and downright fascinating birds. Email us your…

1
23: Rock Pigeons (Rock Doves) - You see them everywhere in the city, but did you know how amazing they are? 32:06

7M ago32:06

32:06

Send us a Text Message. Join John Bates, Shannon Hackett, RJ Pole, Amanda Marquart, and our guest Jacob Drucker to talk about Rock Pigeons. One of our listeners wrote in and asked us to do an episode on Pigeons, and what a great idea that was! From their navigational abilities, to the impact that humans have had on their evolution, to their color v…

1
22: Hawaiian Honeycreepers with Jacob Drucker - Part 2 35:50

7M ago35:50

35:50

Send us a Text Message. Part 2 of John Bates, Shannon Hackett, RJ Pole, and Amanda Marquart interviewing Jacob Drucker to discuss Hawaiian Honeycreepers. Jacob Drucker is a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Chicago and the Field Museum studying how birds interact with tropical climates over ecological and evolutionary time. He has spent over a y…

1
21: Hawaiian Honeycreepers with Jacob Drucker - Part 1 29:57

7M ago29:57

29:57

Send us a Text Message. John Bates, Shannon Hackett, RJ Pole, and Amanda Marquart interview Jacob Drucker this week to discuss Hawaiian Honeycreepers. Jacob Drucker is a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Chicago and the Field Museum studying how birds interact with tropical climates over ecological and evolutionary time. He has spent over a year…

1
20: Wild Turkey - Conservation success, magnificent feathers, sexual dimorphism 27:19

7M ago27:19

27:19

Send us a Text Message. We have a Thanksgiving special this week as we discuss the Wild Turkey. These birds are a major conservation success story, hear all about it in this weeks episode. We also talk about John seeing a turkey in the Democratic Republic of Congo, how turkeys got their name, and learn all about their magnificent feathers. Join Joh…

1
Teaser: Sticker Giveaway + Update on New Episodes 1:38

8M ago1:38

1:38

Send us a Text Message. New episodes coming soon. In the meantime, who wants free stickers? We will announce rules to the sticker giveaway on our Instagram on Monday. Follow us @birds_of_a_feather_podcast Thanks!! Birds of a Feather Talk Together Podcast One of the best new podcasts available. Also called the best bird podcast.…

1
19: Ravens - How Smart Are Birds? Using Tools and Imitating Calls 20:22

8M ago20:22

20:22

Send us a Text Message. Happy Halloween! Today we cover one of the smartest birds that also happens to be associated with death and overall spookiness: The Raven. They know how to use tools, can impersonate other birds, and possibly could even say the word "Nevermore"... Hear all about Ravens in this week's episode. John Bates, Shannon Hackett, RJ …

1
18: The Shoebill - A Large Bird With An Even Larger Bill - Also A Beginners Guide To Birding 23:37

8M ago23:37

23:37

Send us a Text Message. This bird has been a viral sensation lately: The Shoebill! Hear John Bates, Shannon Hackett, RJ Pole, and Amanda Marquart discuss this wildly unique African bird. Its gigantic shoe-shaped bill and its stoic demeanor have made this bird ripe for folklore. Hear what it was like for John to see a Shoebill in the wild, and learn…

1
17: Bloodsucking Birds! Vampire Finches, Oxpeckers, and Egyptian Plovers - Oh my! 23:46

9M ago23:46

23:46

Send us a Text Message. Spooky season is officially here, as we get together to talk about Bloodsucking Birds. There is an event at The Field Museum in Chicago later this month that is about bloodsuckers of all kinds, so we decided to release an episode all about bloodsucking birds. Join John Bates, Shannon Hackett, RJ Pole, and Amanda Marquart as …

1
16: Bird Collisions in Chicago - Nearly 1,000 Birds Die In A Single Night 20:38

9M ago20:38

20:38

Send us a Text Message. You've probably seen it on the news, but hear what John and Shannon have to say about the recent migration collision in Chicago. Last week Chicago had one of the largest migration nights ever, totaling what could have been 1 million birds in a single night. Unfortunately, this resulted in almost 1,000 birds colliding with bu…

1
15: Ring-Billed Gull - Not A Seagull! Also, That Diet is Trash... 36:14

9M ago36:14

36:14

Send us a Text Message. This week we discuss the Ring-Billed Gull and what differentiates it from other gulls. It's been a ton of fun to learn more about common birds, and then going back after listening/recording and seeing these common birds in a new way. You'll learn all about the Ring-Billed Gulls in this episode, as John Bates, Shannon Hackett…

1
14: Willard's Sooty Boubou - A New Species Discovered; John and The Field Museum's Involvement 40:30

10M ago40:30

40:30

Send us a Text Message. This is one of our favorite episodes to date. The Willard's Sooty Boubou is a bird that lives in the Albertine Rift in Africa at a very specific elevation. John and his team at the Field Museum are actually responsible for determining that this bird is in fact its own unique species. We talk about what that process was like,…

1
13: Killdeer - The 'Broken Wing' Display, Also a Discussion on Wildfire Smoke Impacting Birds 33:15

10M ago33:15

33:15

Send us a Text Message. This week we discuss the Killdeer. These shorebirds (that aren't always near the shore) will put on a display where they pretend like they are injured to lure predators away from their eggs. Join John Bates, Shannon Hackett, RJ Pole, and Amanda Marquart as we discuss the Killdeer. We also follow up on a previous discussion a…

1
12: Roseate Spoonbill - The Color Pink, Birds Going Bald 35:36

10M ago35:36

35:36

Send us a Text Message. With the recent sightings of the Roseate Spoonbill in Green Bay, Wisconsin we thought it would be a good time to discuss these amazing birds. John Bates, Shannon Hackett, RJ Pole, and Amanda Marquart talk what gives them their bright pink color, why they have a receding hairline, and what they are doing so far up north. We a…

1
11: Oilbirds - Using Echolocation and Living in Caves 27:12

11M ago27:12

27:12

Send us a Text Message. What lives in caves, uses echolocation to navigate through the air, and is nocturnal? Oilbirds! These birds are so interesting, and no they are not bats. John Bates, Shannon Hackett, RJ Pole, and Amanda Marquart discuss the Oilbird. This is a super wild one, so grab your night-vision binoculars and join us to learn more abou…

1
10: Northern Cardinal - What Causes That Bright Red Color? Is This Your State Bird? 27:18

11M ago27:18

27:18

Send us a Text Message. This week we discuss a bird that is common in most of the US: The Northern Cardinal. The state bird in 7 states, this bird wasn't always as widespread as it is today. Learn what has led to their increased distribution, and also what gives the males that bright red color. John Bates, Shannon Hackett, RJ Pole, and Amanda Marqu…

1
9: Great Horned Owl - An Elusive Predator! Also, What Is A Species? 37:05

12M ago37:05

37:05

Send us a Text Message. We all know the Great Horned Owl, you can close your eyes and picture it. Hear what experts John Bates and Shannon Hackett have to say about these amazing birds as they discuss them with RJ and Amanda. Although beautiful and majestic, these birds are vicious predators. We also answer one of our listener questions about what …

1
8: Purple Martin - Living in Man-Made Homes + A Killer Grackle 31:37

12M ago31:37

31:37

Send us a Text Message. John Bates, Shannon Hackett, RJ Pole, and Amanda Marquart discuss the Purple Martin. These birds live almost entirely in man-made structures in the Eastern US, listen to learn more. We also discuss what impact fireworks have on birds, and what the recent smoke across the US means for birds. After that, we read a mailbag ques…

1
7: Mailbag + Teaser 15:18

1y ago15:18

15:18

Send us a Text Message. We have a shorter episode this week as we dive into a few of our listener mailbag questions. We talk about Red Knots on Sanibel Island, Florida. We'll be back after the Fourth of July with some more full episodes. Check out our instagram @birds_of_a_feather_podcast for more updates. We'll post an episode there of when John w…

1
6: Frigatebird, The Gular Pouch, and Flying High For Fun? 29:24

1y ago29:24

29:24

Send us a Text Message. On this week's episode we discuss the Frigatebird. John Bates, Shannon Hackett, Amanda Marquart and RJ Pole all talk about the Frigatebird, it's bizarre gular pouch and what is used for, and whether or not birds fly 'for fun'. (Spoiler alert, we think they do!) We also answer a mailbag question about the "Owl Theory" from th…

1
5: Sandhill Cranes - Migration, and Mating for Life (a myth?) 35:16

1y ago35:16

35:16

Send us a Text Message. On this week's episode we discuss Sandhill Cranes. Join John Bates, Shannon Hackett, RJ Pole, and Amanda Marquart as we dive into the world of the beautiful Sandhill Crane. From their migration, to whether or not birds 'mate for life', we get deep into discussion on these magnificent birds. We also cover the Ruby Crowned Kin…

1
4: American Woodcock - Dancing and Peenting 28:34

1y ago28:34

28:34

Send us a Text Message. John Bates and Shannon Hackett discuss the American Woodcock with their co-hosts RJ Pole and Amanda Marquart. We discuss their mating rituals, and learn some new details about these amazing birds. If you want to write into our show to be featured in our mailbag section, please give us a shout at podcast.birdsofafeather@gmail…

1
Teaser: Upcoming Episodes! 1:32

1y ago1:32

1:32

Send us a Text Message. Coming soon are episodes on The American Woodcock, Sandhill Crane, and Frigatebird. Here's a little preview of what to expect! QqJip9ff9tcADGm6abuXBy John, Shannon, RJ, Amanda

1
1: Ivory Billed Woodpecker 33:25

1y ago33:25

33:25

Send us a Text Message. Join John Bates and Shannon Hackett as they teach birding enthusiasts RJ and Amanda on their journey to learn more about the Ivory Billed Woodpecker. John and Shannon work at the Chicago Field Museum and manage one of the largest collection of bird specimen in the world. The Ivory Billed may (or may not?) be extinct, but eit…

1
2: Birds of Paradise 38:23

1y ago38:23

38:23

Send us a Text Message. Join us this week as we discuss the Birds of Paradise. From their mating rituals, to their exotic dancing, to a bird specimen that may have been found by Alfred Russel Wallace himself. John and Shannon's knowledge of the Birds of Paradise is truly fascinating, as we jump in to learn more. We love to hear from our fans! Pleas…

1
3: Mailbag! Travel, Genetic Mutations and Color 16:40

1y ago16:40

16:40

Send us a Text Message. Join us this week as we answer more questions from our fans. John travels to Uganda, RJ travels to the San Juan Islands, and we learn about genetic mutations on birds and how it can effect their coloring. Birds of a Feather Talk Together is the ultimate bird podcast for expert birders and amateur birders who are just getting…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

RJ Pole Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Quick Reference Guide