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Jerry
Apr 4, 2021
I love this podcast! Every episode is fun and interesting. It never drags. Just the right amount of humor to keep things light without being annoying. Sometimes when I'm listening, I think "I wish he'd explain X, and then he does!
Episode | Date |
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The Northern Cardinal
1963
This is Episode 51. Our bird of interest today is the Northern Cardinal, Cardinalis cardinalis.
Link to this episode on the Science of Birds website Support the show |
May 06, 2022 |
Female Birdsong
1311
This episode—which is Number 50— is all about Female Birdsong.
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Apr 19, 2022 |
Nests: Types, Construction, and Challenges
3122
This episode—which is Number 49—is all about bird nests. ~~ Leave me a review using Podchaser ~~
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Apr 06, 2022 |
The Pecking Order: Dominance Hierarchies in Birds
1619
This episode—which is Number 48—is about the “Pecking Order” in birds. Or, to use the more technical term, dominance hierarchy. ~~ Leave me a review using Podchaser ~~ Link to this episode on the Science of Birds website Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/scienceofbirds) |
Mar 25, 2022 |
Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers (Family: Laridae)
2518
This is Episode 47. It’s all about birds in the family Laridae. This is an ancient evolutionary lineage that originated over 70 million years ago, when the world was still ruled by dinosaurs.
Links of Interest Link to this episode on the Science of Birds website |
Mar 10, 2022 |
Wallace's Line: Where Two Bird Worlds Collide
1160
This episode—which is Number 46—is about a special place in the Malay Archipelago where two bird worlds collide. This region lies between Southeast Asia and Australia, between the Indian and Pacific oceans. And it’s crowded with about 25,000 islands, of all sizes. ~~ Leave me a review using Podchaser ~~ Link to this episode on the Science of Birds website Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/scienceofbirds) |
Feb 18, 2022 |
Solving Bird Mysteries with Forensic Ornithology
2944
This episode is all about forensic ornithology. This is a field where specialists use scientific techniques to identify bird species from trace evidence. Evidence like maybe a bit of feather, a bone fragment, or a smear of blood.
Link to this episode on the Science of Birds website Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/scienceofbirds) |
Feb 11, 2022 |
Coffee and Bird Conservation
1128
This episode—which is Number 44—is about the relationship between coffee production and bird conservation. ~~ Leave me a review using Podchaser ~~ Links of Interest Link to this episode on the Science of Birds website Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/scienceofbirds) |
Jan 20, 2022 |
The Common Loon
2324
This episode—which is Number 43—is all about the Common Loon, Gavia immer. People in Europe may know it as the Great Northern Diver. This bird is a symbol of the northern wilderness in North America. It’s closely associated with lakes and ponds in the boreal forests of the northern US and Canada. Links of Interest
Link to this episode on the Science of Birds website |
Jan 13, 2022 |
Awesome Things We Learned About Birds in 2021
2260
2021 is over, yo! So it's time for the Annual Review Episode! ~~ Leave me a review using Podchaser ~~ Links of Interest
References
Link to this episode on the Science of Birds website |
Dec 30, 2021 |
Swallows and Martins
2916
This episode is all about birds in the family Hirundinidae. These are the swallows and martins. |
Dec 23, 2021 |
Fire and Birds
2945
Ecologists and ornithologists have been studying the effects of wildfire on bird populations all over the world. Their research has resulted in many fascinating discoveries about the relationships between fire and birds. It turns out there’s no simple “yes or no” answer to that question. Links of Interest
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Dec 07, 2021 |
Ask Me Anything About Birds - Nov 2021
2579
This is a special episode, and the first of its kind. I answer questions from my listeners. It’s a fun, mixed bag of bird factoids. Who were these lucky people who got to contribute to this episode? The specific listeners who submitted questions were my supporters on Patreon. ~~ Leave me a review using Podchaser ~~ Links of Interest References
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Nov 16, 2021 |
New World Vultures
3056
This episode is about the seven bird species in the family Cathartidae: the New World vultures and condors. ~~ Leave me a review using Podchaser ~~ Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/scienceofbirds) |
Nov 03, 2021 |
How Birds Fly
2172
Birds, probably more than any other aerial creatures, have amazed and inspired us with the grace and power of their flight. So just how do they do it? ~~ Leave me a review using Podchaser ~~ Links of Interest
Link to this episode on the Science of Birds website Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/scienceofbirds) |
Oct 20, 2021 |
Penguins
3476
This episode is all about penguins. All penguins belong to the family Spheniscidae. ~~ Leave me a review using Podchaser ~~ Links of Interest
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Sep 29, 2021 |
Wetlands as Bird Habitat
2185
In this episode, we’re going to look at wetlands as habitats for birds. We’ll start with how to recognize—how to define—a wetland ecosystem. Then, we’ll get into why these ecosystems are so important to birds. How do birds use wetlands as habitat? Next, I’ll highlight a few examples of bird species that depend on wetlands. Then we’ll talk about the conservation issues surrounding wetlands, and how their loss is affecting birds. ~~ Leave me a review using Podchaser ~~ Links of Interest Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/scienceofbirds) |
Sep 15, 2021 |
Roadrunners
1952
This episode is all about the bird species in the genus Geococcyx. There are only two: the Greater Roadrunner and the Lesser Roadrunner. People in North America have revered the Greater Roadrunner for thousands of years. This bird features prominently in Native American and Mexican legends and lore. It’s usually depicted in a good light. Roadrunners are bold, clever, and fast—all admirable characteristics. They’re also large and conspicuous birds, so it’s not surprising that more than one culture has paid them some special attention. Learn about the key traits of roadrunners and their habitats, diet, and breeding. ~~ Leave me a review using Podchaser ~~ Links of Interest Link to this episode on the Science of Birds website Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/scienceofbirds) |
Sep 01, 2021 |
eBird and Citizen Science
2508
eBird is a digital archive of bird observations. It’s a database of observations from across the planet. eBird users connect to the database via the Internet, to both contribute data and access data. In this episode, we’ll start off by going over what exactly eBird is. Then, we’ll consider the characteristics of the scientific data that eBird users produce. ~~ Leave me a review using Podchaser ~~
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Aug 21, 2021 |
Pigeons and Doves
2637
This episode is all about birds in the family Columbidae. These are all the world’s many species of pigeons and doves. ~~ Leave me a review using Podchaser ~~ Link to this episode on the Science of Birds website |
Jul 30, 2021 |
The Birds of Alaska
2138
Alaska is a truly amazing place that is still dominated by nature. It’s a wonderful region to explore for anyone who loves birds and charismatic megafauna. Many of Alaska’s vast natural areas are relatively intact. They offer endless opportunities for visitors to immerse themselves in raw nature. I recently returned from leading a birding tour in Alaska and I was inspired to make a podcast episode about the Birds of Alaska. ~~ Leave me a review using Podchaser ~~
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Jul 20, 2021 |
The Shoebill
1675
The Shoebill is a tall, gray bird that appears more dinosaur-like than most members of the class Aves. You aren’t likely to confuse it with any other bird. It possesses a unique and impressive combination of size, color, and bill shape. The Shoebill is a top predator in certain kinds of swamps and wetlands in Africa. It terrorizes not only large fish, but other small aquatic animals, like amphibians and reptiles. This almost mythical beast of a bird is one of the most exciting species in all of Africa. This episode is all about the Shoebill, Balaeniceps rex. What it looks like, where it lives, how it behaves, and its conservation status. ~~ Leave me a review using Podchaser ~~
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Jun 10, 2021 |
Artificial Intelligence in Bird Research
3030
We hear the terms ‘artificial intelligence’ and ‘AI’ all the time these days. Beyond the issue of evil robots taking over the world, AI technology is helping scientists do some pretty amazing things in the field of ornithology. In this episode, we’ll talk about what artificial intelligence is and give some interesting examples of how it’s being used to study birds. We’ll also touch on some tools that use artificial intelligence to help you in your quest to identify birds. ~~ Leave me a review using Podchaser ~~
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May 28, 2021 |
New World Warblers
3413
New World Warblers are all the birds in the family Parulidae. You’ll sometimes hear these birds referred to as ‘Wood-Warblers.’ New World Warblers are among the most celebrated and sought after birds in North America. We love them here. They’re colorful, they’re energetic, and many of them have pleasant little songs. These birds have also been the subjects of many scientific studies over the years. Which is great, because it means there’s a lot that ornithologists know about the biology of these magnificent little creatures. ~~ Leave me a review using Podchaser ~~
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May 12, 2021 |
Mate Choice and Sexual Selection in Birds
3080
This episode is all about how birds choose their mates and the evolutionary outcomes of those choices. A lot of what we’re talking about today has to do with sexual selection, which is a special form of natural selection. In sexual selection, individuals compete for mates. This is when females and males choose their partners based on specific traits. Traits like plumage color or song, behavior, etc. This choosiness has resulted in some spectacular features in birds. Many of the things we love most about birds are consequences of sexual selection. ~~ Leave me a review using Podchaser ~~
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Apr 27, 2021 |
Sandpipers
2777
Birds in the family Scolopacidae include all the world’s sandpipers and birds such as godwits, curlews, snipes, dowitchers, willets, stints, and more. ~~ Leave me a review using Podchaser ~~
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Apr 11, 2021 |
Bird Intelligence
2826
Our understanding of bird brains and intelligence has grown tremendously in the last couple decades. ~~ Leave me a review using Podchaser ~~
Link to this episode on the Science of Birds website |
Mar 28, 2021 |
Vermilion Flycatcher
1148
The Vermilion Flycatcher (Pyrocephalus rubinus) is a charming bird found in the arid southwest of the United States, as well as in Mexico and down to southern South America. This bright red flycatcher is a favorite of birders and bird photographers. Join Ivan as he introduces you to the basic features of this species. We’ll also take a look at some interesting questions, like “Why are the Vermilion Flycatchers of Lima, Peru so dark and sooty-looking?” Link to this episode on the Science of Birds website |
Mar 07, 2021 |
Cats vs Birds
2258
Join Ivan as he wades into the conservation quagmire surrounding house cats and their effects on wild birds. First, we’ll look at the status of house cat and feral cat populations around the world. How are all these free-ranging cats affecting our wild birds? Many scientific studies of this issue give us some answers. Research also provides guidance for how best to solve the problems that cats create for birds. Some approaches are more severe than others. We’ll also go over a few ways that responsible cat owners can help protect their local birds as well as keep their kitty happy. ~~ Leave me a review using Podchaser ~~ Links of Interest
Link to this episode on the Science of Birds website |
Feb 24, 2021 |
Finches
3262
All about the ‘true’ finches, the species belonging to the family Fringillidae. These small songbirds are found in many places around the world. Most of them specialize in eating seeds. Not every bird we commonly call ‘finch’ is a member of this family. And the family includes many birds that don’t have the word ‘finch’ in their common name. Confusing? Yes. We’ll try to clear some of this up for you. Learn about the key features of finches as well as their global distribution, evolution, feeding, and more. There’s lots of fun stuff to know about these charming birds! ~~ Leave me a review using Podchaser ~~
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Feb 05, 2021 |
How Birds Survive in Winter
2387
Winter can be a cold, dark time when food is scarce. Birds fight to stay alive during this season by using a variety of behavioral and physiological adaptations. Many of these are the same things you and I would do. But birds also have some amazing, unique adaptations to winter that we can only marvel at. ~~ Leave me a review using Podchaser ~~
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Jan 24, 2021 |
Kingfishers
2777
Kingfishers—all the birds in the family Alcedinidae—are the focus of this episode. There are many species of these charismatic birds living across the world. ~~ Leave me a review using Podchaser ~~ Links of Interest
|
Jan 10, 2021 |
5 Awesome Things We Learned About Birds in 2020
1996
Despite much of human civilization grinding to a halt in 2020, research on birds continued to be published in scientific journals.
Link to this episode on the Science of Birds website |
Dec 31, 2020 |
Ducks, Geese, and Swans
2822
This episode focuses on the biological family Anatidae. This family includes the over 150 species of ducks, geese, and swans in the world.
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Dec 20, 2020 |
Bird Party: Mixed-Species Flocks
1844
Sometimes birds of many feathers flock together. Mixed-species foraging flocks are seen in forests all across the world. Different combinations of species are found in each region. Link to this episode on the Science of Birds website |
Dec 12, 2020 |
Peregrine Falcon
2102
This episode is all about the Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus), of the family Falconidae. Learn about this incredible bird's key features, its global diversity, feeding behavior, and more. Links of Interest
Link to this episode on the Science of Birds website |
Dec 05, 2020 |
What Is a Species, Really?
2626
The definition of ‘species’ isn’t as simple as you might think. In this episode, we look at the methods ornithologists use to identify and name bird species. And we discuss the challenges they face in this work. Link to this episode on the Science of Birds website |
Nov 29, 2020 |
Pelicans
2260
Summary In this episode, we focus on the family Pelecanidae. We go through the characteristics of pelicans, with a focus on their bill and throat pouch. We also discuss the feeding strategies of pelicans, how they breed, and their evolution. Finally, we touch on some issues about the conservation of pelicans. Along the way, we’ll do some myth-busting. There are several misconceptions about pelicans that we need to address. Links of Interest
Link to this episode on the Science of Birds website |
Nov 19, 2020 |
Feathers: Form and Function
2223
Summary In this episode, we explore those functions after looking closely at the anatomy—the structure—of a feather. We discuss the 6 types of feathers: contour feathers, flight feathers, down, semiplumes, bristles, and filoplumes. Some functions we explore are flight, insulation, and camouflage. Links of Interest
Link to this episode on the Science of Birds website
Attributions
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Nov 12, 2020 |
Brood Parasites Are Devious Birds
1782
This is where a female lays an egg in the nest of another bird. The parasite female flies away and never sees her offspring. The host bird or birds are fooled into raising the foreign chick as their own. Learn about which types of birds use this breeding strategy, including cuckoos and cowbirds. We’ll discuss the various tactics used by both the parasites and their hosts in this evolutionary arms race. And we’ll get into some ins and outs of the evolutionary process in these birds. Links of Interest
Errors and Clarifications
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Nov 05, 2020 |
Woodpeckers
2213
Summary In this episode, we first summarize the key features of woodpeckers. Then we’ll look at the evolution and modern-day diversity of the family. We discuss many of the special adaptations of woodpeckers, which they use as they go about their day, foraging. How woodpeckers breed and communicate and a bit about their conservation status round out the episode. Links to Some Things Mentioned in this Episode
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Oct 29, 2020 |
How Do Birds Sleep?
1718
In this episode, we discuss the most important functions of sleep in birds. Then we get into the evolution of sleep in birds.
Link to this episode on the Science of Birds website Errors and Clarifications
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Oct 22, 2020 |
The Biggest Global Threats to Birds
1795
Summary Birds around the world are in trouble. Their populations have suffered major declines in the last 50 years. What does the latest research tell us about the causes of these declines? What are the biggest threats to our most vulnerable bird species? You can probably guess some of the answers, but you might be surprised by some of what you learn in this episode. We’ll cover the top five major threats in some detail. Links to Some Things Mentioned in this Episode
Link to this episode on the Science of Birds website Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/scienceofbirds) |
Oct 13, 2020 |
Hummingbirds
2207
Episode: 8 The remarkable behavioral and anatomical features of hummingbirds are what make them so endearing to us. The way they fly, their colors, and their penchant for flowers have all made hummingbirds rock stars of the avian world. In this episode, we focus entirely on the hummingbird family, Trochilidae. I’ll first give you an overview of hummingbird evolution. Then, we’ll discuss their present-day diversity and distribution. Then we dive into an assortment of fun topics about hummingbirds, including flight, metabolism, and breeding. At the end of the episode, I talk about feeding hummingbirds-- how to do it right and some of the interesting consequences. Links to Some Things Mentioned in this Episode Research Citations
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Sep 22, 2020 |
Vision in Birds
1426
Episode: 7 It can be argued that, of all the animals, birds are the best at seeing stuff. Most species have an excellent sense of sight. In this episode, I’ll first introduce you to the anatomy of a bird’s eye. Then, we’ll look into (see what I did there?) how birds perceive color and their visual acuity. And last we’ll talk about the difference between monocular and binocular vision in birds. Research Citations
Link to this episode on the Science of Birds website Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/scienceofbirds) |
Sep 22, 2020 |
Bird Songs - Part 2
1171
Episode: 6 This episode is Part 2 of 2 about Bird Songs. In the last episode, Part 1, we talked mostly about the “how” and the “who” of bird songs. We haven’t really talked about the “why,” the purpose of all these vocal sounds. This episode begins by looking at the functions of bird songs and calls. Then we get into variation in bird songs, at several levels, including among species and among geographic regions. You’ll also learn about some interesting subtopics like the dawn chorus and female songs. Research Citations
Links to Some Things Mentioned in this Episode Attributions
Link to this episode on the Science of Birds website |
Sep 22, 2020 |
Bird Songs - Part 1
1302
Episode: 5 This episode is Part 1 of 2 about Bird Songs. The voices of birds dominate nature’s soundscape. Bird songs and calls can be heard in almost every environment on the planet. In this episode, I’ll cover the characteristics of bird songs and how they are produced. We’ll also get into the question of whether bird songs are learned or instinctual. Research Citations
Links to Some Things Mentioned in this Episode
Attributions
Link to this episode on the Science of Birds website Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/scienceofbirds) |
Sep 22, 2020 |
Migration in Birds
1910
Episode: 4 The annual long-distance movements of birds are amazing feats of endurance and navigation. Learn about the various forms of migration and other annual movements in birds. We’ll cover many concepts related to migration, including timing and orientation, staging areas, and flyways. Research Citations Links to Some Things Mentioned in this Episode Link to this episode on the Science of Birds website Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/scienceofbirds) |
Sep 22, 2020 |
The Biodiversity of Birds
1435
Episode: 3 In this episode, you’ll get an overview of the origin of avian species diversity and its present-day distribution across the planet. I offer some definitions of ‘biodiversity’ with respect to birds. We’ll discuss why this diversity is important. Links to Some Things Mentioned in this Episode Research Citations
Errors and Clarifications Link to this episode on the Science of Birds website Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/scienceofbirds) |
Sep 22, 2020 |
Competition Between Bird Species
1384
Episode: 2 Learn about the ways that different bird species compete with each other over food and other resources. I first talk about the concept of the ecological niche, since this is so important to this episode's topic. Then, I get into the different forms of competition between bird species and present the possible outcomes of that competition. Lastly, I briefly touch on the general approaches that scientists take in studying interspecies competition in birds. Links to Some Things Mentioned in this Episode Research Citations
Errors and Clarifications Error - 23:04 min: I say that the second type of competition between species is "exploitation interference". I meant to say exploitation competition. I make this error repeatedly in this section. My apologies! Link to this episode on the Science of Birds website Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/scienceofbirds) |
Sep 22, 2020 |
The Origin of Birds
1507
Episode: 1 Learn about the deep evolutionary origin of birds and follow their history up to the great extinction that happened 66 million years ago. First, I discuss what we mean when we say “bird.” What characteristics separate modern birds from other animal groups? Then I discuss the evidence—both historical and recent—that scientists have used to determine the evolutionary history of birds. Finally, we arrive at the answer of where birds fit on the tree of life. Research Citations
Errors and Clarifications Error - 05:39 min: I say that scientists have genome sequences for 'all living birds.' What I meant was that we have genome sequences for representative species within each of the living bird families. Link to this episode on the Science of Birds website Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/scienceofbirds) |
Sep 19, 2020 |