Bring Birds Back

Duck hunting may sound like a forbidden sport for most bird lovers but did you know that some of the most dedicated bird conservationists - in the world - are also devout hunters? In this episode of Bring Birds Back, our host Deja Perkins speaks with Jerad Henson from Ducks Unlimited– one of the largest and longest running waterfowl and wetlands conservation organizations in the world. Jerad talks us through the complex history of hunters as conservationists in the Americas and the incredible impact of the organization from past to present. The oft-times controversial sport is much more than just a pastime, it’s also been a lifeline for species and habitats for decades. You don’t want to miss this one! Press play.Want more Bring Birds Back? Follow us on your favorite podcast app and on Instagram @BringBirdsBack! To learn more about the Ducks, Unlimited, read the episode transcript and find other resources from this episode, visit BirdNote.org and search for this episode.For more about BirdNote, sign up for our weekly newsletter. And for ad-free listening and other perks, sign up for BirdNote+ here.Learn how you can get involved in our From Love to Action campaign when you visit BirdNote.org!BirdNote is a nonprofit. Your tax-deductible gift makes these shows possible.Bring Birds Back Season 8 is sponsored by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s Bird Academy. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Chicago has been in the spotlight quite a lot as of late, but one of its most remarkable attributes can be seen in the night sky: nocturnal bird migration. In this episode, our host Deja Perkins speaks with J’orge Garcia of the Windy City Bird Lab about how he’s integrating technology and birders to build stronger community ties. In collaboration with several local organizations and projects, J’orge and his supporters are creating new spaces for social growth while implementing tried and true methods for conservation. Learn more about one of the quickest growing city-wide initiatives and how you can get involved, too! Listen now. Want more Bring Birds Back? Follow us on your favorite podcast app and on Instagram @BringBirdsBack! To learn more about the Windy City Bird Lab, read the episode transcript and find other resources from this episode, visit BirdNote.org and search for this episode.For more about BirdNote, sign up for our weekly newsletter. And for ad-free listening and other perks, sign up for BirdNote+ here.Learn how you can get involved in our From Love to Action campaign when you visit BirdNote.org!BirdNote is a nonprofit. Your tax-deductible gift makes these shows possible.Bring Birds Back Season 8 is sponsored by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s Bird Academy. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this season 8 premiere, host Deja Perkins returns with legislative strategist from the American Bird Conservancy, Hardy Kern. Hardy shares the history of the Endangered Species Act, how the legendary law is being challenged by the current administration, and what we’re due to lose should these proposals pass. Then, he talks specifics about the plight of the Lesser Prairie Chicken– and why they need our help today. Tune in right now!Want more Bring Birds Back? Follow us on your favorite podcast app and on Instagram @BringBirdsBack! To learn more about Hardy, how you can help or to read the episode transcript and other resources from this episode, visit BirdNote.org and search for this episode.For more about BirdNote, sign up for our weekly newsletter. And for ad-free listening and other perks, sign up for BirdNote+ here.Learn how you can get involved in our From Love to Action campaign when you visit BirdNote.org!BirdNote is a nonprofit. Your tax-deductible gift makes these shows possible.Bring Birds Back Season 8 is sponsored by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s Bird Academy. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The season 8 premiere of Bring Birds Back starts Wednesday, December 3rd! With our returning host, Dr. Deja Perkins, we’re deep diving into policy, tech, and protections for birds. From the Endangered Species Act to nocturnal migration, and even hunting – we explore various different forms of conservation through very different people and interests! Tune in starting December 3rd. Want more? Stay up to date by following us on your favorite podcast app and on Instagram @BringBirdsBack! For more about BirdNote, sign up for our weekly newsletter. And for ad-free listening and other perks, sign up for BirdNote+ here.Learn how you can get involved in our From Love to Action campaign when you visit BirdNote.org!BirdNote is a nonprofit. Your tax-deductible gift makes these shows possible.Bring Birds Back Season 8 is sponsored by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s Bird Academy. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Ornithologist, poet and MacArthur Fellow, Dr. J. Drew Lanham, speaks with host Billy Almon in our season 7 finale! The two begin by talking about Drew’s humble beginnings and southern influence from his grandmother’s teachings, and how he became a self-taught birder. Later, they discuss his latest book, “Joy is the Justice We Give Ourselves,” and talk about the connection between his poetic roots and his identity as a Black man with a deep love for birds and the wilderness. You won’t want to miss this special episode. Listen now.Want more Bring Birds Back? Follow us on your favorite podcast app and on Instagram @BringBirdsBack! For more about BirdNote, sign up for our weekly newsletter. And for ad-free listening and other perks, sign up for BirdNote+ here.For more information about the From Love to Action campaign, episode transcript and other resources from this episode, visit BirdNote.org and search for this episode.BirdNote is a nonprofit. Your tax-deductible gift makes these shows possible.Bring Birds Back Season 7 is sponsored by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and Bird Academy. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What’s a climate crisis without acknowledgment of an emergency? In conversation with guests Dr. Rose Abramoff and Dr. Mustafa Santiago Ali, host Anika Hazra discusses the ever-evolving battle for a healthy world from the front lines to legislation. Rose, a climate scientist turned activist, shares her viral story about a protest that led to her termination at work. And Mustafa, a leading activist, strategist and policymaker, brings decades of experience about fighting back behind government lines and beyond, from the EPA to the NWF. Both, from two different generations, have one uniting goal and offer critical advice and support. Press play!Want more Bring Birds Back? Follow us on your favorite podcast app and on Instagram @BringBirdsBack! For more about BirdNote, sign up for our weekly newsletter. And for ad-free listening and other perks, sign up for BirdNote+ here.For more information about the From Love to Action campaign, episode transcript and other resources from this episode, visit BirdNote.org and search for this episode.BirdNote is a nonprofit. Your tax-deductible gift makes these shows possible.Bring Birds Back Season 7 is sponsored by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and Bird Academy. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Host Anika Hazra speaks with tenured professor and leading voice in neuroscience, Dr. Erich Jarvis! Erich, who has spent decades researching the neural biological connections between mammals and birds, shares his research that indicates some birds are ancestrally connected to humans through speech! Detailing his work with song-learning birds and humans, he explains the importance of these discoveries, especially regarding speech deficits and disorders. Later, as a longtime NIH partner, Erich gets honest about the setbacks and challenges he and his colleagues are facing. Press play on this important episode today!Want more Bring Birds Back? Follow us on your favorite podcast app and on Instagram @BringBirdsBack! For more about BirdNote, sign up for our weekly newsletter. And for ad-free listening and other perks, sign up for BirdNote+ here.For more information about the From Love to Action campaign, episode transcript and other resources from this episode, visit BirdNote.org and search for this episode.BirdNote is a nonprofit. Your tax-deductible gift makes these shows possible.Bring Birds Back Season 7 is sponsored by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and Bird Academy. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Host Billy Almon speaks with Indigenous water scientist, legal scholar and advocate Dr. Kelsey Leonard. Kelsey incorporates both her Indigenous knowledge and practices along with her western science studies to advocate for a better world for us all. From the importance of birds to Indigenous cultures, the critical role water plays in the health of land, and her fight not only for the rights of rivers but also the legal need for Earth law, there’s so much here to learn!Want more Bring Birds Back? Follow us on your favorite podcast app and on Instagram @BringBirdsBack! For more about BirdNote, sign up for our weekly newsletter. And for ad-free listening and other perks, sign up for BirdNote+ here.For more information about the From Love to Action campaign, episode transcript and other resources from this episode, visit BirdNote.org and search for this episode.BirdNote is a nonprofit. Your tax-deductible gift makes these shows possible.Bring Birds Back Season 7 is sponsored by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and Bird Academy. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Meet your co-host, Anika Hazra! Anika is a former restoration ecologist turned science communicator, and in this episode, she’s teaching us all about her past work life. Restoration ecology is a less popular method of conservation that holds a lot of potential and Anika walks us through restoration 101. Then, she speaks with behavioral and forest ecologist, Dr. Mario Pesendorfer. Mario shares his work following the unique relationship between seed dispersal birds like corvids and successfully revitalized forests. Jays and crows step into the limelight in this episode. Grab your snacks and tune in!Want more Bring Birds Back? Follow us on your favorite podcast app and on Instagram @BringBirdsBack! For more about BirdNote, sign up for our weekly newsletter. And for ad-free listening and other perks, sign up for BirdNote+ here.For more information about the From Love to Action campaign, episode transcript and other resources from this episode, visit BirdNote.org and search for this episode.BirdNote is a nonprofit. Your tax-deductible gift makes these shows possible.Bring Birds Back Season 7 is sponsored by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and Bird Academy. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On this season premiere episode, meet your new co-host, Billy Almon! Billy is an astrobiofuturist (which you’ll hear more about later), and one of his passions and expertise is in the art of biomimicry. Billy lays out the history of this ancient process, how it's been instrumental in connecting birds to technology, and how he uses it in his own work. Later, he’ll speak with writer, activist and social justice facilitator adrienne maree brown! adrienne walks us through the unique way she utilizes biomimicry, as explained in their book, Emergent Strategy: Shaping Change, Changing Worlds. Diving deeper into the power of fractals as a biomimetic example, we explore its connection to the natural world and how it can guide us through pivotal life upheavals. You won’t want to miss this one!Want more Bring Birds Back? Follow us on your favorite podcast app and on Instagram @BringBirdsBack! For more about BirdNote, sign up for our weekly newsletter. And for ad-free listening and other perks, sign up for BirdNote+ here.For more information about the From Love to Action campaign, episode transcript and other resources from this episode, visit BirdNote.org and search for this episode.BirdNote is a nonprofit. Your tax-deductible gift makes these shows possible.Bring Birds Back Season 7 is sponsored by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and Bird Academy. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Bring Birds Back, is back... and we’ve got two new co-hosts, Billy Almon and Anika Hazra! They'll be sharing their own personal knowledge and passions with you, while also interviewing world-renowned faves like J. Drew Lanham, adrienne maree brown, and Dr. Mustafa Santiago Ali – to name a few. We’re talking everything from the importance of songbirds, parrots and hummingbirds to human memory, crows and blue jays to ecological restoration, and scientists to the world today. You’ll learn about Indigenous water justice, biomimicry, even the power of radical joy – and how it all relates to our feathered friends in the sky. Join us every week, starting Wednesday July 30th!Want more? Stay up to date by subscribing to our show and following us on Instagram @BringBirdsBack! For more about BirdNote, sign up for our weekly newsletter. And for ad-free listening and other perks, sign up for BirdNote+ here.Learn how you can get involved in our From Love to Action campaign when you visit BirdNote.org!BirdNote is a nonprofit. Your tax-deductible gift makes these shows possible.Bring Birds Back Season 7 is sponsored by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and Bird Academy. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Avian flu, better known as bird flu, has been in news headlines all summer of 2024. Still, many questions remain for the general public. What is it? What’s causing it? How is it spreading? And how serious should we be taking this public health matter? Our co-hosts Purbita Saha and Deja Perkins sit with leading scientists, Director of Molecular Biology Dr. Andy Ramey from the USGS Alaska Science Center, and molecular virologist at Tufts University, Dr. Wendy Puryear. Tune in. Share with a friend. And don’t fret, our only goal is to leave you like an owl– very sharp, very wise.To learn more about our guests and their work or to view this episode’s transcript and other resources, visit BirdNote.org.Want more Bring Birds Back? Subscribe to our show and follow us on Instagram! For more about BirdNote, sign up for our weekly newsletter. And for ad-free listening and other perks, sign up for BirdNote+ here.BirdNote is a nonprofit. Your tax-deductible gift makes these shows possible.Bring Birds Back Season 6 is sponsored by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the American Bird Conservancy. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Since 1976, Project Feederwatch has been through many changes and iterations. But what has remained is the dedication to collecting data that undeniably improves bird science. In this episode, host Deja Perkins speaks with Emma Greig, U.S. Project Lead for Feederwatch, about what this data has uncovered over the years. Deja also speaks with wildlife researcher Ashley Dayer, and gets into the specifics about all the great things bird feeding does for you – and despite some criticisms, great things it does for the birds, too!To learn more about our guests and their work or to view this episode’s transcript and other resources, visit BirdNote.org.Want more Bring Birds Back? Subscribe to our show and follow us on Instagram! For more about BirdNote, sign up for our weekly newsletter. And for ad-free listening and other perks, sign up for BirdNote+ here.BirdNote is a nonprofit. Your tax-deductible gift makes these shows possible.Bring Birds Back Season 6 is sponsored by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the American Bird Conservancy. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In 2023, over 120 contributors published a study in the scientific journal, Ornithological Applications, about a long history of exclusion Latin American and Caribbean scientists have faced. In the world of ornithology, the Global North is king – but only because they’ve made it that way. Host, Purbita Saha, speaks with two of the study’s leading researchers, Dr. Ernesto Ruelas Inzunza and Dr. Kristina Cockle, about the ways research from the Global South has been undermined, and how regional bias, racial discrimination, and socioeconomic differences have played a role. They discuss how this lack of acknowledgment is harming conservation efforts for birds and – teach us a thing or two about our feathered friends over in the Tropics! To learn more about our guests and their work or to view this episode’s transcript and other resources, visit BirdNote.org.Want more Bring Birds Back? Subscribe to our show and follow us on Instagram! For more about BirdNote, sign up for our weekly newsletter. And for ad-free listening and other perks, sign up for BirdNote+ here.BirdNote is a nonprofit. Your tax-deductible gift makes these shows possible.Bring Birds Back Season 6 is sponsored by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the American Bird Conservancy.*A previous version of this episode included closing commentary from a Neotropical scientist who was not a contributor to the highlighted scientific journal paper. Their comments have been removed from the episode. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On October 5, 2023, thousands of migrating songbirds died after crashing into the McCormick Place Convention Center in downtown Chicago and surrounding buildings. Co-host Deja Perkins will speak with Douglas Stotz, a conservation ecologist at the Chicago-based Field Museum about that deadly night. She’ll also talk with Chicago Bird Alliance’s Judy Pollock about what has transpired in the months since. And co-host Purbita Saha takes us to New York’s Jacob Javits Convention Center, once known for frequent window strikes but now is a safe haven for all birds – migrating and local.To learn more about our guests and their work or to view this episode’s transcript and other resources, visit BirdNote.org.Want more Bring Birds Back? Subscribe to our show and follow us on Instagram! For more about BirdNote, sign up for our weekly newsletter. And for ad-free listening and other perks, sign up for BirdNote+ here.BirdNote is a nonprofit. Your tax-deductible gift makes these shows possible.Bring Birds Back Season 6 is sponsored by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the American Bird Conservancy. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Historically, birding spaces aren’t known to show diverse faces, races and even genders. But for the Chicago BIPOC Birders group, co-founder Daniela Herrera proves that what has always been isn’t always right. In this episode, Herrera shares with our host Deja Perkins why spaces for Black and brown birders are important to have for both safety and community-building. The group’s dynamic and inclusive approach to birding, as well as their grassroots-based structure is not only impressive but inspiring. To learn more about our guests and their work or to view this episode’s transcript and other resources, visit BirdNote.org.Want more Bring Birds Back? Subscribe to our show and follow us on Instagram! For more about BirdNote, sign up for our weekly newsletter. And for ad-free listening and other perks, sign up for BirdNote+ here.BirdNote is a nonprofit. Your tax-deductible gift makes these shows possible.Bring Birds Back Season 6 is sponsored by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the American Bird Conservancy. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

How much do you know about the lives of female birds? And could you identify, say, a male Scarlet Tanager from a female? This episode’s host and co-founder of the Galbatross Project, Purbita Saha, is here to explain why studying female birds is important. Joining her, ornithologist Joanna Wu details how the often overlooked and understudied female birds are crucial to bird conservation efforts. And wildlife ecologist, Michael Chamberlain, shares his vast knowledge about turkeys – a species whose survival was greatly impacted by a significant increase in research about turkey hens. To learn more about our guests and their work or to view this episode’s transcript and other resources, visit BirdNote.org.Want more Bring Birds Back? Subscribe to our show and follow us on Instagram! For more about BirdNote, sign up for our weekly newsletter. And for ad-free listening and other perks, sign up for BirdNote+ here.BirdNote is a nonprofit. Your tax-deductible gift makes these shows possible.Bring Birds Back Season 6 is sponsored by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the American Bird Conservancy. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Join us every other Wednesday for a new episode of Bring Birds Back! Meet this season’s co-hosts Deja Perkins and Purbita Saha, and learn about a wide range of topics from community activism in BIPOC birding spaces to regional and socioeconomic biases in the field of ornithology. From the landmark Chicago building contributing to a billion bird strikes a year to the ongoing bird flu pandemic – we have a lot to talk about. Subscribe now so you won’t miss it! Want more Bring Birds Back? Follow us on Instagram! For more about BirdNote, sign up for our weekly newsletter. And for ad-free listening and other perks, sign up for BirdNote+ here.BirdNote is a nonprofit. Your tax-deductible gift makes these shows possible.Bring Birds Back Season 6 is sponsored by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the American Bird Conservancy. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Have you ever worried you’d hit a wild animal while driving down a highway or country road? In this special season closer, we learn about a new and promising future for wildlife and battered cars: wildways. As technology and development continue to expand, infrastructure and fragmentation are threatening the habitats of wildlife. Christine Laporte explains how wildways bridge the gap between the natural world and rapidly growing cities. And then, Dr. Liz Hillard gives us a glimpse into what it all looks like in real time as evidence of its success rolls in. Co-produced by our guest host, Marcus Rosten. Press play!For more information about the From Love to Action campaign, episode transcript and other resources from this episode, visit BirdNote.org.Want more Bring Birds Back? Subscribe to our show and follow us on Instagram! For more about BirdNote, sign up for our weekly newsletter. And for ad-free listening and other perks, sign up for BirdNote+ here.BirdNote is a nonprofit. Your tax-deductible gift makes these shows possible.Bring Birds Back Special Season 5 is sponsored by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

25 years ago, a mysterious cause of eagle and osprey deaths plagued a small town in Arkansas. And in this special episode, we get to the root of it all: small unassuming weeds, also known as invasive aquatic species. In conversation with aquatic plant experts Stacy Holt Jr. and Greg Bugbee, we share what these invasive plants are, how this happened, what they’re doing in other parts of the world (like Connecticut), and ways we can all prevent them from spreading. Co-produced by our guest host, Adé Ben-Salahuddin. Listen in now!For more information about the From Love to Action campaign, episode transcript and other resources from this episode, visit BirdNote.org.Want more Bring Birds Back? Subscribe to our show and follow us on Instagram! For more about BirdNote, sign up for our weekly newsletter. And for ad-free listening and other perks, sign up for BirdNote+ here.BirdNote is a nonprofit. Your tax-deductible gift makes these shows possible.Bring Birds Back Special Season 5 is sponsored by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Water is essential for life, but how much do you know about the health of your local water supply? In this special episode, we speak with two Riverkeepers who explain the importance of water quality monitoring for every living organism, from humans to birds. John Lipscomb shares critical history of the Hudson River and how activism has helped the neighborhood thrive. And John Zaktansky introduces us to Doug Fessler and the technology of BirdNET for his hi-tech patrol. Co-produced by our guest host, Trisha Mukherjee. Tune in!For more information about the From Love to Action campaign, episode transcript and other resources from this episode, visit BirdNote.org.Want more Bring Birds Back? Subscribe to our show and follow us on Instagram! For more about BirdNote, sign up for our weekly newsletter. And for ad-free listening and other perks, sign up for BirdNote+ here.BirdNote is a nonprofit. Your tax-deductible gift makes these shows possible.Bring Birds Back Special Season 5 is sponsored by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this special episode, we explore the critical effects of noise pollution on both humans and birds. Dr. Erica Walker offers an insightful view of how people are negatively impacted by loud disturbances, from everyday life to health complications. And Dr. Clinton Francis shares his discoveries about the impact of noise on bird health and reproduction, from abandoning their habitats to doubling their fertilization rate. Co-produced by our guest host, Tasha Lawson. Press play!For more information about the From Love to Action campaign, episode transcript and other resources from this episode, visit BirdNote.org.Want more Bring Birds Back? Subscribe to our show and follow us on Instagram! For more about BirdNote, sign up for our weekly newsletter. And for ad-free listening and other perks, sign up for BirdNote+ here.BirdNote is a nonprofit. Your tax-deductible gift makes these shows possible.Bring Birds Back Special Season 5 is sponsored by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This season has been all about the mutual impact birds, humans and nature have on each other. To close it out, Bill McKibben joins Tenijah for an honest chat about the future, nearly 35 years after his book debut, “The End of Nature” first sounded the alarm about climate change. He also talks about his organization, Third Act, that encourages fellow Baby Boomers to be leaders and allies to younger generations, as well as the most vocal in the fight for change — all while knowing they may not be around to see the full extent of its destruction. You don’t want to miss this one — press play!More info and transcript at BirdNote.orgWant more Bring Birds Back? Follow us on Instagram! For more BirdNote, subscribe to our weekly newsletter. For ad-free listening and other perks, sign up for BirdNote+ here.BirdNote is a nonprofit. Your tax-deductible gift makes these shows possible.Bring Birds Back Season 4 is sponsored by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This is part two of our series on the Sustainability in Prisons Project. If you haven’t heard part one already, we encourage you to listen to that first.Tenijah learns all about Sustainability in Prisons Project’s most successful program to date: rehabilitating the federally endangered Taylor’s Checkerspot Butterfly. Find out how the incarcerated participants at Mission Creek Corrections Center are saving the endangered species and changing the ecology of the evergreen state year by year. Then, we’ll take a step further out and explore how green projects impact lives inside prison and upon release. Is it possible to move toward a more humane prison system by saving the planet? Listen in.More info and transcript at BirdNote.orgWant more Bring Birds Back? Follow us on Instagram! For more BirdNote, subscribe to our weekly newsletter. For ad-free listening and other perks, sign up for BirdNote+ here.BirdNote is a nonprofit. Your tax-deductible gift makes these shows possible.Bring Birds Back Season 4 is sponsored by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The American prison system is complex and there are so many reasons as to why and how it could be improved. For nearly two decades, the Sustainability in Prisons Project (a collaboration between Evergreen State College and Washington state’s Department of Corrections) has been doing just that — and with visible results. In this two-part episode, we venture into Cedar Creek and Mission Creek Correctional Centers to learn all about the ways in which they’re impacting the lives of their incarcerated participants, starting with their newest program, the Avian Acoustic Monitoring Program. More info and transcript at BirdNote.orgWant more Bring Birds Back? Follow us on Instagram! For more BirdNote, subscribe to our weekly newsletter. For ad-free listening and other perks, sign up for BirdNote+ here.BirdNote is a nonprofit. Your tax-deductible gift makes these shows possible.Bring Birds Back Season 4 is sponsored by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Nature author, photographer and self-taught birder Dudley Edmondson shares how embracing the great outdoors as a child changed his life for the better. With over 30 years of experience, Dudley has dedicated much of his career encouraging Black and Brown people, especially, to venture into nature as refuge from daily societal pressures and microaggressions. Dudley shares why he’s so adamant about advocating for more representation in the field, and he talks about improving mental health with more solitary time with our chirping friends. Tune in!More info and transcript at BirdNote.orgWant more Bring Birds Back? Follow us on Instagram! For more BirdNote, subscribe to our weekly newsletter. For ad-free listening and other perks, sign up for BirdNote+ here.BirdNote is a nonprofit. Your tax-deductible gift makes these shows possible.Bring Birds Back Season 4 is sponsored by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This episode’s guest may be too young to remember the 90’s children’s show, Gullah Gullah Island, but he’s certainly influencing the next generation the same! Isaiah Scott, a rising Gen-Z bird-influencer and ornithologist, reconnects with Tenijah to dish all about his journey into birding while young, Black and curious. He also shares how his Gullah Geechee heritage continues to inspire his work, including a forthcoming field guide that seeks to preserve his ancestral connection to birds. There’s definitely “lots to see and to do there”– press play and take the journey with us!More info and transcript at BirdNote.orgWant more Bring Birds Back? Follow us on Instagram! For more BirdNote, subscribe to our weekly newsletter. For ad-free listening and other perks, sign up for BirdNote+ here.BirdNote is a nonprofit. Your tax-deductible gift makes these shows possible.Bring Birds Back Season 4 is sponsored by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Childhood nostalgia, anyone? Tenijah reminisces about her favorite bird moment in a film and learns all about how it came to be! Our guest this episode is Tony Suffredini, a bird trainer and master falconer, but the real stars are all Hollywood trained professionals – his birds! Tony shares how he got into bird training, how he prioritizes the health and safety of his feathered family on set and how he gives back with his super niche skills as a bird abatement specialist and Golden Eagle conservationist! More info and transcript at BirdNote.orgWant more Bring Birds Back? Follow us on Instagram! For more BirdNote, subscribe to our weekly newsletter. For ad-free listening and other perks, sign up for BirdNote+ here.BirdNote is a nonprofit. Your tax-deductible gift makes these shows possible.Bring Birds Back Season 4 is sponsored by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Artificial intelligence is all the rage these days – for better or for worse. Luckily, in the case of our feathered friends, it’s good news! In this episode, Tenijah speaks with three experts (starting with Garry George and Katie Umekubo) about the great environmental gains of wind energy – and their unfortunate contribution to the decline of birds. But all hope is not lost – in fact, there’s an exciting solution already underway! Susan Downey introduces us to Identiflight, an A.I.-assisted technology that not only assesses potential harm to birds, but also prevents it… to a degree. Tune in.More info and transcript at BirdNote.orgWant more Bring Birds Back? Follow us on Instagram! For more BirdNote, subscribe to our weekly newsletter. For ad-free listening and other perks, sign up for BirdNote+ here.BirdNote is a nonprofit. Your tax-deductible gift makes these shows possible.Bring Birds Back Season 4 is sponsored by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In the season 4 premiere, we’re joined by wildlife advocate, ornithologist and (social media star) birder, Corina Newsome! Tenijah speaks with Corina about the latest findings in the State of the Birds report, the impact of environmental racism on urban communities and birds, and the uber important 2023 Farm Bill. Plus, they get into the weeds about why a zero-sum mentality could be to blame for a lack of progress on addressing climate change (hats off to Heather McGhee). Press play!More info and transcript at BirdNote.orgWant more Bring Birds Back? Follow us on Instagram! For more BirdNote, subscribe to our weekly newsletter. For ad-free listening and other perks, sign up for BirdNote+ here.BirdNote is a nonprofit. Your tax-deductible gift makes these shows possible.Bring Birds Back Season 4 is sponsored by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Love is in the air and we’re not talking about your $4.99 Valentine’s Day balloon! For this special episode of Bring Birds Back, we dive into all things bird love! Doves may be the universal bird symbol for love, but romance in the bird world is happening all around. Our guest Wenfei Tong shares various ways birds are wooing each other by song, dance, gifts, and more. From choosy lovers like the Laysan Albatross to opposites-attract lovers like the White-throated Sparrows, bird love languages are real and well documented.More info and transcript at BirdNote.org.Want more BirdNote? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter. Sign up for BirdNote+ to get ad-free listening and other perks. BirdNote is a nonprofit. Your tax-deductible gift makes these shows possible. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In order for us to show up for birds, we must first show up for ourselves. Our show is all about ways we can help our bird friends, but today we’re looking at how birds and nature can help restore us. Over the past few decades, researchers have found strong links between our connection to the outdoors and our mental and physical health. Deja Perkins, an urban ecologist, science communicator, and friend of the show, joins Tenijah to talk about her nature and wellness practices and some research about the mutual benefits between the two. Deja shares how birding can be good for our wellbeing, ways we can all enjoy those benefits, and even guides us through her very own breathing meditation to help you really sit with nature.More info and transcript at BirdNote.org.Want more BirdNote? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter. Sign up for BirdNote+ to get ad-free listening and other perks. BirdNote is a nonprofit. Your tax-deductible gift makes these shows possible. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Clark’s Nutcracker and the whitebark pine have a strong mutualistic relationship: the tree is the bird’s best source of food, and the bird is the tree’s most dependable seed disperser. But several factors are putting the tree at risk — and the decline in whitebark pines is making that partnership less stable.Peri Sasnett, a ranger at Glacier National Park and co-host of the park’s podcast Headwaters, joins Tenijah to talk all about the birds, their intricately interconnected ecosystems, and ways researchers are learning if and how the birds are adapting. Season 2 of Glacier National Park's podcast Headwaters is all about the charismatic whitebark pine and its role as a keystone species.More info and transcript at BirdNote.org.Want more BirdNote? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter. Sign up for BirdNote+ to get ad-free listening and other perks. BirdNote is a nonprofit. Your tax-deductible gift makes these shows possible. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Since Tenijah began birding, a lot of questions have come up about why birds do some of the strange things that they do. Writer and biologist Wenfei Tong joins Tenijah to answer some burning questions about what’s going on with our bird friends – questions about different parenting styles to reasons why we noticed birds more during the pandemic, and of course, the question plaguing all of us, are birds tiny dinosaurs?More info and transcript at BirdNote.org.Want more BirdNote? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter. Sign up for BirdNote+ to get ad-free listening and other perks. BirdNote is a nonprofit. Your tax-deductible gift makes these shows possible. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Maya Higa is a 24 year old streamer, falconer, and sole founder of Alveus Sanctuary, a wildlife reserve outside of Austin, TX. What's unusual about Alveus is its digital footprint — it's "a virtual conservation education center facility" primarily found on Twitch where Maya streams to teach viewers about the animals and conservation challenges they face. This novel approach to conservation and science communication is not only reaching and engaging newer and wider audiences, but helping to change the landscape of conservation. More info and transcript at BirdNote.org.Want more BirdNote? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter. Sign up for BirdNote+ to get ad-free listening and other perks. BirdNote is a nonprofit. Your tax-deductible gift makes these shows possible. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

For Halloween, corvid researcher Kaeli Swift joins Tenijah for a show-and-tell of spooky birds. Corvids, vultures, and owls all have reputations as ominous and foreboding — and today, we’re digging into those ideas. Kaeli unpacks why the birds are seen as scary, shares cool facts beyond their mysterious façade, and explores conservation opportunities to help these birds. More info and transcript at BirdNote.org.Want more BirdNote? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter. Sign up for BirdNote+ to get ad-free listening and other perks. BirdNote is a nonprofit. Your tax-deductible gift makes these shows possible. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

So many of the challenges facing birds are systemic, bigger than what any one person can fix — so how do we get governments to step in and do something? Tykee James, a Sr. Government Relations Representative for The Wilderness Society, has approached this issue in a creative way: by organizing bird walks around the U.S. Capitol. These walks bring in staffers and legislators from across the country and across the aisle, creating a rare space in politics for people to come together and kindle a love of birds. Tenijah talks to Tykee about his bird walks, staying hopeful in the face of huge issues, and they delve into some promising legislation called Recovering America’s Wildlife Act that has the potential to help our bird friends.You can check if your Senators are cosponsors of Recovering America’s Wildlife Act and contact them about what the legislation means to you.More info and transcript at BirdNote.org.Want more BirdNote? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter. Sign up for BirdNote+ to get ad-free listening and other perks. BirdNote is a nonprofit. Your tax-deductible gift makes these shows possible. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Tenijah has been on a birding journey since she was drawn into bird watching at the start of the pandemic — and now, she’s inspiring new birders with Bring Birds Back. For our season finale, Tenijah talks to two of the heroes who inspired her: Tracy Clayton and Ashley C. Ford. They’re podcasters and writers, and they love birds and talk about them on social media or in their work. Tenijah wants to learn how they think about their role in science communication and inspiring new birders — and they have a lot of fun.More info and transcript at BirdNote.org.Want more BirdNote? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter. Sign up for BirdNote+ to get ad-free listening and other perks. BirdNote is a nonprofit. Your tax-deductible gift makes these shows possible. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

People with disabilities often face barriers to birding. These can be infrastructural and cultural. The organization Birdability is addressing those barriers by raising awareness, crowdsourcing information on what trails and birding spots are already accessible (or what other locations need to do to improve), advocating for these changes, and building community for disabled people in birding. Tenijah travels to Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge in Alabama to go birding and learns how to make nature more accessible with Freya McGregor of Birdability and birders BJ Allen, Linda Neighbors, and Hal Tichenor.More info and transcript at BirdNote.org.Want more BirdNote? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter. Sign up for BirdNote+ to get ad-free listening and other perks. BirdNote is a nonprofit. Your tax-deductible gift makes these shows possible. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Since her bird journey began, Tenijah’s been learning how to be a better birder —but not just with new birding skills. There’s also the important lesson of how to be an “ethical birder” or treating the birds with respect. Tenijah talks to writer Martha Harbison about “the rules” of birding and how we can be more thoughtful to our feathered friends. But these rules can also be twisted and weaponized against birders from marginalized backgrounds, so she talks to photographer David Lei about how to make sure we’re also being thoughtful to our fellow birders.More info and transcript at BirdNote.org.Want more BirdNote? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter. Sign up for BirdNote+ to get ad-free listening and other perks. BirdNote is a nonprofit. Your tax-deductible gift makes these shows possible. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

If we want as many people caring for birds as possible, we need people to not only become interested, but to have mentorship and community available for them. Tenijah speaks with Jeana Fucello and Kasia Chmielinski from the Feminist Bird Club, a birding group centered around being an inclusive, thoughtful home for birders who oth erwise wouldn’t have community. The organization has chapters across the country and is continuing to grow and bring more people into its flock. More info and transcript at BirdNote.org. Want more BirdNote? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter. Sign up for BirdNote+ to get ad-free listening and other perks. BirdNote is a nonprofit. Your tax-deductible gift makes these shows possible. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Purple Martins and people have a long history. Native Americans started a practice of providing homes for the birds, which was copied by European colonizers. But those colonizers released invasive species and cleared habitats to the point that the species is entirely reliant on man-made housing. Tenijah talks to Kelly Applegate, Director of Natural Resources for the Mille-Lacs band of Ojibwe about the history of Purple Martins; Joe Siegrist, president of the Purple Martin Conservation Association about how we can help Purple Martins; and 8th grader Kieran MacDonald about why he was inspired to devote himself to these birds.More info and transcript at BirdNote.org. Want more BirdNote? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter. Sign up for BirdNote+ to get ad-free listening and other perks. BirdNote is a nonprofit. Your tax-deductible gift makes these shows possible. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Names have power. In North America, more than 100 species of birds have eponymous names, many honoring white colonizers. The “Bird Names for Birds” movement to change these names, or “verbal statues,” can be traced to Ph.D candidate Robert Driver’s 2018 proposal about the Thick-billed Longspur (then called McCown’s Longspur, named for a confederate general). More bird name changes are coming, albeit slowly — and some environmental organizations named after colonizers are following suit. One is the Audubon Naturalist Society (ANS) in DC, which has announced it will change its name (at this time, they’re still deciding on a new name). Tenijah talks to Robert Driver about how the movement started; Caroline Brewer, formerly in communications at ANS about the decision to change the organization’s name; and writer/birder Stephen Carr Hampton about the impact these names have on people of color who love birds.Bird Names for BirdsThe McCown's Longspur Is No More, but the Debate Over Bird Names ContinuesJ. Drew Lanham: What Do We Do About John James Audubon?A D.C. area environmental group is dropping the name of John AudubonMore info and transcript at BirdNote.org. Want more BirdNote? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter. Sign up for BirdNote+ to get ad-free listening and other perks. BirdNote is a nonprofit. Your tax-deductible gift makes these shows possible. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Migratory birds use starlight to find their way on their long journeys — which makes light pollution a serious threat. Drawn off course by bright, artificial lighting, birds can wind up fatally colliding with windows or wasting precious time and energy that they need to survive. “Lights Out” programs get cities and their residents to turn off nonessential lighting during migration seasons which can help make their journeys a little easier (and save energy!). BirdCast, a tool that can forecast the peak migration nights of the season, is helping these programs make a greater impact. Tenijah speaks with Julia Wang, project leader at BirdCast and the Lights Out Texas campaign at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.Lights Out Program | BirdCastLights Out | National Audubon SocietyResearch: Study Names Top Cities Emitting Light that Endangers Migratory BirdsFLAP CanadaLights Out for Birds | Houston Audubon More info and transcript at BirdNote.org. Want more BirdNote? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter. Sign up for BirdNote+ to get ad-free listening and other perks. BirdNote is a nonprofit. Your tax-deductible gift makes these shows possible. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Tenijah got hooked on birding at the start of the pandemic, and during the last season of Bring Birds Back she learned a lot about our feathered friends. This season, she’s ready to learn and share more simple ways to help birds — while discovering new birding skills from experts. After going birding with her mom and not seeing much, Tenijah wants to know how to better find and identify birds around her. Conor Gearin, managing producer of BirdNote Daily, joins Tenijah to teach her how to identify who you’re seeing outside and why they’re there.More info and transcript at BirdNote.org. Want more BirdNote? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter. Sign up for BirdNote+ to get ad-free listening and other perks. BirdNote is a nonprofit. Your tax-deductible gift makes these shows possible. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In our season finale, Tenijah to Tybee Island off the Georgia coast for a day at the beach... picking up trash. She joins Tim Arnold, founder of Tybee Clean Beach Volunteers, to see first hand how plastics and trash can pose a threat to migratory shorebirds and marine life. And she speaks with Kelly Martin, Texas Coastal Outreach Coordinator at American Bird Conservancy, about some of the actions we can take to solve our problem with plastics.Learn more:More about the Break Free From Plastic Pollution Act NPR Life Kit’s Guide to Using Less Plastic 7 Tips to Be a Better Recycler 99% Invisible on the Problems Facing Recycling Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Host Tenijah Hamilton hears firsthand from coffee grower Oswaldo Acevedo in Colombia how shade-grown coffee farms offer better wildlife habitat and working conditions than most industrial coffee plantations. She speaks to Ruth Bennett and Justine Bowe from the Smithsonian Institute Migratory Bird Center about the science behind the Bird Friendly Coffee certification, how bird friendly coffee growers benefit birds and other wildlife, how to find bird friendly coffee near you, and the goal to have a whole range of certified bird friendly products on the shelves in the future.Find a Bird Friendly Coffee Retailer Near You - Smithsonian InstituteEcological Benefits of Shade-grown CoffeeCoffee and Chocolate Could Help Preserve Endangered Birds in VenezuelaCafé Mesa de los SantosMaking Sense Of Coffee Labels: Does Your Coffee Support Wintering Warblers? - All About BirdsHow can coffee plantations be more bird-friendly? - National Geographic Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.