Episode 36: Bittern Pill to Swallow (American Bittern, Least Bittern)

Everyone has heard of herons and egrets, but bitterns get no love. That is, until listener Kayla suggested this episode on the American and Least Bittern!  These shy wetland birds are easy to overlook but hold some amazing secrets. The American Bittern’s booming call and snow white breeding plumage patches make any day on the marsh magical while the Least Bittern’s feisty crest feathers and acrobatic antics give it a lot of personality. Learn how to identify the various calls of these two amazing birds. Using scientific articles, historical anecdotes, and the writings of John James Audubon I talk all about the feeding, breeding, and evolutionary history of these birds.  Also, I unpack the mystery of the exceedingly rare Cory’s Bittern. Listen and learn!

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See more of Kayla’s amazing photography at https://www.kaylalindquistphotography.com/

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Also stay tuned at the end to hear an awesome review left by Chelsey on apple podcasts. Leave a review to claim your free Dirty Bird Podcast stickers!

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Intro music by Ricky Pistone, check out all his music on Youtube. Outro music “NY Redneck” by the Sidewalk Slammers

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All bird sounds from xeno_canto.org

Least Bittern Rack-rack call by Paul Driver 

Least Bittern song by Paul Marvin 

Eurasian Bittern “Booming Call” by Susanne Kuijpers 

Least Bittern Call2 by John V. Moore 

Least Bittern Alarm Call by Dan Lane 

Least Bittern Cough Call by Daniel Lane 

American Bittern song by Jeff Dyck 

American Bittern song water by Frank Lambert

American Bittern song with buildup by Jack Bowling