Allerton Park Bird Club Podcast

Nate and Evan were both really excited for this interview. This week, they sit down via zoom to chat with Denver Holt, founder of the Owl Research Institute. This week Evan spotted a Rough-Legged Hawk in Piatt County and Denver gives some fabulous tips for ID'ing these birds. As year round residents in Montana, Denver sees these birds often. Denver begins by telling us how he got interested i...

Today, Nate and Evan sit down with Sara Johnson, Vice President of the Champaign County Audubon Society (CCAS) and Janet Jokela, acting regional Dean of the Illinois School of Medicine, volunteer, and current board member of the CCAS. This episode is dedicated to the Christmas Bird Count (CBC). We sit down, via zoom, and discuss CCAS. How did Sara and Janet get involved in birding and the CCAS? Wh...

Today's guest may be one of the last people to ever hear the call of an Ivory-Billed Woodpecker in the wild. We sit down with Dr. Bernard Master for our holiday special.  Nate and Evan start by discussing birds they are seeing. On a recent trip, Evan encountered some swans a swimming. ID tips for the Tundra, Trumpeter and Mute swan we covered. Additionally birds like the Evening Grosbeak, Pin...

Today, Evan and Nate sit down with Matt Young, President and Founder of the Finch Research Network (FiRN), to talk finches. They begin by discussing birds they are currently seeing. This week Evan went twitching to find a Gyrfalcon and stumbled across a Great Black Backed Gull in Central Illinois. Nate went looking for the Ivory Billed Woodpecker and Roadrunners in Arkansas, but struck out on both...

Today, Nate and Evan have the privilege of sitting down with Tyler Hoar. Tyler is a freelance biologist and ecologist who recently took the reins of the Winter Finch Forecast. What an incredible first year to do the finch forecast!  Tyler discusses his methodology for developing the forecast. We begin by talking about the the overall factors contributing to the finch migration this year. What ecol...

Today, Nate & Evan sit down with Bryan Reiley, and avian ecologist from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Bryan sits down to discuss his research that involves CRP and CREP land in Illinois. His fascinating research involves counting the species at the sites, then using the samples to estimate population density within a given area. Give this episode a listen to learn more about...

This week Nate & Evan sit down to chat with local birder Aerin Tedesco. Aerin originally hails from the Great Lakes region (Buffalo area/Chicago), but recently moved to Central Illinois.  What an amazing week for birds in Illinois! Aerin reached her 300th bird on her Illinois list this year. We discussed chasing Magnificent Frigate birds, Little Gulls,  and Scoters. However, the hightlight of...

Nate and Evan go twitching to find a Sabine's Gull at Clinton Lake SRA in Clinton, Illinois. Along with fellow birders Colin Dobson (who has been on the show before), Andy and Aerin they locate the Sabine's Gull and other species. During the episode, Nate and Evan discuss the birds they found and some ID tips. Keep in mind that neither of them are advanced birders, but recreational. We a...

It's time to clean out the inventory for the first annual STICKER GIVEAWAY!!! Have you always wanted your very own Allerton Park Bird Cub sticker FOR FREE? Listen to this episode to figure out how to be in the exclusive ABC sticker club. What is the Pull of Zugunruhe? Is it a strange disease? Could it be a monster that lives under your bed? Is it the new political party taking over the intern...

Evan and Nate head to University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign campus to interview young birder Colin Dobson. Colin is a sophmore at the UofI, avid birder, author, and meteorologist for the birding community. He is wise beyond his 19 years and an amazing advocate for the birding community. We begin by discussing the Kinglet slam, which is the Ruby Crowned Kinglet (RCKI) and Golden Crowned Kinglet (...

What is a Flopperty Dingle Hopper you ask? The more formal name would be a SPUH. What is a SPUH you ask? You are going to have to listen to the show to find out.  Evan also surprises Nate with a quiz about birding lingo. Everything from a CMF, to the Patagonia Picnic Table Effect. They also spend time discussing some of the birds of the week and information on their bird seed fundraiser through Pr...

Do you remember when everyone on Facebook and Instagram were taking pictures in a field of sunflowers? We do and we wanted to know more! So Nate and Evan tracked down Dr. Ken Dallmeir with Prairie Melody Seeds to talk about his organic sunflower fields. Prairie Melody is located in Cerro Gordo, Illinois and offers organic bird seed and gluten free chicken feed, among other things, to the public. ...

Nate and Evan travel to Friends Creek Conservation Area to go birding during the fall migration. Nestled between Cisco and Argenta, this gem of a park offers uncrowded trails, open meadows and a terrific campground. Plus, there was some great birding. During the 1.5 mile hike Evan and Nate tallied over 30 species of birds, including the Blackpoll Warbler, a lifer for Evan.  In addition to discussi...

Nate and Evan head over to Decatur, Illinois to sit down and speak with Dr. Travis Wilcoxen from Millikin University. Travis discusses the bird feeder research he has been involved in over the years. This research includes some of the positives and negatives of using bird feeders. Travis also discusses some of current Nuthatch research that is being conducted. During the episode they also discuss...

Another week of birding with Evan and Nate leads to another round of misadventures. This week's adventure leads Evan and Nate to the Mac McGee waterfowl area on Lake Shelbyville...TWICE! During those times Evan forgets all of his recording equipment, a romantic tryst forms in the woods, and there was an Indiana Jones like encounter with a huge snake.  Both Evan and Nate then tackle Clinton la...

This week Nate and Evan catch up on the last two weeks of birding. Life has been pretty hectic and crazy for the both of them at the end of summer but are glad to be back behind the microphone. Evan discusses his recent failed birding trip to the Emiquon Nature Refuge. It was a bust to say the least. They also discuss fish crow ID tips. Nate talks about the hummingbird oasis he is creating in Piat...

Nate & Evan podcast live from the Diversified Farm at Allerton Park today. As a common nesting spot for Barn Swallow, Evan provides ID tips for the Barn Swallow, Tree Swallow, Cliff Swallow, Northern Rough Winged Swallow, and Bank Swallow. All of these swallows can be found at the same time on a power line.  Nate provides helpful hints on how to remove a hummingbird from your garage. I will gi...

Nate & Evan travel to Scovill Zoo in Decatur, Illinois to talk with Amanda Huy and her role at Scovill Zoo. We discuss Caspian Terns, Yellow-Legs, and Lesser Sandpipers. We talk about the AZA's role in playing matchmaking of animals, some of the challenges in taking care of birds in enclosures, and for the first 15 minutes were harassed by a Howler monkey in the background. Additionally,...

This week Nate & Evan sit down with Allerton Park Natural Areas Manager Alex Lourash. We spending time discussing birds, what the role of Natural Area Manager does, managing the creek cams for Allerton Park Bird Club, and most importantly the possibility of marriage in Alex's future.  This episode was recorded live from Allerton Park, so sit back, relax, and enjoy listening to Alex's...

Nate & Evan are joined today by Dr. Ken Otter from the University of Northern British Columbia. Dr. Otter is a professor of biology whose recent article on the changing vocalizations of the White-throated Sparrow has taken the birding world by storm. Additionally we discuss some of his other research regarding mountain chickadees along the urban/rural gradient, effectiveness of high vis collar...

Nate & Evan head over to the Illinois Raptor Center outside of Decatur, Illinois to talk birding with Jacques Nuzzo. During this episode they discuss Jacques trip to Sanibel Island, Florida, current ongoings at the Illinois Raptor Center, Screech Owls, Barn Owls, a couple really great dad joke zingers from Evan, and Ospreys. 

Evan & Nate are joined by Greg Neise in outside of the Sunken Gardens in Allerton Park. Greg Neise is Web Master for the ABA, helps manage social media, sits in on the ABA Podcast on occasion, and of course, is a fanatical birder. In today's episode we touch on how Covid-19 has impacted birding in Chicago, Greg's new Backyard Birding essay, a BIG DAY, what small birding clubs can do...

Nate & Evan travel to White Oak Park in Bloomington, Illinois to track down the Black Bellied Whistling duck, Yellow-headed Blackbird, and Least Bittern. They also discuss the recent release of the Duck Stamp, Great Egret, Belted Kingfisher and Northern Rough-winged Swallow. During recording they have a 3 year old special guest drop by to discuss chocolate milk and Evan forgets to turn his pho...

Nate & Evan discuss the Common Nighthawk, Eastern Whip-poor-will, Oven Bird, Great Horned Owl, and Wood Thrush. Additionally they talk about what got them interested in birding as well as their "spark" bird. This episode was recorded live in the evening from the North End of Allerton Park. 

Nate and Evan hike into the Upper Sangamon River Land & Water Reserve to discuss the birds that can currently be found in this habitat. The birds discussed include the Prairie Warbler, Bell's Vireo, Blue Grosbeak, Orchard Oriole and Willow Flycatcher.