Bird Banter

Ryan Merrill and I talk about his birding story,  birding in Washington State, and about his local patch birding.  He also talks about his work on the Washington Bird Records Committee, and life as the husband/father in a family with a young child as a birder.  Enjoy.  Photo Credit:  The photo of the Swallow-tailed Kite used in the thumbnail for this episode is by Laurel Parshall.  You can hear La...

On this episode I am joined by Stephanie Seymour, the artist of the recently released album There Are Birds.  She is an avid birder, has her own private official hawkwatch station at her home in New jersey, and is a longtime professional musician.  This album has 12 songs, each with the song title being the name of a listable North American bird except the final track, Migration is Over.  Three of...

Lane Epps and Corrie Fulsom-O’Keefe Episode Podcast notes On the Bird Banter Podcast Episode #51 I talk with two women who have maintained and nourished a long-time and long-distance birding relationship.  They actually used a recent episode of this podcast to help plan a birding trip to the Lower Rio Grande Valley, and interestingly on that podcast two of my best birding buddies and I talk about...

In The Bird Banter Podcast Episode #50 Nathanael Swecker and I talk about his extensive experiences birding on the huge military post in Tacoma, Joint Base Lewis McChord, about his bird banding at the Morse Preserve, his work with the Tahoma Audubon Society where he is serving at the current president, and about his experience as an openly gay birder.  He is an exceptionally engaging and articulat...

I got home from Texas this week, the next day chased and found a lingering Siberian Accentor in Cowlitz County for a new Washington State bird to me, and now sit down to reminisce about the trip to the Lower Rio Grande Valley in Texas.  I talk briefly about my time with Ken and Bruce, but mostly about stretching myself, leading a trip of 11 people to the valley, far outside my past trip-leading ex...

I’ve been in the LRGV now for almost 2 weeks, and am starting to feel like I can find my way around. I am also starting to meet some of the local birders, and today was able to meet with Mary Gustafson.  I learned that Mary and I have at least one thing in common. Ken Brown was helpful to us in our earlier birding days. When Mary was at UPS Ken often took her out locally birding. You can hear Ken'...

On episode #47 I talk with Ryan Rodriguez at his Dad, at the office of his Dad and primary birding chauffeur Victor Rodriguez.  Ryan learned to read at age 4 by studying the Sibley Guide to the Birds of North America for a full summer. He is an avid birder, Young Birder of the Year contest participant, and a wonderful guest on the Bird Banter Podcast. Enjoy.  Check out the associated Bird Banter B...

We record Episode #46 after our 8th consecutive long day of birding in the lower Rio Grande Valley of south Texas, and Ken and Bruce were gracious enough to talk with me about our time here.  To learn more about Ken and Bruce's birding story and our times birding together check out two of my earliest episodes @2 with Ken Brown and #3 with Bruce LaBar.  I think you'll enjoy both of them.  During th...

On The Bird Banter Podcast Episode #45 I talk with Annie Meyer. I first met Annie when she was a pre-teen birder, and we talk about her birding story, her birding and research experiences, and conservation issues regarding birds. She has wonderful stories to tell.  I had a great time talking with Annie. Enjoy.  You can reach out to Annie Meyer @anniemeyer on Facebook on Instagram @Annie_Meyer  The...

On The Bird Banter Podcast Episode #44 Clarice Clark and Jerry Broadus, Tacoma area birders and volunteer conservation and ornithology researchers talk about their life experiences in these fields.  They have really walked the walk in terms of putting their efforts, resources and time to further their passion for  helping understand and safe birds and bird habitat.  Here are some links to topics t...

In this episode, after most of 2019 as the inaugural year of The Bird Banter Podcast, with 53 episodes, some brief and unnumbered, I look back at the guests I've talked with, the fun I've had, and feel happy with the year in the rear view mirror.  Enjoy.  Here are some links to things discussed in this episode: http://thespeckledhatchback.blogspot.com/   Dorian Anderson's current website and his B...

In this episode I talk with my son Brett.  I'm visiting Brett in SE Asia, with visits to Chiang Mai, Thailand, and Phnom Penh, Cambodia.  We talk about his travel and experiences in SE Asia, about birding in these two areas, and have a father-son talk about issues we have observed in these areas.  I hope you enjoy.  Here is a reference about where the plastic in our oceans comes from.  90% comes f...

In this episode I talk with Alex Wang, a birder and conservation biologist living on the Big Island of Hawaii, who is home to visit his family in Tacoma.  His Dad, Art Wang was my guest on Episode #14 so be sure to check that out too. We talk about many conservation issues for birds on the Hawaiian Islands, the inclusion of Hawaii into the ABA area, and Alex's birding story.  Enjoy.   This is a li...

Happy Thanksgiving.  Let us give thanks for the wild birds we all love, for the time to see and study then, and for all our blessings.  For more info on the history of Wild Turkeys in the U.S. see the associated post on The Bird Banter Podcast. http://birdbanter.com/index.php/2019/11/28/wild-turkeys-in-the-u-s-here-almost-gone-and-here-again/ Until next time. Good birding. Good day. 

In this episode I talk about the birding I've managed on my Kauai, Hawaii vacation.  Enjoy.  Check out my blog on Birdbanter.com to see photos from the trip and some of this info in writing.  http://birdbanter.com/index.php/blog/ Until next time, Aloha.  

In this episode Isaiah and I talk about his 2019 Washington State Big year and his birding story.  Isaiah is a top young Washington State birder, and I hope you find his story interesting.  I also talk a bit about my upcoming vacation to Kauai and the issues with exotic species in Hawaii.   You can contact Isaiah via the e-mail address available on his eBird profile page which also has up to date...

On The Bird Banter Podcast Episode #39 I talk with Rob Porter, creator of The Songbirding Podcast.  On his podcast Rob takes listeners along with him on walks through birdy and otherwise quiet areas of Ontario, where he essentially gives a song-by-song narrative of the bird sounds he hears. You feel like you are out birding with a local expert who is teaching you about the birds you are hearing al...

On The Bird Banter Podcast Episode #38 I talk with Alex Israel, a conservation activist with the Safe Flights program of the New York City Audubon Society.  The combination of human light at night in cities combined with glass exterior skyscrapers in major migratory bird flyways is a lethal one to many songbirds.  Listen to hear about this and more. Here is a link to the New York Audubon Societies...

On The Bird Banter Podcast Episode #37 I talk with Alaskan Island expert and trip leader John Pushcock.  John has been able to lead trips to Attu in recent years using a seaworthy ship to transport birders from Adak to Attu, birding Attu by day, and sleeping on the boat at night.  He also has led trips to Adak, Utgiagvik (previously  Barrow), Alaska.  John runs a Seattle based birding tour company...

In this episode Tasha and I talk primarily about her work to support the endangered Steller's Eider in Alaska, but also about her birding story, her early experiences as a birder and as a field biologist, along with her work recently on Eastern Egg Island in Maine.  Be sure to check out all the links on The Bird Banter website at  http://birdbanter.com/index.php/blog/ Here is a link to Tasha's Ins...

On The Bird Banter Podcast Episode #35 Dr. Valdez and I talk about her birding story, and especially about her research in the Peruvian Amazon.  Her project in the Madre de Díos (Mother of God) mountains in southeastern Peru is documenting the amazing biodiversity there, working with local youth to provide paying jobs, increase environmental awareness and provide valuable data on the bird and othe...

On The Bird Banter Podcast Episode #34 I talk birding with Brad Waggoner.  Brad is a top Washington birder, and an especially avid Kitsap and Clallam County birder.  He is the chairperson of the Washington Rare Birds committee, and one of the most respected Washington birders. Enjoy. Here is a link to the Washington Rare Birds committee page on the WOS website:  http://wos.org/records/ Here is a l...

In this episode I talk with Mike Resch about his quest to see at least half of the species of bird on the state checklist of each of the lower 48 states plus the District of Columbia.  A daunting task, and he is nearly there.  A wild story.  Check it out. Note the thumbnail of this episode is a screenshot of the state lists diagram on Mike Resch's eBird profile. Note all the red and orange! Here i...

In this episode I looked back at the first 10 episodes of The Bird Banter Podcast.  I've learned a lot, had fun, and think I've gotten better at many aspects of hosting this podcast.  I've certainly had fun, talked with birders I's never have met without the podcast, and have had generlly positive feedback.  Please leave a rating and comments on this episode and about the podcast in general either...

On this episode I talk with John Patten Moss, a young birder from Georgia, who is also a unicycle enthusiast.  John plans to do a big year in 2020, all while human  powered and traveling on his touring UNICYCLE!  Unbelievable?  Listen and hear about his plans, his birding story and more. Here is a link to his website where he plans to have a blog chronicaling his trip and his big year.   https://2...