Rob Porter

Songbirding

Science EN ↓ 250 episodes

Take a unique auditory journey through the habitats of songbirds in North America. Guided by naturalist and field recordist Rob Porter, the Songbirding podcast is an audio nature documentary, taking you on guided hikes while identifying the songs of dozens of songbird species. Entirely recorded in the field, you won't hear any other podcast quite like this. Three-time nominated as Best Science Podcast in the Canadian Podcast Awards. The seasons focus on, in order -- 1: Bruce Peninsula, Ontario; 2: Southern Ontario; 3: Southern Ontario; 4: Mid-western & Southern Ontario; 5: Johnston Harbour, On...

Author

Rob Porter

Category

Science

Podcast website

songbirding.com

Latest episode

Jun 8, 2026

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Episodes

A Sore Sounding Song (Scarlet Tanager) 09.01.2024

As the hike to Hector Falls continues, Scarlet Tanagers and many other songbird species are encountered. More about Scarlet Tanager: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Scarlet_Tanager eBird Checklist for the outing this was recorded during: https://ebird.org/checklist/S115100430 Download Merlin Bird ID today: https://merlin.allaboutbirds.org/ Credits Songbirding: The Allegheny National Forest is...

A Perfect July Morning (Hooded Warbler) 19.12.2023

It’s my first morning in Allegheny National Forest and the weather is clear and sunny — a perfect July day for recording birdsong. I’ve parked at the same trailhead for Hector’s Falls as I did the evening before. This time I’m planning to make it all the way to the falls, and perhaps beyond. More about Hooded Warbler: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Hooded_Warbler You can also listen to my Bir...

The Hermits of Allegheny (Hermit Thrush) 12.12.2023

It’s almost sunset and I’ve driven to the closest trailhead I see on the map near to where I am camping: a trail leading to Hector Falls, in the Tionesta Scenic Area. More about Hermit Thrushes: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Hermit_Thrush/overview You can also listen to my Birdsong Serenades episode about Hermit Thrushes as a subscriber to the Songbirding Studios Patreon, or Apple Podcasts c...

2023-24 Christmas Bird Count Special 14.11.2023

The Christmas Bird Count is a census of birds in the western hemisphere that is held between December 14 and January 5 each winter. It was devised originally as an alternative to the 19th century tradition of hunting birds at Christmas, and has evolved to become the longest running citizen science project. There are tens of thousands of participants - seeking out and counting tens of millions of b...

Migrations in the Quietude, Part 4 (finale) 18.09.2023

After two hours along Crane River, the birdsongs are still very intense. In this final episode of the season, we’ll continue to listen to the migrant warblers and other songbird species, one last listen to the birds of Johnston Harbour. Credits Songbirding was recorded, engineered, narrated and created by Rob Porter. The Songbirding cover art (Blackburnian Warbler) is by Lauren Helton: https://tin...

Migrations in the Quietude, Part 3 11.09.2023

It’s been an hour and a half since I started listening and watching the migrant songbirds along Crane River, and the peak of activity has yet to arrive. Credits Songbirding was recorded, engineered, narrated and created by Rob Porter. The Songbirding cover art (Blackburnian Warbler) is by Lauren Helton: https://tinylongwing.carbonmade.com/projects/5344062 Creative Commons music by REW<<. Thi...

Migrations in the Quietude, Part 2 04.09.2023

It’s been about an hour and I’m still exploring the short stretch between Crane River and Scuggog Lake — it seems the longer I’m here, the more migrant songbirds arrive. Credits Songbirding was recorded, engineered, narrated and created by Rob Porter. The Songbirding cover art (Blackburnian Warbler) is by Lauren Helton: https://tinylongwing.carbonmade.com/projects/5344062 Creative Commons music by...

Migrations in the Quietude, Part 1 21.08.2023

It’s early morning on the 19th of May 2023, and while the dawn has brought some songs, it’s a relatively quiet day… so far. But as we follow the Crane River to Scuggog Lake, migrant songbirds begin arriving.. continuously, for hours. In these final episodes of this season of Songbirding, I aim to document the spectacle of this songful migration event. Credits Songbirding was recorded, engineered,...

The Quiet Before 14.08.2023

It's mid-May of 2023, and I've returned to Johnston Harbour once again. It's even quieter than I expected, though.. at least, for now. Credits Songbirding was recorded, engineered, narrated and created by Rob Porter. The Songbirding cover art (Blackburnian Warbler) is by Lauren Helton: https://tinylongwing.carbonmade.com/projects/5344062 Creative Commons music by REW<<. This podcast is power...

A June Morning Hike 08.08.2023

It’s my last day at Johnston Harbour for 2022, and I’m doing an early morning hike - despite some overcast weather, the songs are both abundant and diverse. Credits Songbirding was recorded, engineered, narrated and created by Rob Porter. The Songbirding cover art (Blackburnian Warbler) is by Lauren Helton: https://tinylongwing.carbonmade.com/projects/5344062 Creative Commons music by REW<<....

Return Hike 31.07.2023

In this final part of this hike, I’m returning back to the trailhead at Pine Tree Harbour. One might assume that it means we’ll hear the same things, but a Wood Thrush is showing me that there’s still new songs to hear along this trail. Credits Songbirding was recorded, engineered, narrated and created by Rob Porter. The Songbirding cover art (Blackburnian Warbler) is by Lauren Helton: https://tin...

Exploring Pine Tree Point 24.07.2023

I’m continuing to explore the trails that extend from the Kinglet Junction, to see what new habitats I might find. We’ll be hearing from American Redstarts, Nashville Warblers, Yellow-rumped Warblers, and more. Credits Songbirding was recorded, engineered, narrated and created by Rob Porter. The Songbirding cover art (Blackburnian Warbler) is by Lauren Helton: https://tinylongwing.carbonmade.com/p...

Kinglet Junction 17.07.2023

I’m continuing my hike from Pine Tree Harbour towards the crossroads of trails I’m calling Kinglet Junction. A couple days ago I encountered both species of kinglet, and I hoping that can happen once again, as my experience with kinglets in their breeding territories is quite sparse. Credits Songbirding was recorded, engineered, narrated and created by Rob Porter. The Songbirding cover art (Blackb...

Pine Tree Harbour Morning 10.07.2023

The first part of a morning hike into the southern half of Pine Tree Point Nature Preserve, opening with a songful White-throated Sparrow. Credits Songbirding was recorded, engineered, narrated and created by Rob Porter. The Songbirding cover art (Blackburnian Warbler) is by Lauren Helton: https://tinylongwing.carbonmade.com/projects/5344062 This podcast is powered by Pinecast . Try Pinecast for f...

Henhoeffer Park East, Part 2 04.07.2023

I’m continuing my hike through Henhoeffer Park’s East Trail, where a variety of eastern forest species such as Red-eyed Vireo, Ovenbird, and Pine Warbler have active territories. Credits Songbirding was recorded, engineered, narrated and created by Rob Porter. The Songbirding cover art (Blackburnian Warbler) is by Lauren Helton: https://tinylongwing.carbonmade.com/projects/5344062 This podcast is...

Henhoeffer Park East, Part 1 19.06.2023

I return to Henhoeffer Park, except this time taking the east trail, about 1km away from the previous recording location. Credits Songbirding was recorded, engineered, narrated and created by Rob Porter. The Songbirding cover art (Blackburnian Warbler) is by Lauren Helton: https://tinylongwing.carbonmade.com/projects/5344062 This podcast is powered by Pinecast . Try Pinecast for free, forever, no...

Scouting Pine Tree Harbour, Part 2 12.06.2023

During my time in Johnston Harbour and Pine Tree Point, I occaisionally will hear a kinglet sing. But so far I will either only hear the bird briefly, or at a distance. That’s about to change though. I’m continuing the hike along the trail north of Pine Tree Harbour, about to come across a cedar swamp with a very different mix of bird species than I’ve been finding around this area. Credits Songbi...

Scouting Pine Tree Harbour, Part 1 05.06.2023

Now that I know how to enter the south side of the Pine Tree Point Nature Reserve, I’m making my way north from the cottage community of Pine Tree Habour. It’s afternoon so the songs won’t be as dense, but we’ll be hearing from White-throated Sparrows, Myrtle Warblers, and more. Credits Songbirding was recorded, engineered, narrated and created by Rob Porter. The Songbirding cover art (Blackburnia...

Road Allowance, Part 2 29.05.2023

We’re continuing along the road allowance that skirts the edge of the national park lands. Along the way we’ll hear some Black-and-white Warblers, Red-winged Blackbirds, Blue Jays, and more. Credits Songbirding was recorded, engineered, narrated and created by Rob Porter. The Songbirding cover art (Blackburnian Warbler) is by Lauren Helton: https://tinylongwing.carbonmade.com/projects/5344062 Crea...

Road Allowance, Part 1 15.05.2023

Today I’m trying a new trail - an unopened road allowance that follows the edge of the park property. It starts as a road but quickly gets much more narrow, with small cedars and shrubs crowding the trail in. I know this heads to a wetland, so I’m hoping to come across some new songs on this warm June morning. Credits Songbirding was recorded, engineered, narrated and created by Rob Porter. The So...

Dawn Choruses From Around the World 01.05.2023

International Dawn Chorus Day is coming up on the May 7, 2023, and I thought I’d do a special episode for this. This time, rather than my own recordings, I’d like to share a number of recordings uploaded to freesound.org , a website dedicated to Creative Commons sound recordings. It has a number of high quality dawn chorus recordings available for free, and here’s just a few of them. Recordings us...

A June Afternoon at Pine Tree Point North, Part 2 17.04.2023

In the second half of this hike I’ll be seeing how far I can get down this trail in the time I have alotted for myself. Partly so I can see some new things, and partly because I do plan on hiking from the south side of this trail northwards soon, and would like to know if I could possibly cover the entire trail this year. Credits Songbirding was recorded, engineered, narrated and created by Rob Po...

A June Afternoon at Pine Tree Point North, Part 1 10.04.2023

On these hikes I’m always surprised when I come back to the same trail, and find different things. Today is no exception. For the next couple episodes I’ll be hiking the north side of the Pine Tree Point trail, the last time I’ll be doing so in 2022. My goal is to retrieve a bioacoustic recorder I left here a month ago, and to hike as far south on this trail as I feel comfortable with doing so in...

Overcast Morning, Part 2 03.04.2023

I’m concluding my morning hike, and continuing to listen for more vocalizing songbird species. The day may have started out quiet, but the vireos and various warblers are about to get very songful. Credits Songbirding was recorded, engineered, narrated and created by Rob Porter. The Songbirding cover art (Blackburnian Warbler) is by Lauren Helton: https://tinylongwing.carbonmade.com/projects/53440...

Overcast Morning, Part 1 27.03.2023

It’s the next morning at the old hunt camp and I’m doing a short walk to see if I can find any new species this time around. It’s overcast, so the morning chorus is less enthusiastic as usual, but there are still quite a few songs to be heard. Credits Songbirding was recorded, engineered, narrated and created by Rob Porter. The Songbirding cover art (Blackburnian Warbler) is by Lauren Helton: http...

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