The Feathered Desert Podcast

Summary:A three-minute podcast from the hosts of The Feathered Desert about individual bird species found in the desert Southwest.   Show Notes: Bird song provided by Macaulay Library at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology recorded by Laurens Halsey.

Summary: Our desert areas of Arizona are home to three full time herons. Join Cheryl and Kiersten as they talk about these three fascinating birds and tell you where you can see them.   For our hearing impaired listeners, a transcript of this podcast follows the show notes on Podbean.   Show Notes: www.allaboutbirds.org Personal observations and experiences.   Transcript Cheryl: Intro Arizona is k...

Summary: Join Cheryl and Kiersten as we celebrate Father's Day by talking about some of the best bird dads!  Show Notes:  Emperor Penguins - earthsky.org Cassowary - https://www.abc.net.au/science/articles/2004/12/02/2580070.htm Emu - https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/emu-parenthood Ostrich - https://www.natgeokids.com/uk/discover/animals/birds/ostrich-facts/ Rhea - https://animaldiversity.org...

Summary: Welcome to Plant Spotlight, a three-minute podcast brought to you by The Feathered Desert all about native plants of the southwestern desert.   For my hearing impaired listeners, a complete transcript of this podcast follows the show notes on Podbean.   Show Notes:  https://aznps.com/wp-content/uploads/Stinknet-Brochure-English-Feb2020.pdf https://sdcwma.org/docs/stinknet_desert_plants.pd...

Summary: How come birds always spit out that nasty tasting caterpillar? Do they have a sense of taste?  Join Cheryl and Kiersten as they answer this question!   For our hearing impaired listeners, a transcript of this podcast follows the show notes on Podbean.   Show Notes: “Chapter 13: Taste in Birds,” by Shira L. Chelend Shoval, Zehava Uni, and Colin G. Scanes, Sturkie’s Avian Physiology (7th Ed...

Summary: The Southwest has 1,2,3,4 or more thrashers! Join Cheryl and Kiersten as they talk about the four thrashers found most commonly in Arizona.   For our hearing impaired listeners, a transcript of this podcast follows the show notes on Podbean.   Show Notes: www.allaboutbirds.org Our email address, please reach out with comments, questions, or suggestions:  thefeathereddesert@gmail.com   Tra...

Summary: Is birding as a hobby something you’d like to begin but are a bit intimidated by all the things you need to learn? Join Cheryl and Kiersten for some beginner birding tips that will make it easy to get started.   For our hearing impaired listeners, a transcript of this podcast follows the show notes on Podbean.   Show Notes: Our email address, please reach out with comments, questions, or...

Summary:A three-minute podcast from the hosts of The Feathered Desert about individual bird species found in the desert Southwest.   Show Notes: "Why a Hawk is a Hummingbird's Best Friend," by Ashley P. Taylor, Audubon, September 2015. Bird song provided by Macaulay Library at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology recorded by Marky Mutchler.

We know the white-wing doves are back in town and not everyone is happy about it! If you're having some high blood pressure moments at your feeder, listen to this classic episode for a few tips to deal with these unwanted visitors. Summary: Doves driving you crazy? Pigeons eating you out of house and home? Grackles taking over your backyard? Join Cheryl and Kiersten as they reveal ways to outsmart...

Looking for a unique way to help your feathered friends? Check out this classic episode to find out how your breakfast can help birds. Summary:Cheryl and Kiersten talk about bird-friendly breakfast items! Yes, just drinking a cup of coffee or tea and eating pancakes with maple syrup can help save the future of our songbirds. Listen as our co-hosts tell you all about bird-friendly coffee, eco-frien...

The Heat is on its way. Listen to this classic episode to find out how you can help your backyard birds survive the heat of a desert summer. Summary: Cheryl and Kiersten dive into complicated topic of water in Arizona. Find out where Arizona’s water comes from, how important it is to our birds, and learn how we can do our part to conserve water for all our futures. Show Notes: A big Thank You to R...

It's always a great time for a clean feeder! Listen to this classic episode to find out how to keep your backyard birds healthy. Summary:Disease is a part of nature but we can help keep our feeding areas healthy for our feathered friends. Join Cheryl and Kiersten as they discuss the types of diseases we can see at our feeders and how to keep our backyard birds healthy when visiting our feeders. Sh...

Fledging season is here once again, so we've reposted a favorite episode about this time of year. Take a listen and enjoy! Summary: It’s fledging season! Cheryl and Kiersten talk about the Do’s and Don’ts of what to do when we see a fledging bird out of their nest. Join them to find out how to identify a fledgling vs. a hatchling and how we can best help our backyard songbirds. Show Notes: PDF of...

Summary: Wrens are some of the most charismatic families of songbirds! Join Cheryl and Kiersten as they introduce you to some found in the Southwest.   For our hearing impaired listeners, a transcript of this podcast follows the show notes on Podbean.   Show Notes: www.allaboutbirds.org “Western Chatterboxes” by Ken Keffer, Birds and Blooms Magazine pg 26-32. Background bird song:  Naturescapes Ba...

Summary: Spring migration in the Southwest is a wonderful time to get out there with your binoculars and see some fly-through visitors as a special treat. Join Cheryl and Kiersten as they highlight a few birds that visit the southwest only during spring migration.   For our hearing impaired listeners, a transcript of this podcast follows the show notes on Podbean.   Show Notes:   Background bird s...

Summary: 2023 is the 50th anniversary of the Endangered Species Act! Join Cheryl and Kiersten as they explain what this act is and how it has helped our feathered friends over the last fifty years.   For our hearing impaired listeners, a transcript of this podcast follows the show notes on Podbean.   Show Notes: https://www.fws.gov https://epa.gov https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov https://www.biologi...

Summary:A three-minute podcast from the hosts of The Feathered Desert about individual bird species found in the desert Southwest.   Show Notes: Bird song provided by Macaulay Library at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology recorded by Sue Riffe.

Summary: Have you ever stopped to really look at a Saguaro cactus? Do you know how many birds use this great plant as a hotel, water source, and food source? Join Cheryl and Kiersten to find out!   For our hearing impaired listeners, a transcript of this podcast follows the show notes on Podbean.   Show Notes: https://www.nps.gov/sagu/index.htm https://www.npa.gov/sagu/learn/nature/birds.htm   The...

Since nesting season is upon us again, we thought we'd repost a favorite about how we should behave around our backyard friend's nests. Enjoy! Summary: It's Nesting Season again! Join Cheryl and Kiersten as they talk about some of the different types of nests our desert birds make and how we can help them be successful this year. Show Notes: Nest Box Sizes: www.nestwatch.org Background bird song: ...

Summary: Ground feeding can be quite controversial. Join Cheryl and Kiersten as they tackle this topic talking about the good and bad, and giving s few tips on doing it responsibly.   For our hearing impaired listeners, a transcript of this podcast follows the show notes on Podbean.   Show Notes: Seed Block Recipe: Bird Seed Block Recipe Ingredients                                                 ...

Summary: When we started our podcast, we always did a native plant spotlight at the end of each episode. We’ve compiled some of our favorites here so you can get those natives planted and attracting birds and butterflies to your yard!   For our hearing impaired listeners, a transcript of this podcast follows the show notes on Podbean.   Show Notes: Boyce Thompson Arboretum Plant Sale Info: https:/...

Summary: Kathleen Scott, Orphan Care Coordinator from Liberty Wildlife, joins Cheryl and Kiersten to talk about hummingbird rehab in the Phoenix Valley!   Show Notes: If you have a bird that needs help, please take them to Liberty Wildlife at: 2600 E Elwood St. Phoenix, AZ 85040 Intake Window Hours are 8am – 6pm daily   Liberty Wildlife Hotline: 480-998-5550, hours 8am-830pm daily   They are alway...

Summary: Learning to bird by ear is an important part of becoming an expert birder. Join Cheryl and Kiersten as they discuss four more southwest birds and play their songs and calls.   Show Notes: Bird song provided by Macaulay Library at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology: Yellow-rumped Warbler recorded by Silvan Laan, Black-throated Sparrow recorded by Paul Marvin, Acorn Woodpecker recorded by Harri...

Summary:A three-minute podcast from the hosts of The Feathered Desert about individual bird species found in the desert Southwest.   Show Notes: Bird song provided by Macaulay Library at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology recorded by Todd Alfes.

Summary: Birds are innovative but are they creative? Join Cheryl and Kiersten as they discuss some birds of the Southwest through the eyes of an artist, and you can decide whether you think they are creative as well as innovative!   For our hearing impaired listeners, a transcript of this podcast follows the show notes on Podbean.   Show Notes: www.interesting-facts.com/bald-eagle-facts/ www.pbs.o...