The Real Birding Podcast

Achoo! Will has the flu this week so we are running an episode that aired back in July! We will be back next Monday with an all new episode. Bird on!

Will and Caleb unload their spiciest birding opinions in this feather-ruffling episode of The Real Birding Podcast. From hunting ethics to conservation priorities, from favorite families to birding styles that drive them nuts, nothing is off-limits. Tune in as the hosts trade takes, defend their hills to die on, and maybe spark a few debates of your own.

In this episode of the Real Birding Podcast, Will and Caleb face off in a competition to see which species produced by the "Surprise Me" feature on eBird are on our own life lists. This fun episode brings up awesome stories of our own experiences with random birds across the globe. From Tropical Screech Owls to Imperial Pigeons, this episode is a lot of fun!

This week Caleb and Will break down bird banding and a recent project Caleb has been taking part in in west Michigan. We talk about the science behind bird banding as well as explaining the process. They even break down some recent birds pulled out of nets and show what to look for from the perspective of a field ornithologist!

Photos have emerged of a truly bizarre bird on lake Erie. This kittiwake appears to have characteristics that better suit the mega-rare Red-legged Kittiwake, a bird that has never ventured far from its home in the north Pacific Ocean. This is our breakdown.

In this episode of the Real Birding Podcast, Caleb and Will Break down the effects that cold snaps and polar vortexes can have on birds. This extreme weather can push birds further south than they would normally go and dump Snowy Owls by the dozens into the lower 48! Listen to hear how you can capitalize on this awesome winter phenomenon.

In this episode of the Birding Breakdown, Caleb and Will take on the challenging identification of a loon that Caleb and other saw recently in southern Michigan. Could it be a rare vagrant from the Pacific Ocean?

In this episode of the Real Birding Podcast Will and Caleb debate which states belong in the top five birding locations in the US!

One of the most iconic birds of North America, stretching from Cuba all the way across Alaska to Siberia! This episode takes a deep dive into the history and mystique of this wonderful bird.

This episode is dedicated to the widely known but seldom treasured sparrow family! This group of birds tend to invade the backyard bird feeders in late fall and have all sorts of relevance as harbingers of both winter and spring (depending on the species!). From Towhees to Juncos, this family packs a punch.

This week, Caleb and Will recount their previous weekend finding rarities in Michigan and the discovery of an especially illusive species. They also break down some of the best rarities found across the region so far this fall. If you are a sucker for rare birds, this one's for you.

In this bonus edition of The Real Birding Podcast , Caleb and Will dive into a fresh set of photos Caleb captured earlier today of a juvenile Jaeger. The challenge? Identifying it to species — and determining whether it might be the rarest of the trio: a Pomarine Jaeger. Join us as we scrutinize every field mark, discuss the tricky ID features of jaegers in juvenile plumage, and debate what exactl...

In 2024 Daniel Bernard quit his job and hit the road. His destination? The rest of the country. Danny set out to see 100 species of bird in every single lower 48 U.S. state in a single year. In this conversation, Will and Caleb talk with Danny about his highest highs and lowest lows. We talk about what makes a hard core lister tick. From The Sonoran Desert to the high woods of Maine, this conversa...

Some winters, the bird world throws us a curveball—owls, finches, ptarmigans, and more suddenly show up far outside their usual range, flooding backyards and thrilling birders across the continent. This phenomenon, known as an irruption , is one of the most magical and unpredictable events in birding. In this episode of The Real Birding Podcast , Caleb and Will dive into what causes these movement...

This week on The Real Birding Podcast, Caleb and Will dive into the magic of peak fall migration. With millions of birds streaming across North America on their journey to wintering grounds, it’s one of the most exciting times of the year for birders. From the dazzling variety of warblers to the drama of raptors on the wing and the thrill of spotting jaegers offshore, this episode captures the ene...

In this episode of The Real Birding Podcast , Caleb returns from an epic birding journey through Spain and shares the full story with Will — from the Pyrenees to the wetlands of the Ebro Delta. With an astonishing 160 species spotted, including Bearded Vultures, Greater Flamingos, and dazzling Bee-eaters, Caleb breaks down his itinerary, the highs and lows of birding in the Spanish heat, and the u...

In this episode of The Real Birding Podcast, Will and Caleb take on the ultimate challenge: ranking the best countries in the world for birding. From biodiversity hotspots to underrated gems, we dive into which countries deserve top-tier status - and which ones might be a little overhyped. Expect strong opinions, friendly disagreements, and a few controversial picks that might ruffle some feathers...

In this episode of The Real Birding Podcast , Caleb and Will are joined by Matt Misewicz, who takes us deep into the remote northern Alaskan tundra where he bands wild geese in some of the most extreme conditions on Earth. From dodging storms to tracking the migration of cackling geese and greater white-fronted geese, Matt shares what it’s like to do real field science in the wildest corners of No...

In this episode of The Real Birding Podcast , Will and Caleb dive into the fascinating history of birding as a form of citizen science. From the sporting roots of the Christmas Bird Count to the structured rigor of Breeding Bird Survey routes, and the backyard magic of Project FeederWatch, we explore how everyday birders have helped shape scientific understanding for over a century. Plus, Caleb gi...

This week on The Real Birding Podcast , Caleb and Will dive into one of the birding world's most unexpected frontiers: cruise ships. From tens of thousands of landbirds "falling out" during migration to rare pelagic species like Albatrosses and Petrels appearing in deep waters, cruise birding is full of surprises. Caleb recounts his unforgettable 2022 repositioning cruise alongside l...

In this episode of The Real Birding Podcast, Will and Caleb tackle a common challenge: how to keep your birding exciting during the quieter summer months. While the heat might seem to hush the bird world, there's still plenty happening—if you know where (and how) to look. We share stories from our recent summer birding adventures and reveal how some birds are already on the move with early fal...

In this episode of The Real Birding Podcast , Will and Caleb take a deep dive into one of the most underrated hotspots in American birding: Miller Beach, Indiana. Drawing from Will’s firsthand experience living in Miller Beach and serving as a waterbird counter for Indiana Audubon in Fall 2023, we explore what makes this slice of Lake Michigan shoreline so special. From mind-blowing warbler fallou...

In this episode of The Real Birding Podcast, Caleb and Will tackle one of the most controversial conservation decisions in recent memory: the planned killing of over 500,000 barred owls in an effort to save the critically threatened Northern Spotted Owl. With tensions running high between ecological ethics and urgent conservation needs, we weigh the pros and cons of this drastic measure. We take a...

This week on The Real Birding Podcast, Caleb and Will chat with conservation biologist Joe Kaplan—the man behind Michigan’s most famous common loon pair, a duo that’s been breeding in the Upper Peninsula for over 25 years. Joe shares the inside story of these beloved birds and reflects on a life dedicated to conservation, from loon monitoring to youthful adventures as a stowaway birder in the far...

Big changes are coming to the birding world: every bird in North America named after a person is getting a new name. In this episode of The Real Birding Podcast , we dig into the historic decision to retire eponymous bird names—and why it matters. Join us as we explore the reasoning behind the shift, reflect on some of the most iconic names being phased out, and, most importantly, propose our own...