BirdNote Daily

When Juan Pablo Culasso spends time outside, he often encounters people thinking he doesn’t belong out there as a blind person – despite the fact that he’s a renowned nature recordist. He helped design nature trails in Colombia with features that make them more accessible for people who are visually impaired, including guide ropes with textures that signal points of interest and QR codes that prov...

American Oystercatchers are crow-sized shorebirds that can be found foraging in intertidal zones along the U.S. Atlantic shoreline and both coasts of Central and South America. Their bodies are mostly black and white, except for bright yellow eyes and a long, orange bill. Sadly, researchers estimate that between 1970 and 2023, American Oystercatchers lost roughly half their population to habitat d...

Rock Pigeons are one of the most common urban birds. But why do we never see baby pigeons? Some baby birds — like down-covered ducks, geese, and chickens — leave their nest shortly after hatching and do a lot of growing up while following their parents around. Others, like pigeons, depend on their parents to feed and protect them, well into their youth. They stay in the nest — under bridges and aw...

Despite their modern reputation, pigeons were once beloved by royalty. Akbar the Great, ruler of the Mughal Empire in the 16th Century, kept over 20,000 pigeons. Owning pigeons in parts of Europe was a privilege restricted to the nobility. Pigeon ownership became a flashpoint during the French Revolution, when commoners finally gained the right to raise pigeons. Learn more in Rosemary Mosco’s book...

The Juan Fernandez Firecrown is a critically endangered hummingbird that is only found on Robinson Crusoe Island, near Chile. Measuring more than 4 inches long from beak to tail, the firecrown is hefty for a hummingbird. To conserve energy while feeding, the birds often hang upside down on flowers rather than hovering in place! As they feed, the hummingbirds transport pollen between forest flowers...

In American democracy, elected officials work for the people. That means you can be a voice for birds by reaching out to your representatives at every level of government. On the Bring Birds Back podcast, Hardy Kern explains how the American Bird Conservancy is taking legislative action for birds. Listen to the full episode in season 8 of Bring Birds Back . Support for BirdNote is provided by Sara...

What a comfort it would be if every bird song were as easy to recognize — and remember — as that of this Olive-sided Flycatcher. Some people think it sounds like "quick-THREE-beers" or "what PEEVES you." Do you drink coffee? Then you can help Olive-sided Flycatchers, when you choose to drink shade-grown coffee. It encourages coffee growers to keep the trees that migratory songbirds need to survive...

A chill wind ruffles the feathers of a male Sagebrush Sparrow (formerly known as the Sage Sparrow), as he sings atop a tall sagebrush. It is late February, a few miles from the Columbia River in Central Washington. Sagebrush Sparrows are arriving north from wintering in the Southwestern deserts. Unlike most songbirds, male and female Sagebrush Sparrows often arrive on their nesting grounds already...

In shallow waters off the coast of Massachusetts, ocean predators come from far and wide to hunt. Humpback whales join Great Shearwaters and many other seabirds in pursuing sand lance, a tiny fish that these top predators rely on for sustenance. But sand lance are vulnerable to climate change — putting the rest of the ecosystem, including seabirds, at risk. This episode is dedicated to Bob Goodale...

The spider’s web is an intricate piece of precision engineering. Made from large proteins, it’s sticky, stretchy, and tough. So it’s no surprise that many small birds — including this Anna’s Hummingbird — make a point of collecting strands of spider silk to use in nest construction. Spider silk not only acts as a glue, holding the nest together, but it’s flexible enough to accommodate the growing...

Just because a young bird appears to be alone – whether on the ground or squawking loudly from a bush or tree – doesn't necessarily mean it is sick or injured. In June, young birds, including this juvenile Northern Flicker, are leaving their nests. And most likely, a parent is near-by and will soon return. What can you do to help? Keep your cats indoors - especially during the birds' breeding seas...

Open, vertical pipes are commonly used to build fences, anchor gates, and post signs. Inquisitive birds often inspect these cavities in their search for food and nest sites. But without enough room to turn around or spread his wings in the smooth pipe, the little bird will be trapped — and eventually die. It’s why conservationists call them death pipes. Conservation groups like the Tucson Bird All...

The American Kestrel is the smallest, most numerous, and most widespread North American falcon. This bird is built for speed, its long pointed wings often bent back at the tip. While hunting, kestrels hover above an open field. These days, the lack of suitable nesting cavities, which limits American Kestrel populations in some areas, has lead to public interest in installing wooden nest boxes. Sup...

Wildlife biologist Alex Troutman jokes that he was always destined to be a fisherman. But Troutman family fishing trips taught Alex to appreciate birds, too. On the Bring Birds Back podcast, Alex reflects on his journey from being a critter-curious kid to becoming a professional conservationist and field guide author. Listen to the full episode on season 8 of Bring Birds Back . Find it in your fav...

A city lake is one of the most prized places in a fast, growing environment. It’s also often difficult to distinguish all of the bird calls from each other. With a splash of a beak, a glide of a wing, and an eye of a predator — listen closely, and then again to sharpen your bird ear. This episode is brought to you by Teton Science Schools , specializing in outdoor learning experiences and educatio...

Rachel Carson, author of Silent Spring , and her beloved friend Dorothy Freeman shared a love of nature, and especially of one bird: the Veery, a type of thrush. Plain looking as it is, the Veery has a particularly beautiful song. Hear the extended podcast from BirdNote Presents . More info and transcript at BirdNote.org . Want more BirdNote? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter. Sign up for BirdNot...

When a soaring Short-toed Snake-Eagle spots a delicious snake, it swoops down, grabs it with its talons, then tears off the snake’s head. Still on the wing, it swallows the entire snake, head first. Smaller than Bald Eagles, they live mainly in Africa and have legs and toes covered in thick scales to protect them from bites. Snake-Eagles take on some of the swiftest and deadliest snakes in the wor...

A decent pair of binoculars can considerably enhance your enjoyment of birds. In this episode, birder and naturalist Dara Miles Wilson shares a crash course on how to use binoculars. This is Black Birders Week! Learn how to participate by following the hashtag #BlackBirdersWeek on social media and checking out the full schedule here . More info and transcript at BirdNote.org . Want more BirdNote?...

Brianna Amingwa, is an environmental educator, co-organizer of Black Birders Week and mom of two little bird-loving boys. For Black Birders Week, Brianna shares moments of fun and learning while birding as a family. This is Black Birders Week! Learn how to participate by following the hashtag #BlackBirdersWeek on social media and checking out the full schedule of events here .  More info and trans...

Harriet Tubman was a heroic abolitionist in the cause to end chattel slavery. She was also an excellent astronomer and naturalist — and an expert birder. She mastered the hoot of the Barred Owl, using it as a signal throughout the Underground Railroad to let freedom seekers know she had arrived. This week is Black Birders Week! Learn how to participate in Black Birders Week here and by following #...

In this episode, Marcus Rosten shares his involvement in a study of the American Woodcock with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. The study revealed the surprising journeys of one of North America’s quirkiest birds. One woodcock caught near Buffalo flew nearly 400 miles south without stopping, en route to spend the winter in North Carolina. Migrations like the woodcocks’...

Masonville Cove in South Baltimore is a special place to study birds. Once a dumping ground for sediment dredged from the Baltimore Harbor, the Cove is now a popular urban wildlife refuge. Community educator and wildlife ecologist Sharon Dorsey is part of a research team that’s monitoring bird populations at the refuge with a scientific technique called bird banding. It’s a specialized, federally-...

Birder and naturalist Marcus Rosten loves to watch the American Herring Gulls that flock to Freedom Park in Buffalo, New York. Once a final stop for freedom seekers on the Underground Railroad, the park is also known for supporting birds that face an uncertain future. For Black Birders Week, Marcus reflects on what we lose when species of conservation concern — like American Herring Gulls – are ov...

In this episode, urban ecologist Deja Perkins talks about how many bird species live right within bustling cities. Whether you’re on your porch, at your local park, or the parking lot of your favorite store, you can find birds. Deja suggests taking five minutes to focus your attention on birds. Look up in the sky, along power lines and the tops of buildings. Close your eyes and listen — past the s...

Tennessee Warblers love drinking nectar, but they do it without helping to pollinate flowers. By tapping a hole into the base of a flower, these warblers enjoy an easy meal while bypassing the flower’s pollen. But they give back to their ecosystems in other ways – such as eating countless insects! Tom and Annalee Luhman celebrate BirdNote with today's show. They believe BirdNote stories are a magi...