BirdNote Daily
Science & Ideas
About
Escape the daily grind and immerse yourself in the natural world. Rich in imagery, sound, and information, BirdNote inspires you to notice the world around you.
Episodes
- World of Warblers
May is the prime month across much of North America to celebrate the return of migratory birds from the tropics. Of all those coming back, it is the warblers that many birders eagerly await. And of the more than 50 species that brighten ou…
- Hornbill – the Lockdown Bird
Does staying cooped up inside with your kids sometimes drive you up the wall? Take comfort in the bird that does it year after year — the hornbill. Each breeding season, a female hornbill plasters herself into her nest cavity, leaving only…
- Capuchinbirds
The peace of the vast Guyanan jungle is abruptly broken with the dawn chorus of male Capuchinbirds, one of the most bizarre birds in South America. The singing male bows forward, then suddenly stretches to his full length, raising a monk-l…
- Wood Thrush Thrive In Health Forests
The fluting song of the Wood Thrush is an ethereal sound of summer in North America. During the breeding season, these robin-sized songsters serenade deciduous forests of the eastern U.S. and Canada. Each fall, they migrate to rainforests…
- How Noise Pollution Affects Birds
Dr. Clinton Francis, a sensory ecologist, discusses how noise pollution from human infrastructure affects birds. He explains that human-made sounds disrupt bird behavior, despite birds relying on hearing to sense predators, prey, and find…
- House Wrens and Dummy Nests
This episode discusses the nesting behaviors of male House Wrens. It explains how male House Wrens build multiple starter nests to attract a female mate during nesting season.
- Birding 101: Songs and Calls
This episode of BirdNote's Birding 101 series explains the various ways birds use songs and calls. It covers the different meanings of these bird sounds.
- Spark Bird: Dara Wilson and the Blue-gray Tanager
Dara Wilson, inspired by her encounter with the Blue-gray Tanager, became a bird educator. She is also an organizer for Black Birders Week.
- The Color of Birds' Eyes
This episode explores the phenomenon of birds\
- Recognizing a Stranded Loon
Loons are highly adapted for aquatic environments, making land navigation difficult. This episode discusses how loons can become stranded on wet pavement and the importance of contacting wildlife rehabilitators for assistance.
- BirdNoir: Nestboxes and Snake Skins
This BirdNote Daily episode features Private Eye Michael Stein investigating a nestbox incident. He uncovers an ingenious method birds use involving snake skins for their own survival advantage.
- An App That Helps You Hear High-Pitched Bird Songs
Lang Elliott, a nature recordist with high-frequency hearing loss, collaborated with a programmer to create the "Hear Birds Again" app. This app shifts high-pitched bird songs to a lower range, making them audible for listeners. It is curr…
- Parrots Using Video Chat to Keep in Touch
Researchers investigated parrots using video chat. Parrots were trained to initiate calls, and many engaged in conversations, with some forming friendships that continued after the experiment.
- Milkweed: A Whole Ecosystem on a Plant
Milkweed plants are important for Monarch butterflies and caterpillars, and also support a diverse range of other insect species. When part of a diverse plant community, milkweed provides food and shelter for many species, including birds.
- J. Drew Lanham’s Sparrow Envy
This BirdNote Daily episode features J. Drew Lanham reading a poem inspired by sparrows. The poem focuses on sparrows thriving in locations that others might overlook, touching on themes of nature and observation.
- Songbirds Migrate Across the Gulf of Mexico
This episode of BirdNote Daily discusses how millions of songbirds, such as the Orchard Oriole, migrate across the Gulf of Mexico from the Yucatan to the southeastern U.S. It explores why birds take this route despite the risks, suggesting…
- Scissor-tailed Flycatcher
The Scissor-tailed Flycatcher, found in Texas, Oklahoma, and the south-central region, is an elegant bird with a long, forked tail. It demonstrates agile flight and unique display behaviors, including dives and somersaults.
- American Tree Sparrow
This episode of BirdNote Daily discusses the American Tree Sparrow, a winter visitor to the northern U.S. It covers their foraging habits and notes a decline in their population since the 1970s. The episode also suggests ways to support th…
- Pigeons Make Milk
Pigeons feed their nestlings a milky substance called pigeon milk. This substance is rich in antioxidants and immunity factors, aiding the survival of newborns.
- Planting Oaks for Birds
This BirdNote Daily episode discusses the importance of planting native oak trees to provide food for birds, as thousands of caterpillars from an oak are needed to raise a single nest of baby birds. It highlights the Homegrown National Par…
- Traci Brimhall: Intimacy and the Everyday
This BirdNote Daily episode features poet Traci Brimhall, an associate professor at Kansas State University, known for her bird-themed poetry collection "Rookery." Her interest in birds developed later in life.
- Finding the Links Between Plants and Birds
This episode explores the connection between plants and birds. It discusses how identifying plant species can help understand avian life and introduces iNaturalist as a tool for plant identification.
- Cuckoos - Tent Caterpillar Birds
This episode discusses the Yellow-billed and Black-billed Cuckoos, two species found in North America. It covers their habitats, typical behaviors, and their diet, highlighting their ability to eat tent caterpillars.
- Let The Birds Do The Talking
This episode of BirdNote Daily features uninterrupted birdsong. The podcast also contains a request for listener donations to support the independent nonprofit organization.
- Contribute a Twig
This BirdNote Daily episode focuses on the show's fundraising week. It encourages listeners to support BirdNote by making a donation, likening contributions to twigs building a nest for future episodes.
- Listener Support Keeps BirdNote On The Air
This episode discusses how listener support is crucial for BirdNote Daily, drawing a comparison to the resilient structure of bird feathers. It highlights that individual donations enable the production of the show.
- BirdNote Helps Kids Learn Their Birds
This episode of BirdNote Daily focuses on how BirdNote helps children learn about birds. Kim Bradmon and her son Ben share their experiences. This episode is part of BirdNote's fundraising week.
- Little Things Add Up
This BirdNote Daily episode discusses the show's fundraising week. It highlights how listener donations support the program and its mission to share information about birds.
- Rachel Carson’s Muse
This BirdNote Daily episode explores how Rachel Carson was inspired by the work of 19th-century writer Richard Jefferies. His writings helped her develop a deep sense of connection with the natural world.
- Who, or What, Was Mother Goose?
This episode of BirdNote Daily discusses the varying depictions of Mother Goose, sometimes as an old woman and other times as a goose. The show explores the imagery associated with this character.
- Northern Flicker, Drummer
This episode of BirdNote Daily explores the Northern Flicker woodpecker. It describes how the bird uses drumming to establish territory and attract mates, and details its physical adaptations for drilling into trees.
- Sibelius and the Swans
This episode of BirdNote Daily explores how composer Jean Sibelius was inspired by Whooper Swans. He documented this experience in his diary, later translating the natural moment into a musical composition.
- Rosalie Edge And The First Hawk Sanctuary
This episode of BirdNote Daily tells the story of Rosalie Edge, a key figure in the 20th-century American conservation movement. It highlights her work in creating Hawk Mountain Sanctuary to protect birds of prey.
- Nest Boxes For All Sorts Of Birds
This BirdNote Daily episode discusses how people can help birds by providing nest boxes. Many bird species that historically nested in tree cavities will use nest boxes in parks or near homes.
- Sidney Wade – Blue
BirdNote Daily celebrates National Poetry Month by featuring poet Sidney Wade. She is the author of the collection "Bird Book," which focuses on birds.
- Creating Bird Habitat at Home
This episode discusses creating bird habitats at home by planting native plants. Ecologist Douglas Tallamy, co-founder of Homegrown National Park®, explains how this helps regenerate biodiversity and ecosystem function.
- The Red Warbler: Mexico’s Little Red Queen
The Red Warbler, endemic to Mexico, is known for singing on sunny mornings during its breeding season. It weighs less than a AAA battery and lives in humid forests.
- Probing with Sandpipers
Sandpipers use their varied bill sizes and shapes to probe for food. Their bills have sensitive nerve receptors that help them find unseen prey through touch, odor, and pressure changes.
- Wonder and Awe with Aimee Nezhukumatathil
In this episode, Aimee Nezhukumatathil shares her experiences with birds, plants, and her son, aligning with National Poetry Month. She is known for her writings on nature and the wonder of the natural world.
- Marbled Godwits
This episode of BirdNote Daily describes Marbled Godwits, focusing on their appearance, migration, and breeding locations. It notes their wintering grounds along the coasts and breeding in Canada and Alaska.
- Let BirdNote Immerse You In Soothing Birdsong
This BirdNote Daily episode features the sounds of the Tufted Puffin, Great Horned Owl, and Mallard. The episode aims to provide a calming and immersive birdsong experience for listeners.
- Black Kites and Wildfires
Black Kites in northern Australia intentionally spread wildfires by carrying burning twigs to new areas. This behavior helps them hunt prey escaping the flames and reduces competition from other predators.
- Rainbow-Billed Toucan: The Flying Banana
This BirdNote Daily episode describes the Rainbow-billed Toucan, also known as the Keel-billed Toucan. It highlights its unique appearance, including its large, colorful beak, and explains how the beak helps with fighting and regulating bo…
- The Songs of Desert Wrens
This episode explores the songs of the Canyon Wren and Cactus Wren, two desert birds with distinct vocalizations. Despite their shared ancestry and habitat, their songs have evolved differently to suit their environments.
- The Tui of New Zealand
The Tui is a New Zealand bird known for its intelligence and iridescent feathers. It can imitate human speech and accents, and its unique song consists of a mix of musical notes and other sounds.
- Bananaquits Love Sweets
This episode describes Bananaquits, small songbirds with a curved bill that allows them to sip nectar. It covers their habitat in Latin America and the Caribbean, their varied plumage, and their diverse songs.
- Letter to a Kentucky Warbler
In this episode, ornithologist J. Drew Lanham reads a letter he wrote to a Kentucky Warbler. He describes the species as "uber-skulky" and hard to find, but bringing "warbler-iffic joy" when he hears them.
- The Stunning King Eider
The King Eider is a sea duck in the Northern Hemisphere. This episode describes the male King Eider's appearance and mating behavior, as well as the female's camouflage and nesting habits.
- How a Bird Came to Look Like a Caterpillar
The Cinereous Mourner species has a chick that mimics a toxic caterpillar. This mimicry protects the chick from predators in the Amazon Basin.
- Dovekie At Sea
Dovekie are robin-sized seabirds that live in the North Atlantic. They are known for their compact black and white bodies and their ability to thrive in Arctic breeding colonies. Their populations have declined significantly since the 1970…