Advertise on podcast: Your Bird Story

Owls are back in the news in New York City. This time, two Barn Owls on the Upper West Side. In honor of the city's owls, famous and incognito, we're rerunning "Christine Mott Advocates for Free Birds."

New Yorkers who bird know that a common way to experience birds in the city is seasonal, and in his new book, Bird City, Ryan Goldberg captures the lives of resident and migratory birds across all five boroughs of the city. Ryan shines a light on New Yorkers who come out rain, shine, and snow to witness, protect, and advocate for the birds. He also teaches us about the city’s natural history and how its geography shaped and continues to shape the fauna and flora we share this mostly archipelagic city with. (The Bronx is the exception; it's the only borough attached to the mainland.) The start of each of the four sections, a nod to the four seasons, is beautifully illustrated by Aimee Lusty. Here’s what Goldberg had to say about Aimee: “She captured the drama and wildness of the city and its bird life in her illustrations, and I loved how the urban context was always there in her illustrations, like the rides of Coney Island in the background of winter's sea ducks at Breezy Point or Manhattan's illuminated skyscrapers behind warblers migrating through the Tribute in Light beams.” Resources Ryan Goldberg’s website: https://ryangoldberg.net/ Aimee Lusty on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aimee.lusty/ Bird Vocalizations King Eider male call https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/31729201 King Eider calls https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/137307 Common Yellowthroat https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/245666251 Peregrine Falcon https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/81384371  European Starling https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/151901161 Eurasian Owl https://xeno-canto.org/1077911 Red-tailed Hawk juvenile calls https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/175635401 Piping Plover song https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/64002271 Northern Shoveler female calls https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/43124 About the podcast Your Bird Story is an initiative of Local Nature Lab. The podcast is hosted by Georgia Silvera Seamans on Lenapehoking, and produced by Pod to the People.  Support Our Work Subscribe, follow, like, or leave a comment.  It costs $100 to produce each episode. Donate here.

The American Robin, Turdus migratorius, is a common migratory bird found throughout much of the United States; however, the population in Chicago appears to be decreasing. Is this trend specific to Chicago, or are Robins experiencing declines in other cities across the U.S? Wildlife biologist Emily Williams returns to the podcast to discuss migration patterns and the possible factors contributing to the decline of the American Robin population. Resources Learn more about Emily Williams’ American Robin research at https://www.audubon.org/magazine/fall-2020/scientists-are-unraveling-american-robins.Dr. Karina Sanchez’s LabSmithsonian Nestwatch project Bird Vocalizations Robins - alarm call (NY) https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/170498741  Robins - song (NY) https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/151051571 Robins - call (NY) https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/213807211 Robins - call (juvenile) https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/167221021 About the podcast Your Bird Story is an initiative of Local Nature Lab. The podcast is hosted by Georgia Silvera Seamans on Lenapehoking, and produced by Pod to the People.  Support Our Work Subscribe, follow, like, or leave a comment.  It costs $100 to produce each episode. Donate here.

What can birding in a different city tell us about ourselves and the culture of perceiving nature in our community? We check in with Loyan Beausoleil about her recent trip to Japan where she observed Warbling White-eye and plentiful Brown-eared Bulbul among blooming cherry trees, listened to the song of the Japanese Bush Warbler who eluded her on Izu Island, and spotted Falcated Ducks when she least expected them, exploring the moat outside the Imperial Palace. Read Loyan's report on Avian Species Richness and Activity at the Naval Cemetery Landscape. Bird Vocalizations Chimney Swift calls https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/107413 American Kestrel calls https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/226931021 Warbling White-eye song https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/6059 Brown-eared Bulbul calls https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/170597841 Japanese Bush Warbler song https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/214569401 Eurasian Sparrowhawk calls https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/387888231 (Germany) Cooper’s Hawk calls https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/231229541 Sharp-shinned Hawk calls https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/4153 Green-winged Teal https:/ /macaulaylibrary.org/asset/230140701 Falcated Duck calls https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/601476851 Eurasian Sparrowhawk calls https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/62269311 (Kyrgyzstan) About the podcast Your Bird Story is an initiative of Local Nature Lab. The podcast is hosted by Georgia Silvera Seamans on Lenapehoking, and produced by Pod to the People.  Support Our Work Subscribe, follow, like, or leave a comment.  It costs $100 to produce each episode. Donate here.

Alejandro Vinueza, a wildlife biologist and current youth programs manager, has birds in his wild city of New York. He has watched Ruby-throated Hummingbirds nectaring in Fort Tryon Park, heard Red-tailed Hawks screeching on-the-wing while playing basketball at Cabrini Park, and observed Great-horned Owls on Staten Island. Alejandro describes himself as a bird nerd trying to “grow the flock” among his friends and community. He has a unique voice in science communication. His informative videos about bird behavior are always entertaining, never didactic. You’ll laugh while you learn! We highly recommend watching them @wingin_it_with_al (Instagram) and @winginitwithal (TikTok) Bird Vocalizations Black-throated Blue Warbler https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/120458 Northern Cardinal duet https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/54675 American Robin https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/148704811 Scarlet Tanager https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/31258871 Red-tailed Hawk https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/241076151 Blue Jay https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/226854181 American Woodcock https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/221633191 About the podcast Your Bird Story is an initiative of Local Nature Lab. The podcast is hosted by Georgia Silvera Seamans on Lenapehoking, and produced by Pod to the People.  Support Our Work Subscribe, follow, like, leave a comment.  It costs $100 to produce each episode. Donate here.

Indigo Goodson-Fields is a writer, poet, birder. We begin our conversation with Indigo’s essay, “Black Woman's Guide to Loving through Birds” (read it!), and end with her memory of seeing her first Northern Flicker in the Native Flora Garden at Brooklyn Botanic Garden. She recalls the sun illuminating the yellow shafts of the bird in flight from the ground. In between Indigo talks about her literary inspirations and the essential role of birding in her life which happens to be the title of her upcoming anthology titled Essential Birding.  More information about Indigo Goodson-Fields https://linktr.ee/indigoindaflow “Black Woman's Guide to Loving through Birds” Bird Vocalizations White-throated Sparrow https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/136579 Northern Flicker https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/263782231 About the podcast Your Bird Story is an initiative of Local Nature Lab. The podcast is hosted by Georgia Silvera Seamans on Lenapehoking, and produced by Pod to the People.  Support Our Work Subscribe, follow, like, leave a comment. It costs $100 to produce each episode. Donate here.

Dudley Edmondson’s writing and photography spotlight Black, Indigenous, and People of Color on the frontlines of conservation. Edmondson is a role model for People the Planet Needs Now, which is also the title of his latest book. He lives the talk by managing his yard as bird habitat. We talk about his favorite birds, influencing his neighbors, and what is was like to be in the room where the America's Great Outdoors Initiative was signed. More information about Dudley Edmondson https://dudleyedmondson.com/ Bird Vocalizations Golden Eagle call https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/164698 Peregrine Falcon call https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/136378 Tennessee Warbler song https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/136170 American Goldfinch song https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/230747651 Cerulean Warbler song https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/147601691 Rough-legged Hawk call https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/137553 Sharp-shinned Hawk call https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/4153 About the podcast Your Bird Story is an initiative of Local Nature Lab. The podcast is hosted by Georgia Silvera Seamans and produced by Pod to the People.  Support Our Work It costs $100 to produce each episode. Donate here. We also appreciate follows, likes, and reviews.

Are you ready for it…a new way to court and find love? In 2020, Wenfei Tong released her book, Bird Love, which dives into the fascinating world of avian mating and parenting strategies, was published. Fast forward to 2022 when Bryony Angell picks up Tong’s book for the second time. What happens next is the topic of this podcast. You’ll hear about Tong’s inspiration for writing Bird Love, Angell’s successful attempt at pair bonding (with a human), and more. More information about our guests Bryony Angell’s writing: https://www.bryonyangell.com/portfolio-bryony-angell Wenfei Tong’s books including Bird Love: https://www.wenfeitong.com/work/books Bird Vocalizations Crimson Sunbird https://xeno-canto.org/483932 Osprey https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/106651 Herring Gull (call)  https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/186415451 Black-capped Chickadee (song) https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/94959121 About the podcast Your Bird Story is an initiative of Local Nature Lab. The podcast is hosted by Georgia Silvera Seamans, and produced by Pod to the People.  Support Our Work It costs $100 to produce each episode. Donate here. We also appreciate follows, likes, and reviews.

This month we talk with Christine Mott about her new book Free Bird: Flaco the Owl’s Dreams Take Flight, and the rights of animals. Mott was raised in New York City but wrote the book from Southern California. She was the Chair of the Animal Law Committee of the New York City Bar Association. CONTENT NOTICE: This episode contains descriptions of violence towards people and animals in a discussion about animal welfare legislation. More Information Learn more about Free Bird at Lantern Publishing.  Bird Vocalizations American Robin (songs)  https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/148704811 https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/151051571 Pigeon (song) https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/44449551 House Sparrow (song) ​​https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/138707321 Snowy Owl (calls) https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Snowy_Owl/sounds  https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/138288 About Us Your Bird Story is an initiative of Local Nature Lab. The podcast is hosted by Georgia Silvera Seamans, and produced by Pod to the People.  Support Our Work Like and review this episode. Subscribe to the podcast. Or, make a financial donation.

Birds of a feather flock together, and more. Dr. Joan Strassmann studies cooperation and conflict within and between species, mostly social amoebas. In her latest book, The Social Lives of Birds, Strassmann trains her lens on the sociality of birds. The book is a riveting set of profiles of the how and why birds band together to breed, nest, and raise their young. The opportunity to hear from Strassmann directly was even more compelling. More Information Learn more about The Social Lives of Birds at Penguin Random House. Curious about social amoebas? Explore Dr. Strassmann’s research lab at Washington University in St. Louis. Bird Vocalizations Northern Flicker https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/30597061 Sociable Weaver https://xeno-canto.org/793359 Taiwan Yuhina https://xeno-canto.org/976799 Northern Gannet https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/133317 Superb Fairywren https://xeno-canto.org/935812 About Us Your Bird Story is an initiative of Local Nature Lab. The podcast is hosted by Georgia Silvera Seamans, and produced by Pod to the People.  Support Our Work Like and review this episode. Subscribe to the podcast. Or, make a financial donation.

Matthias Garff is an artist based in Germany. His sculpture practice is 80% focused on birds. His passion for birds developed through his relationship with his grandfather, who sent poems about the birds in his garden in Buenos Aires. We spoke with Garff about his year-long International Studio & Curatorial Program Residency in New York City, where he used discarded materials to create life-sized birds of the city. Garff’s goal is to "show biodiversity or...this variety of life around us.” *Leave a review. Share the episode with a friend.* — Follow Matthias Garff on his website and on Instagram. ⁠Click here⁠ to learn more about the International Studio & Curatorial Program. — Creator and Host: Georgia Silvera Seamans Producer and Editor: Pod for the People Vocalizations:  American Robin (song) https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/151051571 Blue Jay (call) https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/107289291 Pigeon (song) https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/108565061 Eurasian Jay (call) https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/254553511

Jenn Lodi-Smith is a PhD psychologist and founder of The Spark Bird Project. The initiative flickered into life at the Hog Island Audubon Family Camp where Lodi-Smith was introduced to the concept of "spark birds." Lodi-Smith and her colleagues record and analyze contributed stories to better understand how people become birders and why they continue to bird. The Spark Bird Project shares its research findings with community partners to help organizations engage with established and new birders. — The Spark Bird Project website — Creator and Host: Georgia Silvera Seamans Producer and Editor: Pod for the People Vocalizations:  Atlantic Puffin call https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/62361 Atlantic Puffin bill rattle https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/216892 Barred Owl (duet) https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/28839251 Screech Owl https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/107446 Atlantic Puffin bill rattle https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/216892

In this episode, we talk with Amy Berkov, a research scientist specializing in beetles and plant chemistry. Dr. Berkov shares her journey from artist to scientist, and her strong expertise in insect ecology, and the relationships among plants and birds. — Read Amy Berkov’s research. — Creator and Host: Georgia Silvera Seamans Producer and Editor: Pod for the People Vocalizations:  American Goldfinch song https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/230747651 Montezuma Oropendola https://xeno-canto.org/522867 Red-winged Blackbird song https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/223686181 Hooded Merganser call https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/229281 Wood Duck call https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/136505

Edmundo Martinez’s patches are Starlight and Concrete Parks in the Bronx. He has seen inland birds including warblers and woodpeckers as well as aquatic birds like herons and egrets. The Bronx River, New York City’s only fresh water river, flows through these parks. Martinez birds big parks like Pelham Bay Park (2,722 acres) and small parks like Hunts Point Riverside Park (1.4 acres). He purposefully birds smaller parks in Black and brown communities to show that you don’t have to leave your neighborhood to observe the species of birds typically associated with Central Park. Martinez found his way to birding while cycling; “I’m a big cycling guy,” he said. Observing birds has become a form of meditation for him, bringing him peace and joy.  — Follow Edmundo Martinez @bxmundo. — Creator and Host: Georgia Silvera Seamans Producer and Editor: Pod for the People Vocalizations:  Downy Woodpecker drumming https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/62766 Hairy Woodpecker drumming https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/211304391 Laughing Gull flock call https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/97299221 Great Black-backed Gull long call https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/171253471 Pileated Woodpecker drumming https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/63086 Northern Flicker drumming https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/534422

Kelli Hata founded the Haecceity Project to chronicle the birds who die by colliding with glass structures on the Yale University campus. The word haecceity was coined by John Duns Scotus, a Medieval scholar. Wikipedia defines haecceity as meaning “each individual entity has a unique, unrepeatable quality that makes it different from every other entity.” The bird care work which Hata has been involved with for years in California and in New Haven embodies the sacredness and innate value of each and every bird. We also discuss practicalities--(1) the preventability of glass collisions and (2) the responsibility of universities to conserve birds as they migrate through their campuses. — Follow the Haecceity Project, Yale @yale_haecceity. — Creator and Host: Georgia Silvera Seamans Producer and Editor: Pod for the People Vocalizations:  Scrub Jay: https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/225405191 Mockingbird song: https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/213457711 Prothonotary Warbler song: https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/99435531 Dark-eyed Junco song: https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/85243