This Month in Birding – August 2026
The end of August 20206 sees us looking forward to fall, but pausing first to enjoy a discussion about some interesting pieces of bird and birding news from the last few weeks. Friends of the podcast Martha Harbison, Frank Izaguirre, and Ryan Mandelbum join host Nate Swick to talk about urban bird behavior, the lifespans of female birds, and a whole lot about bird poop. Seriously. More than we expected. Links to items discussed in this episode: Urbanization reduces shyness and neophobia in a common waterbird Do birds enjoy flying? Why is it so hard to find DNA[...]
Rare Bird Alert: August 21, 2026
Amazing birds of late in the ABA Area include Spotted Rail (Tennessee/Kentucky), Chinese Pond-Heron (Alaska), South Polar Skua (New Mexico), and Golden-cheeked Warbler (Alabama). Also notable has been a mini-invasion of Common Ringed Plovers, with records from Arizona, Washington, and, a bit more expectedly, Newfoundland, where three have been present.
Little Bird in a Big Sky with Bonner Black
Singer, songwriter, and birder Bonner Black joins host Nate Swick to discuss bird festivals, the joy of birding, and her forthcoming EP, Little Bird in a Big Sky, which releases . . . today! (Aug. 20)
The Feathered Forest, with Marina Richie
Where there are forests . . . there are birds. In this week's episode, award-winning nature writer Marina Richie joins Nate Swick to talk about the iconic forests of the Pacific Northwest, home to everything from Pacific Wrens foraging under tangled roots to Marbled Murrelets tending nests high in the canopy.
Rare Bird Alert: August 7, 2026
Continuing rarities in the ABA Area include the Steller's Sea-Eagle (ABA Code 4) in Newfoundland and the Yellow-headed Caracara (5) in Florida. Wisconsin got a surprise this week as a stunning breeding plumage Yellow-billed Loon in Douglas Co is a 1st record for the state. This arctic nesting species is known for its irregular sojourns into the Lower 48. Those are typically winter birds, so a breeding season sighting is particularly rare, though not unheard of. There are previous summer records in the general vicinity for Iowa, South Dakota, and Manitoba. And better late than never, this summer has[...]
Skyglow and Community Science, with Lauren Pharr
With host Nate Swick at the Black Belt Birding Festival in Alabama, we go into the podcast archives for sobering but important content from Lauren Pharr, at the time a doctoral student studying the effects of noise pollution and artificial light on birds.
This Month in Birding—July 2026
In this month's wrap-up of important and sometimes offbeat birding news, panelists Jody Allair, Stephanie Beilke, and Nick Lund join host Nate Swick to talk about the perils of AI-generated images for ornithology, "smart" wind turbines that reduce bird collisions, and the remarkable shared history of humans and Rock Pigeons.
Rare Bird Alert: July 24, 2026
We're well into July now, which can mean only one thing in the ABA Area: rare shorebirds. Headliners this week include Terek Sandpipers in Washington and Alaska, a Little Stint in British Columbia, and Curlew Sandpipers in Michigan and New Jersey.
The White-Eyes are Coming, with Rajan Rao
Meet the white-eyes! California birding expert Rajan Rao joins host Nate Swick to get listeners up to speed on these tiny, cute, and adaptable birds, introduced to the ABA Area in Hawaii and California.
Kestrels and Community, with Emmy Broeg
The American Kestrel is exquisitely beautiful—and, across large swaths of its range, in longterm decline. Our guest this week is kestrel expert Emmy Broeg, who brings us up to date on effective work to install kestrel nest boxes and boost populations regionally.
2026 Splits and Lumps, with Nick Block
It's one of the most eagerly awaited podcast episodes of the year! Nick Block joins host Nate Swick to discuss proposed bird taxonomy changes. Headliners include proposed splits of the Marsh Wren (East vs. West) and Willet (coastal vs. prairie).
Rare Bird Alert: July 3, 2026
It's July—and perhaps the summer doldrums. But the rare birds missed the memo. Especially in Pennsylvania, with both a Willow Ptarmigan (state first) and Brown-headed Nuthatch (first in 132 years). Bonkers was a Pearl Kite in California discovered in mid-June and ID'd a bit later. Also: Band-rumped Storm-Petrel (Kentucky), both Sage Thrasher and Oriental Turtle-Dove (Yukon), Baikal Teal in Hawaii, and MORE.
Random Birds, July 2026, with Ted Floyd
It's time for another episode of "Random Birds," when guest Ted Floyd and host Nate Swick are subject to the whims of a random number generator. What do randomly selected Short-eared Owls, Pomarine Jaegers, Sedge Wrens, and Pine Siskins have in common? Answer: Not much perhaps, but that didn't stop Ted and Nate from having a fun and freeform conversation about those and other random birds!
Rare Bird Alert: June 19, 2026
We're deep into the heart of June now, with reports of ABA Area megas shifting toward the northern stretches of the region. Exciting rarities this past week include Prince Edward Island's first Bar-tailed Godwit and the Northwest Territory's first Northern House Wren. Also an explosion of rarities from the Bering Sea region of Alaska, typical there in June.
Birding the Black Belt, with Andrew Lydeard and Chris Joe
Andrew Lydeard and Chris Joe join Nate Swick for a conversation about the Alabama Black Belt, named for the biologically and culturally rich region stretching across the state's mid-section. Learn about this fascinating landscape, with a special focus on the upcoming Black Belt Birding Festival, highlighting the birds, the ecology, and the civil rights heritage of the region.
Living and Birding in Labrador, with Vernon Buckle
Vast and sparsely populated, Labrador isn't nearly as heavily birded as its provincial partner Newfoundland. But its extensive coastline, facing the Labrador Sea, makes it ideally situated for intercepting rarities from the western Palearctic. Labrador-based field ornithologist Vernon Buckle joins guest host Frank Izaguirre to discuss the under-appreciated yet exciting birding there.
Rare Bird Alert: June 5, 2026
Spring migration is winding down across much of the ABA Area—but not without a truly impressive grand finale. Recent headliners include such megas as Lesser Frigatebird in both Ohio and California, European Storm-Petrel in both New Jersey and North Carolina, and a Red-faced Warbler in Florida.
Looking for Lost Birds, with John Mittermeier
The distinction between "extinct" and "extant" can seem clear-cut. The Dodo is in the former category, the Killdeer in the latter. But more than a few are in the gray aware in between—undocumented in recent decades but possibly still hanging on somewhere. Ornithologist John C. Mittermeier joins host Nate Swick to discuss a multi-agency partnership to clarify the status of these "lost birds."
This Month in Birding – May 2026
It's time for another episode of "This Month in Birding"—a friendly and relatable roundup of the ornithological science behind so much of our experience as birders. Mikko Jimenez, Jordan Rutter, and Brodie Cass Talbott and join host Nate Swick to unpack and decode a diversity of recent research on birds.
Rare Bird Alert: May 22, 2026
State firsts this past week were Oregon's first Yellow-crowned Night Heron and Missouri's first Gull-billed Tern. And Wyoming picked up a remarkable slug of rarities—Eastern Meadowlark, Eastern Wood-Pewee, and Bell's and White-eyed Vireos—all the work of a single observer!
Take It or Leave It LIVE!
Birders have opinions! And every once in a while, the American Birding podcast runs a "Take It or Leave It" episode of hot takes. Podcast regulars Nick Lund and Martha Harbison join host Nate Swick for a fun romp through the minefield of four-letter codes, ugly birds, and more.
Rare Bird Alert: May 15, 2026
Right now is the high point of the spring warbler migration in much of the ABA Area, and birders are finding great parulids, with recent highlights including Connecticut's first Swainson's Warbler and Kentucky's first Kirtland's Warbler. A sampler of other notable discoveries this past week includes Acorn Woodpecker (Iowa), Great Knot (Washington), and Common Crane (Alberta).
Ten Birds that Changed the World, with Stephen Moss
Birds are well-known inspirations for art, music, and human culture more generally, but they also have played a role—sometimes a very major role—in economics and even geopolitics. Stephen Moss, an influential and widely admired natural historian in the U.K., joins host Nate Swick to discuss Moss's latest book, Ten Birds That Changed the World, exploring the theme of the importance of birds in human affairs.
Sharing Spark Birds, with Jenn Lodi-Smith
What do our "spark bird" stories say about us—as individual birders and as a community of bird lovers? Jenn Lodi-Smith, a birder and professor of psychology, joins host Nate Swick to discuss the Spark Bird Project, an exciting initiative that is revealing fascinating insights about birding.
Rare Bird Alert: May 1, 2026
It's May!—with megas all across the ABA Area. Top reports this week include Utah's first Pileated Woodpecker and Alberta's first Ross's Gull and Vermilion Flycatcher. A Baikal Teal near Point Pelee is potentially Ontario's first, but there is the usual question of provenance. Other excellent finds include White Wagtail (British Columbia), Eurasian Whimbrel (Massachusetts), and three European Golden-Plovers (Newfoundland & Labrador).
This Month in Birding – April 2026
It's the end of the month, time for the ever-popular "This Month in Birding" spot on the podcast. In this episode, Jody Allair, Gabriel Foley, and Jennie Duberstein—all widely admired as science communicators—join host Nate Swick for a conversation on recent research on the diverse and often surprising ways that birds influence humans, both individually and as societies.
Mob-Tape Malpractice?—with Marty Freeland
Birding magazine columnist Marty Freeland joins Nate Swick to discuss mob tapes, basically "electronic pishing"—provably effective at attracting flocks of small birds. What are the ethical dimensions at play here, both in terms of creating stress for birds and sharing the experience of birding with others?
Rare Bird Alert: April 17, 2026
Leading the round-up of recent rarities is a Cuban Pewee at Dry Tortugas National Park, Florida; the species was unrecorded in the ABA Area until 1995, but there are 10+ ABA Area records, all from South Florida, in the 21st century. Other notables this past week include a Little Stint in California, a Ruff in Nebraska, and a Tufted Duck in New York.
Saving Birds to Save the Planet, with Scott Weidensaul
Scott Weidensaul, one of the most prolific and influential ornithological writers of our generation, joins host Nate Swick to talk about Scott's latest book, The Return of the Oystercatcher. In a time of understandable climate grief, Return of the Oystercatcher celebrates recent conservation successes—and presents a blueprint for further successes going forward.
How to be Hawky, with Janet Ng
Raptor conservation expert Janet Ng joins host Nate Swick this week to discuss the impacts of energy infrastructure on hawk populations in open country of the North American West. In their discussion on this week's podcast, Ng emphasizes the importance of diverse partnerships in keeping these wild places "hawky."
Random Birds, April 2026, with Ted Floyd
Question: What are two groups of birds that birders are forever talking about? Answer: Warblers and gulls. Well, the PRNG (podcast random number generator) went on warblers-and-gulls overdrive for this episode, hurling gulls and warblers, warblers and gulls, and warblers and gulls and warblers, at guest Ted Floyd and host Nate Swick. Enjoy!
Rare Bird Alert: March 27, 2026
The highlight this week is indubitably the ABA Area's first-ever Phoenix Petrel, well-documented on a pelagic trip off Hawaii Island. Runner-up: a Black-tailed Gull, Mississippi's first, in Biloxi. Also: continuing megas from Asia and Mexico; and 'tis the season for vagrant Sagebrush Sparrows, with one this week in British Columbia.
This Month in Birding – March 2026
Host Nate Swick is joined by Stephanie Beilke, Andres Jimenez, and Ryan Mandelbaum for a fun and birdy conversation covering Airtags on birds, the most bouba and kiki species, and Tom Johnson’s last piece of amazing bird science.
Rare Bird Alert: March 20, 2025
As we move into the latter half of March, the assortment of rarities across the ABA Area is eclectic indeed, with such highlights as Maryland's first Yellow-billed Loon, Ohio's first Sage Thrasher, Oregon's first Neotropic Cormorant, and Alabama's first Red-footed Booby. The Redwing (the European thrush, not the American blackbird) has been sighted annually in Atlantic Canada of late, so an individual in Nova Scotia was not entirely unexpected—but nevertheless delighted the many birders who got to see it deep in the heart of Halifax.
The Feather Wars, with James H. McCommons
Journalist and professor James H. McCommons joins podcast host Nate Swick for a conversation about McCommons' latest book, The Feather Wars. The book's action takes place mostly 100+ years ago, but the lessons are as contemporary as ever, affirming the value of community action as a force for good in the conservation of nature.
Bird Collections—From the Inside, with Nick Mason
What is the role of museums for birding and ornithology in the 2020s? Dr. Nick Mason, Curator of Birds at LSU's famous Louisiana Museum of Natural History, joins podcast host Nate Swick to answer that important and multidimensional question.
Rare Bird Alert: March 6, 2026
Late winter in the ABA Area is a great time to find rare gulls, and so it has been of late, with notables like Common and Glaucous-winged gulls in Illinois and a Slaty-backed Gull in Nova Scotia. Other exceptional recent finds include a Tundra Bean-Goose in Montana and a Purple Sandpiper in New Mexico. Get details on these and other recent and continuing rarities in the latest installment of the ABA Rare Bird Alert!
10-09: A World Without Birds, with Nick Lund
In this episode, the popular and prolific Nick Lund, longtime friend of the ABA, joins host Nate Swick to talk about Nick's latest project, a children's book, with illustrator Asia Orlando, on the weighty topic of extinction. The book's subtitle, "How to Save Our Planet, One Bird at a Time," hints at the book's hopeful take, despite many challenges.
10-08: This Month in Birding—February 2026
In this episode, guests Jason Hall, Mikko Jimenez, and Sarah Swanson join host Nate Swick for the ever-popular "This Month in Birding" roundtable. Their wide-ranging discussion touches on the various ways in which human activities influence birds' health and behaviors—and identifies proactive solutions for the challenges affecting bird populations.
10-07: The Nature of Nutcrackers, with Peri Sasnett
In this week's episode, Science Communicator Peri Sasnett joins host Nate Swick to discuss the Clark's Nutcracker, that brilliant and hardy icon of high-elevation habitats in the West. On top of its charisma, the nutcracker plays a key role in ecosystem health—and it is fiendishly intelligent. Hear the amazing story and catch up on this week's birding news!
Rare Bird Alert: February 13, 2026
It's the winter doldrums, perhaps, in the ABA Area, with CBCs behind us and, for the most part, spring migration yet to come. But birders are still finding good stuff! Highlights in this installment of the ABA Rare Bird Alert are led by British Columbia's first Tundra Bean-Goose (two birds) and New Jersey's first Glaucous-winged Gull. Continuing megas include a European Robin in Québec, a Eurasian Bullfinch in Yukon, a Taiga Flycatcher in British Columbia, and a Red-flanked Bluetail in Virginia.
10-06: How to Make a Meadowlark, with Johanna Beam
Ornithologist Johanna Beam joins host Nate Swick to talk about Johanna's central role in recognizing the Chihuahuan Meadowlark as a full species. Johanna, now an NSF postdoctoral fellow at Colorado State University, began her meadowlark research while a high school student!—at which time she also was honored as ABA Young Birder of the Year.
10-05: Random Birds, February 2026, with Ted Floyd
In this episode, Birding Editor Ted Floyd returns for another installment of "Random Birds"—ever-popular and ever-random. The random number generator seems to have an agenda this go-around, but Ted and host Nate Swick roll with the punches! Hint: If you like grassland passerines, you'll love this episode...
10-04: This Month in Birding – January 2026
As the month winds down, the podcast presents its popular TMIB (This Month in Birding) panel. Guests Mollee Brown, Frank Izaguirre, and Jordan Rutter join host Nate Swick to discuss everything from penguins to juncos to the weird bird stuff in hour homes.
Rare Bird Alert: January 23, 2025
Lots of noteworthy rarities continue into the third week of January, including very long staying birds like the Mottled Owl (ABA Code 5) and Brown Jay (4) in South Texas, joined by an accommodating Crimson-collared Grosbeak (4), and the Cattle Tyrant (5) up the coast. New to this spot, but not to birders who have enjoyed them for weeks, are the Red-flanked Bluetail (4) in Virginia, and the Taiga Flycatcher (4) in British Columbia. First local records Blue Rock-Thrush (5) in Hawaii and Eurasian Bullfinch (4) in Yukon were also seen in the last week, as was the emblem of[...]
10-03: Wildest Vagrants of 2025 with Tim Healy & Alex Lamoreaux
2025 was an exciting year for rare bird sightings in the ABA Area, with two first ABA records and a fascinating array of interesting and unexpected records from all corners of the US and Canada. North American Birds editor Alex Lamoreaux and writer and teacher Tim Healy join host Nate Swick to have some fun remembering the highlights of last year.
10-02: A Post-pandemic Birding Journey with Ed Yong
In this episode, Nate connects with Ed Yong, acclaimed author and winner of the Pulitzer Prize. Yong discovered birding, as so many of us did, during the pandemic—and he's never looked back. Being a birder has enriched Yong's life, both personally and professionally.
Rare Bird Alert, January 9, 2026
It's been a while since our last Rare Bird Alert post! We've got a lot of catching up to do around the turn of the year. Rare birds in the ABA Area continuing into 2026 include Mottled Owl (ABA Code 5), Brown Jay (4), Crimson-collared Grosbeak (4), and Cattle Tyrant (5), in Texas. Hawaii's 1st record of Blue Rock-Thrush (5) is still being seen on Oahu, and the Steller's Sea-Eagle (4) in Newfoundland continues its long residency in eastern Canada. 2026 started off with a bang in Virginia, where a state 1st Red-flanked Bluetail (4) was seen on January[...]
10-01: 2026 Bird of the Year Artist Kristina Knowski
Happy New Year! With the start of the new year, the ABA is delighted to announce that the Horned Lark is the 2026 ABA Bird of the Year. In this week's podcast, Bird of the Year artist Kristina Knowski and host Nate Swick talk about Knowski's widely admired bird art, about her experiences with Horned Larks, and about the general awesomeness of one of the truly great birds of the ABA Area.
09-52: This Month in Birding – December 2025
Jody Allair, Martha Harbison, and Rebecca Heisman join host Nate Swick for the last American Birding Podcast episode of the year, with a wide-ranging discussion of some of the latest bird and birding news. The panel talks warbler hybrids, vacant lots, and how to best yell at gulls among other things! Thanks for a great year!
09-51: Random Birds, December 2025, with Ted Floyd
It's a recurring, and oh so random, feature on the podcast: Birding Editor Ted Floyd joins host Nate Swick for another installment of the evergreen and ever-popular "Random Birds." Nate spins the random number generator, it lands on a bird, and Ted & Nate talk about that bird...and anything else!
09-50: The Five Great Forests with Anna Lello-Smith
In this episode, Anna Lello-Smith, Avian Conservation Coordinator with the Wildlife Conservation Society, joins host Nate Swick to talk about Mesoamerica's "Five Great Forests" network, extending from the Yucatán Peninsula to eastern Panama. Each winter, this forest network hosts enormous numbers of "our" birds breeding in the eastern U.S. and Canada. And eBird data play an important role in informing conservation strategies for the Five Great Forests.
Rare Bird Alert: December 5, 2025
Continuing rare birds in the ABA Area into this first week of December include the Yellow-headed Caracara (ABA Code 5) and Cattle Tyrant (5) on the Upper Texas Coast, and both Brown Jay (4) and Mottled Owl (5) in the Rio Grande Valley. The Yukon 1st Eurasian Bullfinch (4) is still being seen, as is the ongoing Steller's Sea-Eagle (4) in Newfoundland. Since the ABA Area's first record of Common Shelduck (4) in Newfoundland in 2014, this unique European waterfowl has become an every other year or so visitor to northeastern North America, especially in Newfoundland or Quebec. This[...]
09-49: Birding Book Club – Best Books of 2025
So. many. bird books. How to make sense of it all? In this episode, bird book mavens Donna Schulman and Rebecca Minardi join host Nate Swick (no stranger to bird books himself) to talk about the best bird books of 2025. Selections include a major new field guide, books on bird biology, and even a primer on birding and physics.
09-48: This Month in Birding – November 2025
Happy Thanksgiving! At the ABA, we're thankful for birders - their passion, their deep knowledge base, and the willingness of some to come on the American Birding Podcast to discuss recent bird science and news. This month we welcome Stephanie Beilke, Tim Healy, and Ryan Mandelbaum to talk corvid mimicry, gator loving grebes, and the best birds to assign to all those other holidays. Links to articles discussed in this episode: Humans outperform Merlin Sound ID in field-based point-count surveys Vocal mimicry in Corvids Coordinated movements of multiple pied-billed grebes in association with an American alligator Wintering closer[...]
Rare Bird Alert: November 21, 2025
Rarities continuing in the ABA Area this week include Mottled Owl (ABA Code 5), Brown Jay (4), and Cattle Tyrant (5) in Texas, and the ever-present Steller's Sea-Eagle (4) in Newfoundland. Only a few years ago, the thought of multiple Yellow-headed Caracaras in the ABA Area would have made any birder in the US and Canada scoff, but we continue to rack up the numbers of these evidently vagrant-prone raptors in the ABA Area. Even the first generally accepted records followed unaccepted sightings of the species from California and North Carolina, but those birds could plausibly be seen in[...]
09-47: Birds and Board Games with Elizabeth Hargrave
In this episode, we go back into the archives for host Nate Swick's interview in 2019 with Elizabeth Hargrave, creator of the popular and influential board game Wingspan. The game remains as popular as ever, and it's fascinating to hear Nate and Elizabeth talk about its origins. Also, we're deep in the heart of football season now, and Nate enlightens us about the NFL's surprising and gratifying recent engagement of birding and bird conservation.
Rare Bird Alert: November 14, 2025
The week of the Rio Grande Valley Bird Festival always results in some interesting finds in south Texas, but this year the highlights are largely continuing birds. To be fair, they're really good ones in the form of Cattle Tyrant (ABA Code 5) up the coast, along with reports of the long-staying Mottled Owl (5) and Brown Jay (4) in the southern tip. BiBirders in California have welcomed a new bird to the state list in every month of Fall 2025 so far. And right on schedule, November sees the state's 1st record of Chihuahuan Meadowlark in Imperial Co,[...]
09-46: The Feather Detective with Chris Sweeney
Smithsonian researcher Roxie Laybourne may be the most influential ornithologist you’ve never heard of. Over the more than half a century she was a pioneering figure in the fields of forensics and aviation, all through her work with birds, and, more specifically, their feathers. Her incredible life is documented by journalist Chris Sweeney in the book, The Feather Detective: Mystery, Mayhem, and the Magnificent Life of Roxie Laybourne, released earlier this year. Chris joins us to talk about Laybourne's legacy in fields that go far beyond birds. Also, the big eBird update is here and our lists are[...]
09-45: Dating Like a Bird with Bryony Angell & Wenfei Tong
Birds are more like humans than we ever knew. In this episode of the American Birding Podcast, writer Bryony Angell and biologist Wenfei Tong join host Nate Swick to discuss the surprisingly similar courtship dramas of birds and humans. Plus the latest rare birds, ABA news, and more.
Rare Bird Alert: October 31, 2025
Rarities galore this week! New York steals the show, featuring a cooperative Common Cuckoo, along with Broad-billed Hummingbird, Varied Thrush, and Pink-footed Goose. And British Columbia—wow: Little and Rustic buntings, Siberian Pipit, and Spotted Redshank.
09-44: This Month in Birding – October 2025
The last Thursday of the month means it's time for This Month in Birding, our round table discussion with birding friends about news in birding and ornithology. This week we welcome Jennie Duberstein, Nick Lund, and Brodie Cass Talbott to discuss casual eBirding, hybrid Jays, and what bird to patronize on Halloween night. Links to articles discussed in this episode: The relaxed birder The Unexpected Profundity of a Movie About Bird-Watching An Intergeneric Hybrid Between Historically Isolated Temperate and Tropical Jays Following Recent Range Expansion The hunt for the last great auks: ancient DNA resolves a 180-year-old mystery[...]
09-43: Inside Merlin with Miyoko Chu & Alli Smith
In this episode of the American Birding Podcast, Miyoko Chu and Alli Smith join host Nate Swick to discuss the Merlin Bird ID app, which has revolutionized birding and nature study. We also celebrate the life of Tony Fitzpatrick in this episode.
Rare Bird Alert: October 17, 2025
Continuing rarities in the ABA Area include Yellow-headed Caracaras (ABA Code 5) in both Florida and Texas. Texas also continues to host the long-staying Mottled Owl (5) in the Lower Valley, and a Little Stint (4) is still being seen into this week in California. The Pacific Northwest has seen a minor influx of Yellow-green Vireo this week, with Washington's 1st record coming from Grays Harbor Co. This species has been increasingly common in fall up the coast and a previous British Columbia record from more than a decade ago strongly suggested that Washington was overdue for such a[...]
09-42: Random Birds, October 2025, with Ted Floyd
Birding magazine editor and random birder Ted Floyd is back for another trip around the bird list.
Rare Bird Alert: October 10, 2025
The track record for fall rarities in California has historically been very good. There is rarely a year in which this period doesn’t produce a mind-bending rarity, be it from east Asia, Mexico or on the ocean. Lucky birders on a pelagic out of Bodega Bay in Marin Co struck gold this week...
09-41: Take It or Leave It: Trumpeter Swans, Probability, and the Internet of Birding
It's not hard to get birders talking about some of the big questions in our hobby. And this time we go back in the archives of Birding magazine to collect some historic hot takes for another edition of Take It or Leave It, the discussion panel for the most opinionated birders. This time we welcome Tim Healy and Martha Harbison to talk about Trumpeter Swan introductions, the proper plural of binoculars, and whether the internet was a good thing for birders. Also, don't forget to bid on some great original bird art from our Bird of the Year[...]
Rare Bird Alert: October 3, 2025
The ABA Area continues to host a number of continental rarities, many of which have been present for more than a year. Both Mottled Owl (ABA Code 5), and Yellow-headed Caracara (5) continue in Texas, the latter of which is not molting into its adult plumage. The ABA 1st Gray Gull (5) is once again being seen in the Florida panhandle, and the Steller's Sea-Eagle (4) was reported again in Newfoundland. In addition, the Little Stint (4) in northern California is also continuing into October. The usual suite of migrating warblers passing through New York City's parks was supplemented by[...]
09-40: What is Birding Like?
Have you ever had to describe birding to a friend or family member who just doesn’t get it? What analogies do you use? Is birding like a religion? A sport? An obsession? In this encore episode from 2018, Guest host Greg Neise brings Birding editor Ted Floyd and young birder liaison Jennie Duberstein to bear on the issue in a rollicking discussion in an attempt to figure it out. Also, it looks like Nate is going to be at the ABA Community Weekend in Fort Meyers, Florida, next month! Subscribe to the podcast at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get[...]
Rare Bird Alert: Sept. 20–26, 2025
Exceptional discoveries this past week include Saskatchewan's first Broad-billed Hummingbird, Ontario's first Surfbird, and Oregon's first Northern Gannet. At Gambell, Alaska, a Lesser Whitethroat was the third ever for the ABA Area.
09-39: This Month in Birding, September 2025
Frank Izaguirre, Andrés Jiménez, and Sarah Swanson join host Nate Swick to discuss recent ornithological research, with a particular emphasis on challenges—and some success stories—for bird conservation.
Rare Bird Alert: Sept. 6–19, 2025
Megas in the U.S. and Canada in the past week are led by the ABA Area's second-ever Double-striped Thick-knee, in Texas, and second-ever Yellow-browed Bunting, in Alaska.
09-38: A Dirtbag Big Year, with Owen Reiser
In this week's podcast, host Nate Swick speaks with Owen Reiser, Director of the documentary film "Listers: A Glimpse Into Extreme Birdwatching," which has been received by the birding community with considerable acclaim.
09-37: New Art in the New Nat Geo Guide, with Andrew Guttenberg
In this week's podcast, host Nate Swick speaks with celebrated ornithological illustrator Andrew Guttenberg about Andrew's contributions to the recently published 8th edition of National Geographic's Field Guide to the Birds of the U.S. and Canada.
Rare Bird Alert: Aug. 30–Sept. 5, 2025
Notable rarities this past week are highlighted by Florida’s first Small-billed Elaenia, present and very well documented in Fort Myers, Lee Co., on the Gulf Coast side of the peninsula, Aug. 31–Sept. 1.
09-36: Where Have the Gray-headed Chickadees Gone, with Brad Meiklejohn
The Gray-headed Chickadee is certainly one of the most enigmatic species of breeding birds in the ABA Area. Although it is found broadly across northern Eurasian it was, until very recently, also known from an isolated breeding population in northern Alaska and far northwestern Canada.
Rare Bird Alert: August 28, 2025
On of the most prominent rarity trends of the last couple years is the expansion of species typically associated with west Mexico and found in the ABA Area only in parts of Arizona, New Mexico, or west Texas into the interior west. That trend continues this week in Utah, where an Olive Warbler...
09-35: This Month in Birding – August 2025
It’s This Month in Birding for August 2025 and, as we do at the end of every month, we’ve got a great panel of birders to discuss the month’s birding news and scientific publications. Jason Hall, Mikko Jimenez, and Jordan Rutter join host Nate Swick to talk about grackle behavior, museums, and our very favorite penguins.
09-34: Random Birds, August 2025, with Ted Floyd
Every once in a while, Birding editor Ted Floyd drops in for for another episode of Random Birds. The Birding Gods smile on Ted and Nate's random number generator for an eclectic bunch of birds from warblers to gulls, and one incredibly apropos selection.
Rare Bird Alert: August 15, 2025
One of the more exciting birds in the ABA Area this week, in terms of rarity and beauty, has to the Spotted Redshank (4), discovered in Cambridge, Ontario, this week. It is one of fewer than 10 records for the province, but the first in more than 20 years.
09-33: Why Birders Go Where They Go with Natalia Ocampo-Peñuela & Scott Winton
Bird tourism is booming, and in many parts of the world we’ve seen countries invest in conservation and tourism infrastructure to take advantage of it.
09-32: The Backyard Bird Chronicles with Amy Tan
Writer Amy Tan is perhaps best known for her many novels including The Joy Luck Club and The Bonesetter’s Daughter, exploring themes of identity, family, and the immigrant experience. Her newest book, however, explores something rather different.
Rare Bird Alert: August 1, 2025
Continuing rarities in the ABA Area into the end of July include the nesting Kelp Gull (ABA Code 4) in Wisconsin, the continuing and now resident Steller's Sea-Eagle (4) in Newfoundland. Additionally, a Yellow Grosbeak (4) at a feeder in Colorado, the young White-winged Tern (4) in southern California, and the Cattle Tyrant (5) in Texas. A pelagic trip out of Bodega Bay, California, struck gold in the form of the state's 4th record of Tristram's Storm-Petrel, closely observed by all on board. The species has a broad distribution across the northern Pacific with some breeding colonies on[...]
09-31: This Month in Birding – July 2025
The end of the month means This Month in Birding, and for July 2025 we've got a great panel of fun birders to discuss the month's birding news and scientific publications. Birders know Rebecca Heisman, Nick Lund, and Dexter Patterson for their great work in the birding world, and they join host Nate Swick...
09-30: Loon News you can Use with Natasha Bartolotta
The ABA’s 2025 Bird of the Year Common Loon is beloved across the United States and Canada, and though we at the ABA will only celebrate it for a short time, there are other organizations that have made protection and awareness of Common Loons their reason for being.
Rare Bird Alert: July 18, 2025
Continuing rarities in the ABA Area include Yellow Grosbeak (ABA Code 4) in Colorado, the Kelp Gull (4) in Wisconsin, the Steller's Sea-Eagle (4) in Newfoundland, and the Cattle Tyrant (5) in Texas. We start in California, where a White-winged Tern (4) in San Diego Co is a notable for the ABA Area, but exceptional for the west. Most records of this Old World marsh tern come from the northeast, where it is slightly less then annual. This is only California's 3rd record, and the first in more than 20 years. Alaska also has a dozen or so[...]
09-29: Bird Talk with Becca Rowland
The search for the perfect mnemonic is the bane of any field guide author, from Roger Tory Peterson to your podcast host. It’s the part of writing about birds and birding that requires the most creativity, ans Nova Scotia author and artist Becca Rowland.
09-28: The State of Maui’s Birds with Hannah Mounce
The state of Hawaii’s birds is a topic that is frequently front of mind to those of us who care about bird conservation, and on every island there are bird researchers and conservationists on the ground putting any number of conservation efforts into practice.
Rare Bird Alert: July 4, 2025
It's not really much of a surprise anymore, but the Steller's Sea-Eagle (ABA Code 4) in Newfoundland continues to be seen in to July 2025. The rarity season in Alaska is coming to an end, but a Pacific Swift (5) in St Paul Island suggests that surprises are still possible. There are approximately 10 records of this east Asian migrant in the ABA Area, most come from western Alaska. 1st records for the period come from the north of both the US and Canada. Northwest Territories picks up two territrial 1st records in the last couple weeks, with[...]
09-27: The Case for Saving Scrub-Jays, with Aaron Bloom
The story of the Florida Scrub-Jay is one that encompasses many modern conservation angles and concerns. Local government, bedrock federal legislation, development, climate change, eBird, and at the center of it, a remarkable and friendly endemic bird species.
09-26: This Month in Birding – June 2025
It’s our 350th episode! And to celebrate, we’ve brought you a super-sized This Month in Birding, and not only because the panel of Jody Allair, Jennie Duberstein, and Martha Harbison had so much to say about truck-riding gulls, prehistoric birds, and the state of same-sex bird science.
09-25: The Avian Rainbow with Whitney Tsai Nakashima
You don’t have to be a birder for a long time to appreciate that birds are capable of producing an astonishing array of colors and patterns, even those beyond what our weak human eyes can discern. Hidden in that avian rainbow are clues to bird taxonomy and evolution
Rare Bird Alert: June 13, 2025
We don't always report it in this spot, but it's worth the reminder that the extremely long-staying Steller's Sea-Eagle (ABA Code 4) was seen in Newfoundland again this week, by none other than the ABA group that is touring the island. Songbird migration is reaching its peak in Alaska, and Buldir Island in the western Aleutians has been particularly productive with a whole host of Asian vagrants, the most noteworthy of which are Lanceolated Warbler (5), at least 2 Kamchatka Leaf Warblers (5), and a critically endangered Yellow-breasted Bunting (5). Up on Gambell in the Bering Sea, a Pallas's[...]
09-24: 2025 Splits and Lumps with Nick Block
Break out your checklists and get ready for another summer of splits and lumps from the AOS North American Classification Committee. It’s time for our annual look at the proposed changes to the bird lists, the longest running segment on this podcast.
Rare Bird Alert: June 6, 2025
The last few years have seen so many extralimital Black-bellied Whistling Ducks in the eastern half of the continent, that it hardly seems as though there could be a place where they haven’t been recorded yet. But the little French territory of St Pierre et Miquelon...
09-23: 50 Years of Songbird Maps with Miranda Zammarelli
An interesting study discussed on the monthly This Month in Birding segment led us to Miranda Zemmerelli, a PhD student at Dartmouth University who has taken 50 years of hand drawn paper maps of bird territories at a New Hampshire forest, collected over many years by Dartmouth students, and brought those maps into the modern era to learn about how bird territories ebb and flow over the seasons.
Rare Bird Alert: May 30, 2025
Newfoundland & Labrador continue to host surprising records following a very interesting spring in the province, though this time the bird is surprising for somewhat different reasons. The province's 1st record of House Finch was spotted this week at a feeder in Codrey...
09-22: This Month in Birding – May 2025
Welcome Stephanie Beilke, Tim Healy, and Brodie Cass Talbott to talk birding without tech, warbler foraging strategies and the birds and bees, literally.
Rare Bird Alert: May 23, 2025
This month sees another entry into the frequently mind-blowing category of seabirds in the wrong ocean. A birder making the relatively innocuous and tubenose-poor ferry crossing across the Delaware Bay between Lewes, Delaware, and Cape May, New Jersey, took a photo of an unusual seabird in New Jersey waters...
09-21: The Biggest Week in American Birding Podcast Quiz Show!
Test your luck with our birdy quiz featuring a quartet of Biggest Week birders and guides along with special guests Wendell Troutner and Tyler Ficker! We've got modified anagrams, Star Wars crossovers, and more!
09-20: Random Birds, May 2025, with Ted Floyd
Ted and Nate trust the random number generator to turn up some exciting birds for discussion including jaegers, pelicans, and shorebirds.
Rare Bird Alert: May 9, 2025
Continuing rarities in the ABA Area include Yellow-headed Caracara (ABA Code 5) in Florida, and Cattle Tyrant (5), Brown Jay (4), and Mottled Owl (4), still persisting in Texas. The Brown Jays have reportedly been seen on a nest for the first time in several decades in the ABA Area.
09-19: The Birding Dictionary with Rosemary Mosco
When a person gets into birding they are not only confronted with a wide variety of wonderful and weird organisms but an equally wide variety of wonderful and weird terminology and jargon. It’s enough to confuse even the most enthusiastic novice, but thankfully, bird cartoonist Rosemary Mosco of Bird and Moon is on the case with a new book called The Birding Dictionary.
09-18: This Month in Birding – April 2025
It’s time for another This Month in Birding, this time for April, despite the fact that this episode technically comes out in May. That's bonus for May rather than a loss for April. Which is all the more appropriate because this is the time of year that we’ve all been waiting for. This tim around, we welcome Gabriel Foley, Frank Izaguirre, and Purbita Saha to talk bird study bias, hummingbird hives, and whether or not birds "sit". Links to articles discussed in this episode: Six-decade research bias towards fancy and familiar bird species Hummingbirds Living in[...]
Rare Bird Alert: April 25, 2025
Continuing ABA Area rarities are pretty much exclusive to Texas these days, with Yellow-headed Caracara (ABA Code 5), Cattle Tyrant (5), Brown Jay (4), and Asian (Amur) Stonechat (4) in various parts of the state. As if all that wasn't enough, Texas boasts another potential stunner this week in the form of a pair of Military Macaws seen near Big Bend National Park in Brewster Co in the far west of the state. These birds represent a potential 1st record not only for Texas, but for the ABA Area. Provenance is always an open question when it comes to[...]
09-17: Wild NYC with Ryan Mandelbaum
Regular listeners to this podcast certainly know science writer Ryan Mandelbaum from their regular appearances on This Month in Birding. Those listeners who enjoy Ryan's wit and passion for wildlife will no doubt be exited to learn that Ryan has a new book, Wild NYC, a guidebook to nature observation in the United State’s largest city. While birds are this podcast's focus, the city's nature bona fides cannot be denied, and Ryan chats about the incredible geology, botany, and subway ferns that can be found in The Big Apple. Also, the ABA is heading to the[...]
09-16: Birds, Wildfires, and Smoke with Olivia Sanderfoot
A warmer and drier world means, unfortunately, a world in which wildfire becomes a greater risk. We know, all too well, the risk these fires pose to wild places, but there is surprisingly little we know about the risk to wildlife.
Rare Bird Alert: April 11, 2025
We start in Florida, where what appears to be the state's 1st record of Yellow-legged Gull (5) was photographed in Volusia Co.
09-15: Looking Up with Courtney Ellis
A deeply felt love of birds is something that can wind its way into all aspects of our lives. It is a journey that writer and pastor Courtney Ellis weaves into her most recent book, Looking Up: A Birder’s Guide to Hope Through Grief, published last year and now available in audiobook.
09-14: Weird Winged Warblers with Nick Block & Matt Hale
Migrating warblers are heading back to our backyards and patches, and included among that wonderful diversity come the weirdo “winged” warblers, Golden and Blue, whose intermixed genetics have long been fascinating and confusing.
Rare Bird Alert: March 28, 2025
Continuing rarities in the ABA Area include the long-staying Gray Gull (ABA Code 5), an ABA 1st, turning up again in Alabama. Brown Jay (4) continues in the Lower Valley of Texas, while Yellow-headed Caracara (5) and Asian Stonechat (5) continue up the coast. The Eurasian Sparrowhawk (5) on Adak, Alaska, was seen again this week, and the Yellow Grosbeak (4) in Arkansas also continues. Some fun 1st records to report this week, starting in New Mexico, where a Tufted Flycatcher (5), more regular in recent years in nearby Arizona, was spotted in Dona Ana Co, where it[...]
09-13: This Month in Birding – March 2025
March 2025 brings another This Month in Birding featuring a panel of birding friends here to talk about the month's new bird news and get ready for spring. This time around we welcome Jennie Duberstein, Bird Joy Pod's Jason Hall, and Nicole Jackson to talk plastics in seabirds, new eyes on old maps, and the best bird to party with. Links to articles discussed in this episode: Fifty years of songbird maps take flight in new hands Plastic pollution leaves seabirds with brain damage similar to Alzheimer’s, study shows How a hummingbird chick acts like a[...]
09-12: The 2025 State of the Birds
The State of the Birds is a report put out by a veritable who’s who of bird-related non-profit organizations, with the goal of sharing the current state, both positive and negative, of bird populations and bird conservation initiatives in the United States.
Rare Bird Alert: March 14, 2025
Continuing rare birds in the ABA Area include Northern Lapwing (ABA Code 4) in Rhode Island, Brown Jay (4) in Texas, and Yellow Grosbeak (4) in Arkansas. Over the years we have seen some pretty remarkable Asian vagrants in the interior of the Lower 48. Citrine Wagtail in Mississippi and Great Knot in West Virginia spring to mind as truly remarkable records. And this week the birding world received news of another bird of that ilk, this time in coastal Texas, where an Amur (Asian) Stonechat (4) was discovered at the site known by birders as Anahuac NWR[...]
09-11: Random Birds XIV with Ted Floyd
Birding editor Ted Floyd is back for another edition of Random Birds. Ted and Nate talk about avocets, sparrows, and more with the help of a random number generator and a big list of birds. Plus, some talk about the brand-new National Geographic guides written by Ted.
Rare Bird Alert: March 7, 2025
Rarities continuing in the ABA Area this week include Northern Lapwings (ABA Code 4) in Massachusetts and Rhode Island, the amazing Yellow Grosbeak (4) in Arkansas is still visiting the feeder. And Cattle Tyrant (5), Brown Jay (4), and Mottled Owl (5) were recorded this week in Texas. What a year so far for Arkansas. The state has hosted a Yellow Grosbeak in the northern part of the state for the last couple weeks. This week saw another state 1st arrive in the form of a Clark's Grebe in Pulaski Co. From California comes a bizarre potential 1st[...]
09-10: The Power of Bird Data with Jer Thorp
Birders know about Big Data. We’re all familiar with eBird and the Avian Knowledge Network, but the Christmas Bird Count or the Breeding Bird Survey are giant pools of data that inform everything from conservation decisions to where to spend time tomorrow morning. But how can we use that data to encourage new birders or convince policy-makers to care about birds.
09-09: This Month in Birding – February 2025
February brings an all-star lineup to This Month in Birding, with long-time friends Jody Allair, Nick Lund, and Jordan Rutter joining us to talk about all manner of birdy topics. The panel discuss the latest birding news including bird communication, low-impact journals, snakeskin in bird nests, and our favorite signs of spring, even if the season itself seems far off.
Rare Bird Alert: February 21, 2025
Contiuing rarities in the ABA Area include Northern Lapwing (ABA Code 4) in New York, Yellow-headed Caracara (5) in Florida, and Cattle Tyrant (5), Brown Jay (4), and Mottled Owl (5) in Texas. Arkansas birders get to enjoy one the first real surprises in the ABA Area this year, as a young Yellow Grosbeak (4) was photographed a a feeder in Carroll Co this week, a 1st record the state and the farthest afield record of this west Mexican species in the ABA Area. Yellow Grosbeak has become semiannual in Arizona in recent years. Records beyond the southwest[...]
09-08: Urban Owls and More with Christian Cooper
The broader birding community was first introduced to Christian Cooper though the documentary The Central Park Effect, where he featured as one of eclectic crew of Central Park birders. Since then, his memoir, Better Living Through Birding and his Emmy-winning NatGeo program Extraordinary Birder, have seen his star only rise.
Rare Bird Alert: February 14, 2025
ABA Area rarities continuing into this week include the pair of Eurasian Sparrowhawks (ABA Code 5) in Alaska and Cattle Tyrant (5), Brown Jay (4), and Mottled Owl (5), in Texas. Northern Lapwings (4) continue in both New York and Massachusetts, and a Yellow-headed Caracara (5) is still being seen in Florida. Kansas enjoyed quite the confluence of rare gulls in the first part of the month. A Ross's Gull, the state's 1st, near Dodge City thrilled birders for several days before it was eventually and unfortunately found dead. A likely Slaty-backed Gull (3) nearby in Reno Co[...]
09-07: 2024 ABA Rare Bird Draft with Amy Davis & Tim Healy
It's time to talk 2024 ABA Area Rarities! This episode is our annual attempt to look back on all the exciting rare bird observations and trends of the previous year. It ended up being a very good year for rarities and North American Birds editor Amy Davis and educator and writer at The Nemesis Bird Tim Healy are here to share their favorites.
09-06: Habitats for Birders with Iain Campbell and Phil Chaon
We love a good field guide around these parts. The more unique, the better. Phil Chaon and Iain Campbell have certainly done that with their new book, Habitats of North America; A Field Guide for Birders, Naturalists, and Ecologists. It’s a spin-off of sorts, from their 2021 book Habitats of the World and is a deep and detailed look at some of the place that we love to bird and experience nature.
Rare Bird Alert: January 31, 2025
Continuing rarities in the ABA Area include Northern Lapwing (ABA Code 4) in Massachusetts, along with the long-staying Cattle Tyrant (5), Brown Jay (4), and Mottled Owl (5) in Texas. Florida is still hosting a Yellow-headed Caracara (5), and the two Eurasian Sparrowhawks (5) on Adak, Alaska, continue into this week. The past week has been pretty incredible for Baikal Teal (4) in Oregon. A bird found near Portland in Multnomah Co was followed a day later by a bird in Lane Co, representing the 4th and 5th records for the state. But notably, these are the first[...]
09-05: This Month in Birding – January 2025
For this month’s This Month in Birding, we welcome an all star panel of naturalists and writers to talk about the month’s bird news. Rebecca Heisman, Dexter Patterson, and Sarah Swanson join host Nate Swick to talk about loons, mosquito killing birds, cold weather birding tips, and much more!
09-04: From Dinos to Birds with Christopher DiPiazza
For many of us, an interest in birds and nature started with an interest in dinosaurs. Which is approriate since that's the path modern birds took when they became birds. We still don't know a lot about how dinosaurs looked and lived, but it stands to reason that if one were looking to recreate things that came before and are no longer with us that you would want to look at their closest living relatives. That is, in fact what my guest Christopher DiPiazza, of Prehistoric Beast of the Week, is all about. He is a middle school[...]
Rare Bird Alert: January 17, 2025
Continuing rarities in the ABA Area include Northern Lapwing (ABA Code 4) in Massachusetts and Eurasian Sparrowhawk (5) in Alaska. Birding in Texas is highlighted by Cattle Tyrant (5) and Yellow-headed Caracara (5) on the upper coast and Mottled Owl (5) and Brown Jay (4) in the Valley. The early part of the year always seems to be good for EUropean migrant thrushes in the ABA Area, and in that sense Quebec's 5th Redwing (4) found this week in Charlevoix, is right on time. The bird is associating with a large flock of overwintering American Robins and can[...]
09-03: Take It or Leave It – Mentorship, Rarity Reports, and Cameras for Beginners
It's cold outside and that calls for some hot birding takes. We've collected some for another edition of Take It or Leave It, the discussion panel for the most opinionated birders. This time we welcome Chris Sloan and Martha Harbison to talk about mentorship in the internet age, whether birders underappreciate Canada, and what would it take to get back to the old rarity phone trees. Also, the ABA is not the only organization with a Bird of the Year in 2025. Let's celebrate some more! Subscribe to the podcast at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get[...]
Rare Bird Alert: January 10, 2025
Rarities continuing into this second week of the year include Yellow-headed Caracaras (ABA Code 5) in both Florida and Texas. Also, Cattle Tyrant (5), Kelp Gull (5), and Brown Jay (4) continue in Texas as well. And we stay in Texas where the rarity cup runneth over as it has for more than a year now, where a state 1st Gray Gull (5) was discovered at the Brownsville Landfill in Cameron Co. This is a young bird so a different individual from the Gray Gull that has spent over at year on the Florida panhandle and occasionally in[...]
09-02: Rehabilitation For the Birds with Tim Jasinski
Modern optics give birders the opportunities to feel as though they are up close and personal with the bird we watch, but nothing we experience through binoculars compares to the experience with birds that wildlife rehabbers get to enjoy.
Rare Bird Alert: January 3. 2025
Rarities in the New Year include the third year of Mottled Owl (ABA Code 5) and Brown Jay (4) in south Texas, with both Cattle Tyrant (5) and Yellow-headed Caracara (5) farther up the coast. Wisconsin ended 2024 on an incredible rarity run, with the final find a state 1st White Wagtail in Door Co. That was Wisconsin's sixth 1st record in 2024, a list that included birds from all over the globe including Short-tailed Shearwater, Varied Bunting, and Fieldfare, among others. Quebec also closed last year with a 1st provincial record, a Wood Sandpiper that was found[...]
09-01: 2025 Bird of the Year Artist Sam Zimmerman
2025 is the year of the Common Loon here at the American Birding Association! Our 2025 Bird of the Year artist, Sam Zimmerman, gets to appreciate these birds frequently from his home in northern Minnesota.
Rare Bird Alert: December 20, 2024
We haven't mentioned it in some time in this column, but the Steller's Sea-Eagle (ABA Code 4) in Newfoundland is still part of the rarity landscape in the ABA Area, having been seen this week. In Texas, the Cattle Tyrant (5) in Corpus Christi continues into this week as well. Texas is also hosting a young Yellow-headed Caracara (5) this week, seen in Galveston. A previous bird seen in Texas was not accepted by the state's rarity committee, but this second bird seems to suggest that the ongoing movement of this species into the ABA Area is more[...]
08-52: This Month in Birding – December 2024
Thanks for another great year here at the American Birding Podcast. To close out 2024 we host another This Month in Birding panel featuring Jennie Duberstein, Mikko Jimenez, and Brodie Cass Talbott who join Nate to talk about bird brains, CBC memories, and old albatrosses. Plus, we make our predictions for what to look forward to in the bird world in 2025.
Rare Bird Alert: December 13, 2024
Continuing rarities in the ABA Area include both Brown Jay (ABA Code 4) and Mottled Owl (5) in Texas, lingering Northern Lapwings (4) in both Massachusetts and Newfoundland, and the long-staying Yellow-headed Caracara (5) and Large-billed Tern (5) in Florida. The Short-tailed Shearwater invasion into this Great Lakes continues this week, and is approaching ridiculous status. The latest comes from Illinois, where a Short-tailed Shearwater flying past famous Montrose Point in Cook Co represents both a 1st record for the state and for Lake Michigan, but also the record-breaking bird for Chicago birder Tarik Shazhad's Cook County Big[...]
08-50: It’s Bird-Friendly Chocolate Season with Bryony Angell
Roughly a quarter of chocolate sales in the US and the UK occur around the holidays at the end of the year. And if you are listening to this podcast, you are statistically almost certain to be participating. What does that have to do with birds? Well, like coffee before it, chocolate now comes in a bird friendly version.
Rare Bird Alert: December 6, 2024
Jumping straight into the new birds for the last couple weeks, the incredible shearwater story in the northern interior continues. In addition to the sightings on the Great Lakes in Wisconsin and Ontario, a wrecked Short-tailed Shearwater was discovered in Stony Rapids, Saskatchewan, last week. The bird was taken in by a rehabilitator and eventually released on a large reservoir. It's not only a provincial 1st record but further evidence that there appeared to be a huge movement of this species into the northwest passage this fall. We may yet see where these species end up, but it[...]
08-49: Birding Book Club- Best of 2024
It’s the Birding Book Club’s biggest meeting of the year!. We’re back again to do our annual Best Bird Books of the Year episode for 2024. There’s no better time to give the gift of bird books to the birder in your life. And why not something for yourself while you’re at it?
08-48: City Pigeons and Urban Evolution with Elizabeth Carlen
The humble Rock Pigeon can provide some interesting insights into how natural selection is impacted by the urban environment. That is the work of Elizabeth Carlen, a former PhD candidate at Fordham University in New York City and the lead author of a recent article in Evolutionary Applications that looks at genetic connectivity of Rock Pigeons populations in various cities in the Northeast United States. She joins host Nate Swick to talk about the unique issues with studying urban Rock Pigeons. Also, how geotagged gulls are like Thanksgiving celebrations. Subscribe to the podcast at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever[...]
Rare Bird Alert: November 22, 2024
Continuing birds in the ABA Area include the Large-billed Tern (ABA Code 5) and the Yellow-headed Caracara (5) in Florida, and the Mottled Owl (5) and Brown Jays (4) in Texas. Alaska has boasted a pretty great fall season in the Bering Sea and the Aleutians, but the topper came late in the season with a well-documented Eurasian Sparrowhawk (5) on Adak Island. Further, the bird was seen in the company of two Sharp-shinned Hawks, themselves first records for the western Aleutians. This is the 2nd record for this species in the ABA Area, following a bird photographed[...]
08-47: Random Birds XIII with Ted Floyd
Birding editor Ted Floyd is back for another episode of Random Birds. Ted and Nate talk turkey, and lots of other birds, with the help of a random number generator and a big list of birds. Also, Slender-billed Curlew has been declared extinct. What does it tell us about bird conservation? Subscribe to the podcast at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts and please leave a rating or a review if you are so inclined! We appreciate it! And don’t forget to join the ABA to support this podcast and the many things we do for birds and[...]
Rare Bird Alert: November 15, 2024
Continuing rarities in the ABA Area include the Mottled Owl (ABA Code 5) and Brown Jays (4) in south Texas, exptending their year-long residency, and the recently discovered Bananaquit (4) in Florida. With all of the Song Thrushes seen this fall in Alaska, perhaps it was inevitable that one would eventually make it's way down the coast. And of all the places that such a bird could show up, perhaps the most predictable spot would be SE Farallon Island off of San Francisco. And lo and behold, that's precisely what happened this week, as California's 1st Song Thrush[...]
08-46: In Defense of Birds with Rich Fischer
People might not realize that the US Department of Defense is one of the largest land-owners in the country, and on that land live a number of birds of conservation concern that are monitored and protected by US military personnel. Dr Rich Fischer is the national coordinator of the Department of Defense Partners in Flight and the lead for the US Army Corp of Engineers Threatened and Endangered Species Team, and he joins us to talk about endangered birds on military installations.
Rare Bird Alert: November 8, 2024
Continuing rarities in the ABA Area include the Mottled Owl (ABA Code 5) and Brown Jays (4) in south Texas, now present for an entire calendar year. The Yellow-headed Caracara (5) was also seen agin this week in Florida. The last couple weeks have seen some interesting 1sts for parts of the ABA Area. A 1st record of Green-tailed Towhee in the District of Columbia is perhaps not the most exciting one, but it does close the book on the Lower 48 for this species, which has now been seen in all 48 states - and 1 district[...]
08-45: Hybrid Chickadee Challenges with Amber Rice and Scott Taylor
Chickadees and chickadee hybrids are allowing researchers to ask some fascinating questions about hybrid fitness, evolution, and climate change. Drs Amber Rice of Lehigh University and Scott Taylor of the University of Colorado-Boulder are exploring some of these questions with Carolina, Black-capped, and Mountain Chickadees and they join us to talk about their findings and the program they've developed for secondary students.
08-44: This Month in Birding – October 2024
It’s spooky season for birders and for this month’s TMIB panel we’ve assembled a most terrifying group of birders to discuss this month’s birding and ornithology news. Jason Hall, Nick Lund, and Purbita Saha join host Nate Swick to talk Canada Geese, vagrancy science, and couples costumes for birders.
Rare Bird Alert: October 25, 2024
Continuing rarities in the ABA Area include the ABA 1st record Gray Gull (ABA Code 5) in Florida, and the accomodating Yellow Grosbeak (4) in Arizona. We're continuing to see fun stuff from Alaska this week, including Little Bunting (3) and a continuing influx of Eurasian Bullfinches (4) on St Paul Island. Alaska has also had some rarities from the North American direction of late, with the state's 6th Black-throated Gray Warbler in Ketchikan and the 4th Great Crested Flycatcher at Glacier Bay National Park. Washington enjoyed its 1st record of Marsh Sandpiper (4) this week, seen at[...]
08-43: Gulls are for Everyone with Amar Ayyash
There’s probably no group of birds on the planet that elicits such a wide range of reactions as gulls—and no other group of birds that some birders won't even try to identify. Amar Ayyash, who has, through his writing and photography, established himself as one of the continent’s top gull ID experts, wants everyone to appreciate these fascinating birds, and his new book, The Gull Guide, is a one-stop shop for gull love.
Rare Bird Alert: October 18, 2024
Continuing rarities in the ABA Area include both Mottled Owl (ABA Code 5) and Brown Jay (4) in Texas, and the ABA 1st record Gray Gull (5) and Yellow-headed Caracara (5) in Florida. Alaska is having an exceptional Song Thrush (5) with the fourth individual of the season seen this week on Gambell. There have been more Song Thrushes seen in the last month in the ABA Area than have ever been seen in the past combined. Also in the thrush theme, a Fieldfare (4) turned up on St Paul Island. Additionally, a trio of Common Cranes (3) were[...]
08-42: Return to the Sky with Tina Morris
Ravaged by DDT, the Bald Eagle was on the brink of extirpation in the United States by the 60s. As a young college student, Tina Morris played a large role in bringing this impressive bird back to the eastern United States, nursing young birds in upstate New York. Her memoir Return to the Sky: The Surprising Story of How One Woman and Seven Eaglets Helped Restore the Bald Eagle, documents these efforts. She joins us to talk about it.
08-41: The Courage of Birds with David Sibley
David Sibley hardly needs an introduction to birders in North America, and his Sibley Guide to Birds is on the shelves of nearly every bird-curious person on the continent. He's also a frequent collaborator with the Dean of Cape May, Pete Dunne, and their latest project, The Courage of Birds, written by Pete and illustrated by David, is out at the end of October.
Rare Bird Alert: October 4, 2024
Continuing birds in the ABA Area include Yellow-headed Caracara (ABA code 5) and Gray Gull (5) in Florida, and Brown Jays (4) in Texas. The hungry eyes of birders turn this week to Alaska, where peak passerine vagrant season is on. Birders on St Paul Island in the Pribilofs were treated to the ABA's 6th or so Song Thrush (5), along with a Wood Warbler (5), and something approaching an invasion of Eurasian Bullfinches (4), with about half a dozen recorded so far this fall. A Song Thrush (5) was also seen on Adak Island in the western[...]
08-40: Sandy Komito, In His Own Words
Last month the birding community lost Sandy Komito, perhaps the ultimate Big Year birder. In light of his passage, we bring you a series of interviews by the ABA’s Greg Neise, where Sandy tells the stories of his Big Year and what it takes to put it all together not once, but twice, in his own words.
08-39: This Month in Birding- September 2024
It's the last Thursday of the month and that means it's time for This Month in Birding, our monthly roundtable discussion on birderly and ornithological topics. For September 2024, we welcome Jennie Duberstein, Gabriel Foley, and Ryan Mandelbaum to talk about chickadee hybridization, lost birds, and what's so great about birding in fall.
Rare Bird Alert: September 20, 2024
Continuing rarities in the ABA Area include the ABA Area 1st Gray Gull (ABA Code 5), still being seen in Florida after a long absence, the Steller's Sea-Eagle (4) in Newfoundland, and a Slate-throated Redstart (4) in California. We start in Colorado, which has seen quite a few new records from the south in recent years. This week adds one more to that list, with what appears to be the state's 1st record of Golden-fronted Woodpecker in Cheyenne Co. Extralimital records of Golden-fronted Woodpecker have always been muddied somewhat by the occasional abnormally colored Red-bellied Woodpecker, but this[...]
08-38: A Field Guide to Finches with Lillian Stokes and Matt Young
The enigmatic and nomadic finches are among the most beloved groups of birds on the continent. From the widespread and familiar American Goldfinch to the bizarre honeycreepers of Hawaii, these birds can teach you just about anything you’d want to know about taxonomy, evolution, and ecology. Prolific natural history author Lillian Stokes and Matthew Young of the Finch Research Network have joined forced to celebrate these birds in their new Stokes Guide to Finches of the United States and Canada, and they join us to talk about them.
Rare Bird Alert: September 13, 2024
Continuing rare birds in the ABA Area include Gray Gull (ABA Code 5) and Large-billed Tern (5) in Florida, and the Slate-throated Redstart (4) in San Francisco, California. Birders in British Columbia had an exciting week as the province's 1st record of Mississippi Kite was photographed in Metchosin. Those photos strongly suggested that this individual was the same bird that was seen a couple week's ago in Sitka, Alaska, meaning this bird has been documented twice on its northwestern sojourn. But that wasn't all, British Columbia's 2nd record of Citrine Wagtail (5) was seen this week at Jordan River.[...]
08-37: Inside Crane Conversation with Rich Beilfuss
The International Crane Foundation has been on the forefront of efforts to protect crane species all around the world, and its President Dr. Rich Beilfuss, has been involved at almost all levels in doing so. He joins host Nate Swick to talk about the work they do and the what the future might hold for these amazing birds.
Rare Bird Alert: September 6, 2024
Continuing rarities in the ABA Area include the Gray Gull (ABA Code 5) in the Florida panhandle, returning to checklists after several weeks out of sight of birders. The Large-billed Tern (5) is also still being seen in the southwest part of Florida. The ever-present Steller's Sea-Eagle (4) in Newfoundland is still being seen into this week, as is the California 1st Slate-throated Redstart (4) in San Francisco. In Texas, birders in the Valley are once again encountering Brown Jays (4) and the Mottled Owl (5). Delaware's long-anticipated 1st record of Townsend's Warbler was discovered this week near[...]
08-36: Random Birds XII with Ted Floyd
Birding editor Ted Floyd joins us for another random number inspired trip down birding memory lane with Random Birds. This time around Ted and host Nate Swick discuss the least of these, flycatchers and sandpiper, along with bitterns, warblers, and whatever else pops up.
08-35: This Month in Birding – August 2024
It's the end of th emonth and time for This Month in Birding, our monthly panel with birding friends discussing the month's birding and ornithology news. For August 2024, we have a panel of Jody Allair, Tim Healy, and Sarah Swanson talking vultures, bustards, and the winners of the birding Olympic games.
Rare Bird Alert: August 23, 2024
Continuing rarities in the ABA Area include the long-staying Steller's Sea-Eagle (ABA Code 4) in Newfoundland, and the resurfaced Mottled Owl (5) and Brown Jays (4) in south Texas. Both Slate-throated Redstart (4) and Yellow-headed Caracara (5) in California. Also, the Large-billed Tern (5) in southwest Florida. This week saw one of the wildest finds of the year so far, with New York's 1st record of Red-footed Booby (4) seen from a rooftop in Queens Co. Even more extraordinary, is the fact that close examination of the plumage strongly suggests that this was the same individual photographed the[...]
08-34: Figuring out Flamingos with Amy Davis and José Ramirez-Garafalo
The flamingo phenomenon last summer was one of the more exciting birding events in recent memory, but American Flamingo has long been an intriguing species in the ABA Area. Amy Davis and José Ramirez-Garafalo are the authors of an article in the most recent issue of the ABA's North American Birds that looks at the past, present, and future of these incredible pink birds in the ABA Area. Also, some new insights into Dodos from old sources. Thanks to our friends at FeatherSnap for sponsoring this episode. Feathersnap is a smart bird feeder with AI bird[...]
Rare Bird Alert: August 16, 2024
COntinuing rare birds in the ABA Area include the California 1st Slate-throated Redstart (ABA Code 4) in San Francisco and a Yellow-headed Caracara (5) in the Los Angeles area. The Steller's Sea-Eagle (4) in Newfoundland was also reported again this week. The ABA's What's This Bird Facebook group has the primary purpose of helping people identify birds, but it has long been an excellent place for rare bird reporting as well. It happened again this week, when a strange gull in Washington Co, Utah, was identified as that state's 1st record of Black-headed Gull (3). This widespread Eurasian[...]
08-33: Take It or Leave It – Banding, eBird, and Taxonomy
Break out the oven mitts because it's time to welcome a panel of birders to tackle the hottest birding takes we can find in Take It or Leave It. This time around we welcome ABA colleagues Michael Retter, editor of Birding special editions and North American Birds, and Jennie Duberstein, wildlife biologist and ABA Young Birder liaison to offer opinions on the scope of bird banding, eBird's tightrope between bird science and listing repository, and whether or not having multiple bird taxonomies is a good thing. Also, a major bird mortality event leads to real changes on Chicago's[...]
08-32: Birding Book Club – Bird Books for the Bird Continent
Birders and books are inseparable. And so from time to time we like to welcome some auspicious bird book enthusiasts for we call the Birding Book Club. This time around a panel consisting of Birding magazine editor Frank Izaguirre and 10,000 Birds book reviewer Donna Schulman tackle the most bird rich continent, which ironically seems to the most bird book depauperate continent, at least until relatively recently.
Rare Bird Alert: August 2. 2024
Continuing rarities in the ABA Area include Large-billed Tern (ABA Code 5) in Florida, the long-staying and maybe never-leaving Steller's Sea-Eagle (4) in Newfoundland, Yellow-headed Caracaras (5) in both California and Florida, and American Flamingos (4) in Rhode Island, Texas, and several in Florida. California's expansive bird list makes adding new birds difficult at times. And when they do occur, they tend to be real surprises. This week fits the bill with the discovery of a California 1st Slate-throated Redstart (4), not in the southern part of the state where it might nominally be "expected", but up in San[...]
08-31: On Crow Culture with Kaeli Swift
Dr. Kaeli Swift knows crows. And she’s watched them do some pretty extraordinary things. In fact all corvids-the family that includes crows, jays, magpies, and others-have a well deserved reputation for intelligence and fascinating social behaviors. Dr. Swift’s research has provided insights into how crows interact with us, with their dead, and with each other.
Rare Bird Alert: July 26, 2024
Continuing rare bird into this week include both Large-billed Tern (ABA Code 5) and Yellow-headed Caracara (5) in Florida, and the long staying and perhaps never-leaving Steller's Sea-Eagle (4) in Newfoundland. The theme this week is individual birds moving to new places, and for that we start in New Hampshire, where the previous reported Bridled Tern in Maine moved south into Rockingham Co, New Hampshire, this week where it represents a 1st record for that state. The theme continues in Rhode Island, where the young American Flamingo that has spent a good part of the summer cruising between[...]
08-30: This Month in Birding – July 2024
It's This Month in Birding for July 2024 with Stephanie Beilke, Martha Harbison, and Mikko Jimenez the aeroecologist! The panel discusses recent bird news including AOS splits and lumps, bird intelligence, and bird regalia, but that's hardly all. Join us for another great conversation about birds, science, and, for some reason, the Insane Clown Posse. Links to articles discussed in this episode: AOS Checklist Redux 2024 Birds barcode food to map stashes These crows have counting skills previously only seen in people Do Magnetic murmurs guide birds? A directional statistical investigation for influence of Earth’s Magnetic[...]
08-29: Dare to Bird with Melissa Hafting
The incredibly diverse and unbelievably photogenic landscape of British Columbia is on display in photographer and birder Melissa Hafting's new book, Dare to Bird, and with it, the birds that make this part of the continent so special and inspire Hafting’s effort to spread the joy of birding and photography around the province, across Canada, and beyond. She joins host Nate Swick to talk about it, along with rare bird recordkeeping, young birders, and more. Also, new hope for Hawaiian birds in the form of mosquito air drops. Subscribe to the podcast at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever[...]
ABA Rare Bird Alert: July 12, 2024
Continuing rarities in the ABA Area include the still present Steller's Sea-Eagle (4) in Newfoundland, and Florida's South American vibe continues with both Large-billed Tern (5) and Yellow-headed Caracara (5) present this week. Of all the terns in the ABA Area, Roseate Tern is probably the strangest in terms of status and distribution. It breeds in such far-flung places as New England and the Caribbean and is uncommon most everywhere else. Inland records, in particular, are practically unheard of, which is why the discovery of a Roseate Tern in Erie Co, Ohio, of all places, is so extraordinary. [...]
08-28: Birding with Benefits, A Discussion
Birding with Benefits, a new book by author Sarah T Dubb, is a unique new addition to the birding canon. While we shouldn’t be too surprised that all the new attention paid to birding has seen it turn up in surprising places, but the pages of a romance novel certainly seemed like a stretch. To help discuss birding's introduction into the romance genre, host Nate Swick turns to his own birding adjacent relationship and beach read enthusiast to talk about this unlikely intersection.
08-27: 2024 Splits and Lumps with Nick Block
Birders around North America look forward to midsummer every year for the publication of the AOS North American Classification Committee’s Taxonomic Supplement, the splits and lumps that affect our life lists. And for this conversation we turn, as we have since the very beginning of this podcast, to our own taxonomy guru Dr Nick Block of Stonehill College to talk shearwater splits, gull confusion, redpoll DNA, and everything else in the 2024 list of proposals. Don’t forget to donate to the ABA’s Nesting Season Appeal, which raises money for our excellent young birder programs. And check out[...]
Rare Bird Alert: June 28, 2024
It scarecely needs to be said, but the Steller's Sea-Eagle (ABA Code 4) in Newfoundland continues into this week and doesn't look to be leaving anytime soon. We start in Nunavut, where a Yellow-nosed Albatross photographed in the Labrador Sea southeast of Baffin Island is a 1st for the territory and the farthest north record of this southern ocean breeding species on the planet. The bird was seen following a turbot boat. On to Florida, where at least one of the Large-billed Terns (5) that spent the summer in the state looks to have returned to Collier Co,[...]
08-26: This Month in Birding – June 2024
The summer solstice marks another turn of the seasons to nesting and post-breeding dispersal, and, in some case southward migration once again. And the end of the month means turn to This Month in Birding, our roundtable discussion with some birding friends. We welcome back Nick Lund, Jordan Rutter, and Brodie Cass Talbott for a wide-ranging discussion that includes polyamorous shorebirds, Giga-geese, and birder "would you rathers". Links to articles discussed in this episode: Tiny New Zealand bird delivers a lesson in birdsong evolution Polyandrous birds evolve faster than monogamous ones, new study finds New fossils[...]
Rare Bird Alert: June 21. 2024
In continuing ABA Area rarities, the Steller's Sea-Eagle (ABA Code 4) that has spent the last year and a half in Newfoundland was seen again this week. Mid-summer is not typically thought of as gull season, but at least what rare gulls we do get in early summer are looking very sharp. That was the case in Michigan where the state's 1st record of Black-tailed Gull (4) was see on the southern shore of the Upper Peninsula in Schoolcraft Co. This east Asian species has followed a similar path laid before it by Slaty-backed Gull, as it is[...]
08-25: The Importance of Insects with David Leatherman
When birders talk about the importance of a bird-friendly yard, they often mean insects even if they don't mention them explicitly. And so people that want to attract birds need to get comfortable with bugs. Colorado birder David Leatherman is a fan of bug-bird interactions...
08-24: Random Birds XI with Ted Floyd
What better way to spend a random Thursday in June than with a random number generator and a random list of birds? As he does from time to time, the ABA's Birding magazine editor Ted Floyd joins host Nate Swick for another round of Random Birds. This time the list has a strongly cosmopolitan bent, and Nate and Ted discuss birds that can be enjoyed, for the most part, not just around the continent, but in some cases around the world. Don’t forget to donate to the ABA’s Nesting Season Appeal, which raises money for our excellent young birder[...]
Rare Bird Alert: June 7, 2024
Many of the exciting Texas birds from the last few months are getting harder to find, but Brown Jay (ABA Code 4) and Mottled Owl (5) were recorded this week. And speaking on long-staying birds, the Steller's Sea-Eagle (4) that has spent the last two years in Newfoundland was photographed building a nest this week. The flamingo invasion of summer 2023 is still vivid in many birders' memories. Perhaps the only thing less predictable than hurricane thrown flamingos scattered across the continent that summer, is the fact that 2024 has boasted it's own remarkable flamingo sightings. To start,[...]
08-23: Enjoying the Natural B’s with Georgia Silvera Seamans & Natasza Fontaine
Last week saw the fourth year of Black Birders Week, which continues to be a wonderful opportunity to celebrate diversity in the birding and nature communities. To help mark the occassion, we hand over the podcast to the host of Your Bird Story, Georgia Silvera Seamans, who brings our 2024 ABA Bird of the Year artist Natasza Fontaine, a working biologist in addition to being a science illustrator, to talk about her experiences with birds, botany, and whatever other natural "B's" she loves to encounter. Don’t forget to donate to the ABA’s Nesting Season Appeal, which raises[...]
08-22: This Month in Birding – May 2024
Spring turns to summer in much of the ABA Area this week, and we celebrate spring 2024 with a birding podcast crossover event for this month's This Month in Birding. We welcome Mollee Brown, one of the hosts of the Life List podcast and Jason Hall and Dexter Patterson, hosts of the brand new, and very fun, Bird Joy podcast to talk about the mathematics of bird flocks, how birding makes you happy, and our favorite moments of spring 2024, among other things. Links to articles discussed in this episode: The federal government plans to kill[...]
Rare Bird Alert: May 24, 2024
Late means means rarity minded birders turn their eyes to western Alaska, where Asian vagrants and birders are arriving on the islands in significant numbers. On St Paul Island in the Pribilofs, highlights include Terek Sandpiper (ABA Code 3) Long-toed Stint (3), Siberian Rubythroat (3), Smew (3), and Garganey (4). On nearby St George, a Spotted Redshank (4) was a highlight. and on Adak in the western Aleutians, Common Greenshank (3), Hawfinch (4), and Taiga Flycatcher (4) were all noteworthy. Washington birders enjoyed the state's second state 1st in as many weeks recently with the discovery of a Lesser Nighthawk[...]
08-21: Newfoundland’s Euro Vagrant Phenomenon with Jared Clarke
Newfoundland lies on the eastern extremes of the North American continent, and every spring it hosts an always fascinating and ocasionally extraordinary array of European vagrant birds. The phenomenon that brings European Golden-Plovers and Whooper Swans and Garganeys to North America is fairly well known now, and Newfoundland birders increasingly welcome bird enthusiasts from all over the continent to enjoy it. Guest host Jody Allair of Birds Canada hosts Newfoundlander Jared Clarke from Bird the Rock Tours to talk about why it happens and what it means to be on the leading edge of continental vagrancy. Don’t[...]
Rare Bird Alert: May 17, 2024
This week's rarities include a Great Knot and Cook's Petrel in WA, a Common Swift in NJ, Black Rosy-Finch in MN, Yellow-headed Caracara in CA, Yellow Grosbeak in CO, and a White-winged Tern in MI.
08-20: eBird Annotated, Chicago Edition, with Ted Floyd
A couple weeks ago the ABA staff convened in Chicago, Illinois, for our first in-person staff retreat in more than a decade. We discussed a lot of organizational issues and, of course, we went birding at two of Chicago’s most famous lakeshore birding hotspots, Montrose Point and Jarvis Bird Sanctuary. Usually host Nate Swick and Birding magazine editor Ted Floyd discuss separate checklists, but this time they get to discuss a checklist that they both contributed to, along with a dozen or so ABA colleagues. Also, we get some movement on the AOS English Bird Name Project. [...]
Rare Bird Alert: May 11, 2024
Continuing rarities in the ABA Area into this first week in May include the now annual Berylline Hummingbird (ABA Code 4) in Arizona , and Brown Jays (4) and Roadside Hawk (4) in Texas. In the last couple years, Wisconsin has proven to be something of a magnet for unusual southwestern vagrants. This week saw yet another find the shores of Lake Michigan in the form of the state's 1st Varied Bunting in Ozaukee Co, a gorgeous male bird. Varied Bunting has very few extralimital records to the north and east of their core range, including another male[...]
08-19: The Birds that Audubon Missed with Kenn Kaufman
The ambitions, egos, and adventure surrounding 18th and 19th century American ornithology affect birding and bird study to this day. We welcome author, artist, and naturalist Kenn Kaufman, who has tackled this fascinating period in a new book The Birds that Audubon Missed: Discovery and Desire in the American Wilderness, looking at John James Audubon, Alexander Wilson, and their peers through the lens of the common and widespread birds they did not find and describe, rather than the many many that they did.
08-18: Nature Beyond Birding with Jody Allair & Frank Izaguirre
Friend of the Podcast and Birds Canada stalwart Jody Allair steps into the hosts chair for a discussion on nature study beyond birding with the ABA's Frank Izaguirre. The two talk about their own favorite non-bird nature experiences, the value of looking at everything else, and follow up with a discussion on Canadian nature writers.
Rare Bird Alert: April 26, 2024
The list of continuing rarities in the ABA Area is a familiar one by now, with Cattle Tyrant (ABA Code 5), Southern Lapwing (5), Mottled Owl (5), Brown Jay (4), Crimson-collared Grosbeak (4), and Golden-crowned Warbler (4) all seen in Texas this week. Arizona is still hosting a Berylline Hummingbird (4) and likely will for the remainder of the summer. Both Yellow-headed Caracara (5), and at least one of the recent Piratic Flycatchers (4) is continuing in Florida. Common Shelduck (4) is still seen in Newfoundland, and the ABA's 1st Gray Gull (5) continues in Alabama. The first[...]
08-17: This Month in Birding – April 2024
It’s the April edition of This Month in Birding, with a panel as bold and timeless as the new eBird font. We welcome Frank Izaguirre, Ryan Mandelbaum, and Jordan Rutter to talk Birds Aren’t Real, seabird spies, dream birds, and much more!
Rare Bird Alert: April 19, 2024
The cup continues to runneth over in south Texas, as a Southern Lapwing (5) in Hidalgo Co gets added to the assemblage this week. This represents a 1st record for Texas and the 2nd for the ABA Area following the much-discussed individual seen in 2022 in Michigan. That bird was recently accepted by local and ABA Area committees, though one wonders if the records were reversed, with this Texas individual representing the the 1st, whether there would have been nearly as much digital ink spilled in discussion.
08-16: Take it or Leave it – Seawatching, Records Committees, and Owls
Birders are full of strong opinions, some serious and some silly. In this new feature, we invite friends on to discuss the spiciest bird takes we can find to determine whether we Take it or Leave it. George Armistead and Amy Davis join host Nate Swick to talk about spark birds, seawatching, records committees, and whether we should share the locations of owls more frequently.
08-15: Martin Migration Madness with Kevin Fraser
Spring is finally on its way and with it, the promise of returning migratory birds to the United States and Canada. Among the first to arrive every year, and beloved among birders and non-birders alike, is North America’s largest swallow, the Purple Martin. With their chatty and gregarious nature martins have inspired so many people, one of whom is Dr. Kevin Fraser of the Avian Behavior and Conservation Lab at the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg.
Rare Bird Alert: April 5, 2024
Continuing rarities in the ABA Area include Berylline Hummingbird (ABA Code 4) in Arizona, the ABA 1st Gray Gull (5), now in Alabama, a Gray Heron (4) in Nova Scotia, and the continuing Red-flanked Bluetail (4) in New Jersey. In Texas, the Cattle Tyrant (5) continues on the upper coast, and Mottled Owl (5), Bare-throated Tiger Heron (5), Brown Jay (4), Fan-tailed Warbler (4) and Crimson-collared Grosbeak (4) in Texas. Sustained easterly winds blowing across the North Atlantic over the last few days have brought an impressive variety of European vagrants to Newfoundland, including a Whooper Swan (4)[...]
08-14: Random Birds, Special Edition, with John Lowry & Ted Floyd
John Lowry steps from the production booth into the host’s seat this time around to join Birding magazine editor Ted Floyd in a special Random Birds featuring John’s home state of Michigan and Ted’s old home of Nevada. They discuss a smorgasbord of avian trivia from the big middle of the ABA Area.
Rare Bird Alert: March 29, 2024
In continuing rarities, the Gray Gull (ABA Code 5), first seen in Florida this past summer, turned up again on the Alabama side of the border. Berylline Hummingbird (4) continues in Arizona, as does Red-flanked Bluetail (4) in New Jersey. And in Texas, the Cattle Tyrant (5), Roadside Hawk (4), Mottled Owl (5), Gray-collared Becard (5), Bare-throated Tiger-Heron (5), Brown Jay (4), and Crimson-collared Grosbeak (4) were all seen this week. The first potential ABA Area 1st record of 2024 comes, perhaps predictably, from Florida who comes into the new year as hot as they left the old[...]
08-13: This Month in Birding – March 2024
Beware the IDs of March! Shakespeare was no doubt concerned with molting grebes, singing juncos and the various other birding difficulties brought to us in this month when he wrote those words. Jody Allair, Mikko Jimenez, and Purbita Saha join host Nate Swick this month to talk climate change and birds, skinny bird legs, and more!
Rare Bird Alert: March 22, 2024
Continuing rarities in the ABA Area include Berylline Hummingbird (ABA Code 4) in Arizona, Red-flanked Bluetail (3) in New Jersey, and Fieldfare (4) in Wisconsin. The ongoing rarity event in Texas Continues to include Bare-throated Tiger Heron (4), Roadside Hawk (4), Crane Hawk (5), Mottled Owl (5), Gray-collared Becard (5), Brown Jay (4), Cattle Tyrant (5), Fan-tailed Warbler (4), Golden-crowned Warbler (4), Crimson-collared Grosbeak (4), and Blue Bunting (4). What we lack in quantity this month, we are making up with quality. One of the more spectacular finds of the year so far comes from California, where a[...]
08-12: More than a Lawn Thrush with Emily Williams
The American Robin, of course, is ubiquitous but there is a lot left to learn. That is, in part, the work of Emily Williams, an avian ecologist at Georgetown University, currently studying the migration ecology of American Robins. She joins us to talk about what we don’t know about a bird everyone knows.
08-11: Beat this Big Year Record with Jeff Bouton
Digiscoping is more popular than ever, but bird records involving this practice are few and far between. We needed someone to lay down the gauntlet, and last year that person was Jeff Bouton. Many birders know Jeff as the representative for Kowa Optics, and he's a familiar face around bird festivals and events, and now, the Digicoping Big Year Champion, a record he set in 2023. He’s here to challenge others to match him. Also, a rare bird on the Las Vegas strip gets national media exposure, for better or for worse. Subscribe to the podcast[...]
08-10: Protecting Plovers in NYC with Chris Allieri
Beach nesting shorebird conservation is one of the more nuanced issues on the continent because the sorts of places and times of year where they prefer to nest are the sorts of places and times of year that humans prefer to recreate. But opportunities exist to get people to care about and protect these birds that we share space with. Chris Allieri and the NYC Plover Project are doing just that. The volunteer group is one of the most celebrated and successful groups in New York City, and Chris joins us to talk about what works and[...]
Rare Bird Alert: March 8, 2024
Continuing rarities in the ABA Area are still mostly centered in south Texas, where Bare-throated Tiger-Heron (ABA Code 5), Roadside Hawk (4), Gray-collared Becard (5), Brown Jay (4), Fan-tailed Warbler (4), Golden-crowned Warbler (4), and Crimson-collared Grosbeak (4), all persist. Even the Mottled Owl (5) made a reappearance this week, likely as birders made an effort for it for the first time in several weeks. Elsewhere, the Red-flanked Bluetail (4) in New Jersey is still being seen, as is the Fieldfare (4) in Wisconsin. A sharp-looking Brambling (3) at a feeder in Croyden, Utah, is the second in[...]
08-09: This Month in Birding – February 2024
We are joined by Jennie Duberstein, Nicole Jackson, and Gabriel Foley for a panel that is as unique as this day to talk eBird streaks, landfill condors, brilliant falcons, and more.
Rare Bird Alert: February 23, 2024
Texas leads the way as it has for months now with continuing Bare-throated Tiger-Heron (ABA Code 5), Roadside Hawk (4), Cattle Tyrant (ABA 1st), Brown Jay (4), Fan-tailed Warbler (4), Golden-crowned Warbler (4), and Crimson-collared Grosbeak (4). The Gray Heron (4) in Nova Scotia made an appearance again this week, and the Red-flanked Bluetail (4) in New Jersey is still being seen. We start in Wisconsin this week where a Fieldfare (4) in Ashland Co represents a 1st for the state. It's been a busy winter for Eurasian thrushes in the ABA Area with both Fieldfare and Redwing[...]
08-08: Still Birding to Change the World with Trish O’Kane
Way back in 2019, we first spoke with Trish O’Kane about the Birding to Change the World program she had instituted at the University of Vermont, where she is a lecturer and environmental educator, because of an essay she had written for The New York Times. She’s back 5 years later to talk about her new memoir, appropriately titled Birding to Change the World ...
Rare Bird Alert: February 16, 2024
Continuing rare birds in the ABA Area include Bare-throated Tiger-Heron (ABA Code 5), Roadside Hawks (4) Gray-collared Becard (5), Cattle Tyrant (5), Brown Jay (4), Fan-tailed Warbler (4), Golden-crowned Warbler (4), and Crimson-collared Grosbeak (4), in Texas. The Red-flanked Bluetail (4) in New Jersey is also continuing into this month. We once again look to St Pierre et Miquelon, which is having an excellent winter, with another Euro vagrant in the form of a Redwing (4) this week. There have been a small number of records of this migratory thrush in eastern Canada so far in 2024. [...]
08-07: 2023 ABA Rare Bird Draft with Amy Davis & Tim Healy
2023 was an exceptional year for ABA Rarities, and few can remember a more extraordinary one in terms of both quality and quantity of shocking and spectacular rare birds in the US and Canada. As we do every year, we welcome North American Birds editor Amy Davis and educator and writer at The Nemesis Bird, Tim Healy, to share our favorites and draft the Top 10 (and a few more) ABA Area Rare Birds for 2023. Also, congrats to Peter Kaestner for becoming the first birder to see 10,000 species. Subscribe to the podcast at Apple Podcasts, Spotify,[...]
Rare Bird Alert: February 9, 2024
Continuing birds in Texas include Bare-throated Tiger-Heron (5), multiple Roadside Hawks (4), Gray-collared Becard (4), Brown Jay (4), Cattle Tyrant (5), Golden-crowned Warbler (4), Crimson-collared Grosbeak (4), Blue Bunting (4), and certainly one but possibly two Crane Hawks (5). The Red-flanked Bluetail (4) is also still being seen in New Jersey. Arizona boasts a visitor from the north this week with the state's 3rd Little Gull, a young bird, found in Cochise Co. In Virginia, a Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch in Amherst Co, appears to be a state 1st and only the second record of this occasionally nomadic finch in[...]
08-06: The Drama of Shorebird Migration with Randall Wood
The voyages of migratory shorebirds are cinematic in their scope; certainly an attractive subject for a nature documentarian. Randall Wood is the award-winning writer, director, and producer of Flyways: The Untold Story of Migratory Shorebirds, which aired in the United States on the PBS program Nature on February 7, 2024. He joins us to talk about the film, which focuses on the incredible journeys of three long-distance migrants and the researchers racing against time to preserve these birds and this incredible phenomenon. You can find the film at pbs.org/nature, YouTube and the PBS App. Also, the[...]
Rare Bird Alert; February 2, 2024
Continuing rare birds in the ABA Area include Bare-throated Tiger-Heron (5), Roadside Hawks (4), Gray-collared Becard (5) Brown Jay (4), Fan-tailed Warbler (4), Golden-crowned Warblers (4), and Crimson-collared Grosbeak (4) in the Lower Valley of Texas, with the Cattle Tyrant (5) still being seen farther north. The Gray Heron (4) continues in Nova Scotia and the Red-flanked Bluetail (4) in New Jersey. Into the vortex of rarities currently being seen regularly in the lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas comes yet another monster find. The ABA's and Texas's second record of Crane Hawk (5)has been seen somewhat regularly[...]
08-05: eBird Analytics with Harry Stevens
Birders use eBird to log their own personal lists, and to help find birds they would like to see, but the heart of eBird, the dream even of eBird, was to create a massive public database of bird sightings that can turn into opportunities to monitor bird populations. That is, in fact, what Harry Stevens, the Climate Lab columnist for the Washington Post, has done in a new interactive feature at the Washington Post which takes a look at why bird populations are declining. Also, Artificial Intelligence helps researchers get a bird's eye view. Subscribe to[...]
Rare Bird Alert: January 26, 2024
Once again, the week starts with Texas's incredible slate of continuing Lower Valley rarities which include Bare-throated Tiger-Heron (ABA Code 5), multiple Roadside Hawks (4), Mottled Owl (5), Gray-collared Becard (5), a small flock of Brown Jays (4), and multiple Golden-crowned Warblers (4) and Crimson-collared Grosbeaks (4). The New Jersey Red-flanked Bluetail (4) is also continuing into this week. New Mexico, which has had an excellent run of rarities including multiple 1st records in the last few months, adds another one. A Purple Sandpiper found in Eddy Co is the 1st for New Mexico, but one of a[...]
This Month in Birding – January 2024
This Month in Birding is back in the new year, with a panel of old friends to talk bird and birding news of the month. This time around, Stephanie Beilke, Jordan Rutter, and Brodie Cass Talbott come by to talk Mallard quasi-domestication, smart binoculars and more! Links to articles discussed in this episode: Silent domestication of wildlife in the Anthropocene: The mallard as a case study Swarovski Optik Launches the World's First Smart Binocular Missed Connections Why do middle-aged people love birds so much? Subscribe to the podcast at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts[...]
Rare Bird Alert: January 19, 2024
Texas leads the way in rare birds with Bare-throated Tiger-Heron (ABA Code 5), Roadside Hawk (5), Mottled Owl (5), Gray-collared Becard (5), Brown Jay (4), Golden-crowned Warbler (4), Crimson-collared Grosbeak (4), and Blue Bunting (4), all continuing into the middle of January. Nova Scotia hosts an ongoing Gray Heron (4), and the Red-flanked Bluetail (4) is still being seen in New Jersey. We can also point out that, though we haven't mentioned it here in some time, the Steller's Sea-Eagle (3) in Newfoundland is still regularly seen as we head into its third year of residence in the[...]
Two-Fisted Birdwatching with Mike Lubow
A disillusioned adman and casual birder, a mysterious ransom plot, and a conservation program for restoring Peregrine Falcons all combine in Mike Lubow’s irreverent new novel, The Idea People. Mike is a prolific writer and story-teller whose interests intersect with birding in his online journal Two-Fisted Bird Watcher. He joins us to talk about why birders make great detectives, even fictional ones. Also, nature illiteracy strikes again in the form of a bonkers proposed law in Kentucky. Subscribe to the podcast at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts and please leave a rating or a[...]
2024 Bird of the Year Artist Natasza Fontaine
The creator of this year's cover is artist and field researcher Natasza Fontaine! She joins us to talk about her Golden-winged Warbler memories and the ins and outs of this year's BotY art.
Rare Bird Alert: January 5, 2024
Welcome to a new year of rare birds! We still have a handful of rarities continuing into 2024, including the incredible south Texas tropical bonanza of Bare-throated Tiger-Heron (ABA Code 5), Roadside Hawk (4), Mottled Owl (5), Gray-collared Becard (5), Brown Jay (4), Golden-crowned Warbler (4) and Crimson-collared Grosbeak (4). Also continuing are the Red-flanked Bluetail (4) in New Jersey and a Gray Heron (4) in Nova Scotia. Maine closed out 2023 with a state 1st record of Hepatic Tanager visiting a private feeder in Waldo Co. This is the farthest east record of this southwestern species in[...]
Inside the Bird Name Committee
The decision by the American Ornithological Society last year to begin the process of renaming birds currently named after humans has been one of the more animating debates in the birding and ornithological communities in recent memory. The recommendations for these changes were made by an ad hoc English Bird Name committee created by the AOS specifically to explore this issue. Irene Liu, Steve Hampton, and Alvaro Jaramillo served on that committee, and join the podcast to talk about their time on the committee, the discussion they had, and to dispell some of the misinformation that[...]
Rare Bird Alert: December 22, 2023
Continuing rarities in the ABA Area this week include most of the incredible south Texas finds including Bare-throated Tiger-Heron (ABA Code 5), Roadside Hawk (5), Gray-collared Becard (5), Golden-crowned Warbler (4), Crimson-collared Grosbeak (4), and Brown Jay (4). The Red-flanked Bluetail (4) was seen at least into the beginning of the week, and a Gray Heron (4) continues in Nova Scotia. An exciting 1st record for Alabama this week as a White Wagtail was wekk -photographed in Mobile. It is not clear which subspecies this bird represents but almost all of the east coast records of White Wagtail[...]
This Month in Birding – December 2023
This Month in Birding is The American Birding Podcast’s monthly round table discussion on all things birds and birding. This month features Nick Lund, Sarah Swanson, and Mo Stych talking AI and birding, light pollution, a tragic macaw love story and more. Links to article’s discussed in this episode: Artificial light at night is a top predictor of bird migration stopover density Researchers developing new technology to understand bird migrations A lovers’ tale of romance, fidelity and the aviary netting keeping them apart Subscribe to the podcast at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts and[...]
Rare Bird Alert: December 15, 2023
Texas's ridiculous run of rarities continues into this week with Bare-throated Tiger-Heron (ABA Code 5), Gray-collared Becard (5), Crimson-collared Grosbeak (4), Golden-crowned Warbler (4), Roadside Hawk (5), Mottled Owl (5), and Brown Jay (4) all seen this week. The Red-flanked Bluetail (4) in New Jersey continued at least through the beginning of the week, and in California, a Little Stint (4) is still ebing seen on and off again as it has through the fall. Florida leads the way with new birds added to the list in 2023, and that streak continues into the end of the year[...]
Random Birds X with Ted Floyd
It’s a holiday miracle! The podcast feature that was supposed to last one episode, lasted significantly more than that! Birding editor Ted Floyd is back to talk Random Birds. He and Nate cover lots of passerines and two different hummingbirds and ponder the mysteries of the random number generator that knows all. The ABA wishes all of you participating in the 124th CBC a Merry Christmas Bird Count! Subscribe to the podcast at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts and please leave a rating or a review if you are so inclined! We appreciate it! [...]
Rare Bird Alert: December 8, 2023
Texas continues to boast a spectacular lineup of ABA Area rarities this week with continuing Bare-throated Tiger Heron (ABA Code 4), Brown Jay (4), Gray-collared Becard (5), Roadside Hawk (5), and Golden-crowned Warbler (4). The Fieldfare (4) reported last week in Ontario continues into this period. A new contender for the most exciting rarity of the year comes late in 2023 in New Jersey. A Red-flanked Bluetail (3), a highly migratory east Asian songbird, was discovered in an Ocean Co neighborhood, where it represents a 1st for the state. Red-flanked Bluetail is a rare, but annual, vagrant to[...]
Birding Book Club – Best of 2023
The Birding Book Club is back again to do our annual Best Bird Books of the Year episode for 2023. With the holiday gift-giving season is right around the corner there’s no better time to give the gift of bird books to the birder in your life. And why not something for yourself while you're at it? We are joined by 10,000 Birds book reviewer Donna Schulman and Birding magazine media and book review editor Rebecca Minardi to talk about what we loved this year in bird books. Subscribe to the podcast at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts and please[...]
Rare Bird Alert: December 1, 2023
Continuing rare birds in the ABA Area include the Large-billed Tern (ABA Code 5) which has been in Florida for half the year now. Some of the best birds seen recently in South Texas remain, including Roadside Hawk (4), Golden-crowned Warbler (4), and Brown Jay (4). Texas stays on its historic hot streak over the last couple weeks first with the ABA's 3rd record of Mottled Owl (5) heard and subsequently seen in Starr Co. Both previous records come from the lower Valley, a road-killed bird from 1983 and the latest, prior to the current bird, in 2006.[...]
Secrets of Slow Birding with Bridget Butler
If there’s one thing that 2020 taught birders, its how to appreciate your immediate surroundings. The cancellation of festivals, international trips, and even many local bird walks and meetings encouraged us to be more present and local. It’s something that Vermont naturalist Bridget Butler has been pushing for a long time as part of her “Slow Birding” initiative.
This Month in Birding – November 2023
This Month in Birding is The American Birding Podcast’s monthly round table discussion on all things birds and birding. This month features Jennie Duberstein, Tim Healy, and Ryan Mandelbaum covering bird name changes, universal alarm calls, what makes a bird attractive to humans, and more...
Rare Bird Alert: November 17, 2023
What a birding week for Texas! Corresponding with the Rio Grande Valley Birding Festival and its influx of birders from around the US and Canada, it’s been years since the region had a run of rarities as exciting as the one experienced last week.
Random Birds, Vol 9, with Ted Floyd
Host Nate Swick is on the road, but that doesn't mean you won't get new content! Birding editor Ted Floyd is back again for another edition of Random Birds, the most fun you can have with a bird list and a random numbr generator. This time around Nate and Ted take discuss ducks, tanagers, sparrows and much more! Subscribe to the podcast at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts and please leave a rating or a review if you are so inclined! We appreciate it! The American Birding Podcast[...]
Talking Lumps – Western Flycatchers with Alec Hopping
One of the biggest taxonomic changes of this year was the long-anticipated lump of the species formerly known as Pacific-slope and Cordilleran Flycatcher back into Western Flycatcher. It’s a story with all the taxonomic highs and lows packed into a slightly confusing and cryptic package. Alec Hopping is a birder and researcher whose article in North American Birds called Unraveling Western Flycatchers; A Case Against the Split played a large role in making the case to the relavant authorities. He joins us to talk about how to get a species lumped. Also, the AOS makes a[...]
Rare Bird Alert: November 3, 2023
American Flamingos (ABA Code 3) are still being seen regularly in Florida, Texas, Louisiana, and North Carolina. The Large-billed Tern (5) is sticking it out in Florida into the winter. And in Texas, several Golden-crowned Warblers (4) are still being seen in the Lower Valley. We haven't been able to mention Manitoba in this spot in some time, and the state or province in the ABA Area with the longest 1st record drought, which has finally come to an end this month with not one, but two species, both from different directions. First, a Vermilion Flycatcher was seen[...]
Meet Wayne Klockner, the ABA’s New Executive Director
This past summer, the ABA brought on our new Executive Director. Wayne Klockner comes to us after a long career with The Nature Conservancy in Maryland and beyond, with efforts that have led to the conservation of thousands of acres of natural areas, the restoration of commercial and shell fisheries and the establishment of TNC’s climate strategy. He lives and birds in Ocean City, Maryland, and it is our pleasure to welcome him to the podcast. Also, amazing new science suggests that albatrosses use infrasonic ocean noise to orient themselves. Subscribe to the podcast at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or[...]
Rare Bird Alert: October 27, 2023
Washington has boasted a nice run of rare birds this week, including a Scissor-tailed Flycatcher in Tokeland and the state's 7th record of Painted Bunting at Neah Bay. But the big prize was a Little Bunting (3), the state's 2nd, also in Clallam Co. The bird was showing well for the birders that made the trek until it was, unfortunately...
This Month in Birding – October 2023
This Month in Birding is The American Birding Podcast’s monthly round table discussion on all things birds and birding. This month features Martha Harbison, Mikko Jimenez, and Dexter Patterson covering the USFWS’s recent extinction news, Takahe reintroductions, birding at night, and the panel’s spookiest birds.
Rare Bird Alert: October 20, 2023
Bird tourism has closed up shop in western Alaska for the season, but birders sticking it out on the islands into the increasing clod and dark are still finding good birds. Most recently, the ABA's 4th record of Song Thrush was a new highlight to what continues to be a very nice fall rarity season.
The Wingsnappers with Barney Schlinger
Manakins are among the most unique and fascinating neotropical bird families with displays that run the gamut from group line-dancing to bizarre percussive feather snaps. One species, in particularly, has long fascinated UCLA researcher Barney Schlinger, the Golden-collared Manakin of Panama and western Colombia. It is the subject of his book The Wingsnappers: Lessons from an Exuberant Tropical Bird and he joins host Nate Swick to talk about it. Also, the eBird taxonomy update is coming! What does it mean for our ABA lists? Subscribe to the podcast at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts and please[...]
Rare Bird Alert: October 13, 2023
American Flamingos (ABA Code 3) continue in multiple states including North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Alabama, Louisiana, Virginia, and Texas. Crimson-collared Grosbeak (4) and Golden-crowned Warbler (4) are still being seen in Texas. The birders might be leaving Alaska's Bering Sea Islands, but Red-backed Shrike (5) and Wood Warbler (5) among others, saw them off. A Common Greenshank (4) is still present in California. One of the biggest surprises of the period came from western Alaska, certainly no stranger to surprising birds. An Icterine Warbler (5), one of last year's most shocking ABA Area 1sts when it showed[...]
Birding Under the Influence with Dorian Anderson
In 2014, Dorian Anderson pushed pause on his life, which at the time included a career in neuroscience research, a burgeoning relationship, and the ongoing struggles with drug and alcohol addiction, for an ABA Area Big Year.
Rare Bird Alert: October 6, 2023
American Flamingos (ABA Code 4) continue to be seen across the southeast with the largest flock in North Carolina. Individuals and small flocks are also continuing in South Carolina, Louisiana, Alabama, and Florida, with Kansas and Wisconsin continuing to be outliers. Alaska birders continue to report Garganey (4), Wood Warbler (5), and Eurasian Hobby (4). A Large-billed Tern (5) is still being seen in Florida, as is a Common Greenshank in California. In Arizona, Tufted Flycatcher (5) and Berylline Hummingbird (4) continue, and a small flock of Brown Jays (4) and multiple Golden-crowned Warbler (5) are still being[...]
The Public Life of Birds with David Welch
Birds are one of the most commonly encountered elements of human culture across time and across peoples in all parts of the world. Perhaps nowhere is that quite as evident as Las Vegas, Nevada, where humanity of every possible description comes together in a city that exists on the edge of habitability.
Rare Bird Alert: September 29, 2023
As we head into the last few days of September, American Flamingos (ABA Code 4) continue to be seen in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, and on the Ohio River between Kentucky and Indiana. The long-staying Steller's Sea-Eagle (4) is still regular in Newfoundland, as is one of the Large-billed Terns (5) in Florida. Two Baikal Teal (4) remain on St. Paul Island in Alaska, and the small flock of Brown Jays (4) in Texas makes their appearance again here after a few weeks. Berylline Hummingbird (4) is still being seen in Arizona as it has been all[...]
This Month in Birding – September 2023
It’s the end of the month which means its time for This Month in Birding, and we’ve got a panel of ABA friends and staff here to talk about the beautiful fall season, every birder’s favorite time of year. In this episode Jennie Duberstein, Nick Lund, and Greg Neise join host Nate Swick to talk lost flamingos, eagles, the incredible movement of North American vagrants to the British Isles, and more!
Rare Bird Alert: September 22, 2023
The American Flamingos (ABA Code 4) scattered across the southeast by Hurricane Idalia continue to be seen in a number of locations, most notably Florida, Kentucky, Alabama, and North Carolina, where a flock of 16 birds remains into its third week. The pair of birds in Pennsylvania have taken different routes, however, with the individual injured by a Snapping Turtle remaining in rehab while its partner has apparently taken off for parts unknown. A Tufted Flycatcher (5) is still being seen in Arizona, while one of the Large-billed Terns was present into this week in Florida. Texas continues[...]
Birding for a Better World with Sydney Golden Anderson & Meghadeepa Maity
The Feminist Bird Club has been one of the more interesting and inspiring movements in the birding world over the last few years. They champion inclusivity, social justice, and an approach that is comfortable for novices and other folks who had perhaps not felt seen in birding before.
Rare Bird Alert: September 16, 2023
Fall rarity season is starting to get started in Texas, where a Golden-crowned Warbler (4) was seen this week in Cameron Co. This species has been almost annual in recent years with many birds sticking around for quite some time.
Random Birds, Vol. 8, with Ted Floyd
It's a random time for Random Birds, the American Birding Podcast segment with Birding editor Ted Floyd that involves host Nate Swick, a big bird list, and a random number generator. We never know exactly what we're going to get, but you'll always get a lot of great bird facts, stories, and appreciation. This session includes a smorgasbord of birds, with ducks, terns, thrushes, and more all making an appearance. Also, we're excited to announce another ABA webinar featuring author and former podcast guest Rebecca Heisman! ABA members can join us on ABA Community. Subscribe to the podcast[...]
Rare Bird Alert: September 9, 2023
At this time last week, Hurricane Idalia had made landfall in Florida's Big Bend, scattering American Flamingos across the state in unprecedented numbers in dozens of unexpected places. Little did we know that this was just the beginning. The following weekend, a pair of American Flamingos (ABA Code 4) were seen in Warren Co, Ohio, not far from Cincinnati, shocking and delighting the birders that were able to enjoy them. This was, by a significant margin, the farthest north record of this species in the ABA Area and a 1st record that no birder in the state would[...]
Lifer Momos and Monals with Anuj Ghimire
Moving from Nepal to North Dakota offers quite the ornithological whiplash, but birder and recent PhD graduate Anuj Ghimire takes it all in good stride. He joins guest host and Birding magazine editor Frank Izaguirre to talk Himalayan pheasants, North Dakota nemeses, and where to find Nepali food in Fargo. Subscribe to the podcast at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts and please leave a rating or a review if you are so inclined! We appreciate it! The American Birding Podcast brings together staff and friends of the American Birding[...]
Rare Bird Alert: September 1, 2023
We begin with news of Hurricane Idalia, which made landfall near the bend of Florida where the peninsula meets the panhandle. While conventional wind-blown birds like Bridled and Sooty Terns are not all that unusual in the state, the real story has been an impressive influx of American Flamingos (4) at several sites around the peninsula. More than 55 individuals have been reported so far at more than a dozen locations.
This Month in Birding – August 2023
It's This Month in Birding for August 2023, our monthly round table discussion featuring voices from around the birding world. This month, we welcome back our friends Jody Allair of Birds Canada, Jordan Rutter of the American Bird Conservancy, and Brodie Cass Talbott of Portland Audubon to talk about American Kestrels, Canada Jay siblings, 50 years of Project Puffin and more.
Rare Bird Alert: August 25, 2023
Continuing rarities in the ABA Area include both Berylline Hummingbird (ABA Code 4) and Plain-capped Starthroat (4) in southeastern Arizona, and at least one of the Large-billed Terns (5) present in Florida since June. The major meteorological event of the year so far has been the landfall of Hurricane Hilary just south of San Diego, California, earlier this week. Tropical Storms frequently bring ocean-going birds inland and Hilary, which took a track along the western edge of Baja California before turning north-northeast in southern California, was no different. The full breakdown of windblown birds is still to come[...]
Secrets of Summer Birding
How would you describe summer birding? Hot? Humid? Buggy? Unbearable? For many birders it has always been the least exciting and most taxing season for getting in the field, but there’s a lot to be excited about for those who make the effort.
Rare Bird Alert: August 18, 2023
Continuing rarities in the ABA Area include both Berylline Hummingbird (ABA Code 4) and Plain-capped Starthroat (4) in southeast Arizona, along with the Large-billed Terns (5) in Florida. The on-and-off Steller's Sea-Eagle (4) is on again in Newfoundland For the third consecutive week, a Lesser Sand-Plover (3) leads off the roundup, this time in individual in Barnstable Co, Massachusetts, where it represents a 1st record for that state. It's not unreasonable to believe that this might be the same individual that was seen the previous week in Rhode Island as the distance between the two spots is only 70 miles[...]
Birding Book Club – Books for Birders that aren’t about Birds
We're joined once again by regular Birding Book Club member Donna Schulman, reviewer for the website 10,000 Birds, and joining us for the 1st time, our ABA Birding magazine Book and Media Review editor, Rebecca Minardi.
Rare Bird Alert: August 11, 2023
Berylline Hummingbird (4) and Plain-capped Starthroat (4) continue in southeast Arizona, as do the Large-billed Terns (5) in Florida. Another Lesser Sand-Plover (3) has graced the east coast of North America - or perhaps it's the same bird, no one is quite sure - this time in Napatree, Rhode Island, representing a 1st for that state. Once again, this is a nominate mongolus bird, called Siberian Sand-Plover by some authorities. Another plover of note this week comes from New Jersey, where a Mountain Plover in Stone Harbor is a 1st record for that state. It comes on the heels[...]
Birding Rwanda with Winnie Kyamujara
Nestled in the Central Africa’s Great Rift Valley, Rwanda, the Land of a Thousand Hills, is one of the most biodiverse nations on the continent, all the more impressive given its small size. With nearly 700 species of birds and an impressive diversity of large mammals, including Mountain Gorillas, Rwanda is increasingly a popular destination for nature tourists, including the ABA, which is heading there this winter. Winnie Kyamujara is a nature guide with the Umusambi Crane Preserve and she introduces us to this amazing county. Also, Ontario birder and creator of the Winter Finch Report,[...]
Rare Bird Alert: August 4, 2023
Continuing rarities in the ABA Area include both Plain-capped Starthroat (ABA Code 4) and Berylline Hummingbird (4) in Arizona, both Large-billed Terns (5) in Florida, the remarkably long-staying Steller’s Sea-Eagle (4) in Newfoundland, and the small flock of Brown Jays (4) in south Texas.
Remembering Tom Johnson
The birding community is collectively mourning the recent loss of Cape May birder Tom Johnson. Tom was a world-renowned birder and a prodigious contributor to the ABA's media, with insightful articles, phenomenal photography, and occasional appearances on the American Birding Podcast.
This Month in Birding – July 2023
This Month in Birding, our monthly panel discussion is about bird news and birds in the news. We’re excited to welcome a panel of Stephanie Beilke, Tim Healy and Purbita Saha to talk rare birds at private residences, hummingbirds and alcohol, the most metal bird nests, and more!
Rare Bird Alert: July 21, 2023
Continuing rarities in the ABA Area include the Steller's Sea-Eagle (ABA Code 4) in Newfoundland, both Large-billed Terns (5) in Florida, the continuing Berylline Hummingbird (4) in Arizona, along with the small flock of Brown Jays (4) in Texas and at least one lingering Siberian Rubythroat (4) in western Alaska. Late summer in the southwest means monsoon season, a time of year that typically sees excellent birding and a good chance of ABA rarities. The extraordinary confluence of four individual Yellow Grosbeaks in southeast Arizona this year suggested that something really amazing was on the horizon. That came[...]
Indigenous Reconnection through Birds with Alyssa Bardy
Humans have loved birds for as long as there have been humans. And while many of us in the birding world stay a birder for similar reasons, every birder, bird-watcher or bird enthusiasts has their own path to this world, to this interest, and it is one that frequently leads to a greater appreciation of love of the natural world more generally.
Rare Bird Alert: July 14, 2023
Both of the especially exciting rarities in the ABA Area are continuing into this week. The Steller's Sea-Eagle (ABA Code 4) in Newfoundland is showing well to all who seek it. Also, both Large-billed Terns (5) in Florida are continuing to the delight of birders who seek them. We start in Maine this week, where a pair of marine birds have exciting local birders. A Yellow-nosed Albatross (4) was seen on a whale-watching trip on Boothbay Harbor, but the real prize was Maine's 1st record of Red-footed Booby (3) in Hancock Co. This is the second Red-footed Booby in[...]
El Niño and Birding with Alvaro Jaramillo
The connections between weather and birds seem both obvious and arcane to many birders. This is especially true in this time of global warming, when weather seems particularly wonky. This summer the globe is experiencing El Niño, a warm phase in the Pacific that causes all sorts of strange things. But what does that mean for birds?
Rare Bird Alert: July 7, 2023
The two Large-billed Terns (ABA Code 5) in Florida lead off the list of notable continuing rarities in the ABA Area. They're joined by the small flock of Brown Jays (4) in south Texas and the Steller's Sea-Eagle (4) in eastern Newfoundland, rather than western as reported previously. Both Gray-streaked Flycatcher (4) and multiple Hawfinches (4) continue to be seen in Alaska, and the now-annual Berylline Hummingbird (4) in Arizona appears to be sticking out the summer. It has already been quite a summer for White-winged Tern (4) in the ABA Area, as one in New York last[...]
Hear Birds Again with Lang Elliott
It is an inevitability that as a birder ages, they lose the ability to hear some birds, particularly those with high pitched songs and calls. It is a struggle that nature recordist Lang Elliot has dealt with for decades, but he offers, with the help of modern technology, a solution of sorts called Hear Birds Again.
Rare Bird Alert: June 30, 2023
Both Large-billed Terns (ABA Code 5) are still being seen in Florida, highlighting the continuing rarities for this week. Also still being seen, a Berylline Hummingbird (4) in Arizona, the Steller's Sea-Eagle (4) in remote western Newfoundland, and a handful of Hawfinches (5) in western Alaska. Alaska is continuing to produce excellent Asian rarities, and the latest comes from the mainland rather than the Bering Sea and Aleutian islands. The ABA Area's 2nd ever record of Lesser Whitethroat (5) was well-photographed in Utqiagvik, Alaska, on the North Slope. This is also the first spring record of this central Asian[...]
This Month in Birding – June 2023
It’s the end of June and that means it’s time for This Month in Birding, where we round up a panel of interesting and thoughtful birding friends to round up the latest birding news from around the ABA Area and beyond.
Rare Bird Alert: June 23, 2023
Continuing rarities in the ABA Area this week include both Large-billed Terns (ABA Code 5) in Florida and the small flock of Brown Jays (4) in Texas. The Steller's Sea-Eagle (4) in Newfoundland was refound this week, and the Berylline Hummingbird (4) in Arizona and a handful of Hawfinches (4) in Alaska were also reported. Birding in western Alaska has been incredible in the last couple weeks, highlighted by a 1st Alaska and ABA Area record of Kentish Plover (5) on Shemya Island in the Aleutians. This is the Old World equivalent of the North American Snowy Plover,[...]
Random Birds, Vol. 7, with Ted Floyd
Birding magazine editor and all-around bird-knower Ted Floyd is back for another bout of Random Birds. He joins host Nate Swick, a big bird list, and a random number generator to create podcast magic. This session includes a smorgasbord of birds, with gulls, warblers, and finches all making an appearance. Also, Nate reports on the latest ABA Community Weekend in California's Bay Area. Subscribe to the podcast at Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, and Google Podcasts, and please leave a rating or a review if you are so inclined! We appreciate it! The[...]
What an Owl Knows with Jennifer Ackerman
Birders and bird enthusiasts are so fortunate that science writer Jennifer Ackerman so frequently turns her mind to birds. This year, she follows the critically acclaimed The Genius of Birds and The Bird Way with the new What an Owl Knows: The New Science of the World’s Most Enigmatic Birds.
Rare Bird Alert: June 9, 2023
A quick programming note that there will not be a Rare Bird Alert next week, as I will be out of town. We'll catch up with the last two weeks the following Friday. Continuing rarities in the ABA Area include the Large-billed Terns (ABA Code 5) in Florida, Berylline Hummingbird (4) in Arizona, and multiple Hawfinches (4) scattered across western Alaska. One of the more mind-blowing rarities of the year came this week in North Carolina, where an apparent Plumbeous Vireo in Dare Co is a 1st for the state and one of very few records in the[...]
2023 Splits and Lumps with Nick Block
It’s split and lump season again, and that means that we turn to our friend Nick Block, professor of Biology at Stonehill College in Easton, Massachusetts. He’s the person we talk to when it comes to predicting the decisions of the American Ornithological Society’s North America Classification Committee.
Rare Bird Alert: June 2, 2023
Continuing rarities in the ABA Area include multiple Hawfinches (ABA Code 4) and Common Pochard (4) in Alaska, the regular Berylline Hummingbird (4) in Arizona that seems likely to stick through the summer, and a La Sagra's Flycatcher (4) in Florida. The biggest surprise of the week came from Florida, which has already had an exceptional 2023, in the form of not one, but two different Large-billed Terns (5) at two different spots, one in Collier Co and another in Brevard Co. This is one of the classic birds of Amazonian waterways so its appearance in the ABA Area[...]
For the Love of Birds
On May 19, 2023, the ABA and the Academy of Natural Sciences at Drexel University hosted the For the Love of Birds panel as part of the Academy's Cheryl Beth Silverman lecture series. If you weren't able to join us in Philadelphia, we're excited to share it with you as a podcast. Panelists Holly Merker, Anwar Abdul-Qawi, and American Birding Podcast host Nate Swick talk about birding and the bird community with moderator Maurice Baynard. Also, join Nate in San Francisco the weekend of June 17 for the next ABA Community Weekend. And don't forget to[...]
Rare Bird Alert: May 26, 2023
Continuing rarities in the ABA Area include both Long-toed Stint (ABA Code 4) and multiple Hawfinches (4) in Alaska, the La Sagra's Flycatcher (4) in Florida, and the stunning Fan-tailed Warbler (4) in Arizona. We have a good number of 1st records to report this week, starting in Pennsylvania where the state's 1st Mottled Duck was found in Washington Co. The bird was intially identified as an American Black Duck but thankfully stuck around once the correct identification was determined. In what is probably the most predictable 1st of the year, Ontario becomes the latest state or province to[...]
This Month in Birding – May 2023
It’s the last Thursday of the month of May and that means it is time to bring on a panel of birding friends to talk about bird news and goings on on the American Birding Podcast. And it’s another excellent panel this month featuring Mollee Brown, Nicole Jackson, and Ryan Mandelbaum...
Rare Bird Alert: May 19, 2023
We'll jump straight into the new birds here this week, as we've got two weeks to work through. First stop is Texas, where a Crescent-chested Warbler (ABA Code 4) at Big Bend National Park in Brewster Co represents an official 1st for the state. This species has been on the hypothetical list, or the Texas equivalent, until now, with the only previous account a sight record from the days before every birder carried a camera. That wasn't the only southern surprises to turn up in the state, a Crimson-collared Grosbeak (4) was seen in Cameron Co, and a[...]
Halcyon Kingfisher Journeys With Marina Richie
Despite being such a charismatic bird, there are very few books about our 2023 Bird of the Year Belted Kingfisher, but this week’s guest Marina Richie has written one. Her 2022 title, Halcyon Journey: In Search of the Belted Kingfisher documents the seven years she spent watching a pair of kingfishers near her home...
The Big Year that Flew By with Arjan Dwarshuis
In 2016, Arjan Dwarshuis undertook a massive birding year that took him from his home in the Netherlands to 6 continents, 41 countries, and just over 6,800 species of birds. His global big year was a massive feat, breaking the record set, at the time, by Noah Strycker only a year earlier.
Rare Bird Alert: May 5, 2023
On a quick programming note, there will not be a Rare Bird Alert post next week, as I will be up at the Biggest Week festival. We'll reconvene the week after with what will almost certainly be a full docket of rare birds. Continuing rarities in the ABA Area include the flock of Brown Jays (ABA Code 4) in Texas, and both Bahama Mockingbird (4) and Red-legged Honeycreeper (5) in Florida. Who would have pegged Wisconsin as the site for one of the best rarities of the year? The state has seen a run of southwestern species of[...]
The New Pyle Guide is Here with Peter Pyle
2023 ABA Lifetime Achievement Awardee Peter Pyle has probably been one of the most influential American ornithologists of the last few decades. His Identification Guide to North American Birds, informally known as “the Pyle Guides”, are widely known as the banding bible, and remain some of the most informative and intimidating bird books on birders’ shelves. The much anticipated second edition of which came out this year. But the's also the chair of the ABA Checklist Committee, and was central to the effort to shepherd the birds of the Hawaiian Islands, at long last, onto the[...]
Rare Bird Alert: April 28, 2023
Continuing rarities in the ABA Area include the flock of Brown Jays (ABA Code 4) in south Texas, Bahama Mockingbird (4) in Florida, and the long-staying Little Stint (4) in California. It's been a great week for White Wagtails in the ABA Area, and one in Angus, Ontario, represents that province's 3rd record. This looks to be the wide-ranging ocularis subspecies, which breeds across northern Asia into northern Alaska and is the most common subspecies recorded in the ABA Area. Arizona also recorded an ocularis White Wagtail this week, and it also happened to be a 2rd record. The[...]
This Month in Birding – April 2023
It is the most exciting time of year for birders in the ABA Area so it seems only fitting to celebrate it with an exciting group of panelists for April's This Month in Birding. Host Nate Swick is joined by Jennie Duberstein, Andrés Jimenez, and Jordan Rutter to talk about vulture love, nature TikTok, and Night Parrot skulls. Come for the spring migration talk and stay for the bird personality profiles. Also, don't forget to sign up for our first ABA Community Weekend! Links to articles discussed in this episode: They're Not Pretty, but Turkey Vultures[...]
Rare Bird Alert: April 21, 2023
Continuing birds in the ABA Area include the small flock of Brown Jays (ABA Code 4) in south Texas, at least one and probably more Red-legged Honeycreepers (5) in Florida along with a long-staying Bahama Mockingbird (4), and a Little Stint (4) in California. Michigan had a phenomenal 2022 and the state's 2023 is off to a pretty great start with the discovery of a state 1st Pink-footed Goose (4) in Grand Traverse. This species has become regular in the northeast of the continent in the last decade or so, and records farther west have been[...]
Creating a Kingfisher Mascot with Spencer Wilken
The sporting world is full of bird mascots. While there are countless eagles, hawks, and cardinals there are no, so far as we know, Belted Kingfishers. But that might change thanks to the efforts of students at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. This flagship university has a mascot vacancy that, according to guest Spencer Wilken, should be filled by our 2023 Bird of the Year. Spencer's story is featured in the April 2023 issue of Birding and she joins us to talk about the peculiar politics of bird mascots. Also, the bird flu pandemic hits[...]
Rare Bird Alert: April 7, 2023
Here's your roundup of new ABA Area rarities for the week. A quick programming note; there will not be an RBA next week as I am out of town. New York offers the first 1st record of the week in a subadult Glaucous-winged Gull in the Bronx borough of New York City. This is one of the rarest western gulls in the east, and all previous records of this species east of the Mississippi River have been well inland. Notably, Ohio boasted its 1st record earlier this year and this is a species that could very[...]
Antpittas and Adventure in Colombia
There’s no place on Earth like Colombia. One of the world’s only “megadiverse” nations, Colombia boasts friendly people, stunning landscapes, and absolutely mind-blowing birds. In this encore episode, host Nate Swick and Colombian birders Diego Calderón (The Birders Show) and Eliana Ardila (Birding by Bus) travel through the Colombian Central Andes and explore what makes this place so amazing for birders, and how nature tourism is making a positive impact on the lives of so many people there. Also, a throw back to the very first episode and Nate's very first trip to Colombia. Subscribe to[...]
How to Identify Flycatchers with Cin-Ty Lee & Andrew Birch
Birders have long considered the tyrant flycatchers, in particular the Empidonax species and Pewees to be one of the most difficult identification concerns in North America. Author Cin-Ty Lee and illustrator Andrew Birch seek to calm the fears of frustrated birders across the ABA Area with their new Field Guide to North American Flycatchers: Empidonax and Pewees, out just in time for spring migration. They join host Nate Swick to talk about what birders need to know about this group of birds. Also, join us for an ABA Community Weekend! Our first one is in Toronto,[...]
Rare Bird Alert: March 31, 2023
The small flock of Brown Jays (ABA Code 4) in south Texas lead off the list of notable continuing rarities in the ABA Area this week. It has been some time since this species was reliable north of the Rio Grande and birders seem to be taking advantage of this exciting situation. Other continuing birds include at least one Bahama Mockingbird (4) in Florida and the ongoing Red-flanked Bluetail (4) in California. 2023 in Florida has been one exciting bird after another, and a accommodating Red-legged Honeycreeper (5) in Miami-Dade has been fun for both local and[...]
This Month in Birding – March 2023
Spring is in the air in March, at least theoretically across much of the ABA Area. And the last Thursday of the month means This Month in Birding, our monthly panel discussion that covers all the important and not-so-important bits of birding news from the month that was. This month's panel features Brodie Cass Talbott and Sarah Swanson from Portland Audubon and aeroecologist Mikko Jimenez talking Audubon's name, Bell Bowl Prairie, and what to do about the famous Flaco the Eagle-Owl. Links to stories discussion in this episode: National Audubon Society Announces Decision to Retain Current[...]
Rare Bird Alert: March 23, 2023
Continuing rarities of note in the ABA Area include the small flock of Brown Jays (ABA Code 4) in south Texas, both La Sagra's Flycatcher (4) and Bahama Mockingbird (4) in Florida, and the remarkable Red-flanked Bluetail (4) in California. Mid-March is the peak time for records of Common Crane (3) in Nebraska, as the birds are regularly seen among large flocks of migrating Sandhills along the Platte River. That was the case this year as one was seen in Garden. The strangest rarity news this week was not related to a bird seen in March,[...]
The Rise of Birding Culture in Colombia with Jose Martinez
Birding is booming in Colombia helped, in part, by bird fairs and festivals held throughout the country for Colombian birders in addition to the increased interest shown by visiting birders from around the world. Last month, host Nate Swick got to visit the Colombia Birdfair in Calí, where he met Jose Manuel Martinez, a Colombian birder, and one of a team of birders putting on the event. He’s had a front row seat to Colombia’s fascinating rise as not only a birding destination, but a birding culture. Interested in traveling to some of the places we[...]
Rare Bird Alert: March 18, 2023
Continuing birds in the ABA Area include the small flock of Brown Jays (ABA Code 4) in south Texas, the Bahama Mockingbird (4) and La Sagra’s Flycatcher (4) in Florida, and both a Red-flanked Bluetail (4) and a Little Stint (4) in California.
Flight Paths, and the Wonder of Migration, with Rebecca Heisman
We are in a golden age of bird migration science, and birders can only wonder at the ways in which we learn about bird migration in the 21st Century. Rebecca Heisman's new book, "Flight Paths: How a Passionate and Quirky Group of Pioneering Scientists Solved the Mystery of Bird Migration" tells the story of bird migration research to the present, with all the amazing techniques and entertaining characters involved in figuring so much of it out. Also, the Kowa Scopers are our champions for Champions of the Flyway. Subscribe to the podcast at Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, and Google Podcasts,[...]
Rare Bird Alert: March 10, 2023
Plenty of high-quality contiuing rare birds in the ABA Area this week, including the somewhat expected this time of year Bahama Mockingbird (ABA Code 4) and La Sagra's Flycatcher (4) in Florida. The remarkable Red-flanked Bluetail (4) is still being seen in California, and one is hard-pressed to remember a more accomodating individual of this species on the continent. In Texas, both Blue Bunting (4) and Brown Jay (4) continue in Texas. One of the more bizarre records of the year so far comes from North Carolina, where a Red-footed Booby (3), the state's 2nd record,[...]
Birding, Annotated, Yet Again with Ted Floyd
Birding editor Ted Floyd returns to join host Nate Swick for "Birding, Annotated". In the doldrums of early March, both Ted and Nate each took a birding outing to a local spot and return chat about it. Hear their thoughts on the coming spring, junco diversity, counting birds in eBird, the importance of the regular checklist. Check out Ted's checklist from Lafayette, Colorado, and Nate's from Greensboro, North Carolina. Also, the Dusky Tetraka is back! Or perhaps more accurately, no one was really looking for it. Subscribe to the podcast at Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, and Google Podcasts, and please[...]
Rare Bird Alert: March 3, 2023
We sit smack in the doldrums of late winter/early spring in the ABA Area. Birders to the north are still experiencing winter's grip and those to the south are anxiously awaiting more than the early season short-distance migrants. It is typically a slow period for rare birds as this week's report makes clear. Exciting continuing rarities include the Red-flanked Bluetail (ABA Code 4) in California, both Bahama Mockingbird (4) and La Sagra's Flycatcher (4) in Florida, and the Gray Heron (5) in Nova Scotia, which is still wandering around looking for open water. An overlooked mystery[...]
Wildest Vagrants of 2022 with Amy Davis & Tim Healy
2022 was an exceptional year for rare bird sightings in the ABA Area, with no fewer than three first ABA records and an absolute avian smorgasbord of interesting and unexpected records from all corners of the US and Canada. As difficult as it is to choose the best, North American Birds editor Amy Davis and writer and teacher Tim Healy join host Nate Swick to attempt to do so, or at the very least, have some fun remembering the highlights of last year. Also, Nate is back from a fantastic trip to the Colombia Birdfair. Subscribe[...]
Rare Bird Alert: February 24, 2023
Welcome back to the Rare Bird Alert after an off week in which I was out of the country. We've got two weeks to cover for this period. Bur first, rare bird continuing in this last week of February include both Little Stint (ABA Code 4) and Red-flanked Bluetail (4) in California, Bahama Mockingbird (4) and La Sagra's Flycatcher (4) in Florida, and the ever-unbelievable Steller's Sea-Eagle (4) now, once again, in Maine. We start in Florida, which boasts a long-awaited 1st record this month. No, it's not some Carribbean vagrant, but a Great-tailed Grackle at[...]
This Month in Birding – February 2023
February might be the shortest month, but that doesn’t mean it gets the short shrift when it comes to This Month in Birding. We’ve got a great panel this month that absolutely adores birds as is appropriate for the season. Jody Allair from Birds Canada, Sarah Bloemers of the Bird Sh*t Podcast, and our friend Nick Lund, the Birdist, join us to talk about Steller's Jay splits, Hawaiian Island Restoration, the possible return of the Dodo, and much more! Links to stories discussed in this episode: eBird Exotic Species Update Steller's Jay Might be Multiple Species[...]
The Avian Rainbow with Whitney Tsai Nakashima
You don’t have to be a birder for a long time to appreciate that birds are capable of producing an astonishing array of colors and patterns, even those beyond what our weak human eyes can discern. Hidden in that avian rainbow are clues to bird taxonomy and evolution, which is the work of our guest Whitney Tsai Nakashima, a researcher at Occidental College’s Moore Lab of Zoology. Also, can hummingbirds inspire robot drones? Subscribe to the podcast at Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, and Google Podcasts, and please leave a rating or a review if you are so inclined! We appreciate[...]
Rare Bird Alert: February 10, 2023
It's back! From Maine comes the report that the Steller's Sea-Eagle (ABA Code 4), now in eastern North America for its third calendar year, has been seen again on the central coast. Who knows where it will go from here, but farther south isn't out of the realm of possibility. In Florida, both Bahama Mockingbird (4) and La Sagra's Flycatcher (4) continue into this week. California continues to host a Red-flanked Bluetail (4), and the Pennsylvania Common Shelduck (5) is still being seen and debated. The wide-ranging rarity de jour has changed over the last few[...]
Mindful Birding Ethics with Holly Merker
Young birders who have participated in the ABA’s Camp Avocet Maine’s well known Hog Island Audubon Camp, are no doubt familiar with Holly Merker. But that only scratches the surface of her contributions to the birding world. A former member of the ABA’s Recording Standards and Ethics Committee, and one of the authors of the well-received and timely Ornitherapy, she is the recipient of the ABA’s Award for Conservation and Education, formerly the Betty Peterson Award. She joins The American Birding Podcast to talk about mindful birding and applying ethics. Also, the wild story of the[...]
Rare Bird Alert: February 3, 2023
Not a lot has changed in continuing rarities in the ABA Area this week, with Common Shelduck (ABA Code 5) persisting in Pennsylvania, along with La Sagra's Flycatcher (4) and Bahama Mockingbird (4) in Florida. The Red-flanked Bluetail (4) and Little Stint (4) are also still being seen in California. It's a relatively light week in the ABA Area, but we still keep our run of 1st records alive. From New Brunswick comes a provincial 1st Brewer's Sparrow in Quispamsis. The consensus seems to be that this is likely the more highly migratory and more northern[...]
A Whole World of Seabirds with Peter Harrison
When it was first released in 1983, Peter Harrison’s Seabirds: An Identification Guide was immediately hailed as a classic of the birding literature, an accolade it not relinquished in 40 years. And so it was with much excitement that Peter released the New Identification Guide in 2021, practically a different and far more comprehensive book. Peter Harrison is an artist, an author and a conservationist, an MBE, and still perhaps the authority on the birds of the world’s largest biome. Plus, an ignoble end to a first ABA Area record. Subscribe to the podcast at Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, and Google Podcasts, and[...]
Rare Bird Alert: January 27, 2023
Rarities continuing into the last week of January in the ABA Area include the Common Shelduck (ABA Code 5) in Pennsylvania, the Caribbean trio of La Sagra's Flycatcher (4), Bahama Mockingbird (4), and Red-legged Honeycreeper (5) in Florida, and the Red-flanked Bluetail (4) in southern California, This year has been a banner one for wandering finches in North America, with Evening Grosbeaks making another incursion into the south, but no one suspected a Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch in Green Bay, Nova Scotia, to be among them. This most widespread of the three North American rosy-finches has a fairly[...]
This Month in Birding: January 2023
We have reached the end of the first month of 2023 and it is once again time for This Month in Birding on The American Birding Podcast. For this panel we welcome a fascinating group of birders to geek out a little about birds. Martha Harbison, Dexter Patterson, and Jordan Rutter join us to talk about molt terminology, shushers, bright white woodcock tails and more. Links to topics discussed in this podcast: WhatsApp-ened to bird news? Moult terminology. Let’s make it simpler! ‘Astonishing’ snowy owl spotted in Southern California neighborhood Eurasian Woodcock has the brightest feathers[...]
Rare Bird Alert: January 20, 2023
Continuing rarities in the ABA Area include both Bahama Mockingbird (ABA Code 4) and LaSagra's Flycatcher (4) in Florida, right on time for what have been, in the past, long-staying Caribbean rarities. The Common Shelduck (5) is still being seen in Pennsylvania, though I have no idea what that means for the ongoing provenance discussion. And in California, a Red-flanked Bluetail (4) and Little Stint (4) continue. For 1st records, we start in West Virginia, where a Townsend's Solitaire in Grant fills in a significant gap on the distribution map for this species. Solitaires are fairly regular[...]
Random Birds, Vol 6, with Ted Floyd
Birding magazine editor and all-around bird-knower Ted Floyd is back for another bout of Random Birds. He joins host Nate Swick, a big bird list, and a random number generator to create podcast magic. This session includes a number of holarctic species, a pair of warblers and one of Ted’s 10 favorite bird species. Well, maybe… Plus, some thoughts and the most gull rich metro in the ABA Area. Subscribe to the podcast at Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, and Google Podcasts, and please leave a rating or a review if you are so inclined! We appreciate it![...]
Rare Bird Alert: January 13, 2023
The ABA Area hosts an impressive set of rarities continuing into this week, with the highlight remaining the ABA Area's 3rd record of Eurasian Blackbird (ABA Code 5) in Labrador. California continues to host a Red-flanked Bluetail (4) and a Little Stint (4), and the Common Shelduck (5) is still being seen and discussed in Pennsylvania. The influx of winter wanderers southward into the interior of the continent was not predicted to include many Bohemian Waxwings, but one was seen in Apache, Arizona. The mountain ash crops in the western half of the continent were reported as[...]
Winter Birding and More with Erik Bruhnke
Much of North America is gripped in the depths of winter. It’s cold. It’s snowy. It’s frequently unpleasant. But for those that push through, the birding can be oh so rewarding. This is especially true in places where the winter hits hardest. Diehard Minnesota birder Erik Bruhnke is guide for Victor Emanuel Nature Tours and a stalwart at birding festivals. He joins Nate to talk about winter birding, leading bird tours and cool bird facts. Also, Nate talks Costa Rica birding and a frustrating anti-feeder law. Subscribe to the podcast at Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, and Google Podcasts, and please[...]
Rare Bird Alert: January 6, 2023
Continuing rarities in the ABA Area include the Common Shelduck (ABA Code 5) in Pennsylvania, a Northern Lapwing (4) in Massachusetts, and the Social Flycatcher (5), now in its third calendar year, in Texas 2023 starts off with a bang in Florida with the release of photos showing an apparent Gundlach's Hawk in Lee. This uncommon Cuban endemic would be a 1st record for the ABA Area, and the 1st record away from Cuba. Discussion about this individual has been extensive, with most of it focusing on the bird's behavior. Gundlach's Hawk is notoriously one of[...]
2023 Bird of the Year Artist Liz Clayton Fuller
Happy New Year List! It's finally time to celebrate our 2023 Bird of the Year, the Belted Kingfisher! And to help jumpstart a year of kingfisher content, we're excited to welcome this year's artist, Liz Clayton Fuller. Host Nate Swick chatted with Liz about kingfishers, her 2023 cover art "Queenfisher", and her work streaming art on Twitch. I think you'll agree that she is a delight. Also, Nate shares his first Belted Kingfisher experience and invites listeners to send theirs to podcast@aba.org. Subscribe to the podcast at Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, and Google Podcasts, and please leave a rating or[...]
Rare Bird Alert: December 30, 2022
As we head in to the belly of Christmas Bird Count season, we watchers of rarities get to enjoy the bounty that comes from intensive coverage of normally underbirded parts of the ABA Area and the goodies that result from that effort. Plus, there's the occasional rarity continuing long enough to be included on the local count, as is the case with the long-staying Southern Lapwing (ABA Code 5) of mysterious origin in Michigan. The rarest of the Eurasian vagrant thrushes made an appearance in Newfoundland this week, when a Eurasian Blackbird (5) was photographed at[...]
This Month in Birding – December 2022
Thanks to all our listeners and supporters for another exceptional year. To wrap up 2022, we welcome back some insightful and entertaining birder friends to the last This Month in Birding for the year. We're joined by Popular Science's Purbita Saha, science writer Ryan Mandelbaum, and The Birdist, Nick Lund to talk about the biggest birding trends of 2022 and our best birding experiences of the year. Links to article discussed in this episode: New Shazam for Birds will Identify that Chipping For You Female Blue Tits Sing Frequently Old Bones Suggest Presence of Thick-billed Parrots[...]
Rare Bird Alert: December 16, 2022
After more than a year, the south Texas Social Flycatcher (5) is still being seen, a rare bird pillar at this point. Even when no other rare birds are continuing, it hangs on. Hot Limpkin Summer has, against all odds, turned into bonkers Limpkin winter, as Kentucky finally gets on their board with their 1st record of Limpkin seen this week in Todd. Kentucky was completely surrounded by states that had previously recorded Limpkins, sometimes multiple birds, and finally fills in a big gap in the map. Now, I suppose, we look to outliers like Pennsylvania,[...]
Rare Bird Alert: December 9, 2022
One notable rare bird of Code 4 or higher is continuing in the ABA Area, the extraordinarily long-staying Social Flycatcher (ABA Code 5) in Texas, now in its 13th month. It's been pretty great year for vagrant waterfowl, and Newfoundland comes to the fore in the last week with a Graylag Goose (5) in Harricott on the Avalon Peninsula, the 3rd for the province. This species was only added to the ABA Checklist in the last decade largely due to questions of provenance. But for a Greylag Goose in this part of the continent at this[...]
Birding Book Club – Best of 2022
It is time once more for the most anticipated Birding Book Club of the year, our annual Best Bird Books of the Year episode for 2022. With the holiday gift-giving season is right around the corner there's no better time to give the gift of bird books to the birder in your life. Or yourself, we don't judge. We are joined by 10,000 Birds book reviewer Donna Schulman and Birding magazine media and book review editor Frank Izaguirre to talk about what we loved this year in bird books. Subscribe to the podcast at Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, and Google[...]
Rare Bird Alert: December 2, 2022
The Steller's Sea-Eagle (ABA Code 4), having spent more than a year now in North America, is on the move again. After several weeks in Newfoundland, it seems to be getting restless, now seen this week in New Brunswick. Birders in parts south should definitely keep their eyes open as the sky seems to be the limit for this individual bird. Also continuing, a Little Stint (4) that may end up overwintering in California. Is this going to be a big year for vagrant waterfowl? Geese seem to be one group of birds that is flourishing in[...]
Birding While Black with J. Drew Lanham
One of the issues that the birding community has been reckoning with for the last several years is how we can encourage a broader coalition of nature enthusiasts to join us and to share the joy of birding. It’s an issue that Dr. Drew Lanham has given a great deal of thought. Lanham is a distinguished professor of wildlife ecology at Clemson University, a recent MacArthur Genius Grant recipient, and his memoir, The Home Place: Memoirs of a Colored Man’s Love Affair With Nature was published in 2017. In this encore episode from 2018, he joins host[...]
This Month in Birding – November 2022
Happy Thanksgiving to those celebrating! How about a fun bird discussion to go along with our one and only bird-related holiday? Nate Swick is joined by Bird Sh*t's Mo Stych, aeroecologist Mikko Jimenez, and the ABA's own Greg Neise to talk about eBird status and trends, hybrid chickadees, bird rediscoveries, and our avian zodiac signs. Links to topics discussed in this episode: Smartphone-based Study Reveals Mental Health Benefits of Birding Evaluating crowdsourced data to Quantify Inequitable Access to Urban Biodiversity. Hybrid Birds in Human-altered Landscapes Researchers Rediscover the Black-naped Pheasant-Pigeon What is Your Birth Month Bird?[...]
Rare Bird Alert: November 18, 2022
I was in Texas last week for the Rio Grande Valley Birding Festival and thus, not able to put together a roundup. I appreciate your patience and hope you enjoy this week's edition, full to bursting with two weeks worth of notable birds. The number of state and provincial 1sts to document today is quite long, but none are as unlikely as the ABA Area's 2nd record of Eurasian Marsh-Harrier (5) in Morris, New Jersey. One might be justifiably inclined to think that this bird is the same individual as the bird seen in Maine earlier this year,[...]
Burrowing Owls of San Diego with Colleen Wisiniski & Susanne Marczak
The ABA is gearing up to announce its 2023 Bird of the Year but we’re not ready to say good-bye to the year of the Burrowing Owl just yet. With that in mind, we welcome Colleen Wisinski and Susanne Marczak of the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance’s Burrowing Owl Recovery Program to talk about their efforts to protect the local population of Burrowing Owls and what they’ve learned about the species in doing so. Also, Nate is back from a great Rio Grande Valley Birding Festival. Subscribe to the podcast at Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, and Google[...]
Birds, Wildfires, and Smoke with Olivia Sanderfoot
A warmer and drier world means, unfortunately, a world in which wildfire becomes a greater risk. We know, all too well, the risk these fires pose to wild places, but there is surprisingly little we know about the risk to wildlife. That is the work of Dr. Olivia Sanderfoot, a researcher at UCLA looking at the impacts of wildfire smoke on wild birds and trying to answer a few of those increasingly relevant questions. Also, a new bird endurance record! Subscribe to the podcast at Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, and Google Podcasts, and please leave a rating or a review[...]
Rare Bird Alert: November 4, 2022
Another great week for 1st records across the ABA Area. November is typically the best month of the year for interesting vagrants, but it will have to be exceptional to best what was a pretty phenomenal October. We'll start in Minnesota, where a Phainopepla in Duluth represents a 1st record for that state. One might expect a desert southwest species to be unheard of in the middle of the continent, but there are a handful of Phainopepla records nearby, in Ontario, Illinois, and Saskatchewan. In Kentucky, not one, but two individual American Oystercatchers were found in[...]
A New Book about Bird Names with Susan Myers
If the English language is an amalgamation of words from thousands of other languages and cultures, then English common bird names are that writ small. They're a hodgepodge of from every possible source and an endless supply of amazing bird history and trivia. WINGS guide Susan Myers's new work, called The Bird Name Book, is a fascinating combination of etymology and ornithology, and she joins us to talk about it. Also, a really cool new study about convergent evolution. Subscribe to the podcast at Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, and Google Podcasts, and please leave a rating or a review if[...]
Rare Bird Alert: October 28, 2022
Continuing rarities in the ABA Area into this last week of October include a continuation of the ongoing Red-legged Honeycreeper (ABA Code 5) invasion, with the Texas bird continuing and more individuals showing up in multiple Florida counties. The Variegated Flycatcher (5) in Michigan is also continuing though increasingly cold weather. The Texas Social Flycatcher (5), present in the Valley for most of the year, was discovered again this week, and California is still hosting both Willow Warbler (4) and Wood Warbler (5), as well as a Little Stint (4). We have one 1st record to report[...]
This Month in Birding – October 2022
It's the end of October and time for our monthly This Month in Birding panel. This week features a fun crew with MD/DC Bird Atlas coordinator Gabriel Foley, Birding magazine editor Frank Izaguirre, and Sarah Swanson, author of the new Best Little Book of Birds: Oregon Coast. The panel geeks out over woodpecker brains, commiserates over the sobering State of the Birds, and suggests exciting bird costume ideas for Halloween, among other things. Links to topics discussed in this episode: 2022 State of the Birds Reveals Widespread Losses of Birds in all Habitats Never Before Seen Colorful Bird Hybrid Surprises[...]
Rare Bird Alert: October 21, 2022
It was a sensational week for rarities in the ABA Area, with greta quality and quantity of rare birds across the continent and more 1st records than many can remember in a very long time. Let's jump right into it. We start in California, which had a wild few days with two different Phylloscopus warblers turning up at opposite ends of the state, both representing 1st records. What was originally identified as an odd Tennessee Warbler in Los Angeles, itself a good bird for California, was shortly identified as the ABA's 11th record of Wood Warbler (5). This[...]
Trouble for Red Knots at Delaware Bay with Tim Preso
Every spring, thousands of Red Knots congregate on the Delaware Bay to take advantage of the horseshoe crab spawn. Fueled by crab eggs they finish a migration that spans from the southern tip of South America to the northern reaches of North America. That essential link in this migratory chain is, once again, under threat, which concerns the environmental law group Earthjustice and partners. Tim Preso of the Biodiversity Defense Program is here to talk about what birders need to know about this new threat. Also, check out the new ABA Community! Subscribe to the podcast[...]
Rare Bird Alert: October 14, 2022
The long-staying Social Flycatcher (ABA Code 5) in south Texas was seen again this week, and the ABA's 10th Wood Warbler (5) continued on St. Paul Island in Alaska. We begin our tour of this week's rarities in eastern Canada, where the ABA's 3rd record of Common Scoter was found at Val d'Or. This is a Canada and Quebec 1st record, and the first for the eastern side of the ABA Area. Previous ABA records of this relatively recent split from our more familiar Black Scoter have come from California and Oregon. It is not, however,[...]
A Guide to Baby Birds with Linda Tuttle-Adams
Baby birds are arguably one of the great identification frontiers of birding. Try to identify a gangly, fluffy mess of a bird and you immediately recognize the need for a real resource to help you out. Artist and bird rehabilitator Linda Tuttle-Adams is the author of a new book, Baby Bird Iidentification: A North American Guide, to set us right. She joins the American Birding Podcast to talk about identification of baby birds and why bird rehabilitation matters. Also, the winter finch report is out! Subscribe to the podcast at Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, and Google Podcasts, and please leave[...]
Rare Bird Alert: October 7, 2022
There are a handful of continuing rarities in the ABA Area this week, including Nazca Booby (4) and Little Stint (4) in California, Eurasian Bullfinch (4), Taiga Flycatcher (4), and Marsh Sandpiper (4) in Alaska, and the return of the very long-staying Social Flycatcher (5) in south Texas. The passage of Hurricane Fiona is still scattering seabirds across the northeast, the latest in Massachusetts, where a Red-footed Booby (4) photographed off Essex represents a 1st record of the pantropical sulid for the state, and one of very few north of Florida in the western Atlantic. Vagrant flycatcher[...]
Exploring Bird Migration with Melanie Smith & Chad Witko
We’re certainly in the golden age of bird science, with more birders, more researchers, and more tools available to both of them to solve many of the great ornithological mysteries and to marvel at the capabilities of birds. National Audubon and a few bird science partners have put a lot of this modern science in a sleek simple package called the Bird Migration Explorer, a guide to the annual journeys of 450 birds in the Americas. Audubon scientists Melanie Smith and Chad Witko join us to talk the explorer and the wonders of bird migration. Plus,[...]
Rare Bird Alert: September 30, 2022
The rare bird center of the ABA Area continues to be in Alaska where Taiga Flycatcher (ABA Code 4), Eurasian Bullfinch (4), Tree Pipit (4), and Little Stint (4) all continue in to this week. As we watch Hurricane Ian make its way up the Atlantic coast, having passed over Florida, this week saw some interesting birds in the wake of Hurricane Fiona's landfall in eastern Canada. Nova Scotia took the brunt of the storm, and birders in the wake of its landfall had a number of exceptional sightings, highlighted by Nova Scotia's 1st record of[...]
This Month in Birding: September 2022
It's time for This Month in Birding with Jody Allair, Jennie Duberstein, and Sean Milnes. The panel joins host Nate Swick to talk about the biggest bird news of the month with a wide-ranging discussion that covers a last gasp for the 'Akikiki, how vultures reduce carbon emissions, the state of the exotic bird trade and the answer to the question birders know all too well, "What's your favorite bird?" Links to topics discussed in this episode: Important Changes to Exotic Birds in eBird 'Akikiki Rescued Amidst Extinction Crisis Vultures Prevent Tens of Millions of Carbon[...]
Rare Bird Alert: September 23, 2022
A Thick-billed Vireo (ABA Code 4) leads off the continuing rarities in the ABA Area this week, most of which come from Alaska in the form of Little Stint (4), Baikal Teal (4), and Eurasian Bullfinch (4). That focus on Alaska will turn out to be a theme this week. What a monster week for the Last Frontier! Birders in Alaska has experienced one of the best periods on record in terms of both duration and quality of vagrants. It's not clear whether this had anything to do with the passage of the remnants of Typhoon[...]
eBird, Annotated, in the Tropics with Ted Floyd
There is nothing like birding the American tropics, among iconic families like toucans, motmots, antbirds, tanagers, and more! Both Birding editor Ted Floyd and podcast host Nate Swick were fortunate enough to take part in this birding splendor in recent weeks, Ted in Colombia and Nate in Panama, and they share their experiences through their eBird checklists in another edition of the “eBird Annotated” series. Links to the checklists discussed: Valle Bonito, Panama Finca Candalaria, Panama Playa Rico, Colombia Subscribe to the podcast at Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, and Google Podcasts, and please leave a rating or[...]
Rare Bird Alert: September 16, 2022
Sorry for the lack of an RBA last week. I was away in Panama with an ABA travel group and unable to make time amongst the toucans and trogons to put it together. However, readers get a bonus extra week for this current period. Continuing rare birds in the ABA Area include the return of the Gray Heron (ABA Code 4) on Prince Edward Island, a Little Stint (4) in California, and the long-staying Berylline Hummingbird (4) in Arizona. It's always a big deal when California adds a new bird to its state list, in part because[...]
Birding without Tears: Birding with Kids with Bryony Angell
Several years ago, birding dads Ted Floyd and Nate Swick recorded their first Birding Without Tears episode, but they told only half the story. What about birding moms?? To help tell the rest of the story, I’m joined by Seattle-based writer Bryony Angell, who draws on her experience as a birding mom and her past as a birding kid to offer insight into a topic that many birders deal with at some point–“how do I get my kids to go birding and all of us have a good experience?” Also, Nate talks Panama. Wanna travel with[...]
Mexican Birding Adventures with “Chucho” Moo Yam
ABA Birders overlook Mexican birding at their own peril. The nation just to the south of the ABA Area hosts amazing culture, friendly people, and fantastic birds. Guest host Frank Izaguirre welcomes Mexican birder, artist, and photographer Jesús Antonio "Chucho" Moo Yam, who brings tales of birding adventure and community involvement, and reports on the the growth of ecotourism in Mexico. Also, check out the new Codebreakers feature in Birding magazine! Subscribe to the podcast at Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, and Google Podcasts, and please leave a rating or a review if you are so inclined! We appreciate it! [...]
Rare Bird Alert: September 2, 2022
New Jersey's first record of Bermuda Petrel was photographed off Cape May August 27 on the Cape Sea Excursions pelagic trip. Alaska had a few rarities this week (when doesn't it?). A Fork-tailed (Pacific) Swift was found by birders almost immediately upon their arrival at Gambell September 1. A Common House-Martin was at St. Paul Island on August 27, and a Western Meadowlark was photographed in Anchorage on the 28th. In Ohio, a Ruff was discovered in Wayne on August 27. Ontario is hosting a group of 7-10 Wood Storks at Point Pelee, marking the 7th[...]
Facts of Fall Birding with Amy Davis & Greg Neise
The first week of September is the official start of fall, meteorologically at least, though ornithologically it’s been on for weeks. It’s a wonderful season for birding and general naturing, but it does require a certain mindset and certain strategies. Who better, then, to talk about it than two legends of the fall, Greg Neise and Amy Davis. They join host Nate Swick to talk about what to expect as birds start moving south. Also, we're hosting our 2023 Bird of the Year party in Nashville, Tennessee! More information to come. Subscribe to the podcast at Apple[...]
Rare Bird Alert: August 26, 2022
Continuing ABA Area rarities include the Gray Heron (ABA Code 5) on Prince Edward Island, Berylline Hummingbird (4) still regular at a feeder in Arizona, and the Steller's Sea-Eagle (4), now somewhat regular in Newfoundland. We start up in Maine, where unbelievable vagrant raptors have become something of a cottage industry, with the discovery of a female-type Eurasian Marsh-Harrier at North Haven Island, in Knox. This is a potential 1st confirmed record for this widespread Eurasian bird of prey, long considered a good candidate for vagrancy to the ABA Area. Notably, there is also a previous sight record[...]
This Month in Birding – August 2022
At the end of every month, we host a roundup of recent bird news on the American Birding Podcast. For August we’re thrilled to welcome Stephanie Beilke, Jordan Rutter, and Brodie Cass Talbott to the panel to talk about homogenization of bird species, bird habitats in urban landscapes, wild Rock Pigeons, and how birding has changed in our lifetimes. Link to articles discussed in this episode: As more bird species go extinct, those left may be more alike The strange reason migrating birds are flocking to cities Rare wild ancestors of domestic pigeon found on Scottish[...]
Rare Bird Alert: August 19, 2022
Continuing rarities in the ABA Area into the third week of August include Berylline Hummingbird (ABA Code 4) in Arizona, the Gray Heron (5) seen last week in Prince Edward Island, and the long-staying Steller's Sea-Eagle (4) still being seen in Newfoundland. An exciting first record from Massachusetts, where a pelagic out of Chatham discovered and acquired excellent documentary photos of a Cape Verde Shearwater (5), a 1st for Massachusetts and only the ABA's 2nd record, the 1st coming from North Carolina about almost 20 years ago. This bird is a difficult ID, presenting as a smaller, darker[...]
The Nature of Nutcrackers with Peri Sasnett
One of the most iconic and beloved birds of the North American west is the Clark’s Nutcracker, the highlight of anyone’s trip to the high country. It will come as no surprise to anyone that the bird’s relationship to the ecosystem goes beyond begging for trail mix from hikers, a fascinating symbiosis that was recently the topic of Glacier National Park’s Headwaters podcast, whose host, Peri Sasnett, joins us to talk nutcrackers and conservation. Also, changes to the ABA Checklist are here, with more potentially on the way. Subscribe to the podcast at Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, and Google Podcasts,[...]
Rare Bird Alert: August 12, 2022
Continuing ABA Area rarities include Steller's Sea-Eagle (ABA Code 4) in Newfoundland, Berylline Hummingbird (4) in Arizona, and Bahama Mockingbird (4) in Florida. There are few 1sts to note this week, and we start with one that is an ABA Area rarity as well. A Gray Heron (5) was seen in Covehead Harbour, Prince Edward Island, representing not only a 1st for the province but also the first record of this Old World equivalent of Great Blue Heron away from Alaska or Newfoundland. Edit: I inadvertently forgot a bird seen a few years ago between Nova Scotia[...]
A Lifetime of Birding Achievement with JB Brumfield & J. Drew Lanham
Earlier this year the ABA was delighted to award our Lifetime Achievement Award to a pair of birders who have made a very big impact not only on the places where they live, but on the birding community across the continent. J. Drew Lanham is a birder, poet, academic, award-winning memoirist, and JB Brunfield is an environmental educator, artist, and the undefeated Big Year champion of Cuyahoga County, Ohio. We welcome them both to talk about the state of birding, mentorship, and whether Ohio or South Carolina are better for birds. Subscribe to the podcast at Apple[...]
Rare Bird Alert: August 5, 2022
Both Berylline Hummingbird (ABA Code 4) and Pine Flycatcher (5) continue in southeast Arizona, and the potential ABA 1st Southern Lapwing (5) is still wowing observers in northern Michigan. In Florida, both a Thick-billed Vireo and a Bahama Mockingbird continue into this week. Late summer is stint season! And New Hampshire joins the party with the state's 2nd record of Little Stint (4) in Rockingham. This widespread Eurasian shorebird is more commonly seen in the west of the continent, so any record on the Atlantic coast is a noteworthy one. Over to Quebec, where a male Rufous[...]
The Fledgling for Young Birders with Hannes Leonard & Adrianna Nelson
Close observers of the ABA might remember when we launched a new publication completely produced by a team of teen birders from all over the ABA Area. It's called The Fledgling, and after two issues it is well on its way to being something special. Hannes Leonard and Adrianna Nelson and members of The Fledgling team and they join Nate Swick to talk about this publication and the needs of young birder more generally. Also, why do field guides to the US and Canada call themselves field guides to "North America"? Subscribe to the podcast at Apple Podcasts, Stitcher,[...]
Rare Bird Alert: July 29, 2022
Berylline Hummingbird (ABA Code 4) and Pine Flycatcher (5) continue in Arizona into this week, as does a Bahama Mockingbird (4) in Florida, and a Little Stint (4) in California. Alaska has been on a roll lately, but the birds involved haven't been coming from the direction that exciting finds in the state typically do. The Last Fronteir boasted an extraordinary 3 potential state 1sts this week, all birds from southern climes making their way north. Perhaps most amazing was an apparent Lucy's Warbler in Fairbanks in the middle of the state. The species has a[...]
This Month in Birding: July 2022
July is awfully hot across most of the ABA Area, and we’ve got a panel with no shortage of hot takes for the July 2022 This Month in Birding. Martha Harbison, Nicole Jackson, and Nick Lund join host Nate Swick to talk about national birds, woodpecker myths, ravens, macaws, and how your brain works when you bird. Don't forget to join the ABA for FREE coffee or join Nate in Panama in September! Links to topics discussed: Study Upends Theory that Woodpeckers have Shock-absorbant heads Common Ravens Repopulating the Eastern US Spix's Macaws Return to the[...]
Rare Bird Alert: July 22, 2022
A good number of conituing rarities in the ABA Area into this week, including the triumphant return of the Steller's Sea-Eagle (ABA Code 4) in Newfoundland where it seems content to tool around the island. The potential ABA Area 1st Southern Lapwing is still being seen in Michigan, as is a Bahama Mockingbird (4) in Florida. Both Berylline Hummingbird (4) and Pine Flycatcher (5) are staying put in Arizona, where they ought to hang in through the summer. And the White-winged Tern (4) in Delaware and Little Stint (4) in California are also still present. Shorebird[...]
Meet the New ABA Executive Director, Nikki Belmonte
Back in May of this year, the American Birding Association announced the hiring of Nikki Belmonte as the organization’s newest Executive Director. She comes to us with a background in non-profit management, environmental education, and as a hobby birder. We’re excited to welcome her to the podcast to talk about birding community, CBCs, and the best flannel to cover up your nerdy bird shirt. Also, hoat is the deal with the Hoatzin? Subscribe to the podcast at Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, and Google Podcasts, and please leave a rating or a review if you are so inclined! We appreciate it![...]
Rare Bird Alert: July 15, 2022
Rare birds in the ABA Area continuing into the middle of July include Berylline Hummingbird (ABA Code3) and Pine Flycatcher (5) inArizona, and Bahama Mockingbird (4) in Florida. We start in California this week, where a Gray-tailed Tattler in San Diego represents the 2nd record of the east Asian shorebird for the state. This species is regular in Alaska, but there are fewer than 10 records for the Lower 48 in total. There is one 1st record for the week, in Wyoming where a Neotropic Cormorant in Goshen adds, at long last, the species to the state's list.[...]
Random Birds, Vol 5, with Ted Floyd
Birding magazine editor and all-around bird-knower Ted Floyd is back for another bout of Random Birds. He joins host Nate Swick, a big bird list, and a random number generator to create podcast magic. They talk Eared Grebes, Black Vultures, and whatever other birds the magic number tells them to talk about. Also, the Duck Stamp is back and you can get yours at the ABA! Join the ABA and get a FREE bag of Song Bird Coffee! Subscribe to the podcast at Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, and Google Podcasts, and please leave a rating or a review if you[...]
Rare Bird Alert: July 8, 2022
Michigan continues its incredible run with 1st records of Red-cockaded Woodpecker and Common Redshank, the latter possibly from east Asia. Also, Yukon is back on the board with a 1st territorial record of American Bittern.
Birding Book Club – Best Birding References
Birders love bird books, and we at the American Birding Podcast love to get together to discuss bird books in the Birding Book Club segment. Donna Schulman from the website 10,000 Birds and Birding magazine’s Frank Izaguirre join Nate Swick to talk about our favorite Bird and Birding Reference guides. It’s a broad topic, but if you’re looking for books to fill out your bird library, we’re here to help. Subscribe to the podcast at Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, and Google Podcasts, and please leave a rating or a review if you are so inclined! We appreciate it! Nate's[...]
Rare Bird Alert: July 1, 2022
An airfield in Michigan is a surprising place for what might be the ABA Area's 1st record of Southern Lapwing. And in the Yukon territory, a Mississippi Kite is a similarly far flung vagrant 1st.
This Month in Birding – June 2022
It's the last episode of the month and that means it's time for This Month in Birding, featuring a fun panel of ABA friends discussing the biggest birding news of the month and more. On our panel this month, Sarah Bloemers from the hilarious Bird Sh*t podcast, Frank Izaguirre of the ABA's Birding magazine, and aeroecologist and birder Mikko Jimenez. They join host Nate Swick to talk Grasshopper Sparrow success, a new invasive bird in the UK, and the features you'd want in your ultimate birding vehicle. Links to articles discussed: Recovery of one of North America's Most[...]
Rare Bird Alert: June 24, 2022
There are a handful of rarities continuing in the ABA Area this week, including Berylline Hummingbird (ABA Code 4) and the ABA Area's 2nd Pine Flycatcher in Arizona. In Florida, both a La Sagra's Flycatcher (4) and a Bahama Mockingbird (4) are being seen, along with the Texas Social Flycatcher (5) that made its reappearance last week. And the Garganey (4) in New Jersey is still being seen into the week, though by all reports its quite difficult. It has been a somewhat slower year than usual for birders in western Alaska, but a stunning Common[...]
Canopy Tower Stories with Carlos Bethancourt
Mention Panama to a bunch of birders and typically only one place comes to mind - beautiful Canopy Tower. A former radar station and military installation west of Panama Cit, Canopy Tower has, over the last couple decades, transformed into one of the most well-regarded ecolodges in the Americas. And when you talk about Canopy Tower you cannot help but talk about Carlos Betancourt, whose work as a guide and mentor has helped to put Canopy Tower on the map and help establish a community of guides throughout Latin America. He joins us to talk about[...]
Rare Bird Alert: June 17, 2022
It's another very flycatchery list of continuing rarities in the ABA Area this week, which makes the Garganey (ABA Code 4) still being seen in New Jersey all the more exceptional. Both LaSagra's Flycatcher (4) and Bahama Mockingbird (4) are still present in Florida, as is the Pine Flycatcher (5) in Arizona. And after a few week's absence, the Social Flycatcher (5) in Brownsville, Texas, turned up again. The theme for the summer so far has been southern birds moving north, likely in response to exceptional heat in the middle of the continent. And for the[...]
2022 Splits and Lumps with Nick Block
In early summer eager birders turn to bird taxonomy, and we at the podcast turn once again to our friend Nick Block, professor of Biology at Stonehill College in Easton, Massachusetts to read the tea leaves for American Ornithological Society’s North America Classification Committee and explain the latest in bird taxonomy. He joins Nate Swick to talk about new meadowlarks, Mew Gulls, and the House Wren MEGASPLIT. Also, some thoughts from Nate about using Merlin on Breeding Bird Surveys. Subscribe to the podcast at Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, and Google Podcasts, and please leave a rating or a review if[...]
Rare Bird Alert: June 10, 2022
There are lots of continuing rarities this week in the ABA Area, including additional sightings of Garganey (ABA Code 4) in Montana and New Jersey. The ABA's 2nd Pine Flycatcher (5) is still being seen in Arizona, as are both LaSagra's Flycatcher (4) and Bahama Mockingbird (4) in Florida. The most exciting find of the week comes from Arizona, where a Yellow Grosbeak (4) was photographed in Santa Cruz. This species has always been one that prompts quite a bit of excitement in the ABA Area as they historically don't stick around long. This one made[...]
Black Birders: Embracing the Beauty Within
As part of its celebration of the third Black Birders Week, please enjoy highlights from the ABA’s two-part panel “Black Birders: Embracing the Beauty Within.” The panel session co-hosts are Sheridan Alford and Chelsea Connor. They are joined in the first session by Alex Troutman, Sharon Scott, and Scott Edwards, and in the second session by Alex Troutman and Danielle Belleny. Panelists explores such topics as childhood experiences with birds, how to pass on generational knowledge of birds, and whether things have changed since the first Black Birders Week. For the panels in their entirety as[...]
A Reference for All the Birds of the World with Brian Sullivan
Maybe more than anyone in North America in the last 20 years, Brian Sullivan has been deeply involved in things that birders do. He was one of the original developers of eBird, which hardly needs an introduction to listeners, and is now project lead of Cornell’s Birds of the World. In the last couple years Birds of the World has absolutely become an essential collection of bird knowledge which is all the more amazing considering the scope of the project. Also, Merlin's Sound ID is better than you think. Subscribe to the podcast at Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, and Google[...]
Rare Bird Alert: May 13, 2022
It's been another good week for rare birds in the ABA Area, highlighted by the discovery, or perhaps the re-discovery, of the ABA's 2nd record of Pine Flycatcher (ABA Code 5) in Pima, Arizona. The bird was originally reported in the first half of April as a Cordilleran Flycatcher, but Chris Benesh thought something was up with that recording and headed to the spot about a month later and to re-find the bird and confirm the identification. The last Pine Flycatcher to be seen in the ABA Area was also in Arizona, and stuck around for[...]
Gardening for Birds in Ohio with Julie Zickefoose
Julie Zickefoose scarcely needs an introduction. A prolific artist and an award-winning writer, much of her work is inspired by her home in southeast Ohio. It's the topic of a piece she has written for the May special issue of Birding magazine, Wildlife Gardening in Appalachian Ohio. She joins us talk about the satisfactions and frustrations that come from building a wildlife sanctuary and a little bit about the return of BWD. Also, we've got a new Executive Director! And some thoughts on the Biggest Week American Birding has seen in 3 years. Subscribe to the[...]
Rare Bird Alert: May 20, 2022
Lots of interesting birds still hanging out in the ABA rea into this week, starting with Arizona's flycatcher bonanza. Both Tufted Flycatcher (ABA Code 5) and Pine Flycatcher (5) near Tucson. The Bananaquit (4) is still being seen, as was the White-winged Tern (4) in Virginia through the beginning of the week. The Garganey in New Brunswick is also hanging around. The 1sts continue to roll in, and the most exciting one of the week comes from Ontario, where a Hepatic Tanager in Shell Park is not only an Ontario 1st but the 3rd record of this[...]
This Month in Birding – May 2022
It is the end of the month, and with it, comes the This Month in Birding panel. Because May is arguably the best month of the year for birding in the US and Canada we have a panel this month that attempts to meet those expectations. Mollee Brown of the Life List Podcast, Gabriel Foley of the Maryland/DC Bird Atlas, and Purbita Saha of Popular Science. Also, wanna travel to Panama with Nate? Topics discussed in this episode include: Language Barriers in Local Bird Conservation Broken Wing Tactic More Widespread Than Thought Songbirds More Colorful the[...]
Rare Bird Alert: May 27, 2022
There's a very heavy tyrannid representation among the returning ABA rarities this week, which is appropriate given some of our new birds. The Social Flycatcher (ABA Code 5) in Texas was rediscovered this week after a couple months away. The dynamic duo of Tufted Flycatcher (5) and the ABA's 2nd Pine Flycatcher (5) are also in Arizona, and at least one and maybe two LaSagra's Flycatchers (4) are continuing in Florida. And it is to Florida we go first this week with the fantastic discovery of a very well-documented Cuban Pewee (5) in Monroe. This represents about[...]
Unraveling the Mysteries of Bird Vagrancy with Alex Lees
Finding birds in places where you shouldn’t expect to find them if certainly one of the more exciting aspects of birding. In fact, it might well be the reason for the American Birding Association’s very existence. The unpredictability, the excitement, the community that builds around these sorts of birds are certainly appealing even the mechanisms that bring them to these places are not always known. Alex Lees is a senior researcher at Manchester Metropolitan University and, along with James Gilroy, the author of Vagrancy in Birds, which attempts to answer some of those questions of how[...]
Rare Bird Alert: June 3, 2022
A lot of continuing flycatchers in the ABA Area in June, with both Pine Flycatcher (ABA Code 5) and Tufted Flycatcher (5) looting set for the summer in Arizona, and LaSagra's Flycatcher (4) and non-flycatcher Bahama Mockingbird (4) in Florida. Plus the south Texas Social Flycatcher (5) was rediscovered this week, as if jealous of all the Tyrannid energy elsewhere. 1st records this week include yet another inland Brown Booby (3), furnishing a a new species for Kentucky on the border of Camden and Logan counties. Notably this is a totally different bird from the individual seen[...]
Rare Bird Alert: May 6, 2022
Rare birds continuing into this first week of May include Tufted Flycatcher (ABA Code 5) in Arizona and Thick-billed Vireo (4) in Florida. The parade of 1st records in the ABA Area continues to roll into this week with perhaps the most surprising of them all so far. In Ontario, a Marsh Sandpiper (4) in Thedford is not only a 1st for the province, but a 1st for Canada and a 1st for the entire eastern 4/5 of the continent. All previous ABA Area records of this Old World equivalent of our yellowlegs have come from Alaska[...]
The Joys of Birding Maine with Nick Lund
Friend of the ABA Nick Lund has had a busy spring! He not only published his first book, but his first two books. The ABA Guide to Birds of Maine is the newest installment in the well-regarded ABA guide series from Scott & Nix, and The Ultimate Biography of Earth seeks to reach science fans of all ages with its fun text and colorful illustrations. Nick joins Nate Swick to talk about them both and whatever else they get to. Also, turns out Nate had Covid, and he does not recommend getting it during spring migration.[...]
Rare Bird Alert: April 29, 2022
Continuing rarities in the ABA Area include Bahama Mockingbird (ABA Code 4) in Florida, Tufted Flycatcher (5) in Arizona, Oregon's 1st record of Common Crane (4), and multiple European Golden-Plovers (4) still in Newfoundland. It was a good week for 1st records around the ABA Area, and perhaps the most intriguing one comes from Florida, where an apparent Great-tailed Grackle was discovered from among the multitude of Boat-tailed Grackles in Miami-Dade. Kudos to birders for discovering the light-eyed, flat-headed weirdo. One wonders how often this species, which has spread far and wide in the west and north,[...]
This Month in Birding – April 2022
It’s the last Thursday of the month and that means it is time for the American Birding Podcast This Month in Birding panel where we talk some bird news, share some sightings, and generally have a good time. We welcome to the panel this month Portland Audubon's Brodie Cass Talbott, the American Bird Conservancy's Jordan Rutter, and Birds Canada, Jody Allair. Also, wanna travel to Panama with Nate? Topic's discussed on this month's episode: Can birds keep up with earlier springs? Shakespearian Tall Tale Shaped how we see Starlings Discovering New Species by Listening for Them[...]
Rare Bird Alert: April 22, 2022
We're starting to build up a healthy stable of continuing rarities in the ABA Area again, leading with the recent Tufted Flycatcher (ABA Code 5) in southeast, Arizon. The long-staying Black-faced Grassquit (4) in Florida was seen again, as was the Steller's Sea-Eagle (4) Nova Scotia, at least through the beginning of the week. And a Little Stint (4) is still being seen in California. We start in Newfoundland, where strong easterly winds in the middle of the week provided perfect conditions for European vagrants in the southeast part of the island itself. Multiple sightings of[...]
The Secrets of Female Bird Song with Lauryn Benedict
The incredible variety of bird song in a morning chorus on a spring or summer day is a phenomenon that a lot of birders are familiar with. But even after centuries of study there is still a lot we don’t know about bird vocalizations, especially the world of female birdsong. The vocalizations of female birds are frequently as complex and important to the lives of birds as the songs we associate with male birds, and it’s only relatively recently that we’ve begin to really look into that. Dr. Lauryn Benedict, from the University of Northern Colorado,[...]
Rare Bird Alert: April 15, 2022
If anyone out there is wondering where the Rare Bird Alert went last week, I was out of town for the Kansas Lek Treks birding festival and was traveling the entire time I usually put this together. That said, this week you get a bonus week worth of rarities to get you caught up. Continuing rarities in the ABA Area include the Redwing (ABA Code 4) in Newfoundland, the California Little Stint (4), and the Black-faced Grassquit (4) in Florida. What a month so far in New York, which boasts two 1st state records so far[...]
Building a Community of Birdstreamers
As interest in birding has grown in the last couple years, birders have turned up in some really interesting places, including the streaming platform Twitch. Dr WD40, Liz Clayton Fuller, and Ian Davies are birders who have figured out this live streaming thing and are using it to build a community of bird and nature fans in a seemingly unconventional place, and they join host Nate Swick to talk all about it. Plus, if you want prairie-chickens, you've got to get to Kansas. Subscribe to the podcast at Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, and Google Podcasts, and please leave a rating[...]
Random Birds, Vol. 4, with Ted Floyd
Birding editor Ted Floyd is back and ready to remember some birds! He joins host Nate Swick to put their fates in the hands of chance and a random number generator to find some birds to talk about woodpeckers, wrens, and warblers. Subscribe to the podcast at Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, and Google Podcasts, and please leave a rating or a review if you are so inclined! We appreciate it! The American Birding Podcast brings together staff and friends of the American Birding Association as we talk about birds, birding, travel and conservation[...]
Rare Bird Alert: April 1, 2022
It'a April Fool's Day, and the urge to make up rare birds runs high on this day more than any other. But I will not succumb to that urge this day, and you can take the reports of the following birds to the bank. The Northern Lapwing (ABA Code 4) continues this week in Nova Scotia, as do the long-staying Social Flycatcher (5) and Golden-crowned Warbler (4) in south Texas. And most excitedly, the Red-flanked Bluetail (4) in Washington continued to be seen at least through mid-week. There's not much in the way of continental rarities[...]
This Month in Birding – March 2022
It's time again for This Month in Birding! While March is arguably the slowest month of the year for birding in the ABA Area, we haven't given the short shrift with this excellent panel of returnees. From Sonoran Join Venture, Jennie Duberstein, from Birds Canada and The Warblers podcast, it's Andrés Jimenez, and from Birdmodo and a thousand other fun sciency things, it's Ryan Mandelbaum. They join host Nate Swick to talk indigenous science, hardcore eBirders, crafty magpies and Daylight Savings Time. Links to topics discussed: US Senate Passes Bill to make Daylight Savings Time Permanent[...]
Rare Bird Alert: March 25, 2022
The exciting Red-flanked Bluetail (ABA Code 4) in Washington is an easy highlight of the contining rarities in the ABA Area this week. It is joined on the west coast by a long-staying Little Stint (4) in California, and the remaining Social Flycatcher (5) and Golden-crowned Warbler (4) in Texas. A Black-faced Grassquit (4) also continues in southern Florida and the Redwing (4) is still being seen in Newfoundland. This spring has been an interesting one for Northern Lapwings (4) as the latest turned up in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, this week. There is some speculation that it could[...]
Winning for Farmers and Birders with Forrest Rowland
Forrest Rowland advocates for ecotourism around the world as a tour leader for Rockjumper and for ecotourism close to home with Landtrust, an effort to connect landowners in the west and outdoor recreationists in some pretty interesting ways. Birders get access to private ranches full of amazing birds and wildlife and landowners get to put their properties to work in an environmentally sustainable way. It's a win-win-win for birders, landowners, and the birds they are working to protect. He joins Nate Swick to talk about how it works and why people need more places to enjoy[...]
Rare Bird Alert: March 18, 2022
Rare birds continuing into this week include Oriental Turtle-Dove (ABA Code 4) and Little Stint (4) in California, Social Flycatcher (5) and Golden-crowned Warbler (4) in Texas, and Black-faced Grassquit (4) in Florida. The annual urge to move northward brings with it the potential for rare bird across the continent. We saw this in Washington, where a Red-flanked Bluetail (4) in King is arguably the most surprising vagrant in the ABA Area this week, and the 3rd for Washington. This bird almost certainly overwintered in the ABA Area and is responding to its internal clock causing it[...]
Secrets of Cemetery Birding with Danielle Belleny
In many many parts of the country, and the world, the most accessible greenspaces are cemeteries. And while they have a morbid reputation, they can offer lots of great nature opportunities for those willing to explore. Danielle Belleny is a wildlife biologist in San Antonio, Texas, a co-founder of Black Birders Week, and the author of the essay Lawn of the Dead: Finding Solace, Ecological Integrity, and Good Birding in America’s Cemeteries, which will run in the next issue of Birding magazine. Her new book This is a Book for People who Love Birds is also[...]
Rare Bird Alert: March 11, 2022
If you've been following this report all year, you'll be familiar with the continuing ABA Area rarities, none of which seem to show any inclination to move on. The Oriental Turtle-Dove (ABA Code 4) and Little Stint (4) continue in California. The ABA Area 1st Bat Falcon (5) is still in south Texas along with Social Flycatcher (5) and Golden-crowned Warbler (4). A Black-faced Grassquit (4) is still being seen in Florida, as is the Northern Lapwing (4) in Maryland. The long-staying Maryland lapwing is now no longer the sole option for would-be twitchers, as another Northern[...]
BWD is Back with Jessica Vaughan & Mike Sacopulos
The birding world was shocked and more than a little saddened late last year when the venerable magazine Bird Watcher’s Digest announced that it was ceasing operations. Famously founded by Elsa Thompson and Bill Thompson Jr in 1978 it was a real tent pole of the birding community in North America. But the exciting news is that the magazine will be back in 2022, rechristened as BWD and with many of the same people involved. Jessica Vaughan will be the editor and Mike Sacopulos the publisher. They join us to talk about the magazine relaunch and[...]
Rare Bird Alert: March 4, 2022
Once again, the list of continuing ABA rarities is far longer than the list of new notables. Both Little Stint (ABA Code 4) and Oriental Turtle Dove (4) continuing in California, as are the Texas trio of Golden-crowned Warbler (4), Social Flycatcher (5), and the ABA 1st Bat Falcon (5). Both Thick-billed Vireo (4) and Black-faced Grassquit (5) were seen in Florida this week. And both the Arizona Nutting's Flycatcher (4) and the Northern Lapwing (4) in Maryland are also hanging around. We don't have a lot of birds to report this week but at least[...]
Eavesdropping on Birds with Tessa Rhinehart
If a bird calls in a forest, or a swamp, or a grassland, and no birder is there to hear it, did that vocalization really happen? The birds sounds we miss contain so much information about bird behavior and populations, wouldn’t it be useful if we could hear those sounds surreptitiously. That’s the work of Tessa Rhinehart, a researcher, birder, and mathematician at the University of Pittsburgh who trains computers to identify birds for science and conservation. Also, birders in Nova Scotia get a car company to overhaul their commercial. Subscribe to the podcast at Apple Podcasts, Stitcher,[...]
Rare Bird Alert: February 25, 2022
Rare birds still being found in the ABA Area into this last week of February include Steller's Sea-Eagle (ABA Code 4) in Maine, along with the Bat Falcon (5), Social Flycatcher (5), and Golden-crowned Warbler (4) in Texas. The Florida Thick-billed Vireo (4) was also seen this week as was the Oriental Turtle-Dove (4) in California, and the Northern Lapwing (4) in Maryland. It's been a pretty impressive year for gull 1sts so far, as 4 of the 5 state/provincial 1sts recorded in this new year have been gulls. The latest comes from Pennsylvania, where a[...]
This Month in Birding – February 2022
It’s the last week of the month and that means it’s time for This Month in Birding. And while February is the shortest month, we do not give you the short shrift with our panel this month. We're joined by Sam D'Jarnett from Always Be Birdin', Orietta Estrada from Amplify the Future, and podcast regular Frank Izaguirre of Birding magazine to talk about murmuration dangers, Rare Bird Alerts pros and cons, and a Black Birders Week temperature check among other things. Links to topics discussed: Birds Fall From the Sky in Mexico Lead Bullets Stunt Bald Eagle Recovery[...]
Rare Bird Alert: February 18, 2022
Loads of continuing rarities in the ABA Area this week, including the triumphant return of the Steller's Sea-Eagle (ABA Code 4) in Maine, where it has settled for now in the many coastal nooks and crannies along the coast there. In Texas, birders are still finding the Bat Falcon (5), Social Flycatcher (4), and Golden-crowned Warbler (4) trio. A Little Stint (4) and an Oriental Turtle-Dove (4) continue in California. In Maryland, the Northern Lapwing (4) is still reported from time to time, and the Zenaida Dove (5) is still being seen in south Florida. The[...]
Climate Science and the CBC with Sarah Saunders & Geoff LeBaron
There is no question that climate change is having an impact on bird populations, but dig a little deeper and you find a tangled web of changing weather patterns, land use, habitat loss, and the different needs of individual species and groups of species that make coming up with management practices a real challenge. But birds, more than most other taxa, have the benefit of decades of data from both professional and community scientists perhaps best exemplified by the Christmas Bird Count. Dr. Sarah Saunders and Geoff LeBaron are authors of a paper published last month[...]
Rare Bird Alert: February 11, 2022
Oriental Turtle-Dove (ABA Code 4) and Little Stint (4) highlight the continuing ABA Area rare birds in California, with the Zenaida Dove (5) and Thick-billed Vireo (4) continuing in south Florida. And in Texas, the Bat Falcon (5), Social Flycatcher (5), and Golden-crowned Warbler (4) are still being seen through this week. We begin in Washington, where a Whooper Swan (4) has been seen by many birders in Snohomish, Provenance is always a question with extralimital waterfowl, but the time and place are entirely reasonable for a naturally occurring record of this massive Old World swan. The[...]
Birdability for Everybody with Virginia Rose & Freya McGregor
We have seen, in recent years, an increased awareness of the need to make birding welcoming, inclusive, and accessible. There are many many avenues to making a reality. Birdability is an organization that seeks to do so for people with a wide range of disabilities, from mobility challenges to chronic illness to neurodivergence. My guests are Virginia Rose, the president and founder of Birdability and Freya McGregor, Birdability’s coordinator. Also, if not Burrowing Owl, perhaps Manuring Owl? Subscribe to the podcast at Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, and Google Podcasts, and please leave a rating or a review if you are[...]
Rare Bird Alert: February 4, 2022
The long list of continuing rarities in the ABA Area has not shortened much in the last week. Though the Maine Steller's Sea-Eagle was not seen, it could conceivably turn up just about anywhere and shouldn't be counted out. Florida boasts a trio of Caribbean rarities into this week in Zenaida Dove (ABA Code 5), Yellow-faced Grassquit (4), and Thick-billed Vireo (4), and the quartet of Bat Falcon (5), Social Flycatcher (5), Golden-crowned Warbler (4), and Crimson-collared Grosbeak (4) are still being seen in Texas. New Mexico's Blue Mockingbird (4) stays put for another week. California[...]
Wildest Vagrants of 2021 with Amy Davis & Tom Johnson
We might be well into 2022, but it’s not too late to look back at the previous year in bird and birding phenomena. While the year started slowly, it built into an exceptional one for rare birds, with amazing individuals and stories that captivated birders across the ABA Area. To talk about it we're joined by Amy Davis, associate editor of the ABA's North American Birds journal and Tom Johnson of the ABA Checklist Committee. Also, have you been playing Brdl? Subscribe to the podcast at Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, and Google Podcasts, and please leave a rating or a review[...]
Rare Bird Alert: January 28, 2022
Lots of continuing ABA Area rarities this week, many of which have been present for multiple weeks. The Steller's Sea-Eagle (ABA Code 4) in Maine was seen at least into the beginning of the week, but has been missing for a few days now. Maryland is still hosting a Northern Lapwing (4) and the Blue Mockingbird (4) in New Mexico also persists. A Zenaida Dove (5) is still present in Florida. And in Texas, the ABA 1st Bat Falcon (5) continues along with Social Flycatcher (5), Golden-crowned Warbler (4), and Crimson-collared Grosbeak (4). Not a lot[...]
This Month in Birding – January 2022
It’s the last week of the first month of 2022, and time again for This Month of Birding. One of our panelists Brooke Bateman was scheduled to be with us but unfortunately came down with COVID, and we hope that she is on the mend soon. In her place steps the ABA's Greg Neise, who joins a panel of scientists Mikko Jimenez and Joanna Wu to chat about Ivory-billed Woodpeckers, bird migration science, and how we intend to celebrate Gullentine's Day. Links to articles discussed in this episode: USFWS re-opens comment period on Ivory-billed Woodpecker extinction[...]
Rare Bird Alert: January 21, 2022
There are more continuing rarities in the ABA Area than new ones right now, with the famous Steller's Sea-Eagle (ABA Code 4) still holding court in coastal Maine and a rarity quartet of Bat Falcon (5), Social Flycatcher (5), Golden-crowned Warbler (4), and Crimson-crowned Grosbeak (4) in Texas. The New Mexico Blue Mockingbird (4) and Maryland Northern Lapwing (4) are also present into this week. Despite the relative paucity of new rarities in 2022, we have 1sts to report. In Colorado, a Rufous-backed Robin (3) in Montezuma is a state 1st and the latest in a run[...]
A Big Year and a Bigger Purpose with Tiffany Kersten
Texas birder Tiffany Kersten did not start 2021 with an ambitious year of birding in mind. But out of a job because of Covid closures, and with other hobbies unaccessible, the opportunity opened up to do something special. At the end of the year, she had traveled across the Lower 48 US states, raised awareness on the issue of women’s safety in the outdoors, set a new Lower 48 Big Year record of 726 species, and launched her own bird tourism business. She joins us to talk about her Big Year and her bigger purpose. Also,[...]
Rare Bird Alert: January 14, 2022
Texas continues to collect ABA Area rarities like Pokemon cards with continuing Bat Falcon (ABA Code 5), Social Flycatcher (5), Golden-crowned Warbler (4), and Crimson-collared Grosbeak (4). The Steller's Sea-Eagle (4) continues on and off again in coastal Maine, and a Little Stint (4) is still turning up from time to time in California. New Mexico's 1st Blue Mockingbird (4) is still around for those who seek it, as is an Inca Tern (5) in Hawaii. And a Northern Lapwing (4) continues in Maryland. The lapwing movement we've seen in the this winter continues with a[...]
Random Birds, Uganda Edition, with Ted Floyd
Editor of the ABA's Birding magazine and frequent podcast guest Ted Floyd just returned a few weeks ago from a trip to Uganda, the Pearl of Africa, for the African Bird Expo. It just so happens to be a place that host Nate Swick has been as well, on an earlier incarnation of that same trip. So with that in mind, they thought it would be fun to apply the random number generator to their lists and remember some birds in Random Birds. Subscribe to the podcast at Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, and Google Podcasts, and please leave a rating or a[...]
Rare Bird Alert: January 7, 2022
Would be ABA Big Year birders are undoubtedly starting the year off in Texas, where the ABA's 1st Bat Falcon (ABA Code 5) is still being seen, along with goodies Social Flycatcher (4) and Golden-crowned Warbler (4). The Blue Mockingbird (5) in New Mexico is also still being seen, and the Steller's Sea-Eagle (4) was discovered again last this week in the vicinity of its first Maine sighting. In Hawaii, the ABA's 1st Inca Tern (5) is still hanging around and Northern Lapwings (4) are still present in both Maryland and New Jersey. ABA Area birders[...]
2022 Bird of the Year Artist Christina Baal
Last month the ABA officially announced the 2022 ABA Bird of the Year, which is Burrowing Owl! The excitement over the owl is, no doubt, helped along by the exceptional artwork of our Bird of the Year artist, Christina Baal, whose colorful and personable style seems to fit this species like an owl nestled in a subterranean PVC pipe. She’s with host Nate Swick to talk about Burrowing Owls, inspiration, and art. Plus, send us your Burrowing Owl stories, like the one Nate shares this week. This episode is brought to you by Buteo Books. Subscribe[...]
Rare Bird Alert: December 31, 2021
We were off due to the holiday last week, but back today with a special two weeks worth of rarities. Texas continues to host an incredible array of continuing rarities headlined by the ABA's 1st record of Bat Falcon (ABA Code 5) and the 5th Social Flycatcher (5), as well as continuing Golden-crowned Warbler (4) and Crimson-collared Grosbeak (4). The New Mexico Blue Mockingbird (5) is still being seen as well, as is a Little Stint (4) in California. The saga of the wayward Steller's Sea-Eagle (4) in the northeast of the continent continues in December as[...]
This Month in Birding – December 2021
We’re at the end of the month and the end of 2021. So it's time for the This Month in Birding panel. We bring back some of our birding friends from the year that was in the form of The Birdist Nick Lund, Bird Sh*t's Mo Stych, and Portland Audubon's Brodie Cass Talbott. We talk about the brand new ABA Bird of the Year, Burrowing Owls and rats, cursing crows, and our best and worst birding holiday gifts. Links to articles discussed in this episode: Burrowing Owl is the 2022 ABA Bird of the Year! Farallon[...]
Rare Bird Alert: December 17, 2021
ABA Area Rarities continuing into this first Christmas Bird Count Week include the New Mexico Blue Mockingbird (ABA Code 5), both Crimson-collared Grosbeak (4) and Golden-crowned Warbler (4) in Texas, and the female Garganey (4) in California. It's not every week we get a potential ABA Area 1st record, and this week Texas comes through. A Bat Falcon photographed at Santa Ana NWR in Hidalgo is a long-awaited 1st for Texas and the ABA Area. Bat Falcon is a widely distributed raptor of the New World tropics, found from northern Mexico all the way south to northern Argentina.[...]
Discovering the Inti Tanager with Ryan Terrill
It is one of the great dreams of many birders, to be part of the discovery and description of a bird species that is brand new to science. But it is a process that can be long and involved. Ryan Terrill, an ornithologist at the Moore Lab of Zoology at Occidental College, was in the middle of it with the recent formal recognition of the Inti Tanager, a stunning South American bird known for years as the "Kill Bill" Tanager. Ryan's work surveying the bird's breeding territory in western Bolivia was a big part of that[...]
Rare Bird Alert: December 10, 2021
A beautiful Short-billed Albatross in Oregon and many vagrant Kingbirds in the east highlight a nice pre-CBC accounting of rare birds around the ABA Area.
There Are Birds with Stephanie Seymour
It is amazing how many people combine the two interests of birding and music, though few as professionals. Stephanie Seymour manages, however, to do it. As a birder she explores the birds around her home in northern New Jersey and as a musician she has had a long career as a drummer and singer in a number of bands. In 2019 she combined those worlds with her self-produced album There are Birds. She’ll also be featured in an upcoming issue of the ABA’s Birding magazine early next year. Don't forget to join us at our 2022[...]
Rare Bird Alert: December 3, 2021
South Texas continues to host excellent ABA Area rarities with Social Flycatcher (ABA Code 5), Golden-crowned Warbler (4), and Crimson-collared Grosbeak (4) present in to this week, as well as the Blue Mockingbird (5) in New Mexico. I'm not sure if three birds in one year constitutes an irruption, but there is surely something going on with regard to Small-billed Elaenia in the ABA Area this year. The third individual of this highly migratory South American austral migrant was discovered this week in Lake, llinois, made all the more bizarre because it was found not more[...]
Encore – A Life in Raptors with Jerry Liguori
Hawk-watchers are easily the most established sub-groups within the birding community, and the hawk-watching community in North America is close-knit and passionate. One of its undisputed authorities is Jerry Liguori of Salt Lake City, Utah, the author of Hawks at a Distance and Hawks from Every Angle, two of the most influential family-specific field guides in North America. He is the 2017 recipient of the ABA’s Robert Ridgway Award for publications in field ornithology and his articles have appeared many times in ABA’s Birding magazine. Jerry joins host Nate Swick to talk about the magic of watching hawks, his[...]
This Month in Birding – November 2021
The last Thursday of the month means it’s time for This Month in Birding, a very special This Month in Birding for a couple reasons. First, it is Thanksgiving in the United States, the birdiest of our national holidays. And second, it’s a special all Galbatross panel of This Month in Birding, featuring a whole 60% of the Galbatrosses. We're joined by Senior Manager of Conservation Science at Audubon Great Lakes, Stephanie Beilke, Audubon Network Content Editor Martha Harbison, and Popular Science writer and editor Purbita Saha, to talk condor virgin births, shrinking amazon birds, and[...]
Rare Bird Alert: November 19, 2021
The only continuing bird of note this week, or at least the only one reported to eBird, was the long-staying Inca Tern (ABA Code 5) in Hawaii. One of the more exciting birds of the year so far comes from New Mexico, a state with a long list of jaw-dropping rarities to boast of. A stunning Blue Mockingbird (5) at Carlsbad Caverns National Park in Eddy is easily among them, as this skulky southern vagrant has only been recorded before in the ABA Area from Arizona and Texas. Not only does this bird represent a 1st[...]
Birding Book Club – Best of 2021
It is time once more for the most anticipated Birding Book Club of the year, our annual Best Bird Books of the Year episode for 2021. And while it is still November, holiday gift-giving season is right around the corner so we want to get this conversation out there for our listeners' sake. We are joined by 10,000 Birds book reviewer Donna Schulman and Birding magazine media and book review editor Frank Izaguirre to talk about what we loved this year in bird books. Also, the New Zealand Bird of the Year is a bat for some[...]
Rare Bird Alert: November 12, 2021
November, historically the best rarity month of the year, blows in with 1st records for North Dakota, California, Arizona, and Vermont, and the beginning of rare European geese turning up in the northeast.
Behind the Finch Forecast with Tyler Hoar
The annual Winter Finch Forecast is easily one of the highlights of the birding year for many, and a perfect combination of birding science and birding art. When Ron Pittaway retired in early 2020, birders worried that the forecast would be retired as well, but that was happily not the case. Tyler Hoar stepped in and with the help of the Finch Research Network, brought the forecast into the 21st Century. He joins us to talk about how it all works and what it was like filling the shoes of a birding giant. Plus, come join[...]
Rare Bird Alert: November 5, 2021
The Steller's Sea-Eagle in eastern Canada is back! Discovered this time in Nova Scotia, where it represents a 1st provincial record.
A Guide to Pigeon-Watching with Rosemary Mosco
Perhaps more than any bird in North America, Rock Pigeons suffer for their omnipresence and familiarity. But there is more to the humble and ubiquitous species than meets the eye. They are a great opportunity to learn not just about the wonders of birds, but about the interconnectedness of humans and nature. Naturalist and creator of Bird and Moon comics, Rosemary Mosco dives into the weird world of pigeons in her new book, A Pocket Guide to Pigeon Watching: Getting to know the World’s Most Misunderstood Bird, and joins the American Birding Podcast to talk all about[...]
Rare Bird Alert: October 29, 2021
Quebec is the center of the rarity world this week, with potential 1sts Lesson's Seedeater and Small-billed Elaenia. But NC, SC, GA, FL, and SK boast 1sts on their own as well.
This Month in Birding – October 2021
The last Thursday of the month is This Month in Birding with a panel of Jennie Duberstein, Nicole Jackson, and Sean Milnes. We have a wide range of stories to discuss, from escaped birds to birding by ear to landfills to domestic carrowaries. Links to topics discussed this month: Steller's Sea Eagle and Eurasian Eagle Owl escape from captivity. Blind Uruguayan birder creates sound may of Uruguay. Bird diversity at landfills. Hummingbirds smell their way our of danger. Papuans might have domesticated cassowaries. Subscribe to the podcast at Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, and Google Podcasts, and please leave a rating or[...]
Rare Bird Alert: October 22, 2021
Vermont's 1st record of Bell's Vireo is an exciting find, along with a Brambling in Montana and an extraordinary Brown-headed Nuthatch in Kansas. All that and more in this week's Rare Bird Alert.
Rare Bird Alert: October 15, 2021
The lonely Oahu Inca Tern (ABA Code 5) in Hawaii remains the sole ABA Area rarity continuing from last week. Who knows how long it will stay there? The month of October has been flush with Dusky Warbler (3) on the Pacific coast, and that continues with a third individual found this week in Los Angeles, California. Other warblers of note in the state are of New World origin, a Red-faced Warbler in San Diego and a smart Golden-winged Warbler in San Luis Obispo. We have one 1st record to report this week, from the other side[...]
Antpittas and Adventure in Colombia
There's no place on Earth like Colombia. One of the world's only "megadiverse" nations, Colombia boasts friendly people, stunning landscapes, and absolutely mind-blowing birds. Join host Nate Swick and Colombian birders Diego Calderón (The Birders Show) and Eliana Ardila (Birding by Bus) as we travel through the Colombian Central Andes and explore what makes this place so amazing for birders, and how nature tourism is making a positive impact on the lives of so many people there. Check out some of the birds we talk about here! Thanks to Diego, Eliana, Roger Rodriguez, Nature Colombia, ProColombia,[...]
Rare Bird Alert: October 8, 2021
Lots of state and provincial 1sts this week, with a Golden-crowned Warbler in Louisiana, only the third for the ABA Area away from Texas, the easy highlight. But Kirtland's Warbler in MD, Kentucky Warbler in AB, Fork-tailed Flycatcher in GA, and Nelson's Sparrow in NV all delighting birders in those places as well.
Owls of the Eastern Ice with Jonathan Slaght
When Jonathan Slaght’s Owls of the Eastern Ice came out last year, it was met with high praise. Slaght’s search for the enigmatic Blakiston’s Fish-Owl is a part of natural history, part adventure, and part character study set in a part of the world that very few of us know at all, except, perhaps, as the place many of our rare birds come from. It is out now in paperback, and Slaght joins host Nate Swick to talk about owls, writing, and conservation work in the Russian Far East. Also, Nate considers the official extinction of[...]
Rare Bird Alert: October 1, 2021
As we slide into October, we once again tough base with a handful of continuing rarities in the ABA Area that many of us should be pretty familiar with by now. Notably the ABA's 2nd record of Inca Tern (ABA Code 5) in Hawaii, which increasingly seems to be marooned there, and both Little Stint (4) and Common Shelduck (4) persist into this week in Quebec. A Little Egret (4) continues in Delaware, while another long-staying Little Stint (4) was seen this week in California. It seems to be the season for vagrant hummingbirds, as a[...]
This Month in Birding – September 2021
It's the last episode of September 2021, and to add to this fall birding bounty comes a super panel featuring Birds Canada's Jody Allair, the Finch Research Network's Ryan Mandelbaum, and Jordan Rutter of the American Birding Conservancy. We're excited to chat about this winter's finch forecast, cutthroat birding, and some analysis of the Covid pandemic pause on birds in urban areas. Links to topics discussed this month: Last Week Tonight satirizes the Duck Stamp Contest (language warning) Birding is a Cutthroat Test of Skill, Strategy, and Endurance The 2021-22 Winter Finch Forecast is out! Birders[...]
Rare Bird Alert: September 24, 2021
Highlights this week include a Lesser Sand-Plover on the central coast of California, a very nice bird away from Alaska. Plus a hummingbird first for South Carolina and a spate of notable Northern Wheatear and Magnificent Frigatebird records in the midwest and east.
Random Birds, Vol. 2, with Ted Floyd
Birding editor Ted Floyd returns to join host Nate Swick in another round of "Random Birds", the most fun you can have with a bird list and a random number generator. Ted and Nate talk mergansers, bluebirds, nighthawks, and more as they continue their journey through the combined list of the birds of North Carolina and Colorado. Plus, Short-tailed Albatross stunts provide an opportunity to talk about birding ethics. Subscribe to the podcast at Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, and Google Play, and please leave a rating or a review if you are so inclined! We appreciate it! [...]
Rare Bird Alert: September 17, 2021
A Variegated Flycatcher in Florida is only the 8th for the ABA, plus 1st record Snowy Plover in New York and Yellow-footed Gull in New Mexico.
ENCORE – Tales of Urban Birding with J.B. Brumfield
Few birders in North American have taken on the mantle of urban birding like Ohio native J.B Brumfield. Their Cuyahoga County big years are the stuff of legend, not only for their high totals but for the passion they throw into birding their hometown of Cleveland and getting others excited about the birdlife and birding opportunities there. Chicago native Greg Neise has his own long history birding in urban areas, and steps in to talk to J.B. about Big Years, favorite local patches, and what to love about birding in the city. Birding editor Ted Floyd shares[...]
Rare Bird Alert: September 10, 2021
ABA Area rarities hanging around for another week include the young Common Shelduck (ABA Code 4) in Quebec, the long-staying Berylline Hummingbird (4) in Arizona, and littles on opposite sides of the continent with Little Stint (4) in California and a Little Egret (4) in Delaware. It's the time of year when rare bird fans look to Alaska, and Gambell continues to build on the great birds we noted a couple weeks ago. The most exciting of which was a Middendorf's Grasshopper Warbler (4), but also at least 2 Dusky Warblers (4), and 3 or more Siberian Accentors (4).[...]
More than a Lawn Thrush with Emily Williams
What can we learn from one of the most familiar birds in North America? A bird so well-known that it’s migration is remarked upon by friends and colleagues who might otherwise have no knowledge about birds at all. The American Robin, of course, is ubiquitous but there is a lot left to learn. That is, in part, the work of Emily Williams, an avian ecologist at Georgetown University, currently studying the migration ecology of American Robins. She joins us to talk about what we don't know about a bird everyone knows. Plus, a Pileated Woodpecker story[...]
Rare Bird Alert: September 3, 2021
Hurricane Ida drops surprising tubenoses on Florida's Gulf coast. Plus potential 1sts in Labrador and Texas that come too late to chase, but not too late to appreciate.
Demystifying Molt with Dani Kaschube
The time of year for messy birds is here. It’s molt season, and nearly every bird you encounter in the late summer and fall is replacing something. Even though we are familiar with molt in theory, it’s still a confusing and intimidating process for many birders in practice. Dani Kaschube is the MAPS coordinator and bird banding guru for the Institute for Bird Populations. She has taught banders the ins and outs of molt for decades and she joins us to demystify molt, or at least make our best effort to do so. Also, Greg Neise talks[...]
Rare Bird Alert: August 27, 2021
Previously reported rare birds in the ABA Area continuing into this week include Berylline Hummingbird (ABA Code 4) in Arizona, Little Egret (4) in Delaware, and the ABA 2nd record Inca Tern (5) in Hawaii. The postbreeding dispersal of wading birds has taken a lot of the attention this summer, with the incredible spread of species like Roseate Spoonbill, Limpkin, and Wood Stork this year, but wandering hummingbirds can't be dismissed either, as they come to the fore this week highlighted by Illinois's 2nd record of Mexican Violetear (3), a gorgeous bird at a feeder in Lake.[...]
This Month in Birding – August 2021
It’s the last week of August and that means it’s time for This Month in Birding featuring a panel containing some folks familiar to those who are keeping up with the growing birding podcast scene. It's a fun group with some birdosphere podcast crossover energy. Mollee Brown from The Birding Co-op and the Life List podcast, Andrés Jiménez of Birds Canada's new podcast The Warblers, and our old friend Nick Lund, The Birdist, join host Nate Swick to talk about birding ethics, trash parrots, fur thieves, and whether we have saved a bird. Links to topics discussed[...]
Rare Bird Alert: August 20, 2021
The Berylline Hummingbird (ABA Code 4) continues in southeast Arizona as it has all summer, along with a Little Egret (4) in Delaware and the ABA Area's 2nd record of Inca Tern (5) still on the island of Oahu in Hawaii. Given the incredible irruption of southern waders into the northeast of the ABA Area this summer, perhaps the discovery of a Roseate Spoonbill in Berkshire, Massachusetts, shouldn't be surprising. But it's a 1st record nonetheless, the fourth such 1st involving this species so far in 2021. And if that wasn't enough, a White Ibis was photographed in Middlesex for[...]
Secrets of Summer Birding
How would you describe summer birding? Hot? Humid? Buggy? Unbearable? For many birders it has always been the least exciting and most taxing season for getting in the field, but there's a lot to be excited about for those who make the effort. ABA colleagues Jennie Duberstein and Greg Neise join host Nate Swick to talk about what excites them about the season, from molt to shorebirds to birding camp, and how to be prepared to handle the difficulties. Special granola bars for everyone! Subscribe to the podcast at Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, and Google Podcasts, and please leave[...]
Rare Bird Alert: August 13, 2021
We're back after a week off with lots to report! Maine's 1st Masked Booby, Rhode Island's 1st Black-bellied Whistling Duck, and Roseate Spoonbill 1sts for New Hampshire and DC.
A World Full of Parrots with Stephen Pruett-Jones
Parrots and parakeets are among the most spectacular and diverse birds on the planet, but also among the most adaptable. Urban parrots have made their way into dozens of places around the world and in many cities are a regular feature of city and suburban landscapes. The many ways that dynamic manifests is the subject of a new book, Naturalized Parrots of the World: Distribution, Ecology, and Impacts of the World’s Most Colorful Colonizers, edited by Dr Stephen Pruett-Jones who joins Nate Swick to talk parrots of all kinds. Also, Ed Yong has some fascinating things to[...]
A Lifeline for Kauai’s Birds with Lisa Crampton
Kaua'i's forest birds are on the brink, says guest Dr. Lisa Crampton, but a new mosquito control effort offers a ray of hope for some of the most endangered birds in the world.
Rare Bird Alert: July 30, 2021
This week's report of continuing rare birds in the ABA Area is highlighted by the return of the Steller's Sea-Eagle (ABA Code 4) that has been wandering around the eastern mainland of Canada to New Brunswick, having spent a couple weeks up the coast in eastern Quebec. The Berylline Hummingbird (4) is still being seen, as is the year's second Inca Tern (5) in on Oahu island in Hawaii. It's the time of year for post-season wanders and Maryland benefits from the late summer trend with the discovery of a Little Egret (4) in Anne Arundel, the[...]
This Month in Birding: July 2021
The last episode of the month means This Month in Birding, with a panel of Orietta Estrada, Gabriel Foley, and Mikko Jimenez. We have some interesting topics to chat about this week including that mystery bird illness and a possible connection to cicadas, a historical perspective on bird names in a major ornithological journal, how bird science is furthered by indigenous languages, Piping Plover movies and birds in the Olympics. Also, want to win some stuff from the ABA? Get information here! Links to topics discussed include: Thoughts on the mystery bird illness in the east.[...]
Rare Bird Alert: July 23, 2021
An Oriental Turtle-Dove in British Columbia this week is only the 6th record for North America away from Alaska, and Mississippi and Michigan enjoy 1st records.
Birding, Annotated, Again with Ted Floyd
Birding editor Ted Floyd joins host Nate Swick to once again chat about recent birding experiences in eBird Annotated. This time Ted and Nate have been on the road, birding in places that meant something to them in the past. For Ted, this is Pittsburgh's Frick Park, and for Nate, Sanibel Island in south Florida. As promised, enjoy their eBird checklists yourself! From Pennsylvania https://ebird.org/checklist/S91550753 https://ebird.org/checklist/S91550757 https://ebird.org/checklist/S91496800 https://ebird.org/checklist/S91565994 From Florida: https://ebird.org/checklist/S91433356 https://ebird.org/checklist/S91461785 https://ebird.org/checklist/S91229868 Plus, Nate is happy to report that the Duck Stamp will no longer require a hunting element. Subscribe to the podcast at Apple Podcasts,[...]
Rare Bird Alert: July 16, 2021
The Berylline Hummingbird (ABA Code 4) in Arizona is the sole remaining rare bird in the ABA Area that has continued into this week, but fear not, this new week sees some pretty exceptional birds. It's hard to beat a a Steller's Sea-Eagle (4) for drama, but the bird originally seen in New Brunswick a couple weeks ago is exceptional for reasons beyond being one of the world's most iconic birds. This week the bird moved up the Quebec coast to Gaspé, where it represents a provincial first. But perhaps the most extraordinary thing is that[...]
Your Bird Story with Georgia Silvera Seamans
We at the ABA are big fans of the growing birding podcast scene and one of the more interesting ones out now is Your Bird Story, which focuses on everyday people’s experiences with birds in cities. The host of Your Bird Story, Dr. Georgia Silvera Seamans, is, among other things, the director of Washington Square Park Eco Projects, an urban and community forester, and one of the co-organizers of Black Botanists Week. She joins us to talk about collecting bird stories from everyone and the importance of wild places in urban spaces. Also, Nate is back[...]
Rare Bird Alert: July 9, 2021
Continuing ABA Area rarities include Berylline Hummingbird (ABA Code 4) in Arizona and Little Egret (4) in Maine. We begin in the far northwest, where rare shorebird season begins with a bang in the form of British Columbia's 3rd record of Wood Sandpiper in Victoria, a well-documented individual. That wasn't the only noteworthy find in the province, as a Great-tailed Grackle in Colwood represents BC's 7th. In Nevada, a young Yellow-crowned Night-Heron in Clark represents the state's 2nd record and the first in nearly 30 years. A compelling report of a Eared Quetzal (4) comes from Cochise, Arizona, where[...]
ENCORE: Actor Ian Harding’s Odd Birds
In demand actor, 7 time winner of the Teen Choice Award, and avid birder? Ian Harding is best known for his work on the Freeform network’s teen-drama Pretty Little Liars, but in his new memoir Odd Birds he talks about how birds and birding have provided him with opportunities to find peace and focus in a life in the public eye. Ian joins host Nate Swick to share some stories from his new book and thoughts on what it could mean for birding to have such a high-profile advocate. This interview originally ran on June 29, 2017. Also, Birding editor Ted Floyd[...]
Rare Bird Alert: July 2, 2021
Continuing rarities in the ABA Area include Berylline Hummingbird (ABA Code 4) in Arizona and a pair of littles on opposites sides of the continent, Little Egret (4) in Maine and Little Stint (4) in Alaska. A Steller's Sea-Eagle (4) first reported several months ago on St. Paul's Island, Alaska also made a re-appearance this week. Birders in the Last Frontier have wasted no time putting that state back on the rarity map as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to wane. While not all of the birding outposts are manned as they have been in the past, other sites are[...]
The All Canada Episode
It's Canada Day and this week sees an all Canada special episode of the American Birding Podcast, a tip of the cap to our friends in the northern part of the ABA Area. The Canada panel consists of some birders from across the country and features voices that podcast regulars probably recognize. From St, John’s, Newfoundland, we welcome Bird the Rock’s Jared Clarke. From Drumheller, Alberta (by way of Ontario) is Birds Canada's Jody Allair. And from Richmond, British Columbia, it's wildlife biologist and keeper of the BC Rare Bird Alert, Melissa Hafting. We talk about the[...]
Rare Bird Alert: June 25, 2021
The wandering Heermann's Gull makes a stop in South Carolina, the 6th state for which is represents a 1st. Plus Montana's 1st and 2nd records of Neotropic Cormorant come one right after another.
This Month in Birding: June 2021
For June, the The Month in Birding Panel consists of Mo Stych of Bird Sh*t Podcast, Brodie Cass Talbott of Portland Audubon, and newcomer Joanna Wu of Audubon. The panel chats about Black Birders Week, bird habitat as climate sinks, and the many amazing uses of googly eyes. Links to items discussed: The second year of Black Birders Week (05:03) Floating Googly Eyes Scare Birds Away from Nets (10:35) Bird Habitats are Climate Sinks (16:35) Birds Respond More Aggressively in Multi-species Groups (28:25) Herpers Move Away from Cute Names, Birders Lean in (39:46) Subscribe to the[...]
Rare Bird Alert: June 18, 2021
Notable birds continuing in the ABA Area into this week include Berylline Hummingbird (ABA Code 4) in Arizona, Little Egret (4) in Maine, and Bahama Mockingbird (4) in Florida. While it's not uncommon for southern birds to move northward as the temperature warms, this summer has seemed unprecedented in terms of numbers and species represented. And this week's rarity outlook continues this trend. Ohio's 2nd record of White-tailed Kite was seen in Harrison this week. Notably it was not that long ago that Ohio had its first record of this southern southern plains raptor. And Ohio was not[...]
Birding Book Club: Guides to Mexico and Central America
It’s time for the American Birding Podcast Birding Book Club and host Nate Swick welcomes bird media reviewers Frank Izaguirre from the ABA’s Birding magazine and Donna Schulman from the website 10,000 Birds to finally tackle birding's great contribution to world literature, the field guide. We start with guides to Mexico and Central America, popular destinations for US and Canada birders and a great place to begin the discussion about what makes a good field guide and who and what field guides are for. Help support the ABA and the American Birding Podcast by contributing to our Nesting Season Appeal. Books[...]
Rare Bird Alert: June 11, 2021
Notable ABA rarities continuing into this week include Berylline Hummingbird (ABA Code 4) in Arizona, the Pallas's Bunting (5) on Gambell, Alaska, and the small flock of Tamaulipas Crows (4) in south Texas. The drive to migrate that propelled the last month of vagrants in the ABA Area has wained a bit, and the list is shorter than it has been in a few weeks, but there are still birds moving and with the prospect of post-breeding dispersal on the horizon, it won't be long before we're in good birds all over the US and Canada.[...]
2021 Splits and Lumps with Nick Block
Early summer means that it’s time to talk taxonomy, and that means Nick Block, professor of Biology at Stonehill College in Easton, Massachusetts. For the last several years, Nick is person we like to talk to when it comes to reading the tea-leaves of the American Ornithological Society’s North America Classification Committee. We chat storm-petrels, bunting lumps, and the curious case of the Swainson's Thrushes. Also, there's no better time to sign up to run your own Breeding Bird Survey route! Help support the ABA and the American Birding Podcast by contributing to our Nesting Season Appeal.[...]
Rare Bird Alert: June 4, 2021
Noteworthy ABA Area rarities continuing into this week in the ABA Area include both Berylline Hummingbird (ABA Code 4) and Tufted Flycatcher (5) in Arizona, the return of the annual Little Egret (4) in Maine, a small flock of Tamaulipas Crows (4) in Texas, and Black-faced Grassquit (4) in Florida. Southern birds coming north is a pretty well-established patter for vagrancy, but this year has been exception in that regard. The poster bird for this movement, at least so far, comes from Colorado, where a stunning Yellow Grosbeak (4) has been visiting a feeder in Huerfano. This[...]
Listen and Conserve with Project Terra with Mike Lanzone & Scott Whittle
One of the dreams of the "internet of nature" was a device that birders could put in their yard that picks up GPS fitted and tracked wildlife, and maybe even identifies them when they pass over your home. That device is here and it is called Terra. Mike Lanzone of Cellular Tracking Technologies and birder and writer Scott Whittle, are the creators of this magic device. They both join me to talk about what it can do, and how it will change migration monitoring forever. If you want to contribute to their kickstarter, here's the link.[...]
2021 AOS Classification Committee Proposals, Parts 2 & 3
There are few constants in these helter-skelter times, but the birding world can always depend on the bird taxonomy proposals submitted to the American Ornithological Society’s North and Middle American Classification Committee. And as we have done in past years, we offer the second and thirds chunks of the new bird taxonomy proposals submitted to the the AOS-NACC, the volunteer group of ornithologists who make the split, lump, and name-change decisions that influence the ABA Checklist and our field guides. As before there are a couple things to note, including the usual caveat that these are just proposals[...]
Rare Bird Alert: May 28, 2021
The list of continuing rarities in the ABA Area has been whittled to two this week, the shortest it has been in months. Both are relatively recent arrivals to Arizona in a Berylline Hummingbird (ABA Code 4) and a Tufted Flycatcher (5). Seabirding pelagics out of Hatteras, North Carolina, has a reputation for producing the unexpected, and they've done it again this week. A Wedge-tailed Shearwater seen in the Gulf Stream off Hatteras represents a 1st record for the state and only the 2nd for the Atlantic Ocean. This bird has shades of the "in the[...]
This Month in Birding – May 2021
Sean Milnes, Jordan Rutter, and Purbita Saha join the May 2021 This Month in Birding panel to talk about some of the most important bird and birding related news items of the month. Links to items discussed: Female Bird Day (6:56) Colombia boycotts the Cornell Lab of Ornithology's Global Big Day (8:52) AOS moves forward on changing English bird names (17:25) The period cicada's Brood X is here and impacting birds (24:15) Chicago releases feral cats into the city (33:40) Estimates of bird populations mean there are 6 wild birds per human (42:35) And don't forget[...]
Rare Bird Alert: May 21, 2021
Tufted Flycatchers return to southern Arizona along with summery weather. We also saw 1st records from Oregon, North Carolina, Iowa, and Nebraska this week.
Bird Policy Update and the Freedom Birders with Tykee James
In the United States, we’re over 100 days into a new administration and five months into a new Congress, and our elected officials have been busy with some interesting environmental policies and legislation in that time. Interestingly, many of them impact birds. To chat about it, we bring back to the podcast, Tykee James, host of the On Word for Wildlife podcast from the Wildlife Observer Network. Tykee lays out what birders should be paying attention to, and talks about his new project, Freedom Birders. Plus, another Pileated Woodpecker story from Christy Esmahan in Austin, Texas,[...]
Rare Bird Alert: May 14, 2021
Because of continuing COVID-19 cases in many states and provinces, the purpose of this report is to keep homebound birders caught up rare bird sightings across the ABA Area. The ABA encourages readers to respect state, provincial, and local suggestions with regard to non-essential travel. The ABA’s Recording Standards and Ethics Committee has released guidelines on how birders should approach this ongoing pandemic and we urge birders, whether they are members of the ABA or not, to consider traveling to see a rare bird. Stay safe and healthy, everyone. We're almost through this. ABA Area[...]
Random Birds, Vol. 1 with Ted Floyd
Birding editor Ted Floyd is back to play a new birder game we're calling "Random Birds". Host Nate Swick has a list of birds and a random number generator and is ready to chat about whatever bird pops up. Nate and Ted chat about Snow Geese, Red Knots, Bobolinks, Blue Grosbeaks and more. Also, some birds in the news! California Condors and Vaux's Swifts invading homes in California. Thanks to Field Guides for sponsoring this episode. Check out their new video series, Out Birding with Field Guides. Subscribe to the podcast at Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, and Google Podcasts, and please leave[...]
Rare Bird Alert: May 7, 2021
New Hampshire's 1st record Virginia's Warbler highlights a week that also saw Flame-colored Tanager in Texas and Garganey in New Brunswick.
The Glitter in the Green with Jon Dunn
Hummingbirds, perhaps more than any other bird family in the world, seem to elicit a strange sort of mania, and this seems to have been true for as long as human beings have been aware of them. Writer Jon Dunn is one of the obsessed, and his new book The Glitter in the Green - In Search of Hummingbirds is part history, part travelogue, and part quest to see as many of the world’s hummingbirds as possible, including some of the most iconic species on Earth. Also, another Pileated Woodpecker story from Lerena in Toronto, Ontario[...]
Rare Bird Alert: April 30, 2021
A Phylloscopus warbler in Ontario is likely a Yellow-browed Warbler, a first for the province and an incredible vagrant bird for spring in North America.
This Month in Birding – April 2021
The last Thursday of the month and that means it's time for the This Month in Birding panel. April 2021 is a special month because it marks one year from the 1st This Month in Birding, and one year since the podcast went to a weekly format. We're joined by a panel of Birds Canada's Jody Allair, Orietta Estrada of the Birder's Fund, and The Birdist, Nick Lund, who come to talk about the AOS Bird Names Congress, Bald Eagles, big news for the Black & Latinx Scholarship Fund, and thoughts on the accuracy of nature documentaries.[...]
Rare Bird Alert: April 23, 2021
Because of continuing COVID-19 cases in many states and provinces, the purpose of this report is to keep homebound birders caught up rare bird sightings across the ABA Area. The ABA encourages readers to respect state, provincial, and local suggestions with regard to non-essential travel. The ABA’s Recording Standards and Ethics Committee has released guidelines on how birders should approach this ongoing pandemic and we urge birders, whether they are members of the ABA or not, to consider traveling to see a rare bird. Stay safe and healthy, everyone. We're almost through this. Continuing rarities in[...]
Skyglow and Community Science with Lauren Pharr
This time of year is a tough one for many birds, as they make their long dangerous journey from wintering grounds to breeding territories. The path taken by many sees them passing over or stopping to nest in increasingly urban landscapes. These landscape changes affect birds in many ways, some obvious, some more subtle. That is the work of researcher Lauren Pharr, a PhD student at North Carolina State studying urban noise and light pollution and their affect on birds. She’s with me now to chat about her work, wildlife research in urban settings, and community[...]
Rare Bird Alert: April 16, 2021
Because of continuing COVID-19 cases in many states and provinces, the purpose of this report is to keep homebound birders caught up rare bird sightings across the ABA Area. The ABA encourages readers to respect state, provincial, and local suggestions with regard to non-essential travel. The ABA’s Recording Standards and Ethics Committee has released guidelines on how birders should approach this ongoing pandemic and we urge birders, whether they are members of the ABA or not, to consider traveling to see a rare bird. Stay safe and healthy, everyone. We're almost through this. Continuing rare[...]
Secrets of SoCal Parrots with John McCormack
There are a few lucky places in the ABA Area where parrots still fly free, even if most have captive origins these day. But these big loud flashy birds have a history and future than is perhaps more interesting than many birders might imagine and these feral populations can even give us some insights into the frequently threatened wild birds in Mexico and Central America. John McCormack, director of the Moore Lab of Zoology at Occidental College in Los Angeles, is one of the authors of a paper about how two closely related Amazon parrots in[...]
Rare Bird Alert: April 9, 2021
Because of continuing COVID-19 cases in many states and provinces, the purpose of this report is to keep homebound birders caught up rare bird sightings across the ABA Area. The ABA encourages readers to respect state, provincial, and local suggestions with regard to non-essential travel. The ABA’s Recording Standards and Ethics Committee has released guidelines on how birders should approach this ongoing pandemic and we urge birders, whether they are members of the ABA or not, to consider whether they should travel to see a rare bird. Stay safe and healthy, everyone. We're almost through this. [...]
A World on the Wing with Scott Weidensaul
Migratory birds undertake some of the most extraordinary and exhausting journeys of any living thing on the planet, an endurance test made all the more difficult by climate change, habitat loss, and illegal hunting. Few know this better than Scott Weidensaul, a bird researcher, prolific nature writer, and the author of more than 30 books. He first tackled bird migration with 2000’s Living on the Wind. He comes back to the topic with a new book A World on the Wing: The Global Odyssey of Migratory Birds, out this month. He joins Nate Swick to talk[...]
Rare Bird Alert: April 2, 2021
Because of continuing COVID-19 cases in many states and provinces, the purpose of this report is to keep homebound birders caught up rare bird sightings across the ABA Area. The ABA encourages readers to respect state, provincial, and local suggestions with regard to non-essential travel. The ABA’s Recording Standards and Ethics Committee has released guidelines on how birders should approach this ongoing pandemic and we urge birders, whether they are members of the ABA or not, to consider traveling to see a rare bird. Stay safe and healthy, everyone. We're almost through this. We have[...]
ENCORE: The Nomadic Nature of Snow Buntings with Emily McKinnon
It’s the time of year when Arctic birds are heading back north, out of the range of citizen scientists who spent the winter trapping them, and using cutting edge technology to track their movements. It’s a testament to our interest in nomadic tundra birds that that could apply to a couple different projects, but this time around we are talking about Snow Buntings and the Canadian Snow Bunting Network. Dr. Emily McKinnon is a researcher at the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg and the administrator of this project that has found out a number of fascinating[...]
Rare Bird Alert: March 26, 2021
Because of continuing COVID-19 cases in many states and provinces, the purpose of this report is to keep homebound birders caught up rare bird sightings across the ABA Area. The ABA encourages readers to respect state, provincial, and local suggestions with regard to non-essential travel. The ABA’s Recording Standards and Ethics Committee has released guidelines on how birders should approach this ongoing pandemic and we urge birders, whether they are members of the ABA or not, to consider traveling to see a rare bird. Stay safe and healthy, everyone. We're almost through this. Our continuing[...]
This Month in Birding: March 2021
This Month in Birding, featuring a panel of Nicole Jackson, Mikko Jimenez, and Ryan Mandelbaum, recap the bird news of March 2021, including old gulls, the anthropause, and Lights Out Philly.
Rare Bird Alert: March 19, 2021
A young Inca Tern on the big island of Hawai'i would represent not only a 1st for the state, but for the ABA Area.
ID Nation: Early Spring Challenges
Spring is here and birders across North America, including new pandemic birders for whom this might be their very first spring migration as a birder, are looking forward to birds return. And to help them along, we're starting a new regular feature on the American Birding Podcast, an identification roundtable. This time we tackle early spring ID challenges with a couple crack birders, Tom Johnson from Field Guides and artist and ornithology graduate student Marky Mutchler. Join us as we chat waterthrushes, blackbirds, and strategies for approaching big groups of migrating birds. Also, it's March Madness[...]
Rare Bird Alert: March 12, 2021
Because of continuing COVID-19 cases in many states and provinces, the purpose of this report is to keep homebound birders caught up rare bird sightings across the ABA Area. The ABA encourages readers to respect state, provincial, and local suggestions with regard to non-essential travel. The ABA’s Recording Standards and Ethics Committee has released guidelines on how birders should approach this ongoing pandemic and we urge birders, whether they are members of the ABA or not, to consider traveling to see a rare bird. Stay safe and healthy, everyone. We're almost through this. Notable continuing[...]
Birding, annotated, with Ted Floyd
Birding editor Ted Floyd and host Nate Swick try something a little different this time around. They went birding, each in their respective neighborhoods, and come back together to talk about it. Join them as they wend our way through sparrows, crows, and Bushtits around their homes, with a detour into gannets and gulls (which neither saw). It's birding, annotated. And in case you wanted to follow along, here's Ted's checklist from Lafayette, Colorado, and here's Nate's from Greensboro, North Carolina. Plus, congratulations to our 2021 ABA Young Birders of the Year, Katie Warner of Vancouver, Washington,[...]
Rare Bird Alert: March 5, 2021
Though COVID-19 cases in many states and provinces are declining, the purpose of this report is to keep homebound birders caught up rare bird sightings across the ABA Area. We do not endorse the pursuit of rare birds beyond your local area. The ABA urges readers to respect state, provincial, and local restrictions on non-essential travel. The ABA’s Recording Standards and Ethics Committee has released guidelines on how birders should approach this ongoing pandemic and we urge birders, whether they are members of the ABA or not, to consider them when deciding whether to travel to[...]
Unraveling a Nighthawk Migration Mystery with Elly Knight
GPS backpacks have revealed the migratory routes of the mysterious Common Nighthawk. Researcher Elly Knight joins us to talk about her findings and what it's like working with such an idiosyncratic bird.
Rare Bird Alert: February 26, 2021
Cold weather in Mexico could drive southern birds across the Rio Grande in to the ABA Area. Indeed, a remarkable Blue Bunting in San Antonio and a Yellow-faced Grassquit in Brownsville could be the first of many.
This Month in Birding – February 2021
Jennie Duberstein, Jordan Rutter, and Brodie Cass Talbott join host Nate Swick to round up the birding news of the month, including owl drama in NYC and the question of whether the Patagonia Picnic Table Effect is a real thing or not.
Rare Bird Alert: February 19, 2021
Lots of continuing ABA rarities are joined by 1st state records from Georgia (Heermann's Gull) and Connecticut (Great Skua). Plus Nova Scotia boasts a remarkable 5 individual Redwings!
A Sparrow Back from the Brink with Andrew Walker
Andrew Walker of the Fish & Wildlife FOundation of FLorida
Rare Bird Alert: February 12, 2021
Redwings continue to show on both coasts of the ABA Area, with one in British Columbia and two in Nova Scotia.
Birding Through Pandemic and Cancer with Rebecca Heisman
The year 2020 was an especially difficult one for many of us, but for writer and birder Rebecca Heisman, perhaps more than most. In addition to the responsibilities of being the parent of a young child in a year of pandemic, she dealt with a cancer diagnosis that upturned what was already something of a turbulent year. Through it all, birds became, what she calls in an essay recently published at Audubon, a thread of sanity She joins Nate Swick to talk about her trying year and what comes next. Also, Pileated Woodpecker stories from Cecelia[...]
2021 AOS Classification Committee Proposals, Part 1
There are few constants in these helter-skelter times, but the birding world can always depend on the bird taxonomy proposals submitted to the American Ornithological Society’s North and Middle American Classification Committee. And as we have done in years' past, we offer the first chunk of the new bird taxonomy proposals submitted to the the AOS-NACC, the volunteer group of ornithologists who make the split, lump, and name-change decisions that influence the ABA Checklist and our field guides. A couple things to note, including the usual caveat that these are just proposals and the committee has yet to[...]
Rare Bird Alert: February 5, 2021
More thrushes to report, this time in Maine where two Redwings represent the state's 1st and 2nd records.
In Defense of the Cowbird with Sarah Winnicki
Cowbird advocate Sarah Winnicki joins us to make the case for the humble cowbird, under-appreciated at best and outright disliked at worst.
Rare Bird Alert: January 29, 2021
The thrush rush continues with Redwings in Newfoundland and New Brunswick! Also Little Gull in Mississippi and Black-headed Grosbeak in Maine.
This Month in Birding – January 2021
This Month in Birding for January 2021 brings together Danielle Belleny, Sam DeJarnett, and Sean Milnes to talk Audubon woes, condor reintroduction, gear snobbery and birding with Gucci!
Rare Bird Alert: January 22, 2021
Because of rising COVID-19 cases in many states and provinces, the purpose of this report is to keep homebound birders caught up rare bird sightings across the ABA Area. We do not endorse the pursuit of rare birds beyond your local area. The ABA urges readers to respect state, provincial, and local restrictions on non-essential travel. The ABA’s Recording Standards and Ethics Committee has released guidelines on how birders should approach this ongoing pandemic and we urge birders, whether they are members of the ABA or not, to consider them when deciding whether to travel to see a[...]
Notes from the High Arctic with Clare Kines
Birder and photographer Clare Kines joins Nate to talk about the birding and nature experiences to be found at Arctic Bay, north of the Arctic Circle on Baffin Island in Nunavut.
Rare Bird Alert: January 15, 2021
Because of rising COVID-19 cases in many states and provinces, the purpose of this report is to keep homebound birders caught up rare bird sightings across the ABA Area. We do not endorse the pursuit of rare birds beyond your local area. The ABA urges readers to respect state, provincial, and local restrictions on non-essential travel. The ABA’s Recording Standards and Ethics Committee has released guidelines on how birders should approach this ongoing pandemic and we urge birders, whether they are members of the ABA or not, to consider them when deciding whether to travel to see a[...]
How to Be “Hawky” with Janet Ng
Dr. Janet Ng studies raptors on the southern Canadian plains, looking for ways for the birds of this unique landscape can share the land with humans using it for energy development.
Rare Bird Alert: January 8, 2021
Because of rising COVID-19 cases in many states and provinces, the purpose of this report is to keep homebound birders caught up rare bird sightings across the ABA Area. We do not endorse the pursuit of rare birds beyond your local area. The ABA urges readers to respect state, provincial, and local restrictions on non-essential travel. The ABA’s Recording Standards and Ethics Committee has released guidelines on how birders should approach this ongoing pandemic and we urge birders, whether they are members of the ABA or not, to consider them when deciding whether to travel to see a[...]
A Guide to Bird Behavior with John Kricher
Author, educator, and scientist John Kricher's new book on Bird Behavior is a nice addition to the excellent Peterson Reference Guide series. He joins Nate to chat about this culmination of his career and the nuances of communicating complicated concepts to laypeople.
Rare Bird Alert: January 1, 2021
A Hawfinch in Yukon Territory, a territorial 1st and a 1st for Canada, is a fantastic way to end the year in rarities. Plus 1st records for Tennessee, Virginia, and Delaware.
Four Years of the American Birding Podcast
We didn't intend to make an episode this week, but friend of the podcast Jordan Rutter came to me (Nate) and suggested that instead of the regular podcast we should do a special one where she interviews *me* for a change. So that's what we did. Enjoy and Happy New Year! ABA members are eligible for a 15% discount to Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s Birds of the World subscription. Log into your ABA account to get the code. Subscribe to the podcast at Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, and Google Play, and please leave a rating or a review if you are so[...]
Rare Bird Alert: December 25, 2020
The ABA's 4th Spotted Rail in south Texas certainly feels like a 1st. It's joined by 1st records from Wisconsin, Nevada, and South Carolina.
Rare Bird Alert: December 18, 2020
A Tundra Bean-Goose highlights what has been an extraordinary week for rare birds in the Philadelphia area. Also Empidonax flycatchers represent 1st records for North Carolina and Nova Scotia.
Invasion of the Winter Finches with Matt Young
Crossbill enthusiast and Founder of the Finch Research Network Matt Young joins Nate Swick to talk about the incredible finch "superflight" occurring this winter.
Rare Bird Alert: December 11, 2020
The ABA's 7th Ruddy Ground-Dove in Key West, Florida, is the latest in a string of good birds in the Sunshine State. This week also saw 1st records of Cassin's Kingbird in Tennessee and Barnacle Goose in the District of Columbia.
Birding Book Club: Best of 2020
The Birding Book Club with Donna Schulman and Frank Izaguirre discuss their favorite new bird books of 2020, a great year for behavior guides and narrative non-fiction.
Rare Bird Alert: December 4, 2020
A stunning male Blue Bunting in south Texas highlights the week that also sees south Texas-y 1sts like Great Kiskadee in Illinois and Couch's Kingbird in Virginia.
Birding Stories from ABA Friends
Greg Neise and Hannah Floyd each have a story to tell in this episode of the American Birding Podcast. Enjoy the spills, thrills, and warbling trills of Greg's record-breaking Big Day. And Hannah enjoys a winter day's birding during the pandemic.
Rare Bird Alert: November 27, 2020
It's La Sagra's season in south Florida, with a bird showing up right on time in the Florida Keys. Also 1st records for Michigan, Prince Edward Island, and possibly Virginia.
This Month in Birding – November 2020
Jody Allair, Tom Johnson, and Jordan Rutter join host Nate Swick to talk winter finches, crossbill angst, voter fraud (for birds), and a wayward owl in New York City.
Rare Bird Alert: November 20, 2020
It's a great week for wayward flycatchers in the ABA Area, with Variegated Flycatcher in Ontario, Cuban Pewee in Florida, and Newfoundland's 1st record of Vermilion Flycatcher. British Columbia, Ohio, and Idaho also host 1sts this week.
What Now in Bird Policy with Tykee James
With a new presidential administration with new conservation priorities on the horizon, Tykee James of On Word for Wildlife joins us to talk about what birders and conservationists in the United States can expect in the next few months.
Rare Bird Alert: November 13, 2020
Virginia becomes the latest state in 2020 to host a Gray Heron, the farthest south this species has been seen in the ABA Area and only the 2nd Lower 48 record. Also, Ash-throated Flycatchers spread across the continent and Evening Grosbeaks hit Florida!
Loving the Unloved Vulture with Katie Fallon
Despite being one of the most ubiquitous birds in the Americas, the homely Turkey Vulture is often saddled with a poor reputation. Katie Fallon, author of "Vulture: The Private Life of an Unloved Bird" wants to change that.
Rare Bird Alert: November 6, 2020
It's Novembird! And the month begins with a real bang in the form of Rhode Island's 1st Common Cuckoo, as well as 1st Yellow-eyed Junco for Kansas and Pacific Golden-Plover for Connecticut.
Kestrels in the Hood with Najada Davis
Filmmaker Najada Davis's experience documenting a pair of American Kestrels nesting in downtown Cleveland became the short film, "Kestrels in the Hood".
Rare Bird Alert: October 30, 2020
Arizona leads with continuing rarities for yet another week, headlined by Eared Quetzals (ABA Code 4) and a Northern Jacana (4). Florida continues to host a Black-faced Grassquit (4) and California has a Red-footed Booby (4). What a week for rare birds with a pair of absolute stunners for the ABA Area. We'll start with the one that many birders got to enjoy up in British Columbia. A Red-backed Shrike (5) in Powell River is the ABA Area's 2nd record (or 2.5th depending on how you count the northern California hybrid from years ago). That first bird,[...]
This Month in Birding – October 2020
Danielle Belleny, Ryan Mandelbaum, and Purbita Saha join host Nate Swick to talk about some of the most interesting birding news from the month of October 2020.
Rare Bird Alert: October 23, 2020
Continuing rarities in the ABA Area come from the south, with the European Golden-Plover (ABA Code 4) in New Mexico still hanging on, and Northern Jacana (4) and Eared Quetzal (4) still being seen in Arizona, at least through the beginning of the week. Florida birders are also keeping tabs on the Red-legged Thrush (5) and Black-faced Grassquit (4) in the Keys. Fall is peak vagrant time for the west coast, and Oregon is coming on strong as they have for the last couple weeks. Most exciting is the potential state 1st Oriental Greenfinch seen in[...]
Birding in the COVID-19 Era, Part 2
We are now in the 7th month of this COVID pandemic purgatory, and way way back in April of this year Birding magazine editor Ted Floyd and host Nate Swick had a conversation about what birding will look like during the pandemic. Well, here we are in October, looking at a long winter wherein COVID is still a concern, but at least we have a slightly greater perspective on what we know and what we don’t about everything. Also, join Nate for Auk the Vote this weekend! Subscribe to the podcast at Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, and Google Play,[...]
Rare Bird Alert: October 16, 2020
As it has all summer and well into the fall, the southwest part of the ABA Area has been full of great birds. This week is no exception, especially with continuing rarities like European Golden-Plover (ABA Code 4) in New Mexico, and Eared Quetzal (4), Northern Jacana (4), and Berylline Hummingbird (4) in Arizona. Alaska has been quieter this year because of the pandemic, but birders willing to travel round the mainland have had some luck. Mostly notably with a Song Thrush (5) in Utqiagvik. This is not only an Alaska 1st but an ABA Area 2nd[...]
Sage-grouse Politics and the American West with Ashley Ahearn
The Greater Sage-Grouse is one of the more bizarre birds in North America and frequently a flashpoint for conservation and land management concerns in the American west. Ashley Ahearn is a public radio and podcast journalist who put herself in the middle of that conflict to create Grouse, an audio series produced by BirdNote and available at all the usual podcast places. She joins host Nate Swick to talk about sage-grouse politics and what it says about the environmental issues we face in the 21st Century. Also, check out Jason Ward on Wait Wait Don't Tell[...]
Rare Bird Alert: October 9, 2020
Fall 2020 continues to be a good one, with multiple 1st records this week including an extraordinary European Golden-Plover in New Mexico of all places. Also 1sts for NC, CT, OH, and DE.
The Secret Life of Rails with Auriel Fournier
Rails are a mysterious and enigmatic family, often requiring and rewarding effort. Researcher Auriel Fournier knows that more than most, and her work with rails in Missouri has shed some light on how these birds migrate, and how they use the landscape when they do. Auriel joins host Nate Swick to talk rallidae and STEM outreach for women. This interview was originally released on August 24, 2017. Here's the link to Paul Riss's documentary Rare Bird Alert. Also, Nate has some thoughts about wildlife illiteracy and rare bird reporting. Subscribe to the podcast at Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, and Google Play,[...]
Rare Bird Alert: October 2, 2020
The amazing Eared Quetzal irruption continues and New Mexico gets into the fun with its 1st record. Northwest Territories boasts a 1st Nashville Warbler and British Columbia hosts a strange pairing of Red-legged Kittiwake and Nazca Booby.
Noc-Mig Magic with Mark James Pearson
Recording and identifying nocturnal flight calls has been a popular way for birders in the ABA Area to document migration, and has inspired an entire community to keep track of those tseep and chips passing overhead this time of year. The COVID-19 pandemic and stay at home orders all over the world have motivated a similar passion in the famously intense UK birding community, and birders recording and documenting Noc-Mig, as it’s called, have made some fascinating discoveries about migration in Europe. Naturalist Mark James Pearson of Yorkshire, UK, is a relatively recent convert and he[...]
Rare Bird Alert: September 25, 2020
Northern Wheatears turn up in Pennsylvania, Ontario, and Massachusetts this week. New Jersey's 1st Wood Sandpiper, South Dakota's 1st Painted Redstart, and Florida's 1st Hermit Warbler.
This Month in Birding – September 2020
Host Nate Swick is joined by Nicole Jackson, Nick Lund, and Mo Stych to talk about all the birding news from September 2020 including mysterious bird deaths, waffle-eating Wood Storks, and a new bird mascot for the University of Illinois.
Rare Bird Alert: September 18, 2020
Hurricane Sally made landfall this week, bringing Mississippi's 1st record of Red-footed Booby with it. Oregon also gets a 1st with Yellow-bellied Flycatcher. And Black-throated Gray Warblers and Neotropic Cormorants continue to turn up across the east.
My So-Called Lifer: Ornithology in High School with Steve Maguire
Most people perceive ornithology as a college course, one of those science electives that can get people into birding long-term. But what if we brought it down to high school and appealed to more students from more backgrounds? That’s the goal of high school teacher Steve Maguire, who has been teaching ornithology in a Massachusetts high school for several years. He joins host Nate Swick to talk about his experiences. Also, a Migratory Bird Treaty update and Nate teaches you how to be a wicked pisher. Thanks to Field Guides for sponsoring this episode. Check out[...]
Rare Bird Alert: September 11, 2020
A bunch of 1st records to report this week - Brewer's Sparrow in PA, Common Ringed Plover in VT, and Bell's Vireo in BC. But the highlight is Massachusetts's (and the Lower 48's) 1st record of Gray Heron near Nantucket Island.
Birding Book Club: All of a Family
It’s time for the American Birding Podcast Birding Book Club and host Nate Swick welcomes bird media reviewers Frank Izaguirre from the ABA’s Birding magazine and Donna Schulman from the website 10,000 Birds to talk family specific guides. What are those, you might ask. We'll chat about identification guides or reference books that focus specifically on one group of birds, frequently, though not always strictly speaking, a family as defined taxonomically. Shorebirds, warblers, raptors, and birds-of-paradise are on the agenda. Thanks to Buteo Books for sponsoring this episode. You can find every one of these titles[...]
Rare Bird Alert: September 4, 2020
Hurricane Laura brought multiple Band-rumped Storm-Petrels into the Midwest, including Indiana's 1st. But the bird of the week was a stunning adult Steller's Sea Eagle (ABA Code 4) at Denali NP in Alaska.
Becoming a Birder, Unintentionally, with Julia Zarankin
Writer Julia Zarankin's new memoir, Field Noted From an Unintentional Birder, is an insightful, funny, and endearing look at the strange path one takes to becoming a birder. Also, host Nate Swick wants you to normalize misidentifying birds.
Rare Bird Alert: August 28, 2020
Brown Boobys are all over the midwest, with birds in Tennessee, Ontario, and Ohio, the latter representing the state's 1st. But bird of the week comes from Florida where Thick-billed Vireos have evidently nested for a second straight year.
This Month in Birding – August 2020
It’s the last Thursday of the month and that means it’s time once again for This Month in Birding. This month's esteemed panel this month has more of a western bent, significantly pulling the mean location of panelists a little bit closer to the Mississippi River at least. We welcome Canada-based bird educator and researcher Jody Allair, ABA Young-birder liaison and Sonoran Joint Venture coordinator Jennie Duberstein, and host of the Fowl Mouths podcast, Sean Milnes. We talk Thick-billed Longspur, Audubon's reckoning with their namesake, the retirement of Ron Pittaway and his Winter Bird Forecast, and[...]
Rare Bird Alert: August 21, 2020
There aren't as many birders in Alaska this fall but there are still plenty of birds, like three Oriental Greenfinches in Unalaska. Also Utah and Washington boast state 1sts this week.
Finally a Field Guide to Hawaii with Helen & André Raine
Helen and André Raine are the authors of the new American Birding Association Field Guide to Birds of Hawaii, the newest and most complete guide to the islands. They join Nate Swick to talk about Hawaiian birds, conservation, and why even birders on the mainland will want this book.
Rare Bird Alert: August 14, 2020
Swallow-tailed Kites continue to make a major push into the northeast and Great Lakes, but the discovery of a Brown Booby on the Current River of Missouri, a state 1st, takes the cake as the bird of the week.
Secrets of Slow Birding with Bridget Butler
Vermont naturalist Bridget Butler has been pushing for birders to better appreciate their immediate surroundings with her “Slow Birding” initiative. She joins host Nate Swick to talk about how birding can create a connection to yourself and the place where you live.
Rare Bird Alert: August 7, 2020
August means vagrant kites and wandering waders, but an Alabama state 1st South Polar Skua is a fantastic highlight of a weather-full week in the ABA Area.
The Evolution of Online Birding with Mike Bergin
In 2020 birders have taken to the internet in droves, but the adoption of perhaps the history’s most profound technological advancement by birders hasn’t been entirely smooth. In all those fits and starts, one person who has been here since the beginning has been Mike Bergin. Mike’s blog, 10,000 Birds, which he now shares with Corey Finger, has been a nearly constant presence in the birdosphere for almost 15 years. He joins host Nate Swick to chat about where we’ve been, where we’re going, and what it's like to be a birder online. Also, Travis Audubon[...]
Rare Bird Alert: July 31, 2020
Because of COVID-19 related Stay-at-Home orders in many states and provinces, the purpose of this report is to keep homebound birders caught up rare bird sightings across the ABA Area during spring migration. We do not endorse the pursuit of rare birds beyond your local area. The ABA urges readers to respect state, provincial, and local restrictions on non-essential travel. The ABA’s Recording Standards and Ethics Committee has released guidelines on how birders should approach this unusual time and we urge birders, whether they are members of the ABA or not, to consider them when deciding whether to[...]
Rare Bird Alert: July 24, 2020
Because of COVID-19 related Stay-at-Home orders in many states and provinces, the purpose of this report is to keep homebound birders caught up rare bird sightings across the ABA Area during spring migration. We do not endorse the pursuit of rare birds beyond your local area. The ABA urges readers to respect state, provincial, and local restrictions on non-essential travel. The ABA’s Recording Standards and Ethics Committee has released guidelines on how birders should approach this unusual time and we urge birders, whether they are members of the ABA or not, to consider them when deciding whether to[...]
Secrets of Shade-Grown Coffee with Ruth Bennett
Every bird organization on the planet encourages bird-friendly coffee, but what does that mean, why are there so many bird-friendly standards, and why is it so important for migratory birds? Dr. Ruth Bennett of the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center has the answers. She’s an avian ecologist with the Smithsonian Bird Friendly habitat initiative which works to optimize bird diversity in commercial coffee and cocoa agro-forests. Hopefully her interview will have you rushing to purchase some ABA Songbird Coffee from Thanksgiving Coffee Company or any coffee from SMBC's list of shade-grown producers. Also, statue news we can[...]
Rare Bird Alert: July 17, 2020
Because of COVID-19 related Stay-at-Home orders in many states and provinces, the purpose of this report is to keep homebound birders caught up rare bird sightings across the ABA Area during spring migration. We do not endorse the pursuit of rare birds beyond your local area. The ABA urges readers to respect state, provincial, and local restrictions on non-essential travel. The ABA’s Recording Standards and Ethics Committee has released guidelines on how birders should approach this unusual time and we urge birders, whether they are members of the ABA or not, to consider them when deciding whether to[...]
J. J. Audubon and the Bird of Washington Fraud with Matthew Halley
John James Audubon is frequently referred to with reverence as the father of the North American ornithology, and has a public reputation that is nearly impeccable. He has birds named after him, the country’s best known bird organization has his name, and is widely acknowledged as both a skilled painter and the best of the gentleman naturalists of the 19th century. But not so fast, says ornithologist and historian Matthew Halley, in a recently published article in Bulletin of the British Ornithologist’s Club called "Audubon's Bird of Washington: unravelling the fraud that launched The birds of America".[...]
Rare Bird Alert: July 10, 2020
Because of COVID-19 related Stay-at-Home orders in many states and provinces, the purpose of this report is to keep homebound birders caught up rare bird sightings across the ABA Area during spring migration. We do not endorse the pursuit of rare birds beyond your local area. The ABA urges readers to respect state, provincial, and local restrictions on non-essential travel. The ABA’s Recording Standards and Ethics Committee has released guidelines on how birders should approach this unusual time and we urge birders, whether they are members of the ABA or not, to consider them when deciding whether to[...]
How Birders can Save the Migratory Bird Treaty Act with Tykee James
Birders are undoubtedly familiar with the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, at least by name, and recent proposed changes to that venerable piece of conservation legislation by the Trump Administration have environmental groups concerned about the long-term impacts on birds. Tykee James, host of On Word for Wildlife, a wildlife and politics podcast on the Wildlife Observer Network, and a government affairs professional joins host Nate Swick to talk about what the MBTA does and what birders can do to address these changes including commenting here before July 20! Also, thoughts on the AOS's McCown's Longspur announcement[...]
Rare Bird Alert: July 3, 2020
Because of COVID-19 related Stay-at-Home orders in many states and provinces, the purpose of this report is to keep homebound birders caught up rare bird sightings across the ABA Area during spring migration. We do not endorse the pursuit of rare birds beyond your local area. The ABA urges readers to respect state, provincial, and local restrictions on non-essential travel. The ABA’s Recording Standards and Ethics Committee has released guidelines on how birders should approach this unusual time and we urge birders, whether they are members of the ABA or not, to consider them when deciding whether to[...]
Conservation, Cooperation, and NABCI with Judith Scarl
When it comes to bird conservation in North America, there are so many groups that need to be engaged. You've got government agencies from many nations alongside multiple non-profits all invested in protecting birds. But how do they know to coordinate efforts, to spread their influence, or at least, how not to get in each other’s way. Into this space comes the North American Bird Conservation Initiative--NABCI for short-- whose US coordinator Judith Scarl joins Nate Swick to talk about how they get it all done. Plus, another Cedar Waxwing Story from Tyler Wilson of Bend,[...]
Rare Bird Alert: June 26, 2020
Because of COVID-19 related Stay-at-Home orders in many states and provinces, the purpose of this report is to keep homebound birders caught up rare bird sightings across the ABA Area during spring migration. We do not endorse the pursuit of rare birds beyond your local area. The ABA urges readers to respect state, provincial, and local restrictions on non-essential travel. The ABA’s Recording Standards and Ethics Committee has released guidelines on how birders should approach this unusual time and we urge birders, whether they are members of the ABA or not, to consider them when deciding whether to[...]
This Month in Birding – June 2020
It's This Month in Birding, a panel discussion covering the best bird news we might have missed here at the ABP for the last month. This episode features a panel of science writers and birders, Ryan Mandelbaum of IBM and Gizmodo, Purbita Saha of Popular Science and The Birdist Nick Lund! We cover Black Birders Week, Female Bird Day, murder loons, politics that birders needs to watch out for, and everybody's hottest bird takes. Links to topics discussed: Black Birders Week Female Bird Day Hooded Warbler Females take on nesting themselves A loon murders an eagle?[...]
Rare Bird Alert: June 19, 2020
Because of COVID-19 related Stay-at-Home orders in many states and provinces, the purpose of this report is to keep homebound birders caught up rare bird sightings across the ABA Area during spring migration. We do not endorse the pursuit of rare birds beyond your local area. The ABA urges readers to respect state, provincial, and local restrictions on non-essential travel. The ABA’s Recording Standards and Ethics Committee has released guidelines on how birders should approach this unusual time and we urge birders, whether they are members of the ABA or not, to consider them when deciding whether to travel[...]
#BlackBirdersWeek and Its Impact with Corina Newsome & Tykee James
Following birder Christian Cooper’s encounter with a racist white woman in Central Park on Memorial Day, a group of Black birders and naturalists created #BlackBirdersWeek, an online event to celebrate Black naturalists and scientists and to draw attention to the unique issues birding can pose to Black people. Co-organizers Corina Newsome and Tykee James join host Nate Swick to talk about what the week meant to them, and where we need to go from here. Corina Newsome is an ornithology graduate student at Georgia Southern University and Tykee James is the government affairs coordinator for National[...]
Rare Bird Alert: June 12, 2020
Because of COVID-19 related Stay-at-Home orders in many states and provinces, the purpose of this report is to keep homebound birders caught up rare bird sightings across the ABA Area during spring migration. We do not endorse the pursuit of rare birds beyond your local area. The ABA urges readers to respect state, provincial, and local restrictions on non-essential travel. The ABA’s Recording Standards and Ethics Committee has released guidelines on how birders should approach this unusual time and we urge birders, whether they are members of the ABA or not, to consider them when deciding whether to[...]
2020 Splits and Lumps with Nick Block
It’s split and lump season again. And that means Dr. Nick Block, professor of Biology at Stonehill College in Easton, Massachusetts and Secretary of the ABA’s Recording Standards and Ethics Committee, is back on the podcast. He joins host Nate Swick to talk Northwestern Crow, Great White Heron, messy duck genetics, and scrub-less jays. #BlackBirdersWeek was last week! Don't miss the Birding while Black panels. Session 1 and Session 2 can be found on Facebook. ABA members are eligible for a 15% discount to Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s Birds of the World subscription. Log into your ABA account[...]
Rare Bird Alert: June 5, 2020
Because of COVID-19 related Stay-at-Home orders in many states and provinces, the purpose of this report is to keep homebound birders caught up rare bird sightings across the ABA Area during spring migration. We do not endorse the pursuit of rare birds beyond your local area. The ABA urges readers to respect state, provincial, and local restrictions on non-essential travel. The ABA’s Recording Standards and Ethics Committee has released guidelines on how birders should approach this unusual time and we urge birders, whether they are members of the ABA or not, to consider them when deciding whether to[...]
What It’s Like to Be a Bird with David Sibley
David Sibley hardly needs an introduction to the ABA’s audience. He is the author and illustrator of what is the most popular field guide in North America, and the one simply known by his name - The Sibley Guide, now in its second edition. David has a new book out earlier this year, What It’s Like to Be a Bird: What Birds are doing and Why – from Flying to Nesting, Eating to Singing. It is a look at the fascinating behaviors and lives of our familiar birds, and, of course, a vehicle for David’s amazing[...]
Rare Bird Alert: May 29, 2020
Because of COVID-19 related Stay-at-Home orders in many states and provinces, the purpose of this report is to keep homebound birders caught up rare bird sightings across the ABA Area during spring migration. We do not endorse the pursuit of rare birds beyond your local area. The ABA urges readers to respect state, provincial, and local restrictions on non-essential travel. The ABA’s Recording Standards and Ethics Committee has released guidelines on how birders should approach this unusual time and we urge birders, whether they are members of the ABA or not, to consider them when deciding whether[...]
This Month in Birding – May 2020
The American Birding Podcast brings you This Month in Birding, a panel discussion covering the best bird news we might have missed here at the ABP for the last month. This episode features a panel of birding podcasts, Sean Milnes of Fowl Mouths Podcast and Sarah Bloemers and Mo Stych of Bird Sh't. It's a conversation that covers the gamut from Piping Plover love and the best birding clothes to Fast and the Furious and Samuel L. Jackson. Links to topics discussed: AOS changes the name of The Auk Piping Plovers in Chicago What to Wear While[...]
Rare Bird Alert: May 22, 2020
Because of COVID-19 related Stay-at-Home orders in many states and provinces, the purpose of this report is to keep homebound birders caught up rare bird sightings across the ABA Area during spring migration. We do not endorse the pursuit of rare birds beyond your local area. The ABA urges readers to respect state, provincial, and local restrictions on non-essential travel. The ABA’s Recording Standards and Ethics Committee has released guidelines on how birders should approach this unusual time and we urge birders, whether they are members of not, to consider them when deciding whether to travel to[...]
City Pigeons and Urban Evolution with Elizabeth Carlen
The humble Rock Pigeon can provide some interesting insights into how natural selection is impacted by the urban environment. In fact, that is the work of Elizabeth Carlen, a PhD candidate at Fordham University.
Rare Bird Alert: May 15, 2020
Because of COVID-19 related Stay-at-Home orders in many states and provinces, the purpose of this report is to keep homebound birders caught up rare bird sightings across the ABA Area during spring migration. We do not endorse the pursuit of rare birds beyond your local area. The ABA urges readers to respect state, provincial, and local restrictions on non-essential travel. The ABA’s Recording Standards and Ethics Committee has released guidelines on how birders should approach this unusual time and we urge birders, whether they are members of not, to consider them when deciding whether to travel to[...]
Birding Book Club – Big Year Narratives
In recent years it has seemed as though doing an ABA Area Big Year means that you have to write a book about it, but the form's roots can be traced to Roger Tory Peterson himself. What makes them so popular? Are they travelogue, sporting conquest, adventure, or some combination? Or is the appeal as simple as wish fulfillment? 10,000 Birds media reviewer Donna Schulman and Birding magazine media review editor Frank Izaguirre join host Nate Swick to talk about Big Year narratives and what makes them great in the first edition of the ABP Birding[...]
Rare Bird Alert: May 8, 2020
Because of COVID-19 related Stay-at-Home orders in many states and provinces, the purpose of this report is to keep homebound birders caught up rare bird sightings across the ABA Area during spring migration. The ABA urges readers to respect state, provincial, and local restrictions on non-essential travel. The ABA’s Recording Standards and Ethics Committee has released guidelines on how birders should approach this unusual time and we urge birders, whether they are members of not, to consider them when deciding whether to travel to see a rare bird. Stay safe and healthy. everyone. Both continuing rarities we're keeping[...]
The Bird Way with Jennifer Ackerman
Welcome to the new weekly American Birding Podcast! Jennifer Ackerman is the New York Times best-selling author and essayist who wrote The Genius of Birds and a great many other science books. Her newest, out this week, is The Bird Way: A New Look at how Birds Talk, Work, Play, Parent, and Think. It's a companion to that much loved earlier book, exploring the many creative, novel, and bizarre ways in which birds approach problems that they face and what that says about bird cognition and intelligence. Also, a Cedar Waxwing story from Karina Li of[...]
Rare Bird Alert: May 1, 2020
Because of COVID-19 related Stay-at-Home orders in many states and provinces, the purpose of this report is to keep homebound birders caught up rare bird sightings across the ABA Area during spring migration. The ABA urges readers to respect state, provincial, and local restrictions on non-essential travel. The ABA’s Recording Standards and Ethics Committee has released guidelines on how birders should approach this unusual time and we urge birders, whether they are members of not, to consider them when deciding whether to travel to see a rare bird. Stay safe and healthy. everyone. Migration is fully on now,[...]
Rare Bird Alert: April 24, 2020
Because of COVID-19 related Stay-at-Home orders in many states and provinces, the purpose of this report is to keep homebound birders caught up rare bird sightings across the ABA Area during spring migration. The ABA urges readers to respect state, provincial, and local restrictions on non-essential travel. The ABA’s Recording Standards and Ethics Committee has released guidelines on how birders should approach this unusual time and we urge birders, whether they are members of not, to consider them when deciding whether to travel to see a rare bird. Stay safe and healthy. everyone. The Garganey (ABA Code[...]
Rare Bird Alert: April 17, 2020
Because of COVID-19 related Stay-at-Home orders in many states and provinces, the purpose of this report is to keep homebound birders caught up rare bird sightings across the ABA Area during spring migration. The ABA urges readers to respect state, provincial, and local restrictions on non-essential travel. The ABA’s Recording Standards and Ethics Committee has released guidelines on how birders should approach this unusual time and we urge birders, whether they are members of not, to consider them when deciding whether to travel to see a rare bird. Stay safe and healthy. everyone. It's Ruff season across much[...]
Birding in the COVID-19 Era with Ted Floyd & Brodie Cass Talbott
The COVID-19 crisis has forced us all to take stock of how we do everything, and birding and birding community events are hardly unique. It's impossible to think about anything else so we just decided to devote an entire episode to it. Host Nate Swick is joined by Brodie Cass Talbott, an educator from Portland Audubon, in Portland, Oregon, who has been adapting to this situation in novel ways, and frequent guest Birding editor Ted Floyd. They talk about how bird clubs are adapting, what we should expect from our fellow birders as the pandemic continues, and[...]
Rare Bird Alert: April 10, 2020
Because of COVID-19 related Stay-at-Home orders in many states and provinces, the purpose of this report is to keep homebound birders caught up rare bird sightings across the ABA Area during spring migration. The ABA urges readers to respect state, provincial, and local restrictions on non-essential travel. The ABA's Recording Standards and Ethics Committee has released guidelines on how birders should approach this unusual time and we urge birders, whether they are members of not, to consider them when deciding whether to travel to see a rare bird. Stay safe and healthy. everyone. Shockingly, we have[...]
Rare Bird Alert: April 3, 2020
We're still going to continue doing this weekly feature even while COVID-19 is making birding and, especially, rarity chasing more difficult. Please abide by state and local restrictions on movement and CDC recommendations on groups. We at the ABA still believe that birding can be practiced responsibly in this strange time, and we urge birders in our community to take these precautions seriously so that we can continue to do so. In returning vagrants, the Garganey (ABA Code 4) in California was seen into this week. The Florida rarities we hd been keeping tabs on for several[...]
Birdsong for the Curious Naturalist with Don Kroodsma
It’s hard to step out your backdoor these days without being overwhelmed by birdsong. Spring is easing northward across the continent and with it, an increase in the activities of birds. Few people know this like ornithologist and author Donald Kroodsma, professor emeritus or ornithology at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and the author of a great many books on bird vocalizations. He joins host Nate Swick today to talk about his most recent book, Birdsong for the Curious Naturalist just in time for the annual explosion of birdsong in the northern hemisphere. Also, is birding[...]
Rare Bird Alert: March 27, 2020
Zugunruhe is taking hold among our remaining ABA Area vagrants. Well, zugunruhe or the fact that the sites where they are found are closing due to the COVID-19 outbreak (in the case of the long-staying La Sagra's Flycatcher in Florida at least).
Rare Bird Alert: March 20, 2020
Birders are self-isolating but that doesn't yet mean we can't go out birding provided we take proper precautions. You may as well take advantage of this time to find some interesting birds. Even in this strange time, the continuing foursome of notable ABA vagrants is the same as it has been for a while. Thick-billed Vireo (ABA Code 4) and La Sagra's Flycatcher (4) in Florida, a Garganey (4) in California, and that Siberian Accentor (4) Washington. It's getting ridiculous in south Texas with regard to Fork-tailed Flycatchers (3) and one more--I think the third this year--was found[...]
A Message from the ABA Regarding the COVID-19 Emergency
Dear ABA Members and Friends, The past week has been unlike anything any of us have ever experienced. As is the case with all of you, our lives as members of the ABA staff have been filled with anxiety and disruption. Fortunately, all of us on the staff remain healthy, and we have in place a solid plan for working from our homes. The ABA is open for business, and we expect to be able to continue operations for the foreseeable future. With this letter to you, we will outline the ABA programs that will function essentially[...]
Bird Rehab Behind the Scenes with Ioana Seritan
The world of bird rehabilitation is a unique aspect of the way that people interact with birds, and those that do the dirty work of helping wild birds get back to normal following scrapes with human things get an up close and personal look at birds that many of us just look at through binoculars or scopes. Birding Magazine Associate Editor Ioana Seritan does just that in her day job. She's a Wildlife Rehabilitation Technician at the International Bird Rescue in California’s Bay Area and she joins host Nate Swick to talk about bird rehab from[...]
2020 AOS Classification Committee Proposals, Parts 2 and 3
We got another big batch of new bird taxonomy proposals submitted to the American Ornithological Society’s North and Middle America Classification Committee for 2020. The AOS NMACC is the volunteer group of ornithologists who make the split, lump, and name-change decisions that influence the ABA Checklist and our field guides.
2020 AOS Classification Committee Proposals, Part 1
Here is the first rundown of the new bird taxonomy proposals submitted to the American Ornithological Society’s North and Middle America Classification Committee for 2020.
Rare Bird Alert: March 13, 2020
Noteworthy birds in the ABA Area not practicing social distancing from ABA Area birders this week (I'm so sorry), include the the Siberian Accentor (ABA Code 4) in Washington, the Garganey (4) in California, and continuing La Sagra's Flycatcher (4) and Thick-billed Vireo (4) in Florida. It was another relatively slow week around the ABA Area in terms of rare birds, but a Great Cormorant in Elbert, Georgia is a nice bird much farther south than one would typically expect this species. The most noteworthy new bird of the week comes from Iowa, where a Smew (4)[...]
Rare Bird Alert: March 6, 2020
Still continuing into the first week of spring, at least meteorologically speaking, Garganey (ABA Code 4) in California, and the Caribbean pair of La Sagra's Flycatcher (4) and Thick-billed Vireo (4) Florida. The Siberian Accentor (4) in Washington was seen into this week as well, a real treat for birders still looking to see this special Siberian vagrant. We are well into the early spring doldrums with regard to significant ABA Area rarities, though your part of the continent is probably seeing an increase in bird song of late and activity if my neighborhood is any[...]
On Non-Native Birds in the ABA Area with Peter Pyle
Of the 1116 species on the ABA checklist, around 50 are what we classify as “non-native”. These are species from other parts of the world introduced either to the North American mainland or, frequently, to Hawaii.
Rare Bird Alert: February 28, 2020
Washington continues to host a Siberian Accentor (4) into this week, and Florida birders are continuing to keep track of a pair of Caribbean specialities in the south of the state in the form of a Thick-billed Vireo (4) and a La Sagra’s Flycatcher (4).
Rare Bird Alert: February 21, 2020
Rare birds continuing into the third week of February include the stunning Siberian Accentor (ABA Code 4) in Washington, plus of familiars La Sagra's Flycatcher (4) in Florida and Garganey (4) in California. There was one first record to report this week, in North Carolina where a Bronzed Cowbird visiting a feeder in Carteret would be a state 1st. Bronzed Cowbird is typically a bird of the south-central and southwest of the ABA Area but has been moving eastward in recently years to the point where it is uncommon but regular in Florida. And speaking of Florida,[...]
The Importance of a Breeding Bird Atlas with Gabriel Foley
Many states and provinces are increasingly interested in tackling a comprehensive survey of the birds in their regions. With the help help of technology, this ambitious undertaking is more achievable than ever.
Rare Bird Alert: February 14, 2020
Last week's Siberian Accentor (ABA Code 4) in Washington joins the familiar La Sagra's Flycatcher (4) in Florida and long-staying Garganey (4) in California in the continuing category. The Accentor appears to be pretty pretty reliable these days, which is fantastic for all the birders who have made the trip to see this stunning east Asian vagrant.
Rare Bird Alert: February 7, 2020
IVORY GULL in Montana! SIBERIAN ACCENTOR in Washington! Late winter is producing some interesting rare birds across the ABA Area. Get caught up at the ABA's Rare Bird Alert.
Affinity and Identity in the Queer Birders of North America with Jennifer Rycenga & Michael Retter
Jennifer Rycenga and Michael Retter of QBNA (LGBTQ+ Birders of North America) discuss how the group came to be and why it's still essential. Also, some thoughts on the changes to the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.
Rare Bird Alert: January 31, 2020
As with last week, a La Sagra's Flycatcher (ABA Code 4) in Florida and a Garganey (4) in California represent the continuing continental rarities. Newfoundland has had an excellent winter for Redwing (4), and the third of the season was found this week in Clarenville, not entirely unexpected this time of year in the eastern most point of North America. Photo: Pauline Drover, used with permission It has already been a noteworthy winter for vagrant alcids, and Connecticut joins the fun with its 10th Thick-billed Murre seen near Stonington. It's an alcid kind of[...]
Rare Bird Alert: January 24, 2020
Exciting for Oregon this week was a Mountain Plover discovered in Clatsop. The bird is quite close, as the plover flies, from an individual in extreme southwestern Washington a few weeks ago, and birders have speculated that this might be the same bird having relocated across the mouth of the Columbia River.
2020 Bird of the Year Artist Tony Fitzpatrick
Tony’s work has been featured in major American museums and on the covers of roots albums. He is every bit as gregarious as a Cedar Waxwing, as you’ll see in this interview with host Nate Swick from this year’s Bird of the Year reveal party in Tony’s hometown of Chicago.
Rare Bird Alert: January 17, 2020
Continuing rare birds in the ABA Area include the La Sagra’s Flycatcher (ABA Code 4) in Florida and a female Garganey (4) in California.
Rare Bird Alert: January 10, 2020
Continuing rarities in the ABA Area include a Garganey (ABA Code 4) in California, both La Sagra’s Flycatcher (4) and Antillean Palm-Swift (5) in Florida, and a Streak-backed Oriole (4) continuing to visit a feeder in Arizona.
Rare Bird Alert: January 2, 2020
Welcome to 2020! As is typically the case, we ease into the rare bird world at the top of the year. But there are a couple nice state firsts for those birders looking to get their year lists off right.
2020 Bird of the Year: Cedar Waxwing
Famously gregarious, Cedar Waxwings are all about community. They share berries, they congregate at fruiting trees, they even occasionally over-imbibe. Birders, too, are frequently a social bunch.
Best Bird Books of 2019 with Donna Schulman
As is our tradition, the end of the year means it’s time for a look back at the best bird books published this year. Once again, 10,000 Birds book reviewer Donna Schulman joins me to talk about our favorites. Donna and I each share our Top 5, including field guides, family specific guides, and narratives from well-known authors and publishers. Thanks to Zeiss Sports Optics for sponsoring this episode! Subscribe to the podcast at Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, and Google Play, and please leave a rating or a review if you are so inclined! We appreciate it! Donna’s Top 5 1) Oceanic Birds of the World –[...]
Best Bird Books of 2018 with Donna Schulman
We're getting to the end of the year and it's time for a look back at the best bird books published in 2018. Once again, 10,000 Birds book reviewer Donna Schulman joins me to talk about our favorites. Donna and I each share our Top 5, including field guides, family specific guides, and narratives from well-known authors and publishers. Thanks to Space Coast Birding & Nature Festival for sponsoring this episode. Join the ABA in Titusville this January for great birding and fellowship! Subscribe to the podcast at Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, and Google Play, and please leave a rating or a review if[...]
This Month in Birding—June 2026
Bird experts Sarah Swanson, Tim Healy, and Jason Hall join host Nate Swick for a round-up of recent ornithology research and birding news—everything from raven behavior to shorebird tracking to invasive species biology.
