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, read more >>
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 read more >>
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, read more >>
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, read more >>
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 read more >>
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 read more >>
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 read more >>
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 read more >>
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 read more >>
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 read more >>
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 read more >>
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 read more >>
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 read more >>
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 read more >>
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 read more >>
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 read more >>
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 read more >>
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! read more >>
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 read more >>
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 read more >>
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 read more >>
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 read more >>
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 read more >>
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 read more >>
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, read more >>
Tales from the Southern Ocean with Katinka Domen & Ted Floyd
ABA staffers Katinka Domen and Ted Floyd recently accompanied an ABA excursion to the land of penguins and albatrosses. They join host Nate Swick to talk about what it's like to visit the southernmost continent on Earth, and what ecotourism looks like in this unique place. Also, the ABA Bird of the Year 2023 is Belted Kingfisher! 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 read more >>
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 read more >>
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 read more >>
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 read more >>
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 read more >>
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? read more >>
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, read more >>
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 read more >>
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 read more >>
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 read more >>
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 read more >>
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 read more >>
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 read more >>
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 read more >>
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 read more >>
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, read more >>
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 read more >>
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 read more >>
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, read more >>
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 read more >>
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 read more >>
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 read more >>
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 read more >>
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 read more >>
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 read more >>
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! read more >>
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 read more >>
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 read more >>
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 read more >>
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 read more >>
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 read more >>
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, read more >>
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 read more >>
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 read more >>
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 read more >>
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, read more >>
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 read more >>
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 read more >>
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 read more >>
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! read more >>
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. read more >>
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 read more >>
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 read more >>
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 read more >>
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 read more >>
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 read more >>
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 read more >>
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 read more >>
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 read more >>
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 read more >>
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 read more >>
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 read more >>
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 read more >>
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 read more >>
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 read more >>
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 read more >>
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 read more >>
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 read more >>
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 read more >>
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. read more >>
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, read more >>
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 read more >>
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 read more >>
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, read more >>
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 read more >>
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 read more >>
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 read more >>
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 read more >>
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 read more >>
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 read more >>
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 read more >>
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 read more >>
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 read more >>
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 read more >>
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 read more >>
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 read more >>
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, read more >>
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 read more >>
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 read more >>
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 read more >>
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 read more >>
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 read more >>
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 read more >>
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 read more >>
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 read more >>
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 read more >>
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 read more >>
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 read more >>
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, read more >>
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 read more >>
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 read more >>
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 read more >>
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 read more >>
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 read more >>
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 read more >>
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. read more >>
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 read more >>
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 read more >>
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 read 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 read more >>
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 read more >>
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 read more >>
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 read more >>
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 read more >>
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 read more >>
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 read more >>
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.
New Faces at the ABA with Katinka Domen & Laura Guerard
The second half of 2021 has been an exciting half-year for the ABA, not least of which because we got to welcome two new colleagues. Katinka Domen and Laura Guerard are the Coordinators of our Travel and Events program and our Young Birder programs respectively. Both come to their positions having worked extensively in their field and with big ideas about how to make these two pillars of American Birding Association bigger, better, and more fun for birders of every age and station. We're excited to introduce them to you. Subscribe to the podcast at Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, read more >>
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 read more >>
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, read more >>
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 read more >>
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 read more >>
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 read more >>
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! read more >>
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 read more >>
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). read more >>
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 read more >>
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 read more >>
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. read more >>
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 read more >>
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 read more >>
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 read more >>
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 read more >>
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 read more >>
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. read more >>
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, read more >>
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 read more >>
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 read more >>
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 read more >>
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 read more >>
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 read more >>
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 read more >>
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 read more >>
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 read more >>
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 read more >>
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. read more >>
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. read more >>
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 read more >>
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. read more >>
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 read more >>
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 read more >>
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 read more >>
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, read more >>
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 read more >>
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 read more >>
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 read more >>
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. read more >>
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 read more >>
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 read more >>
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 read more >>
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 read more >>
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. read more >>
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 read more >>
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 read more >>
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 read more >>
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 read more >>
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 read more >>
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 read more >>
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, read more >>
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 read more >>
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 read more >>
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 read more >>
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 read more >>
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 read more >>
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 read more >>
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 read more >>
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.