Open data connects the world in unexpected ways—like tracking bird populations and migrations using weather data and machine learning. Listen to learn why birds are important “measuring sticks” for how our environment is changing, and why we should all care about how and why their numbers are dwindling. We sat down with Jed Sundwall, head of the Amazon Web Services (AWS) open data program to learn more about what open data is and what role it plays in research around the world. We also chatted with three researchers from the Cornell University Lab of Ornithology, including John Fitzpatrick, director of the lab, and Adriaan Dokter and Tom Auer, two researchers working on the lab’s BirdCast and eBird projects. They shared how they use weather data to track bird migrations, populations, and more with open data and machine learning.