Bird Facts

Join Kristen, Maeve, and special guest Caleb as they discuss the iconic and charismatic Black-Capped Chickadee. Caleb brings all the fun and all the facts about this bird, who is famous for its distinctively 'cute' look, charming personality, and beautiful calls. Learn and laugh with us as we discuss all things chickadee, including how their calls mimic some of the qualities of human language. You won't want to miss this episode and Caleb's personal riveting and drama-filled chickadee stories. 

Research for today’s episode came from the following sources:

https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Black-capped_Chickadee/overview

https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Black-capped_Chickadee/overview

http://www.biokids.umich.edu/critters/Parus_atricapillus/#8a933601863e971c08bae7e0aa70e42e

https://www.sialis.org/chickadee.htm

Stokes, D., & Stokes, L. Q. (2013). The New Stokes Field Guide to Birds: Eastern Region. Little, Brown and Company.

Additional Resources:

Bird clothes: https://www.birdcollective.com/

Video chickadee hammering open a seed to get the nutrients inside. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ExN8cPx08VU

Various chickadee calls https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Lfc8pea7xs

How to tell a black-capped Chickadee from a Carolina Chickadee https://feederwatch.org/learn/tricky-bird-ids/black-capped-chickadee-and-carolina-chickadee/

How to Build a nest box for the black-capped Chickadee https://nestwatch.org/learn/all-about-birdhouses/birds/black-capped-chickadee/

More about bird alarm calls https://www.allaboutbirds.org/news/look-out-the-backyard-bird-alarm-call-network/#

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Thanks for listening, and happy birding!

Kristen tells Maeve all about the strikingly beautiful Northern Cardinal, a small songbird native to North America. The males of this species are a deep crimson all year round and mating pairs can stay together for years at a time. Learn along with us as Maeve finds out the origin of the name cardinal for this bird and hear Kristen do an impression of the cardinal's call when her microphone was not picking up the real bird call. You won't want to miss this episode!

Research for today’s episode came from the following sources:

https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Northern_Cardinal/overview

https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Northern_Cardinal/overview

Additional Resources:

Live  bird feeder in the UK sometimes has cardinals https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MtGUTs_HgcE

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Email us: [email protected]

Twitter: @birdfactspod

Thanks for listening, and happy birding!

Come on a journey with us as Kristen tells Maeve about the double-crested cormorant, who hangs out with the American white pelican, which we discussed in our last episode. Like other cormorants, the double-crested is a diving bird that zooms underwater for fish. This one has “striking aquamarine eyes that sparkle like jewels.”

Research for today’s episode came from the following sources:

https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Double-crested_Cormorant/overview

https://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/double-crested-cormorant

Additional Resources:

Double crested cormorant drying its feathers

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8H_JVWLfl1U

A different species of cormorant swimming underwater

https://youtu.be/FJtF4VvKBTA

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Twitter: @birdfactspod

Thanks for listening, and happy birding!

The American White Pelican is a large, graceful bird that forages for fish in shallow bodies of water. Kristen and Maeve talk about how beautiful the pelican is in flight, clear up a common misconception about their famous pouch, and discuss how pelican populations have been affected by climate change. This bird is also friends with the double-crested cormorant, which you can catch in our next episode!

Research for today’s episode came from the following sources:

https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/American_White_Pelican/id

https://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/american-white-pelican

https://www.wpr.org/study-american-white-pelican-continues-expand-across-great-lakes-region

Additional Resources:

A video of American White Pelicans timed to classical music https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xzTpOL9KpQA

American White Pelicans “looking for love”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=msNM72-pH_c

A Go-Pro on an American White Pelican - watch it fish!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zwI9omOWH9k

Pelican scenes from Finding Nemo

https://youtu.be/Gpe0n9UgwqI

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Twitter: @birdfactspod

Thanks for listening, and happy birding!

In this episode Kristen and Maeve discuss the Peregrine Falcon, an elegant bird of prey found around the world. Famous for its flight speed, peregrine falcons engage in spectacular dives - reaching speeds up to 200mph/320kmh! Some say it is the fastest bird in the world. Come learn with us about how this bird establishes such an amazing feat.

Research for today’s episode came from the following sources:

https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Peregrine_Falcon/overview

https://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/peregrine-falcon

https://www.nature.org/en-us/about-us/where-we-work/united-states/indiana/stories-in-indiana/peregrine-falcons/#:~:text=DDT%20poisoning%20was%20especially%20harmful,and%20fish%20contaminated%20with%20DDT.

https://www.peregrinefund.org/

Additional Resources:

Watch a peregrine falcon dive after prey:

https://youtu.be/legzXQlFNjs

Great informational video from the Smithsonian:

https://youtu.be/ovocT91G1ww

Ride on the back of a falcon

https://youtu.be/8jXkOdtj1HM

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Twitter: @birdfactspod

Thanks for listening, and happy birding!

This week Kristen and Maeve chat with Denise Penizotto, a master's student studying the sacred arts at Harvard Divinity School. Denise tells us about the spiritually fulfilling practice of painting birds, including what makes birds excellent subjects for art such as plumage and folklore. We each also share which bird we would be if we could choose. You can find Denise's art on her website, http://www.denisepenizzotto.com/, and connect with her on Instagram @denisepenizzotto. 

Research for today’s episode came from the following sources:

Denise!

Follow us on Instagram: @birdfactspod

Email us: [email protected]

Twitter: @birdfactspod

Thanks for listening, and happy birding!

Join Kristen and Maeve with special guest Kristen W. for a special long episode all about chickens! Curious what that little red thing is by your yolk, whether store bought white eggs are actually bleached, or where the term ‘pecking order’ comes from, or what chicken bridesmaids look like? Interested in raising chickens yourself? Come along with us on our bird journey where Kristen W. answers all your pressing chicken-related questions.

Research for today’s episode came from the following sources:

Kristen W!

Additional Resources:

Egg song sounds came from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=47l396ZWWRo

Check out our Instagram account for photos of chicken bridesmaids and Kristen W. (in her chicken costume) posing with Kristen M. (not in a chicken costume) for Halloween 2018.

Follow us on Instagram: @birdfactspod

Email us: [email protected]

Twitter: @birdfactspod

Thanks for listening, and happy birding!

In this podcast, Kristen tells Maeve facts about a bird a week. Come learn about this brightly-colored bird who can catch bugs mid-air! Escape into nature with us and away from your daily life--and learn a thing or two along the way. 

In this podcast, Kristen tells Maeve facts about a bird a week. Join us as we chat about the beautiful and evasive pine warbler, a little bird with a big song in its heart. Check out this episode to learn about an impromptu bird funeral and what Topanga Lawrence has to do with pine warblers. Escape into nature and away from your daily life--and learn a thing or two along the way. 

Shownotes:

Research for today’s episode came from the following sources:

https://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/pine-warbler

https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Pine_Warbler/id

https://www.audubon.org/news/ask-kenn-what-exactly-warbler

Additional Resources:

https://www.audubon.org/news/two-fantastic-warblers-anyone-can-find

https://www.audubon.org/news/how-tell-apart-sound-alike-warblers

Follow us on Instagram: @birdfactspod

Email us: [email protected]

Thanks for listening, and happy birding!