BirdCallsRadio

Eric Powers, biologist

Here is the June 17, 2012, BirdCallsRadio archive featuring Eric Powers as the guest. Powers is a biologist and founder of Your Connection to Nature (www.yc2n.com). He conducts programs with schools on Long Island Sound whereby teachers hatch Northern Bobwhite eggs and Powers broods them and eventually releases them to control the tick population in local parks.

Powers discovered a link between the disappearance of our ground birds and the explosion of our tick population. Instead of teachers raising ducks and not knowing what to do with them after they grew, Powers suggested using the Northern Bobwhite, a native species that could be released into the wild.

Powers also has other exciting nature projects and has visited all 50 states. Learn more about his programs and travels by clicking archives here. bcr6-17-12 eric powers

It was also the Father’s Day show, so I read some letters from listeners about their fathers. Joe Warren talks about fathers in the bird world and also goldfinches.

Thanks for tuning in to BirdCallsRadio.

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John Marzluff and Tony Angell, authors of “Gifts of the Crow: How Perception, Emotion, and Thought Allow Smart Birds to Behave Like Humans,” which was recently released by Free Press on June 5, 2012.  Listen as the authors discuss in detail crows, other corvids, and some of the amazing stories associated with these amazing and interesting birds.

Do crows leave “gifts” for humans? Do crows hold funerals for fallen crows? Do crows learn behavior from rewards or punishments? Listen in to hear what the authors have to say.

John Marzluff ©Keith Brust . All Rights Reserved.

John Marzluff, Ph.D., is Professor of Wildlife Science at the University of Washington. The author of four books and more than 100 scientific papers on various aspects of bird behavior, his research has been the focus of articles in the New York Times, National Geographic, Audubon, Boys Life, The Seattle Times, and National Wildlife.

Tony Angell. All Rights Reserved

Tony Angell is an illustrator and sculptor, he has authored and/or illustrated a dozen award-winning books related to natural history. Most recently, his drawings in the coauthored book, In the Company of Crows and Ravens, received the prestigious Victoria/Albert prize. Tony’s drawings, paintings, and three-dimensional works all come from nature and the wilds of our own backyard.

Host, Mardi Dickinson also talks about the Red Knot shorebirds and Horseshoe Crabs at the beginning of the show.

Mardi also introduces the first Norwalk Seaport Association birdwatching cruise ticket giveaway _ and she gives the keyword you’ll need to win the tickets. See the previous post on this site for full details. Simply email me the keyword and you are entered to win a pair of tickets to this weekend’s cruise.

Gifts of the Crow – Photographic Article

John Marzluff, Ph.D

Tony Angell – Master Artist

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The post BCR 057: John Marzluff & Tony Angell, Gifts of the Crow appeared first on BirdCallsRadio™ | Exploring birdlife around the world™.

Greg Hanisek ©Republican-American photo

Here is the archive of the Sunday, June 3, 2012, BirdCallsRadio show featuring Greg Hanisek as the guest. Greg is an editor and nature columnist for The Republican-American, a daily newspaper in Waterbury, Connecticut. He has been birdwatching for more than 50 years and is a well-known and active birder in the state. Greg is an active participant in bird surveys in CT, is the editor of the Connecticut Warbler (the newsletters of the Connecticut Ornithological

Association) and is a member of the Avian Records Committee of Connecticut.

Listen to this show as Greg tackles a variety of subjects, including: what it takes for a bird to be officially counted on the state list (Connecticut currently has 341 species on its list); the decline of pheasants in Connecticut; fishers, bobcats and even mountain lions (well, maybe not mountain lions) in New England; why more hummingbirds are visiting New England; eBird; should peregrines have been reintroduced to the state; and a host of other topics related to birds.

Early in the show, I discuss what birds have been being seen in Connecticut and beyond, and how DDT has helped eagles and other birds recover from declining populations.

Joe Warren of Wild Birds Unlimited talks about walking in the Stamford Hospital’s Bennett Cancer Center; and how to avoid having blackbirds dominate your feeder.

Listen to the show here: bcr 6-3-12 greg hanisek

Thanks for your support of BirdCallsRadio. Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook, and subscribe to this blog.

The post BirdCallsRadio: Greg Hanisek appeared first on BirdCallsRadio™ | Exploring birdlife around the world™.

Florence McBride

Here is the archive of the Sunday, May 27, 2012, BirdCallsRadio show featuring an with Florence “Flo” McBride. Listen as this popular Connecticut birdwatcher describes how she gets children excited about learning about nature and birds. She even does her “Blue Jay rap” — twice. Nice!

Flo leads several bird walks for children at East Rocks in New Haven, and she has developed a science curriculum, “Take Flight!”, centered around birds for the elementary schools in her hometown of Hamden.

An active member of the New Haven Bird Club, she is also a nature film maker and has made several videos of Connecticut wildlife.

Earlier this year, Flo was presented with the presigeous Mabel Osgood Wright Award from the Connecticut Ornithological Association. It is the latest in a long list of awards that have been bestowed upon her.

Click here to listen: bcr 5-27-12 flo mcbride

As always, thanks for supporting BirdCallsRadio.

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Katie Fallon with cerulean warbler

Here is the archive of the Sunday, May 20, show featuring Katie Fallon, author of “Cerulean Blues: A Personal Search for a Vanishing Songbird,” by Ruka Press. Katie discusses the plight of the Cerulean Warbler, a beautiful blue warbler that is declining rapidly. Katie went to South America to visit the birds’ winter habitat. She discusses in this interview the various challenges the birds face on their winter and summer homes, as well as on their migration routes. She also tackles mountaintop removal mining in West Virginia and encourages consumers to drink shade-grown coffee.

It’s a fun interview here: bcr5-20-12katiefallon

Also on the show, Joe Warren of Wild Birds Unlimited talks about helping baby birds and how cardinal parents teach their kids to eat from feeders.

Mardi Dickinson gives a wrap-up report from The Biggest Week in American Birding, that took place in Ohio.

I also talk about migration and read several “Best Bird” accounts that listeners emailed to me. (Thanks again for that.) Finally, I read a quick passage from my favorite old book “Our Amazing Birds,” which was published in 1951.

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Terry Backer, Sound Keeper

Here is the archive of the show that originally aired on Sunday, May 13, and featured Soundkeeper Terry Backer, who has devoted much of his life to preserving and protecting Long Island Sound.

Terry, who is also a state Representative in Connecticut, talks about important initiatives that will protect the Sound, what the Soundkeeper organization (now 25 years old) has done over the years to protect the Sound, and, of course, birds. Terry has been fishing and shellfishing on Long Island Sound nearly all his life and offers an interesting perspective on the waters.

bcr terry backer

Thanks for coming on the show, Terry. And, of course, thanks to all the listeners for your support of BirdCallsRadio.

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Patrick Dugan, left, and Michael Moccio in studio during airing of BirdCallsRadio on 1490 WGCH.

Here is the archive of the Sunday, May 6, 2012, BirdCallsRadio show featuring special guests Michael Moccio and Patrick Dugan. Michael and Patrick were instrumental in preserving a section of Cove Island Park in Stamford, CT, at Cove Island Wildlife Sanctuary. What was once a brush dump is now a wildlife sanctuary with habitats such as fields, woods, beaches and brushy areas. Check out the archive to find out how they did it.

Patrick is also known for his bird imitations and he does several during the show. Be sure to check that out, too. He even does his famous winter wren call.

This show also features an update from The Biggest Week in American Birding from northwest Ohio. Mardi Dickinson checks in, as well as appearances by Kimberly and Kenn Kaufman. The Kaufmans are instrumental is putting together the Biggest Week in American Birding and we were thrilled here at BirdCallsRadio that they appear on this show to give us an update. The phone connection during that interview is spotty at times, so we apologize for that. It’s not too bad, so please bear with the occasional static.

Joe Warren from Wild Birds Unlimited in Darien, CT., and Bedford Hills, N.Y., also joins the show to discuss the importance of listening for birds, and also what his stores have on tap for Mother’s Day.

I talk about a few walks I took over the weekend and what I saw — and didn’t see.

There’s a lot packed into this show here. bcr 5-6-12 dugan moccio

Thanks for your support of BirdCallsRadio.

The post BirdCallsRadio: Michael Moccio, Patrick Dugan appeared first on BirdCallsRadio™ | Exploring birdlife around the world™.

Derek Lovitch, author of “How to be a Better Birder” ©Jeannette Lovitch. All Rights Reserved.

I discuss the continuing wonders of spring migration, including shorebirds, such as one of my favorites, the American oystercatcher.

Joe Warren of Wild Birds Unlimited discusses the best seed selections for spring bird feeding (think safflower).

Click here for the archive. BCR4-29-12derek lovitch

Thank you for your support of BirdCallsRadio.

The post BirdCallsRadio: Derek Lovitch appeared first on BirdCallsRadio™ | Exploring birdlife around the world™.

Kenn Kaufman. ©Kimberly Kaufman. All Rights Reserved.

Here is the archive of the show with Kenn Kaufman. It originally aired on Sunday, April 22, 2012. Kenn is one the most recognized birders in the U.S. and is the author of several books on birds. He is also the founder of the Kaufman Field Guides published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Company of Boston.

Kenn discusses migration, the Biggest Week in American Birding, his new book projects, why he loves northwest Ohio, his classic book Kingbird Highway, conservation, shade-grown coffee, birds of the world and several other subjects. A fun interview with a great birdwatcher.

The beginning of the show features a look (and listen) at the eastern towhee, as well as a look back at birding related to the towhee. Joe Warren of Wild Birds Unlimited discusses safflower seed and why it is a good choice for spring feeding.

Give the show a listen here. bcr4-22-12kenn kaufman

Thank you for your support of BirdCalls Radio.

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