Today is World Migratory Bird Day, which recognizes the incredible journeys birds make, the challenges they face, and how we can help them on their way. This year, the focus is on a part of bird migration that is often overlooked: insects. Tiny insects provide food for birds’ big journey north and sustain birds on the breeding grounds. Many insect populations have greatly declined, but people can help by reducing pesticide use, buying organically-grown products, and gardening with native plants beloved by insects and birds alike.

More info and transcript at BirdNote.org. 

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When you provide places for migratory birds to rest and refuel, you’re helping them complete their long journeys and reach their destination safely. In a similar way, BirdNote also relies on your generosity. As an independent nonprofit, we depend on support from listeners like you to keep us going. This week, we’re asking you to make a donation of any amount to help us continue sharing the joy and wonder of birds with people everywhere.

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Every BirdNote episode starts with a solid grounding in research. When we play a bird sound for you, first we make sure you're hearing the right species. But not just that — we bear in mind the distinction between songs and calls, and we make sure the recording comes from an appropriate location. By making a donation of any amount to BirdNote, you’re helping advance the public's understanding of science and conservation for some of Earth’s most marvelous creatures.

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BirdNote shows begin in many ways: a great listener question, witnessing a cool bird behavior, or a new scientific discovery. But there’s one common theme: curiosity. BirdNote begins with enthusiasm to learn more. In this episode, BirdNote’s managing producer Conor Gearin shares how one show idea came from seeing a Great Blue Heron far from water. By donating to BirdNote, you’re supporting the storytelling and bird facts you depend on, bringing more of the sound-rich stories you love.

More info and transcript at BirdNote.org. 

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Whether you know your neighborhood inside-out or you just moved and are getting to know the area, BirdNote adds another dimension to how you understand the place you live — by understanding the birds. Our hope is that by spreading knowledge about birds, BirdNote is helping you become more connected to your local ecosystems. A gift of any amount right now helps us continue to accomplish this goal.

More info and transcript at BirdNote.org. 

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When a new generation of birds hatches, they copy the songs they hear from nearby adults. A young bird’s first attempts aren’t perfect. But like any young musician, they improve with practice. Here at BirdNote, we’ve heard from many listeners who say they enjoy listening to the show with children or grandchildren. Educators use our shows in classrooms as a teaching tool. Help support BirdNote’s mission to inspire the next generation of bird-lovers by making a donation now.

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A bird of prey in the American Southeast takes grace to an utterly new level. It's the Swallow-tailed Kite. A sleek raptor with a deeply forked tail, the Swallow-tailed Kite almost never flaps its wings. The bird makes sudden tight turns, upside-down moves, and quick backward dives, all by pivoting and moving its tail. Kites snatch insects out of the air and take lizards and snakes off leaves with their talons. Then they transfer prey from their talons to their hooked beaks, all while on the wing.

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Gulls seem so much a part of the sea that we often just call them "seagulls," a colloquial title for these graceful, ubiquitous creatures. Twenty-two species breed in North America. The Pacific coast is home to the aptly named Western Gulls. The familiar Ring-billed Gull nests all across the northern states and Canadian provinces. Herring Gulls breed along the Great Lakes and Northeast waterways, while these Laughing Gulls nest all along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts.

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Parrots are among the smartest of birds. But are they clever enough to know each other by name? Research conducted by ornithologist Karl Berg suggests the answer might be yes. Berg’s studies of Green-rumped Parrotlets — such as the one pictured here — indicate that every parrot in a family flock has a distinct vocal signature learned from its parents. When others in the flock hear it, they know precisely who’s calling.

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May in an Eastern hardwood forest, and the chorus of spring birdsong is nearing its peak. The Carolina Wren, a year-round resident, has been singing since the end of winter. The resounding notes of this Ovenbird let us know it has returned safely from Belize, after a long flight across the Gulf of Mexico. A Chestnut-sided Warbler joins in, having returned from winter in Costa Rica, to the same patch of woods in which it nested last year. By late May, the last of the migrants has arrived from the tropics.

More info and transcript at BirdNote.org. 

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