Birds of a Feather Talk Together

In this episode of Birds of a Feather Talk Together, we're discussing a tragic weekend in Chicago when more than 1,000 birds were reported dead or injured after colliding during fall migration. This mass bird collision event made national headlines and raised important questions about bird migration, light pollution, glass windows, and the dangers that urban environments pose to migratory birds.

Our hosts, Dr. John Bates and Dr. Shannon Hackett, are ornithologists and Curators of Birds at Chicago's Field Museum, where thousands of birds killed in window collisions have been collected and studied over the years. Drawing on their scientific expertise and firsthand experience with the museum's bird collections, John and Shannon help us understand why these collisions happen, which migratory bird species are most vulnerable, and what these tragic events can teach us about bird conservation.

We explore why Chicago is such an important stop along North America's migratory bird flyways, how artificial lights and reflective glass contribute to bird deaths, and what individuals, homeowners, and cities can do to make buildings safer for birds.

While this is a difficult subject, it's also an important conversation about protecting the millions of birds that migrate across North America every spring and fall.

Plus, we have some exciting news! Birds of a Feather Talk Together is proud to announce our new partnership with Raven Birding Apparel! We're excited to introduce you to this birding apparel company, and our listeners can enjoy 10% off Raven Birding gear. 

Here is a link to get 10% off: https://ravenbirdingapparel.com/discount/BOAF10?utm_campaign=1c1072&utm_source=birdsofafeather&utm_medium=podcast

You can use the code 'BOAF10' for 10% off!

Whether you're an experienced birder, a backyard birdwatcher, or simply curious about wildlife conservation, join John, Shannon, RJ, and Amanda for an important conversation about bird migration, urban bird collisions, and how we can help protect migratory birds.

Topics covered: Chicago bird collisions, fall bird migration, migratory bird deaths, Field Museum bird collections, Dr. John Bates, Dr. Shannon Hackett, bird window strikes, light pollution, Chicago bird conservation, bird-safe buildings, North American bird migration, and Raven Birding Apparel.

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Meet the Greater Honeyguide (Indicator indicator), one of Africa's most remarkable birds, known for its extraordinary relationship with humans and its fascinating reproductive strategy called brood parasitism.

In this episode of Birds of a Feather Talk Together, we're continuing our exploration of brood parasitism following our episode on the Great Spotted Cuckoo. This time, we're diving into the incredible biology, behavior, and evolutionary adaptations of the Greater Honeyguide—a bird with one of the strangest life histories in the avian world.

Field Museum ornithologists Dr. John Bates and Dr. Shannon Hackett, RJ Pole and Amanda Pole explore how honeyguides lay their eggs in the nests of other bird species, leaving unsuspecting host parents to raise their chicks.

But the Greater Honeyguide takes brood parasitism to another level. Unlike Great Spotted Cuckoo chicks, which generally grow up alongside their host's young, Greater Honeyguide chicks hatch with specialized bill hooks that they use to kill the host's chicks, eliminating competition for food.

And that's only half the story! Greater Honeyguides are also famous for their remarkable cooperative relationship with humans, guiding honey hunters to wild beehives and benefiting from the beeswax left behind.

🪺 In this episode, we explore:

• What is a Greater Honeyguide, and where does it live?
• What is brood parasitism, and why do some birds lay eggs in other species' nests?
• How do Greater Honeyguides trick other birds into raising their young?
• Why do honeyguide chicks have specialized hooks on their bills?
• How do Greater Honeyguides differ from Great Spotted Cuckoos?
• How does the evolutionary arms race between brood parasites and host birds work?
• Why do Greater Honeyguides lead humans to wild beehives?
• How can humans and wild birds communicate and cooperate to find honey?

From the ruthless competition inside a bird's nest to an extraordinary partnership between humans and wild birds, the Greater Honeyguide reveals just how surprising evolution can be.

Whether you're a lifelong birder, a backyard birdwatcher, or someone fascinated by unusual animal behavior, this episode explores bird evolution, brood parasitism, coevolution, mutualism, and the remarkable adaptations that help birds survive.

🎧 ABOUT BIRDS OF A FEATHER TALK TOGETHER

Birds of a Feather Talk Together is a conversational birdwatching, nature, and ornithology podcast featuring Field Museum scientists Dr. John Bates and Dr. Shannon Hackett alongside RJ and Amanda.

Together, we explore the fascinating world of birds—from their extraordinary behaviors and evolutionary history to migration, conservation, and the incredible relationships between birds, humans, and the natural world.

Our goal is to make bird science accessible, entertaining, and inspiring for everyone, whether you're an experienced birder or just beginning to discover the wonders of birds.

🐦 Subscribe for more bird facts, wildlife science, and fascinating conversations about nature!

💬 Which brood parasite do you find more fascinating—the Great Spotted Cuckoo or the Greater Honeyguide? Let us know in the comments!

#GreaterHoneyguide #BroodParasitism #BirdFacts #Birdwatching #Ornithology

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What happens when a bird lays its eggs in another bird’s nest and tricks unsuspecting parents into raising its young? Welcome to the fascinating—and sometimes downright creepy—world of the Great Spotted Cuckoo!

In this episode of Birds of a Feather Talk Together, we're exploring one of nature's most unusual reproductive strategies: brood parasitism. Inspired by the 2024 horror movie Cuckoo, directed by Tilman Singer, RJ and Amanda bring their questions to Field Museum ornithologists Dr. John Bates and Dr. Shannon Hackett to uncover the real science behind cuckoo behavior.

The Great Spotted Cuckoo (Clamator glandarius) is a remarkable bird known for laying its eggs in the nests of other species, particularly crows and magpies. But how do these birds choose their hosts? Why do other birds raise cuckoo chicks as their own? And how has evolution shaped this extraordinary relationship between parasites and their hosts?

We explore the surprising biology of cuckoos, the evolutionary adaptations that make brood parasitism possible, and the complex relationships between birds that have developed over millions of years.

Along the way, we separate Hollywood horror from scientific reality and discover that the natural world can be even stranger than fiction.

Whether you're an experienced birder, a backyard birdwatcher, or simply fascinated by animal behavior, this episode offers a fascinating look at bird evolution, reproductive strategies, ornithology, and one of the strangest behaviors in the avian world.

Join us for another fun, curious, and science-filled conversation about the incredible world of birds!

Topics covered: Great Spotted Cuckoo, brood parasitism in birds, cuckoo eggs and nests, host birds, magpies and crows, coevolution, bird reproductive behavior, evolutionary adaptations, and the science behind the 2024 horror film Cuckoo.

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The California Condor is one of the rarest birds in North America, and its remarkable comeback from the brink of extinction is one of the greatest wildlife conservation stories ever told.

In this episode of Birds of a Feather Talk Together, we're revisiting our fascinating conversation with zoologist Christian Flores about the California Condor, the largest land bird in North America. With a wingspan approaching 10 feet, these incredible birds once soared across vast stretches of the continent before habitat loss, lead poisoning, and other human-caused threats pushed them to the edge of extinction.

By 1987, less than 30 California Condors remained in the world, prompting an extraordinary conservation effort to capture the remaining wild birds and establish a captive breeding program. Christian joins us to explore the difficult decisions that saved the species, the challenges of reintroducing condors into the wild, and the ongoing efforts to protect their future.

We also dive into the fascinating world of vultures and scavengers, exploring their essential role in healthy ecosystems, their unique adaptations, and why these often misunderstood birds deserve our admiration.

Join hosts Dr. John Bates and Dr. Shannon Hackett, ornithologists at Chicago's Field Museum, alongside RJ Pole and Amanda Pole, for an engaging conversation about bird conservation, endangered species, evolution, and the incredible resilience of the California Condor.

Whether you're an experienced birder, a backyard birdwatcher, or simply curious about wildlife and nature, this episode offers an inspiring look at what it takes to bring a species back from the brink.

Birds of a Feather Talk Together is a birding and ornithology podcast exploring the fascinating world of birds through expert insights, scientific discoveries, conservation stories, and lively conversations.

Subscribe for more episodes about birds, birdwatching, wildlife conservation, and the natural world.

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This week on Birds of a Feather Talk Together, we’re exploring the Eurasian Oystercatcher (Haematopus ostralegus)—a striking black-and-white shorebird with a bright orange-red bill found across Europe, including the coasts of Northern Ireland.

There’s a family connection behind this week’s bird choice: John and Shannon’s son recently moved to Northern Ireland, so Shannon wanted to feature a bird he might actually encounter there. The Eurasian Oystercatcher turned out to be the perfect choice.

We dive into the fascinating biology, behavior, diet, habitat, and adaptations of the Eurasian Oystercatcher, including some of the traits that set it apart from other oystercatcher species. We also compare oystercatchers from around the world, including the American Oystercatcher, and explore how different species have adapted to their environments.

Along the way, Dr. John Bates and Dr. Shannon Hackett of Chicago’s Field Museum share their ornithological expertise, while RJ and Amanda ask the questions that send the conversation in unexpected directions.

This episode was recorded in person as we experimented with a new four-microphone setup ahead of our live recording at the Chicago Urban Birding Festival, so you may notice that it sounds a little different from a typical episode. But having all four hosts sitting around the same table made for a fun, conversational discussion about one of Europe’s most recognizable shorebirds.

If you’re interested in Eurasian Oystercatchers, shorebirds, bird behavior, bird evolution, European birds, birding in Northern Ireland, or the differences between Eurasian and American Oystercatchers, this episode is for you.

Birds of a Feather Talk Together is a birding and ornithology podcast featuring Field Museum scientists Dr. John Bates and Dr. Shannon Hackett alongside bird enthusiasts RJ Pole and Amanda Pole. Each episode explores the science, behavior, evolution, conservation, and stories behind birds from around the world.

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For the first time ever, Birds of a Feather Talk Together is recording in front of a live audience!

We had an incredible time at the Chicago Urban Birding Festival, a celebration of birds, birding, conservation, and the amazing wildlife that can be found right here in the city. Dr. John Bates and Dr. Shannon Hackett of the Field Museum join RJ and Amanda for a special live episode filled with bird stories, science, laughs, and questions from the audience.

One of our favorite things about Birds of a Feather is the community that has grown around the podcast, so getting to sit in a room full of people who love birds as much as we do was pretty special.

Whether you're an experienced birder, a backyard birdwatcher, or just beginning to discover the world of birds, come hang out with us for our first-ever live recording!

Birds of a Feather Talk Together is a birding and birdwatching podcast featuring Field Museum ornithologists Dr. John Bates and Dr. Shannon Hackett alongside birders RJ and Amanda. Each episode explores bird behavior, evolution, migration, conservation, ornithology, and the incredible lives of birds.

Here are links to our social and YouTube pages, give us a follow:

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This week on Birds of a Feather Talk Together, we're diving into the fascinating world of the Swallow-tailed Kite, a striking black-and-white raptor famous for its incredibly long, deeply forked tail and seemingly effortless flight.

But the Swallow-tailed Kite doesn't just LOOK impressive in the air—it has evolved to do an astonishing amount of its daily life without landing. These birds can catch and eat prey while flying, drink on the wing, and even collect nesting material from trees without touching the ground.

So how do they do it?

Field Museum Curators of Birds Dr. John Bates and Dr. Shannon Hackett take us into the biology, behavior, evolution, and natural history of the Swallow-tailed Kite. RJ and Amanda bring plenty of questions as we explore how that distinctive forked tail helps these birds maneuver through the sky, what they eat, how they hunt, where they live and migrate, and what makes them such specialized flyers.

If you've ever looked up and seen the unmistakable silhouette of a Swallow-tailed Kite soaring overhead, you already know why this bird inspires so much excitement. And if you've never seen one before, this episode might give you a new bird for your bucket list.

🐦 Birds of a Feather Talk Together is a conversational birding and ornithology podcast hosted by Field Museum ornithologists Dr. John Bates and Dr. Shannon Hackett alongside birders RJ and Amanda. From bird behavior and evolution to migration, conservation, and the incredible things birds do, we're exploring the world of birds one species at a time.

🎧 Listen now and discover why the Swallow-tailed Kite might be one of the coolest birds in the sky.

#SwallowTailedKite #Birding #BirdWatching #Birds #BirdFacts #Raptors #BirdOfPrey #Ornithology #BirdPodcast #BirdBehavior #BirdMigration #Wildlife #Nature

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This week on Birds of a Feather Talk Together, we’re talking all about the Black Phoebe—a charismatic little flycatcher of the western United States known for its tail-wagging, insect-catching acrobatics, and habit of nesting around homes and other human structures.

Thanks to listener Emily for inspiring this episode! She wrote in to tell us about a Black Phoebe nesting in her carport, which sent us down the rabbit hole on this fascinating bird. We get into Black Phoebe behavior, nesting, identification, and some of the things that make this species so much fun to have around.

We also kick things off with a preview of the Chicago Urban Birding Festival, happening this weekend! Birds of a Feather will be recording a live episode at the festival, complete with an audience Q&A. Also performing are Tommy and Billy from Extremely Accurate Bird Songs—which somehow leads us into a conversation about a certain piece of bird anatomy that could make Tommy’s already extremely accurate bird drawings even more accurate. We’ll leave it at that.

As always, Birds of a Feather Talk Together brings together married ornithologists Dr. John Bates and Dr. Shannon Hackett with birders RJ Pole and Amanda Pole for conversations about birds, birding, ornithology, natural history, and everything we discover along the way.

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This week on Birds of a Feather Talk Together, we’re catching up on our summer birding adventures!

RJ and Amanda share stories from their trip to Maine, including birding around Bar Harbor and taking a wildlife cruise along the coast. They encountered some incredible seabirds, including Atlantic Puffins, Common Eiders, and Black Guillemots, and talk about what it was like seeing these iconic Maine birds in person.

We also get into another fascinating part of coastal Maine: the lobster fishing industry. After spending time around lobster boats and learning more about the fishery, RJ and Amanda discuss some of the sustainability practices used by Maine lobstermen and how closely the industry is connected to the coastal ecosystem.

Meanwhile, John and Shannon share stories from their summer, including meeting Tommy Siegel and Billy Libby from Extremely Accurate Bird Songs. We also look ahead to the Chicago Urban Birding Festival, where Birds of a Feather will be appearing for a live show.

And before all of that, we kick things off with some incredible bird pins created by artist Jimmy Gonzalez.

From Atlantic Puffins and Black Guillemots to lobster boats, bird art, Extremely Accurate Bird Songs, and the Chicago Urban Birding Festival, this episode is a celebration of a summer spent around birds.

Birds of a Feather Talk Together is a conversational birding and ornithology podcast hosted by Field Museum ornithologists Dr. John Bates and Dr. Shannon Hackett alongside birders RJ and Amanda Pole. Each week, we explore birds, birding, ornithology, conservation, and the natural world.

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We're wrapping up our summer break with a revisit to one of North America's most iconic birds: the Common Loon!

We'll be back next week with brand-new episodes, but before we do, we're heading back to one of our favorite conversations about this unmistakable bird. From their striking black-and-white plumage and incredible diving abilities to the haunting calls that echo across northern lakes, Common Loons are truly fascinating birds.

And speaking of that famous sound—we're going to play a Common Loon call right before the episode begins! We talk a lot about their different vocalizations and that iconic call throughout the episode, so we wanted everyone to hear it before we dive in.

Join Field Museum Curators of Birds Dr. John Bates and Dr. Shannon Hackett, along with RJ and Amanda, as we explore the biology, behavior, vocalizations, and natural history of the Common Loon.

Whether you've heard a loon calling across a lake, spotted one while birding, or are just discovering what makes these birds so special, we hope you enjoy revisiting this episode with us.

Birds of a Feather Talk Together is a birding and ornithology podcast for everyone—from experienced birders to people just beginning to discover the world of birds.

🎧 Brand-new episodes return next week!

#CommonLoon #Birding #BirdWatching #Birds #Ornithology #BirdPodcast #FieldMuseum #BirdCalls #Loon #Wildlife #NaturePodcast

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