In this electrifying episode of Birds of a Feather Talk Together, we’re joined by none other than Wes Larson, the visionary behind Tooth and Claw, as he takes us on an unforgettable journey to Australia in search of one of the world's most elusive and fascinating birds—the Southern Cassowary. Known for its striking appearance and powerful presence, the Southern Cassowary is as mysterious as it is majestic. Wes shares his firsthand experience tracking this incredible bird in Australia and offers a glimpse into the wild world of conservation, birdwatching, and adventure.

Whether you're a seasoned birder or a wildlife enthusiast, this episode is packed with jaw-dropping insights, behind-the-scenes stories, and expert knowledge that will leave you inspired to embark on your own birdwatching adventures. Tune in for a fascinating conversation about what it’s like to witness one of nature’s true wonders up close, and learn why the Southern Cassowary is both a conservation success story and a reminder of the fragile beauty of our planet.

Don’t miss this exclusive interview with Wes Larson of Tooth and Claw—subscribe, listen, and join us in exploring the wild world of birds, one feathered friend at a time!

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Warbler season is officially here. We talk about the Blackpoll Warbler - the warbler with one of the longest and most impressive migration. 

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Bald Eagles are amazing - everyone knows it. We touch on everything from Benjamin Franklin, to how DDT decimated their population and the significant comeback that they've made, to their aerial cartwheel performances.  It's a really fascinating episode, and we learn about the 'eagle suit' that Amanda's sister's dog wears so he doesn't get picked up by a bald eagle in his backyard. 

Special thanks to photographer Dustin Weidner for suggesting that we do a Bald Eagle episode. Check out his photography on his instagram @chicago.wildlife.photography

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Thanks everyone!

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This week's episode is a little different than usual. Instead of discussing one bird, we talk about RJ and Amanda's recent trip to Florida and all of the birds that they saw. RJ and Amanda ask John and Shannon about the Osprey, Brown Pelicans, Cormorants, Black Skimmers, American Oystercatchers, and many more. 

We also plead our case for the birds that have reached the Final Four in our Round Robin voting: The Shoebill, American Woodcock, Raven, and Atlantic Puffin. 

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John and Shannon's son moved to Slovakia to play professional hockey - so we discuss a bird native to that area: The European Roller. These birds are super cool and so much fun to learn about. From their interesting leapfrogging migration pattern to Africa, to the self-defense method that many of their chicks use: vomiting. Make sure to google these birds because their color is absolutely magnificent. 

We also answer a mailbag question about bald eagles, and set up for a full episode that we'll do on bald eagles in a few weeks. 

We finish out the episode with the next round of our Round Robin tournament and vote on the third round of birds from our previous episodes. 

It's our regular hosts John Bates, Shannon Hackett, RJ Pole, Amanda Marquart, and we're also joined by Louise Bodt again this week. 

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This week we talk about one of Shannon’s favorite birds: The Brown Creeper. The way these tiny little birds climb all over trees, and look like a piece of bark, is truly amazing, and adorable. 

We also answer a mailbag question about evolution, and when animals learned how to fly. 

We finish out the episode with the next round of our Round Robin tournament and vote on the second round of birds from our previous episodes. 

It's our regular hosts John Bates, Shannon Hackett, RJ Pole, Amanda Marquart, and we're also joined by Louise Bodt again this week. 

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This week on Birds of a Feather Talk Together, we’re joined by Louise Bodt to explore the fascinating and often controversial world of the European Starling.

European Starlings are one of the most widespread and recognizable introduced birds in North America, known for their massive flocks, incredible mimicry abilities, shimmering plumage, and rapid spread across the continent. But beyond their reputation as an invasive species, these birds are also helping scientists better understand evolution, genetics, adaptation, and how animals rapidly change in new environments.

Louise Bodt is a PhD candidate at the University of Chicago and the Field Museum, where she studies introduced birds and rapid evolutionary change. Before joining the Field Museum birds lab, Louise worked as a science educator in New York City and earned her MS in biology studying the genetics of invasive European Starlings.

In this episode, we discuss starling behavior, murmurations, bird intelligence, genetics, invasive species biology, urban bird adaptation, and why European Starlings may be one of the most scientifically important birds in North America.

If you love birding, birdwatching, ornithology, bird behavior, evolution, genetics, invasive species, wildlife science, and fascinating bird facts, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.

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This week we talk to Louise Bodt about the European Goldfinch. Although they are native to Europe, there is actually a population living in Northern Illinois and Southern Wisconsin. Louise tells us how they got there, other examples of them being introduced, and much more. Louise Bodt is a PhD candidate at the University of Chicago and the Field Museum using introduced birds to study rapid evolutionary change. Prior to joining the Field Museum birds lab, she worked as a science educator in NYC where she got her MS in biology investigating genetics of invasive European starlings. Louise is such an amazing guest, you're going to enjoy this one!! 

We actually have another listener question about birds in Trinidad and Tobago, which we talk about at the end of the episode as well. 

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This week Shannon makes her case for why Tufted Puffins are the best. Amanda points out that the tufts look like the hair on the back of Donald Trump's head, which doesn't go over well with Shannon :). It's a blast and a ton of fun discussing the Tufted Puffin. Marky Mutchler joins us again on this one, Marky is a PHD student at the University of Chicago. 

We also answer a question about birds in Trinidad and Tobago from one of our listeners. 

Enjoy!

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Puffins are some of the most recognizable and beloved seabirds in the world—and this week on Birds of a Feather Talk Together, we’re diving into the incredible story of the Common (Atlantic) Puffin.

These colorful seabirds were once in serious decline along the east coast of North America, but thanks in large part to conservation efforts led by Stephen Kress of the National Audubon Society and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Atlantic Puffins have made an inspiring comeback in parts of their historic range.

In this episode, Field Museum ornithologists John Bates and Shannon Hackett join RJ Pole and Amanda Marquart to explore puffin behavior, nesting habits, conservation success stories, and what makes these birds so fascinating to birders and wildlife lovers alike.

We also discuss why puffins are such unique seabirds, how they survive in harsh ocean environments, and why their bright appearance has made them one of the most iconic birds in the world.

This episode was inspired by a listener request—and there was so much to talk about that we recorded TWO puffin episodes back-to-back, leading directly into our next episode on Tufted Puffins.

If you love birding, birdwatching, seabirds, puffins, wildlife conservation, ornithology, and fascinating bird facts, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.

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