Taking Flight

Across the Americas, birds have always been viewed as sacred to indigenous tribes and cultures. In honor of Indigenous People's Day,(10/12/26), I talk about three specific birds that have been seen as sacred by the natives of the land.

From brilliant Quetzals, to the iconic Scarlet Macaw and Toucan, the bird diversity of Mexico and Central America is truly a feast for the eyes. It's impossible to cover all of the diversity in such a small episode, but I tried to hit at least the highlights. Note: the volume might have to be turned up on your device to listen to this one. Enjoy!

Think parrots just mimic words? Think again.
In this episode of Taking Flight, we dive into the hidden world of parrot communication—where calls carry meaning, friendships run deep, and intelligence rivals some of the smartest animals on the planet. It’s a short listen, but it might completely change how you see these birds.

The rain forest....not the corporate giant. This episode barely scratches the surface, as it's nearly impossible to discuss all birds in the region. If you're interested in about rainforests and birds that live there...just press play

A floresta tropical... não a gigante corporativa. Este episódio mal arranha a superfície, já que é quase impossível falar sobre todas as aves da região. Se você se interessa por florestas tropicais e pelas aves que vivem lá... é só dar o play.

(For my Brazilian listeners 🇧🇷
Para meus ouvintes brasileiros 🇧🇷)

This episode focuses on one of my favorite birds, the palm cockatoo. Facts such as its life history, distribution, and conservation status are discussed.

As you can probably tell by the title, I talk about the Florida Grasshopper Sparrow in this episode, weaving in aspects of my own experience with the species in 2021.

In this short episode, I talk about two instances in which Tiktok has raised awareness about wildlife issues. Disclaimer: this was recorded in 2021; so may contain outdated information. The main idea here is Tiktok has so much potential, if it is used correctly, for Wildlife Conservation. Who knows? I might make a sequel to this episode later..

Also side note: Critterfacts Radio, the station that these episodes were initially on, is mentioned a few times in this episode. This is not an endorsement, and the website may have been updated in the last 3 years.

This episode discusses the piping plover, a shorebird found on the beaches of the New England Region and the Great Plains.