Hosts of the Bird Joy podcast, Dexter Patterson and Jason Hall, stopped into the Manhattan Marsh while birding this spring and joined scholars from Chase STEMM Academy's 6th & 7th grades to do a joint podcast. Listen in as they talk about their favorite things about birding and hear from the Chase scholars about their plans and dreams of the future.

Episode 3: Talking Like a Bird!
Birds are expert communicators—and not just with songs! In this episode, students explore how birds use sounds, colors, and movement to send messages. Learn how the Indigo Bunting learns “song dialects,” and why the Red-Winged Blackbird puffs out its feathers to get its point across.

Episode 2: Migration and the Manhattan Marsh
Why do birds migrate, and how does Manhattan Marsh help them along the way? This episode answers those questions and explores the impressive journeys of five native birds. Discover how wetlands serve as vital rest stops during migration and what we can do to protect them.

Episode 1: Meet the Marsh Birds
In the premiere episode of The Bird’s Word, our sixth-grade hosts introduce five incredible native birds of Manhattan Marsh and Toledo Area: the Green Heron, American Bittern, Indigo Bunting, Red-Winged Blackbird, and Wood Duck. Through fun facts and scientific research, listeners learn what makes each of these birds unique—and why they matter to the marsh.

Episode 4: Protection & Defense
How do birds stay safe in the wild? From camouflage to fierce dive-bombing tactics, this episode highlights the survival strategies of Manhattan Marsh’s native birds. It’s a fascinating look at how these feathered creatures adapt to danger—and how conservation can help protect them.

Episode 5: Marshland Trivia Showdown!

It’s time to test your bird knowledge! In this season finale, students face off in a fun trivia competition covering everything from bird migration and communication to adaptations and conservation. Listeners can play along and see how much they’ve learned about the birds of the Manhattan Marsh.