Birder Jeremy Schwartz, and his colleague Jeff Morgenroth, have created the Backyard Birding card game that is not only fun to play, but will teach people about the birds they might see in the Pacific Northwest where they live.

Visit www.BackyardBirdingGame.com to see videos of gameplay and read the blog posts.

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Twitter: https://twitter.com/CasualBirderPod

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/casualbirderpodcast/

or join the Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/CasualBirderPodcast/

Thanks to:

Randy Braun for designing the artwork for the show.

The Drones for letting me use 'Short Sleeved Shirt' as my theme music. Check out their website at www.dronesmusic.net

Mark Carwardine is a conservationist, broadcaster and wildlife photographer. He is also a whale expert and leads wildlife tours around the world. I was recently on one of those tours, in Baja California. I spoke with Mark about the wildlife we saw and his conservation work.

Mark's website can be found at

https://www.markcarwardine.com/

Whales and Dolphins seen on the whale-watching tour (in order seen):

Common Dolphin

Gray Whale

Fin Whale

Pacific White-Sided Dolphin

Bottlenose Dolphin

Blue Whale

Humpback Whale

Sperm Whale

Peruvian Beaked Whale

Dwarf Sperm Whale

Birds seen on the whale-watching tour (in order seen):

1. BROWN PELICAN

2. WESTERN GULL

3. SNOWY EGRET

4. GREAT BLUE HERON

5. GREAT EGRET

6. BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON

7. DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT

8. BLACK OYSTERCATCHER

9. BLACK-VENTED SHEARWATER

10. PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATER

11. BRANDT'S CORMORANT

12. SONG SPARROW

13. LINCOLN'S SPARROW

14. SWAINSON'S THRUSH

15. OSPREY

16. RAVEN

17. HEERMANN'S GULL

18. COSTA'S HUMMINGBIRD

19. SURF SCOTER

20. TURKEY VULTURE

21. CASPIAN TERN

22. ROYAL TERN

23. REDDISH EGRET

24. POMARINE SKUA

25. WHITE IBIS

26. LONG-BILLED CURLEW

27. SANDERLING

28. RED-BILLED TROPICBIRD

29. MAGNIFICENT FRIGATEBIRD

30. BLUE-FOOTED BOOBY

31. BROWN BOOBY

32. XANTUS'S MURRELET

33. MASKED BOOBY

34. WHITE-THROATED SWIFT

35. YELLOW-FOOTED GULL

36. NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD

37. EARED GREBE

38. VERDIN

39. ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER

40. GILA WOODPECKER

41. LADDERBACKED WOODPECKER

42. WHITE-WINGED DOVE

43. NORTHERN CARDINAL

44. BLACK-THROATED SPARROW

45. HOUSE FINCH

46. CACTUS WREN

47. BLACK STORM PETREL

48. ELEGANT TERN

49. PELAGIC CORMORANT

50. HOUSE SPARROW

The Casual Birder Podcast

Don't miss an episode - subscribe to the show (Subscribing is free)

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or join the Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/CasualBirderPodcast/

Thanks to:

Randy Braun for designing the artwork for the show.

The Drones for letting me use 'Short Sleeved Shirt' as my theme music. Check out their website at www.dronesmusic.net

Dusty Gedge has been an avid birdwatcher since childhood.

Find out how the Black Redstart changed the course of his professional life … and hear his birding anecdotes!

The Casual Birder Podcast

Don't miss an episode - subscribe to the show (Subscribing is free)

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or join the Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/CasualBirderPodcast/

Additional material

Dusty's web site:

https://dustygedge.co.uk/

Green Roof advice for individuals:

https://greenrooftraining.com/

European Federation of Green Roof and Wall Associations

https://efb-greenroof.eu/about-us/

Open Square weekend

http://www.opensquares.org/2019/home/index.php

The Common Swift is in decline. Jamie Wyver of the RSPB tells us how we can help this awesome little bird. Also, as the RSPB celebrates its 130th Anniversary, Jamie tells us more about the conservation work that it does.

Bird Described: Common Swift

Previous episodes mentioned:

Big Blind Walk at: bit.ly/CasualBirder25

And find Jamie's interview about the Big Garden Birdwatch at bit.ly/CasualBirder11

Don't miss an episode - subscribe to the show (Subscribing is free)

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Twitter: https://twitter.com/CasualBirderPod

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/casualbirderpodcast/

or join the Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/CasualBirderPodcast/

Thanks to:

Randy Braun for designing the artwork for the show.

The Drones for letting me use 'Short Sleeved Shirt' as my theme music. Check out their website at www.dronesmusic.net

Additional material

Link for Swift nest boxes:

https://shopping.rspb.org.uk/garden-bird-nest-boxes/rspb-swift-nest-box.html?ClickType=Image&ListType=&ListName=&Position=22

Link for garden projects - Swift box:

https://www.rspb.org.uk/get-involved/activities/give-nature-a-home-in-your-garden/garden-activities/createahighhomeforswifts/

Swift FactSheet from the RSPB:

https://www.rspb.org.uk/globalassets/downloads/documents/conservation--sustainability/help-swifts/amazing-swift-facts.pdf

For in-depth information about Swifts, do also visit:

https://www.swift-conservation.org/

Contributions from:

Kate from Strange Animals Podcast

Suzy's Garden 2019 List (as at 10th Feb 2019)

Blackbird

Redwing

Blue Tit

Chaffinch

Collared Dove

Dunnock

Great Tit

Greenfinch

House Sparrow

Magpie

Red-Legged Partridge

Robin

Starling

Wood Pigeon

Rook

Goldfinch

Sparrowhawk

This week, it's the Corvids! Find out why I was spooked by a Raven, and hear some awesome vocalisations from a Rook that visited my garden!

Also, feedback on the birds listeners saw during the RSPB's Big Garden Birdwatch.

Birds described in this episode: Raven, Carrion Crow, Hooded Crow, Rook, Jackdaw, Eurasian Magpie, Eurasian Jay, Chough.

Please also listen to my episode on Eurasian Jays, Blue Jays and Steller's Jays, with guest Jessica Delisle:

http://casualbirderpod.libsyn.com/the-casual-birder-podcast-14-jays

Don't miss an episode - subscribe to the show (Subscribing is free)

Follow me on -

Twitter: https://twitter.com/CasualBirderPod

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/casualbirderpodcast/

or join the Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/CasualBirderPodcast/

Thanks to:

Randy Braun for designing the artwork for the show.

The Drones for letting me use 'Short Sleeved Shirt' as my theme music. Check out their website at www.dronesmusic.net

This week my guest is Paul Cheall, host of Fighting Through podcast. He tells us about the birds he sees in his Norfolk garden and, following on from my last episode, there's some further tips about feeding garden birds.

The Casual Birder Podcast

Don't miss an episode - subscribe to the show (Subscribing is free)

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or join the Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/CasualBirderPodcast/

Find Paul's podcast Fighting Through at:

http://fightingthroughpodcast.co.uk/home/4594428370

Additional material

Find my episode on European Goldfinches and American Goldfinches at bit.ly/CasualBirder5

Journal article on Duck swimming techniques:

Gough, William T.; Farina, Stacy C.; Fish, Frank E. (2015-06-01). "Aquatic burst locomotion by hydroplaning and paddling in common eiders (Somateria mollissima)". The Journal of Experimental Biology. 218 (Pt 11): 1632–1638. doi:10.1242/jeb.114140. ISSN 1477-9145. PMID 25852065.

Sign up for the Big Garden Birdwatch at:

https://www.rspb.org.uk/get-involved/activities/birdwatch/everything-you-need-to-know-about-big-garden-birdwatch/

Suzy's Garden 2019 List (as at 6thJan 2019)

Blackbird

Blue Tit

Chaffinch

Collared Dove

Dunnock

Great Tit

Greenfinch

House Sparrow

Magpie

Red-Legged Partridge

Robin

Starling

Wood Pigeon

Rook

The theme music is Short Sleeved Shirt by The Drones. Thanks to them for letting me use it. Check out their website at www.dronesmusic.net

Contributions from:

Dead Ladies Show

https://deadladiesshow.com

Sunshine and Power Cuts

https://www.sunshineandpowercuts.com/

I talk to Claire Boothby, from the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO), about feeding garden birds, feeder hygiene and the BTO Garden Birdwatch. (Bird feeding tips below)

Don't miss an episode - subscribe to the show (Subscribing is free)

Follow me on -

Twitter: @CasualBirderPod

Instagram: @CasualBirderPodcast

or join the Facebook group at bit.ly/CasualBirderFB

_____

LINKS

BTO Garden Bird Watch

Link to www.bto.org/gbw

Great tips from the Audubon society:

https://www.audubon.org/news/bird-feeding-tips

RSPB Garden Birdwatch

https://www.rspb.org.uk/get-involved/activities/birdwatch/

Report to

www.Gardenwildlifehealth.org

For all types of disease in garden wildlife, birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians

Contributions in this episode from:

Kate from Pups n PopCulture podcast

http://www.pupsnpopculture.com/

Susan from The Dead Ladies Show podcast

https://deadladiesshow.com/podcast/

The theme music is Short Sleeved Shirt by The Drones. Thanks to them for letting me use it. Check out their website at www.dronesmusic.net

Additional material - Tips on feeding garden birds.

Foods to Avoid:

NO fat from cooking meat because it can be salty and will decay quickly

NO Soft fats, ones that are soft at room temperature - can interfere with plumage

NO Bread - it is nutritional poor

NO Mouldy seeds

If peanuts aren't being eaten, check they haven't gone mouldy. Only put out what will be eaten over a few days

Foods to try:

Apples - good for Thrushes

Sunflower hearts - favourite with Goldfinches

Fats, suet blocks, fat balls - Blackcaps, Tits, Woodpeckers (Remember: remove netting from fat balls, as birds can get caught in it)

Grated mild cheese is good for Robins

Homemade fat cake treat from the RSPB:

- Take a block of hard fat like store-bought lard or suet,

- mix in birdseed, raisins and unsalted nuts

- press the mixture around a pine cone.

- Hang it from a tree with string and you have a food source that will appeal to the acrobatic tit family.

- Or place one on a mesh ground feeder tray and allow the Blackbirds, Robins and Dunnocks to also enjoy your creation!

Hygiene:

Clean feeders regularly. If there are a lot of birds visiting, clean them more frequently

Use mild disinfectant and rinse, and leave to air dry

Have smaller feeders at different locations, and rotate feeding stations so contaminants aren't building up at the base of the feeder.

Provide fresh water every day (even through the winter ) and clean out bird baths regularly

Only put out enough food that will be eaten in 2-3 days

Sick birds

If you find birds displaying the following symptoms:

- Lethargic, being fluffed up, difficulty swallowing, messy faces

- Look obviously ill

Report them to

www.Gardenwildlifehealth.org

For all types of disease in garden wildlife, birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians

Take food away and don't feed for a couple of weeks, to encourage birds to disperse.

Give all feeders a thorough clean

Further tips can be found on the BTO website at https://www.bto.org/

I take a walk around the London Wetland Centre in Barnes with my guest, conductor, author and bird watcher: Lev Parikian.

Read more about Lev's book 'Why Do Birds Suddenly Disappear?' and his blog posts at

https://levparikian.wordpress.com/

For further information about the London Wetland Centre, visit: https://www.wwt.org.uk/wetland-centres/london/

Don't miss an episode - subscribe to the show (Subscribing is free)

Follow me on - Twitter: @CasualBirderPod

Instagram: @CasualBirderPodcast

or join the Facebook group

Join me as I look back to a bird walk I took in the summer in Prospect Park, in Brooklyn, NYC.

Also, hear about the birds I saw on a recent birdwatch on the Isle of Wight and Mum, co-host of Rough Giraffe podcast, sets us a challenge about the birds she sees in Spain.

Contributions from:

Rough Giraffe Podcast

Sunshine and Power Cuts

Contact the Show:

Twitter

Instagram

Casual Birder Podcast Facebook Group

Links:

Brooklyn Bird Club

RSPB

Audubon

Thanks:

To Randy Braun for the show artwork

The theme music is Short Sleeved Shirt by The Drones. Thanks to them for letting me use it. Check out their website at www.dronesmusic.net

This week, I take a walk in the grounds of The Vyne, a National Trust property near to where I live in Hampshire, give an update on my garden bird count and share some bird sightings from listeners.

Also Stacey, from Rough Giraffe Podcast, tells us about some inquisitive Jays in her garden. Find the show here:

https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/rough-giraffe/id1214743716?mt=2