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The Feathered Desert Podcast
The Feathered Desert Podcast episodes
- What’s That Bird?: Great Blue Heron
Summary:A three-minute podcast from the hosts of The Feathered Desert about individual bird species found in the desert Southwest.
For our hearing impaired listeners, a transcript of this podcast follows the show notes on Podbean.
Show Notes:Song provided by Macaulay Library at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, recorded by Paul Marvin.
Our email address, please reach out with comments, questions, or suggestions: [email protected]
Transcript
Host voice - Welcome to the Feathered Desert’s What’s That Bird? A three-minute glimpse into the birds that we share this amazing desert landscape with.
Kiersten - The Great Blue Heron is the largest heron in North America with a height of 4.5 feet and a wing span of six feet. The name comes from the blue-gray feathers that cover most of the body. The face is white with a white stripe down the middle of the head. A black cap on the head with a black plume that curves delicately off the nape of the neck, adds to its regal look. The long neck is a brownish gray with longer feathers creating a fringed look at the base of the throat. The long dagger shaped beak is yellow on the bottom mandible and darker on the top mandible. An all-white version of the Great Blue Heron can be seen in Florida. Scientists are still debating whether this is a separate species or a color morph. In flight, the Great Blue Heron folds its neck into an S-shape and holds its long, gray legs straight back creating an easily identifiable silhouette.
This large bird is found throughout NA. Many live year-round through the mid-range of the United States from California to New England. Others spend the colder winters in Mexico and migrate to the upper United States and mid-Canadian ranges in summer. Their preferred habitat revolves around water as they are a wading bird which means they stand in water up to their knees hunting for fish, amphibians, and small water mammals. They can often be seen standing patiently on the edges of rivers, streams, ponds, and lakes waiting for the perfect moment to catch a bite to eat. They locate prey by sight and swallow food whole. Within the drier areas of the SW, herons are attracted to man made lakes and golf courses with water traps.
When humans encounter herons, they are often silent and many people believe they do not make any noise at all, but they are capable of sound. It is quite shocking to hear their rattling call but once you know what you’re hearing, it’s quite distinctive. (Heron call plays)
During breeding season these herons nest in colonies near water. They create shallow platform nests in trees using larger sticks as the base and finer, softer material as the lining. Nests can sometimes be found on the ground and in reed beds but are most often in trees. Nests are reused year after year and herons will return to the same breeding areas every spring. Pairs are monogamous within a breeding season but usually pick a new mate every year. Males will arrive at the nesting sites before the females, chose a nest, and court the females as they arrive. These nesting sites can include anywhere from 5 to 500 nesting pairs.
Song provided by Macauly Library at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology recorded by Paul Marvin.
4 min - A Brief History of Bird Migration: What we know, how we know it, and what we don’t know
Summary: Bird migration is one of the most amazing journeys that any animal undertakes. Join Cheryl and Kiersten as they delve into how humans discovered bird migration, what we know about it, and what we are still trying to figure out.
Show Notes:
Audubon Magazine Spring 2022: The Wonder of Migration
“Have Wings Will Travel” by Alisa Opar, 20-27
“A Matter of Timing” by Scott Weidensaul, 29-33
“Birds of a Feather” by Barry Yeoman, 48-53
Background bird song: Naturescapes Backyard Birds www.naturescapes.com
Our email address, please reach out with comments, questions, or suggestions: [email protected]
We are no longer sponsored by Wild Birds Unlimited, Mesa but through personal experience we highly recommend their products.
18 min - Thank the Pigeon!
Summary: Pigeons are not everyone’s favorite bird. Some people down right hate them, but we should thank them for so many things! Join Cheryl and Kiersten as they explain why pigeon deserve a heartfelt thank you from humankind.
Show Notes:
A Pocket Guide to Pigeon Watching: Getting to Know the World’s Most Misunderstood Bird by Rosemary Mosco
https://mymodernmet.com/homing-pigeons-climate-data/
https://www.si.edu/object/cher-ami%3Anmah_425415
https://nonstoptravelling.com/2017/02/15/leather-tanning-pigeon-poop-and-palaces-in-fez-morocco/
https://news.cornell.edu/stories/1996/01/mighty-morphin-pigeon-watchers-learn-science-city-cornell-ornithology-labs-project
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/how-scientists-confirmed-big-bang-theory-owe-it-all-to-a-pigeon-trap-180949741/
Background bird song: Naturescapes Backyard Birds www.naturescapes.com
Our email address, please reach out with comments, questions, or suggestions: [email protected]
We are no longer sponsored by Wild Birds Unlimited, Mesa but through personal experience we highly recommend their products.
24 min - What’s That Bird? Western Kingbird
Summary:A three-minute podcast from the hosts of The Feathered Desert about individual bird species found in the desert Southwest.
Show Notes:Song provided by Macaulay Library at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, recorded by Tom Barnwell.
Our New email address, please reach out with comments, questions, or suggestions: [email protected]
5 min - Hybridization: The True Mystery of What’s That Bird?
Summary: What's that bird you ask? It looks sorta like a Rose-breasted Grosbeak but not. Maybe it's a hybrid! Join Cheryl and Kiersten as they give you a short tutorial on bird hybridization in the wild.
Show Notes:
https://www.audubon.org/news/the-amazing-wold-hybrid-birds
https://www.allaboutbirds.org
“A Deep Dive into the Oriole Genome Tackles the Mystery of Hybridization” by Rebecca Heisman
“Analysis: Hybrid Birds are Supercolliders of Speciation” by Irby Lovette
“One Species or Two? A Winner Emerges in the Great Oriole Debate” by Pat Leonard and Marc Devokaittis
We are no longer sponsored by Wild Birds Unlimited, Mesa but through personal experience we highly recommend their products.
11 min - Birding by Ear in the Southwest Part 3
Summary:In the third episode of our birding by ear series, we are discussing five more desert birds and their calls. Join us and continue on your path to becoming a master birder!
Show Notes:Bird Song provided by Macaulay Library at the Cornell Lab of ornithology recorded by Pat Goltz - Canyon Wren, Mary Mutchler - Black-chinned Hummingbird, Mike Hearell - Vermilion Flycatcher, Ryan O'Donnell - Elf Owl, and Andrew Spencer - Gilded Flicker
iBird Ultimate: Ultimate Guide to Birds App
Background bird song: Naturescapes Backyard Birdswww.naturescapes.com
Our New email address, please reach out with comments, questions, or suggestions: [email protected]
We are no longer sponsored by Wild Birds Unlimited in Mesa but through personal experience we highly recommend their products.
17 min - What’s That Bird?: Abert’s Towhee
Summary:A three-minute podcast from the hosts of The Feathered Desert about individual bird species found in the desert Southwest.
Show Notes:Song provided by Macaulay Library at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, recorded by Rose Ann Rowlett
https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide
https://audubon.org
Our New email address, please reach out with comments, questions, or suggestions: [email protected]
4 min - Southwest Arizona Region: A Cactus and Four Birds
Summary: Have you visited the Saguaro National Monument in SW Arizona? Listen as Cheryl and Kiersten tell you why you should put it on your vacation list!
Show Notes:
Background bird song: Naturescapes Backyard Birdswww.naturescapes.com
Our New email address, please reach out with comments, questions, or suggestions: [email protected]
www.allaboutbirds.org
https://www.nps.gov/sagu/what-to-know-before-you-visit.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/saguaro
https://sonoranjv.org/desert-purple-martin
https://www.fws.gov/refuge/buenos-aires/visit-us-activities-wildlife-watching
19 min - Owls in the City: Burrowing Owls and Relocation
Summary: Owls in the city?! Did you know that we have Burrowing owls living right here in Phoenix? Join Cheryl and Kiersten as they tell you all about them!
Show Notes:
Background bird song: Naturescapes Backyard Birdswww.naturescapes.com
Our New email address, please reach out with comments, questions, or suggestions: [email protected]
https://riosalado.audubon.org/downtown-owls-0
https://www.desertusa.com/birds/burrowing-owls-rescue.html
https://www.azgfd.com/wildlife/speciesofgreatestconservneed/raptor-management/burrowing-owl-management/
https://az.audubon.org/conservation/downtown-owls
We are no longer sponsored by Wild Birds Unlimited, Mesa but through personal experience we highly recommend their products.
14 min - More Summer Reading For Bird Lovers
Summary: Looking for a good summer read about birds? Join Kiersten and Cheryl as they discuss some of their favorite books you can buy right here at the Mesa store.
Show Notes:
Background bird song: Naturescapes Backyard Birdswww.naturescapes.com
Wild Birds Unlimited, Mesa https://mesa.wbu.com
Our New email address, please reach out with comments, questions, or suggestions: [email protected]
We are no longer sponsored by Wild Birds Unlimited, Mesa but through personal experience we highly recommend their products.
20 min
About The Feathered Desert Podcast
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