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In this episode, we dive into the idea that by leaning into joy through wild birds, we can help offset a negativity bias that researchers suggest we are innately wired towards.  We consider how shifting our attention onto birds may empower change to our mental states and might even alter our brain structures in a positive way. 

 In the Mindful Birding Nerding Science segment, Dr. Holly Thomas shares how generating positive emotions through birding can help offset negative feelings, perhaps recalibrating our negativity bias, and she explores how the work of Dr. Rick Hanson can transcend into Mindful Birding – by noticing positive experiences we have with birds and leaning into them.

 In our Joy of birdsong segment, Holly Thomas shares the sounds of one of her backyard vocalists, a Greater Roadrunner.  

 Looking to find community through Mindful Birding? Check out the Mindful Birding Network's global Events page and join the network

Intro music: “Inspired by Nature” by PlayAgain
Intro Birdsong & Clips throughout : Western Meadowlark
Outro music: “Inspired by Nature” by PlayAgain
Outro Birdsong: Eastern Meadowlark
Mindful Birding Network Website
Instagram: @mindfulbirdingnetwork
Produced by Co-hosts Holly Merker and Holly Thomas

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In this episode we talk with Freya McGregor, owner of Access Birding LLC , about what it means to create accessible and inclusive experiences for everyone, and why Mindful Birding offers an inclusive and therapeutic experience for all people. We'll hear  about the Access Birding certification course, and other opportunities on innovative approaches to accessibility and inclusivity in birding overall. 

In our joy of birdsong segment, Seth Benz of the Schoodic Institute , a nonprofit org supporting Acadia National Park in Maine, shares a segment of a soundscape recording by Laura Sebastianelli . You can listen to the full recording of the soundscape here: https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/456772271

Intro music: “Inspired by Nature” by PlayAgain
Intro Birdsong & Clips throughout : Western Meadowlark
Outro music: “Inspired by Nature” by PlayAgain
Outro Birdsong: Eastern Meadowlark
Mindful Birding Network Website
Instagram: @mindfulbirdingnetwork
Produced by Co-hosts Holly Merker and Holly Thomas

[email protected]

In this episode, we have a conversation with Lillian Stokes and Matthew Young, authors of the interactive and engaging new book The Stokes Guide to Finches of the United States and Canada, a book that embodies hope and joy, and can serve as a bridge between our personal wellbeing and understanding finches. 

The authors share how their backgrounds in social work and mental health pairs together with their work with birds, and what finches can teach us. 

 For the Joy of Birdsong segment, Chris Benesh offers us an array of finch songs to enjoy, including Lawrence's Goldfinch,  Lesser Goldfinch, Black-headed Siskin, Red Crossbill,

Learn more about finches and research surrounding them by checking out the Finch Research Network

Intro music: “Inspired by Nature” by PlayAgain
Intro Birdsong & Clips throughout : Western Meadowlark
Outro music: “Inspired by Nature” by PlayAgain
Outro Birdsong: Eastern Meadowlark
Mindful Birding Network Website
Instagram: @mindfulbirdingnetwork
Produced by Co-hosts Holly Merker and Holly Thomas

[email protected]

In this episode, we honor gratitude for wild birds, by playing voices of gratitude from around the world, which some of our listeners and network members have offered.  We thank all that have contributed and those of you who listen! 
You will hear the voices of:

Arax, United Kingdom

Don Boyd, New Mexico

Pamela Lowell, Massachusetts

Pam Kolber-Zicca, New York

Mary, Colorado

Holly Thomas, New Mexico

Dave Edson, Massachusetts

Jo, California

Laurel, Michigan 

Holly Merker, Pennsylvania

Julie, Maryland

Susan Preston, New Mexico 

Jack Bruce, Georgia 

Amanda Booher, South Dakota

Lindsay McNamara, New Jersey 

Anne, Pennsylvania 

Poem by Mary Oliver:  “With Thanks to the Field Sparrow”

In the Mindful Birding Nerding segment: Holly Thomas explores the science of gratitude and joy

Spending Money on Others Promotes Happiness https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.1150952

A neural link between generosity and happiness

https://www.nature.com/articles/ncomms15964

 In the Joy of Birdsong segment, Chris Benesh is back with the song of a Horned Lark recorded in Oaxaca, Mexico 

Intro music: “Inspired by Nature” by PlayAgain
Intro Birdsong & Clips throughout : Western Meadowlark
Outro music: “Inspired by Nature” by PlayAgain
Outro Birdsong: Eastern Meadowlark
Mindful Birding Network Website
Instagram: @mindfulbirdingnetwork
Produced by Co-hosts Holly Merker and Holly Thomas

[email protected]

Do you often hear the question: “See anything good?”  while birding? 

 In this episode we discuss this question and tease apart the idea of “what is a good bird”, what is a “good birder”, and how sometimes these questions might allow self-judgement to surface, and how these questions relate to both our mental health and self-compassion. 

 We also bring up the fear of missing out, and how this may also influence our mental wellbeing in the context of birding. Link to Bird Diva blog on Fomo

In the Mindful Birding Nerding science segment, Holly Thomas shares how self-compassion can enhance our experiences with birds.
Links: Dr. Kristin Neff 

Balanced Minds : Comparison vs Compassion

Thich Nhat Hahn’s writing provides prompts on how to replace negative energy and mindful birding could be a good way to address that negative energy if it surfaces for us. 

Reading suggestions: 

Dawn Songs edited by Jamie K. Reaser and J. Drew Lanham

Mary Oliver’s Owl’s And Other Fantasies

J.Drew Lanham’s Sparrow Envy

The Joy of Birdsong segment features birds recorded from Acadia National Park’s Schoodic Peninsula

Intro music: “Inspired by Nature” by PlayAgain
Intro Birdsong & Clips throughout : Western Meadowlark
Outro music: “Inspired by Nature” by PlayAgain
Outro Birdsong: Eastern Meadowlark
Mindful Birding Network Website
Instagram: @mindfulbirdingnetwork
Produced by Co-hosts Holly Merker and Holly Thomas

[email protected]

Have you ever wondered how you can become even more attuned to the birds around you? 

 In this episode of the Mindful Birding Podcast, Holly and Holly have a conversation with Dan Gardoqui, a well known specialist in bird language, and nature-based consultant & coach, award winning educator and naturalist. 

You’ll get to hear some tips and input on deepening our connections to the natural world, "talking to birds", thinking about our attention and energy, curiosity as a superpower, and practicing gratitude.  

We also share a segment from the book What the Robin Knows, by Jon Young, for which Dan served as science and audio editor.

In the Joy of Birdsong segment, you’ll be treated to Dan’s incredible mimicry of some common North American birds. 

Learn more about Dan and Lead with Nature at Lead with Nature

Intro music: “Inspired by Nature” by PlayAgain
Intro Birdsong & Clips throughout : Western Meadowlark
Outro music: “Inspired by Nature” by PlayAgain
Outro Birdsong: Eastern Meadowlark
Mindful Birding Network Website
Instagram: @mindfulbirdingnetwork
Produced by Co-hosts Holly Merker and Holly Thomas

[email protected]

In this episode we welcome Dr. Barbara Patterson from Fort Collins Colorado. Barb’s work of creating and contributing to the Mindful Birding programs in her community is tremendous. Her latest endeavor is called The Mindful Birding Project, and she shares the details with us here.

Barb authored the booklet A Mindful Birding Journey which was first distributed to cancer patients in her local community, and can be found as a free download on the mindful birding network’s resources page. 

 Holly Thomas shares a reading from writing of Ed Yong, and how this so beautifully intertwines with mindful birding.

 Chris Benesh returns in this episode's Joy of Birdsong segment, sharing some special moments he had with a Brown-backed Solitaire in Oaxaca Mexico. 

Intro music: “Inspired by Nature” by PlayAgain
Intro Birdsong & Clips throughout : Western Meadowlark
Outro music: “Inspired by Nature” by PlayAgain
Outro Birdsong: Eastern Meadowlark
Mindful Birding Network Website
Instagram: @mindfulbirdingnetwork
Produced by Co-hosts Holly Merker and Holly Thomas

[email protected]

In this episode, Holly and Holly discuss locations and sites we consider optimal for Mindful Birding group outings, and highlight why sitting in one spot, or Sit Spots, can offer rewards and unexpected surprises.

We discuss why we feel Mindful Birding is gaining more traction, and how Mindful Birding experiences can intersect other interests, such as poetry, fine arts, yoga, nature journaling, mothing, and forest bathing. 

Check out artist Debra Ramsay and her show Flying Colors at the Hunterdon Art Museum in New Jersey, and our collaborative event pairing Debra’s work with Mindful Birding 

 Other links from this episode:

 Southeastern Arizona Birding Festival

Wings Over Water NW Birding Festival

Whitehawk Birding's Ornitherapy Retreats

Acadia Birding Festival

Bird Diva

Tammah Watts

Red Rock Audubon’s Mindful Birding Poetry Walk

Three Wattled Bellbird

Talamanca Hummingbird

Check out upcoming Mindful Birding Retreats and Slow Birding Weekends 

The Art of Mindful Birdwatching

The Bison Range

Lazuli Bunting 

Intro music: “Inspired by Nature” by PlayAgain
Intro Birdsong & Clips throughout : Western Meadowlark
Outro music: “Inspired by Nature” by PlayAgain
Outro Birdsong: Eastern Meadowlark
Mindful Birding Network Website
Instagram: @mindfulbirdingnetwork
Produced by Co-hosts Holly Merker and Holly Thomas

[email protected]

In this episode Holly & Holly continue to answer questions we’ve received about Mindful Birding in part II of Mindful Birding – Your Questions Answered.

We also continue our chat with therapist Pamela Lowell, who turns the tables on us, and asks us some questions about how we met and started this podcast. 

 In our Mindful Birding Nerding segment, Holly Thomas explores why birds might be the perfect gateway to mindfulness practice, and explores open monitoring and focused attention, and how they may improve wellbeing.  

Holly Thomas reads a quote from Carl Safina's newest book Alfie and Me

 We’re happy to have Chris Benesh sharing an encounter he had along the Sabinal River in the Hill Country of central Texas in late April for this installment of the Joy of Birdsong. Within the soundscape, you can hear up to 10 species, 

 If you are enjoying our podcast, please consider giving us a rating on your podcasting platform! Also, if there’s something you want to hear more about, please let us know by contacting us 

Intro music: “Inspired by Nature” by PlayAgain
Intro Birdsong & Clips throughout : Western Meadowlark
Outro music: “Inspired by Nature” by PlayAgain
Outro Birdsong: Eastern Meadowlark
Mindful Birding Network Website
Instagram: @mindfulbirdingnetwork
Produced by Co-hosts Holly Merker and Holly Thomas

[email protected]

In this episode, Holly and Holly spend time talking with trauma therapist, artist, and author Pamela Lowell, and how Mindful Birding and time spent connecting with birds and nature can be an effective therapeutic vehicle not only for human wellbeing, but also for the wellbeing of our planet.
Find Pamela's book My Summer with Ospreys here

Holly Merker offers a quote by the Tao te Ching
 
Holly Thomas shares how a pause can bring us into the present moment, and how this can help guide us in Mindful Birding and in life.  In this segment, Holly quotes Tara Brach's - The Sacred Pause, and reads the poem called "The Clearing" by by Martha Postlethwaite, from her book  Addiction and Recovery: A spiritual pilgrimage

In our Joy of Birdsong segment, Holly Thomas shares the song of the  Black-chinned Sparrow she encounters in New Mexico. 

Intro music: “Inspired by Nature” by PlayAgain
Intro Birdsong & Clips throughout : Western Meadowlark
Outro music: “Inspired by Nature” by PlayAgain
Outro Birdsong: Eastern Meadowlark
Mindful Birding Network Website
Instagram: @mindfulbirdingnetwork
Produced by Co-hosts Holly Merker and Holly Thomas