The birds are back! From raptors doing trust falls, to grebes running across water - birds are displaying their finest selves all across Canada!

In this episode, Kyle Horner breaks down the common, the weird, and the obscure bird behaviours that you should be looking for this spring. We also get interesting insights into the "mess" that is the Canada Goose. And Kyle shares what he considers the best birds to look for at this time of year, whether you're in Halifax, Kelowna, or somewhere in between!

Want more info on how to help birds? Visit Your Guide to Helping Canada's Birds. 

Birds and Beans will donate to this podcast when you use the code "warblers" at checkout. Thanks for your support!

Kyle Horner was gifted the love of birdlife and storytelling from his father. From a young age he was obsessed with talking about nature to others (whether or not they wanted to hear it), and his career has been spent doing just that. Kyle has worked in environmental education and science communication for parks, zoos, botanical gardens, outreach programs, non-profits, and the University of Guelph. As the NatureCounts Engagement Coordinator, he is excited to find the stories in the data and share the incredible potential of this fascinating project.

Andrea Gress (she/her) secretly thinks Piping Plovers are better than all the other birds...studied Renewable Resource Management at the University of Saskatchewan. She pivoted towards birds, after an internship in South Africa. Upon returning, she worked with Piping Plovers in Saskatchewan, and then as the Ontario Piping Plover Coordinator. Years of sharing her love of plovers with beach goers has turned into a full time communications role with Birds Canada. 

The Breeding Bird Atlas is the ultimate province-wide bird survey. In this episode, Atlas coordinators from Newfoundland, Ontario, and Saskatchewan share how and why Atlassing is a key part of bird conservation. We hear their biggest challenges, favourite stories from the field, and why you should be a part of it all. From boast worthy birds, to blackflies - the Breeding Bird Atlas is a project driven by a love for birds and for Canada's most far to reach places.

It's not too late to join an Atlas!

• Newfoundland: nf.birdatlas.ca
• Ontario: birdsontario.org

Pull out the camping pot, boil some water, and brew some bird-friendly coffee! Birds and Beans will donate to this podcast when you use the code "warblers" at checkout.

Catherine Dale had an early career job studying Tree Swallows which sparked her love for birds, animal behaviour, and spending time in the field. She began working with Birds Canada in 2019 as the Coordinator of the Newfoundland Breeding Bird Atlas, and has spent the past six years learning about the amazing province she now calls home. She also coordinates the NL Nocturnal Owl Survey and the newly launched Short-eared Owl Survey.

Kaelyn Bumelis spent her undergraduate summers studying aerial insectivores, which inspired her to pursue a Master of Science in Biology at Western University, where she focused on niche segregation among sympatric Barn, Cliff, and Tree swallows. Today, Kaelyn serves as the Project Manager for the Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas, a role that allows her to blend her love of birding and conservation with her enthusiasm for connecting and exchanging knowledge with others. 

LeeAnn Latremouille is originally from Montreal, but fell in love with the prairies and has called Saskatoon home for the last 10 years. In addition to coordinating the Saskatchewan Breeding Bird Atlas, she also runs the Saskatchewan Nocturnal Owl Survey, delivers the MarshWatch educational program, and has recently taken on a role with our Grassland Bird Conservation Team as the coordinator for the Integrated Monitoring of Bird Conservation Regions effort in Prairie Canada.

Andrea Gress (she/her) secretly thinks Piping Plovers are better than all the other birds...studied Renewable Resource Management at the University of Saskatchewan. She pivoted towards birds, after an internship in South Africa. Upon returning, she worked with Piping Plovers in Saskatchewan, and then as the Ontario Piping Plover Coordinator. Years of sharing her love of plovers with beach goers has turned into a full time communications role with Birds Canada. 

By size, shape and style, you might mistake this owl for a cuddly toy, but it's actually a deadly predator. In today's episode we chat about the Northern Saw-whet Owl - their adaptations, how to identify them by sound, how banding operations are helping to track their populations, and how you could get involved!

Happy Superb Owl day! #superbowl

Protect habitat while sipping on a cup of bird-friendly coffee! Birds and Beans will even donate to this podcast when you use the code "warblers" at checkout.

Join the Nocturnal Owl Survey, or keep an eye out for owl banding at a banding station near you. Follow Long Point Bird Observatory on FB or IG @longpointbirds    

Kyle Cameron got hooked on birds from a young age and turned it into a career! He currently works as the Ontario Projects Biologist for Birds Canada, where he provides contributions to numerous projects including education programming, the Motus wildlife tracking system, and the Long Point Bird Observatory.

Andrea Gress (she/her) secretly thinks Piping Plovers are better than all the other birds...studied Renewable Resource Management at the University of Saskatchewan. She pivoted towards birds, after an internship in South Africa. Upon returning, she worked with Piping Plovers in Saskatchewan, and then as the Ontario Piping Plover Coordinator. Years of sharing her love of plovers with beach goers has turned into a full time communications role with Birds Canada.  

As a special treat we've rounded up some of your most curious bird related questions and answered them in this episode (or tried to!).

Why do some birds have red eyes? Can owls hybridize? Can birds smell? And of course, we'll try to solve the hotdog mystery. 

Help us keep doing what we do best by donating today. Or another great way to help...
Order some bird-friendly coffee for your cozy holiday season, and when you use the code "warblers", Birds and Beans will donate to this podcast. 

Check out Winter is better with Project FeederWatch for more information about bird feeding, or How do birds survive the extremes of winter?! for some mind blowing winter bird facts!

Some of you asked where to find ornithology jobs. We recommend checking the Birds Canada site if you'd like to work with us!  Or check out Work Cabin for jobs in the larger conservation community. 

Others asked for audio and birdsong resources for North America. Try:

• Merlin Bird ID: field guide app with sounds
• Sibley Birds: field guide app with sounds
• Larkwire: quiz app to learn bird sounds
• xeno-canto: online database of sounds

Lindsay Lalach is currently working towards her Masters of Science in Biology at Simon Fraser University, her research is focused on the winter movement and foraging ecology of Brandt's Cormorants in the Salish Sea.

David Toews is an Assistant Professor in the Biology Department at Penn State University. He did his undergrad at Acadia University in NS, and MSc and PhD at UBC. He also serves as the “population genetics expert” for the Birds Specialist Subcommittee of COSEWIC. He has studied avian evolution since 2005, and has been focused on speciation and hybridization in warblers. 

Doug Tozer is the Director of Waterbirds and Wetlands with Birds Canada. His academic and professional career has focused on developing workable conservation solutions for birds, and raising awareness of the importance of these animals; through programs such as the Great Lakes Marsh Monitoring Program, Canadian Lakes Loon Survey, and Long Point Waterfowl and Wetlands Research Program.

Jody Allair is an avid birder and naturalist who enjoys sharing his enthusiasm for the natural world. He is the Director of Communications at Birds Canada and has written numerous articles on birds, birding and connecting with nature. You can find him on Twitter and Instagram at @JodyAllair.

Andrea Gress (she/her) secretly thinks Piping Plovers are better than all the other birds...studied Renewable Resource Management at the University of Saskatchewan. She pivoted towards birds, after an internship in South Africa. Upon returning, she worked with Piping Plovers in Saskatchewan, and then as the Ontario Piping Plover Coordinator. Years of sharing her love of plovers with beach goers has turned into a full time communications role with Birds Canada.  

Some call them goatsuckers, others may think of them as dragons in the night sky...but we know them lovingly as the Eastern Whip-poor-will.

We're joined by three researchers who are exploring the habitats, food sources, and migratory ranges of the Eastern Whip-poor-will.  We learn all kinds of spooky facts about this elusive species, and gain insights into their threats and challenges. Plus we get to take a behind the scenes look at how research is done for this species at risk.

Help us keep doing what we do best by donating today. Thank you! 

Natasha shared many great ways to help the Eastern Whip-poor-will and aerial insectivores, here are some of our favorites: 

• Canadian Nightjar Survey
• Global Nightjar Network
• Breeding Bird Survey
• Breeding Bird Atlas
• Bird Gardens

And if you'd like to keep learning, check out the State of Canada's Birds, get some quick facts, or dive into some research that was mentioned in the episode! 

Help birds and bugs today by ordering some bird-friendly coffee. When you use the code 'warblers' at check out, Birds and Beans makes a donation to this podcast. 

Victoria Pepe is a first-year master’s student at the University of Waterloo, working under the supervision of Dr. Liam McGuire. She is researching the home range dynamics and nest site selection of Eastern Whip-poor-wills. Victoria hopes to help bridge the knowledge gaps for this species with her research, helping to inform landowners on how they can help support Whip-poor-will populations and entice this iconic bird to use their properties. 

Lauren Weeks is completing her master's in the McGuire Lab at the University of Waterloo. Her main topics of interest are avian migration and diet composition. Passionate about the outdoors, Lauren loves hiking while looking for cool birds and bugs. She hopes her research will contribute to conservation efforts to support species at risk. 

Natasha Barlow grew up near Point Pelee National Park in southern Ontario, and didn't fully appreciate the area until she had already moved away. Thankfully, she realized the error in her ways, and after completing her masters assessing the efficacy of restoration and conservation strategies on protecting sagebrush songbirds, she now coordinates various field-based research projects, runs citizen science programs, and advocates for change for aerial insectivores in Ontario as a Projects Biologist with Birds Canada. 

Andrea Gress (she/her) secretly thinks Piping Plovers are better than all the other birds...studied Renewable Resource Management at the University of Saskatchewan. She pivoted towards birds, after an internship in South Africa. Upon returning, she worked with Piping Plovers in Saskatchewan, and then as the Ontario Piping Plover Coordinator. Years of sharing her love of plovers with beach goers has turned into a full time communications role with Birds Canada.

As we get deeper into the fall months, we're joined by Olivia Carvalho to chat about an underappreciated pastime... winter birding!

With Olivia coordinating Project FeederWatch in Canada, she has great insights on how to help birds through the coldest months, winter adaptations, birds you might expect to see at your feeder, and more!

What birds are at your feeder? Let us know by joining Project FeederWatch!
Remember, you don't need to have a feeder to be part of the fun!

Stay warm this winter with a cup of Bird Friendly coffee from Birds and Beans. Use the code "Warblers" to support this podcast. Grab a bag today!  

Olivia Carvalho is the Community Engagement Specialist for Birds Canada. She oversees the coordination of Project FeederWatch, Great Backyard Bird Count, and Gardening for Birds in Canada. Her role connects her with thousands of birders (and birds!) across the country, and she believes birding is for everyone.

Andrea Gress (she/her) secretly thinks Piping Plovers are better than all the other birds...studied Renewable Resource Management at the University of Saskatchewan. She pivoted towards birds, after an internship in South Africa. Upon returning, she worked with Piping Plovers in Saskatchewan, and then as the Ontario Piping Plover Coordinator. Years of sharing her love of plovers with beach goers has turned into a full time communications role with Birds Canada.

How are Canada's birds doing? Recently released, The State of Canada's Birds brings us valuable insights into the health of our favourite species. Some have recovered wonderfully, like waterfowl and birds of prey, yet others are struggling and need urgent attention.

Catherine Jardine of Birds Canada and Marie-Anne Hudson with Environment and Climate Change Canada join us - after spending 4 years of their lives digging into this data - to share the biggest news on Canada's birds.

Explore the report and share what you learn. Together, we can have a positive impact on Canada's birds. 

Marie-Anne Hudson has a BSc from McGill University in Applied Zoology and a PhD from McGill University in Wildlife Biology, which she got while also working as an environmental consultant and bird bander. With over a decade of experience, in 2023 she became the Unit Head of the Science Coordination and Reporting Unit with Environment and Climate Change Canada.

Catherine Jardine is the Associate Director of Data Science and Technology at Birds Canada. Her work focuses on supporting hundreds of research and monitoring projects investigating the ecology, distribution and population dynamics of all bird species through two main platforms; NatureCounts (naturecounts.ca) and the Motus Wildlife Tracking System (motus.org).

Andrea Gress (she/her) secretly thinks Piping Plovers are better than all the other birds...studied Renewable Resource Management at the University of Saskatchewan. She pivoted towards birds, after an internship in South Africa. Upon returning, she worked with Piping Plovers in Saskatchewan, and then as the Ontario Piping Plover Coordinator. Years of sharing her love of plovers with beach goers has turned into a full time communications role with Birds Canada.

An incredible migratory phenomenon occurs along the St. Lawrence River in Quebec. Thankfully, the Tadoussac Bird Observatory is located in just the right place to observe and study this mass movement of warblers and other songbirds.

Alexandre Terrigeol joins us during peak migration to share more about this phenomenon and about the other work occurring at the bird observatory, including bird banding research, educational workshops, and an annual birding festival!

Learn more about the Tadoussac Bird Observatory (or Observatoire d'oiseaux de Tadoussac). Support bird observatories through the Birds Canada Birdathon.

Pick up a bag of Bird Friendly coffee from Birds and Beans; supporting everyone from the boreal birds in this episode, to the coffee farmers themselves. Use the code "Warblers" to support this podcast!

Alexandre Terrigeol is a biologist and director of the Tadoussac Bird Observatory. A relative newcomer to the world of ornithology, he uses both his work and his free time to share his passion for biodiversity, particularly birds. As much as possible, he wants to contribute to research through participatory science tools, photography and sound recordings.

Andrea Gress (she/her) secretly thinks Piping Plovers are better than all the other birds...studied Renewable Resource Management at the University of Saskatchewan. She pivoted towards birds, after an internship in South Africa. Upon returning, she worked with Piping Plovers in Saskatchewan, and then as the Ontario Piping Plover Coordinator. Years of sharing her love of plovers with beach goers has turned into a full time communications role with Birds Canada.

With their heads buried in a carcass, vultures may seem like gross, unwanted creatures. But we have to disagree! Vultures have fascinating adaptations that make them essential parts of a healthy ecosystem. John Kinghorn joins us from South Africa to share his unabashed love for vultures, help us understand why their populations are plummeting, and what we can do to help.   

Learn more about the many projects BirdLife South Africa is leading and collaborating on to help vultures. And celebrate International Vulture Awareness Day on September 7th by sharing this podcast!

This was a listener suggested episode. Leave us reviews, comments on social media, or send an email with your episode suggestions! 

Bird-friendly certified coffee is an easy way to support habitat conservation (and this podcast!). Birds and Beans will donate 10% of proceeds to Birds Canada when you check out with the code "Warblers", or use this link.

John Kinghorn undertook a southern African Birding Big Year at age 19, and became the sixth person to record more than 800 bird species in the region in one calendar year, also setting a record for the youngest person achieve this milestone. His deep-rooted passion for conservation shines through in everything that he does. With a career spanning 11 years as a professional specialist bird guide, John acquired an LLB [law] degree and completed his articles of clerkship as a Candidate Attorney. John is currently spearheading BirdLife South Africa’s world renown Community Bird Guide Programme, empowering communities, and continuing to enhance South Africa’s status as leaders in avitourism through key stakeholder engagement.

Andrea Gress (she/her) secretly thinks Piping Plovers are better than all the other birds...studied Renewable Resource Management at the University of Saskatchewan. She pivoted towards birds, after an internship in South Africa. Upon returning, she worked with Piping Plovers in Saskatchewan, and then as the Ontario Piping Plover Coordinator. Years of sharing her love of plovers with beach goers has turned into a full time communications role with Birds Canada. 

Grassland ecosystems and birds are increasingly under threat as agricultural operations expand to meet growing food demands. Yet, agriculture itself can be the solution!

Through personal anecdotes and a deep appreciation for the unique wildlife of the Canadian prairies, Ian Cook highlights the importance of grasslands and the need to find collaborative approaches that support farmers and producers, as well as the birds we all love.

Learn more about the Bird-friendliness Index here.

It takes a team. Ian wanted to shout out to the following groups for supporting this work: Environment and Climate Change Canada, Manitoba Habitat Conservancy, Saskatchewan Stock Growers Foundation, South of the Divide Conservation Action Program Inc., Nature Conservancy of Canada, and Fish and Wildlife Development Fund.

Another way to support habitat protection is by drinking Bird Friendly coffee! Purchase through this link, or type "Warblers" into the coupon code box, and Birds and Beans will donate 10% of the purchase price to Birds Canada. Thank you!

Ian Cook is the Grassland Conservation Manager at Birds Canada. Ian grew up on a mixed farm in western Manitoba, developing a deep connection with the natural world, which inspired him to pursue a career that bridges agriculture and conservation. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture from the University of Manitoba and is a Professional Agrologist and Certified Crop Advisor. Through his work, Ian strives to find mutually beneficial solutions for wildlife, the environment, farmers, ranchers, and society at large, and create working landscapes full of birdsong and bursting with life. 

Andrea Gress (she/her) secretly thinks Piping Plovers are better than all the other birds...studied Renewable Resource Management at the University of Saskatchewan. She pivoted towards birds, after an internship in South Africa. Upon returning, she worked with Piping Plovers in Saskatchewan, and then as the Ontario Piping Plover Coordinator. Years of sharing her love of plovers with beach goers has turned into a full time communications role with Birds Canada.