Bicknell's Thrush field work sounds like a dream job for those who love extreme, dense forest conditions. Bears, moose, getting thwacked in the face with branches...utter bliss for the diehard biologists!   

For most people though, those conditions are less than ideal. This makes learning about the Bicknell's Thrush quite challenging. How do we track the population of such an elusive bird species? How do we protect it, when many people don't even know it's there?

Amy-Lee shares with us the joy of studying this drab but loveable bird in the forests of the Maritimes provinces.

Dive deeper into Bicknell's Thrush and the joys of field work here.

Amy-Lee mentioned that even simple actions like drinking Bird Friendly Certified Coffee can help this species. Get yours here!  10% of your purchase from Birds and Beans goes towards supporting this podcast and bird conservation in Canada when you use the link. 

Dr. Amy-Lee Kouwenberg coordinates the High Elevation Landbird Program, and the Atlantic Nocturnal Owl Survey for Birds Canada.  She works closely with forestry managers and regulators in northern New Brunswick and the Cape Breton Highland, to protect bird habitat in the industrial forest.

Andrea Gress 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 now coordinates the Ontario Piping Plover Conservation Program for Birds Canada. Follow her work at @ontarioplovers

Andrés Jiménez is a Costa Rican wildlife biologist with a keen interest in snakes, frogs, birds and how human relationships are interconnected with the living world. He studied Tropical Biology in Costa Rica and has a Masters in Environmental Problem Solving from York University. Follow him at @andresjimo

This project was undertaken with the financial support of the Government of Canada through the federal Department of Environment and Climate Change is supported by funding from Environment and Climate Change Canada. The views expressed herein are solely those of Birds Canada.

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Chewie is a Piping Plover that brings much drama with her everywhere she goes, and we love her for it! Find out what she got up to since she was featured in the June minisode "Piping Plovers- A Love Story".  If you have not listened to that episode, go back and check it out BEFORE listening to this one!

Learn more about band combos, and report a banded Piping Plover here. Reporting bands helps researchers track the population and leads to improved conservation for the species.

To learn more about plovers or volunteer for Piping Plover programs in Ontario or Atlantic Canada visit Birds Canada.

Andrea Gress 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 now coordinates the Ontario Piping Plover Conservation Program for Birds Canada. Follow her work at @ontarioplovers

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The sound of Leach's Storm-Petrels returning to their burrows under the cover of darkness is what you might expect to hear in a fairy tale. Like elves giggling in the distance.

Laura Tranquilla of Birds Canada, joins us to share what it's like to work with one of Canada's smallest and most mysterious seabirds. Leach's Storm-Petrels breed in colonies along Canada's Atlantic coast, but spends much of the daylight hours far out at sea. Like many shorebird species, their population is in decline, but the exact cause can be hard to pin point. We explore the complex challenges of protecting a species that we know little about.

Visit CPAWS to get involved with Puffin and Petrel Patrol in Newfoundland.

Laura has also written fantastic blogs on this species; learn about her annual trips to Baccalieu Island, read about the nitty gritty's of Storm-Petrel research, and dive into some of the best research papers.

Thirsty? Get some Bird Friendly Certified Coffee! 10% of your purchase from Birds and Beans goes towards supporting this podcast and bird conservation in Canada when you use this link.   
 
Dr. Laura McFarlane Tranquilla has devoted over 20 years to bird ecology, physiology, tracking, and conservation on the east and west coats of Canada. Currently, she is the Atlantic Director for Birds Canada, and works to build science-based collaborative partnerships and guide conservation programs for seabirds, owls, marsh birds, forest birds, and many more.  

Andrea Gress 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 now coordinates the Ontario Piping Plover Conservation Program for Birds Canada. Follow her work at @ontarioplovers

Andrés Jiménez is a Costa Rican wildlife biologist with a keen interest in snakes, frogs, birds and how human relationships are interconnected with the living world. He studied Tropical Biology in Costa Rica and has a Masters in Environmental Problem Solving from York University. Follow him at @andresjimo

This project was undertaken with the financial support of the Government of Canada through the federal Department of Environment and Climate Change is supported by funding from Environment and Climate Change Canada. The views expressed herein are solely those of Birds Canada.

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Falling in love with chonky floofs, and how to help them! From navigating crowds of people to avoiding cow footprints on beaches, Piping Plovers have no shortage of challenges.  Andrea chats with plover researchers from Saskatchewan and Nova Scotia about these challenges and more, and how the conservation approaches can be radically different across Canada.   

Learn more about Piping Plovers near you, and potential volunteer opportunities. Mentioned in the episode are Birds Canada, Nature Saskatchewan, Alberta Conservation Association, but there are many more organizations doing good work for Piping Plovers!

Don't forget Bird Friendly Certified Coffee! 10% of your purchase from Birds and Beans goes towards supporting this podcast and bird conservation in Canada when you use this link.   

Janet Ng, Ph.D., is a species at risk biologist who has worked on a variety of species and landscapes around Canada. Her work is focused on wildlife-habitat relationships and how human development, climate change, and their combined effects can potentially impact species at risk. To hear more from Janet, check out her Ferruginous Hawk episode!

Laura Bartlett is the Nova Scotia Programs Coordinator for Birds Canada, and leads the Nova Scotia Piping Plover Conservation Program. She has a B.A. in Environmental Sustainability and Sociology, and a Master’s of Resource and Environmental Management from Dalhousie University, which focused on wildlife conservation and pro-environmental behaviour change.

Andrea Gress 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 now coordinates the Ontario Piping Plover Conservation Program for Birds Canada. Follow her work at @ontarioplovers

Andrés Jiménez is a Costa Rican wildlife biologist with a keen interest in snakes, frogs, birds and how human relationships are interconnected with the living world. He studied Tropical Biology in Costa Rica and has a Masters in Environmental Problem Solving from York University. Follow him at @andresjimo

This project was undertaken with the financial support of the Government of Canada through the federal Department of Environment and Climate Change is supported by funding from Environment and Climate Change Canada. The views expressed herein are solely those of Birds Canada.

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In this minisode Andrea shares a glimpse into the world of Piping Plovers and the struggles they face through a fascinating tale about 'Chewie', a very determined Piping Plover female. The story provides an introduction to these birds and leaves listeners wanting to know more. Fortunately we'll be learning more in our next episode! Stay tuned.

What happened to Chewie? Check out of follow-up episode to hear how her summer went. 

Andrea Gress 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 now coordinates the Ontario Piping Plover Conservation Program for Birds Canada. Follow her work at @ontarioplovers

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The Wake-up Call is a special series where we'll be learning about Canada's most threatened, and at-risk bird species. Experts working with each species will help us fall in love with these often elusive birds; we'll learn about the greatest threats, and how we can help. 

This first episode in the series provides background information to help us understand how species are protected in Canada. Later episodes will feature deep dives into species such as Piping Plover, Bicknell's Thrush, Leach's Storm-Petrel, and many more.

We love hearing from you! Let us know what you think of this new series by emailing [email protected], and please remember to subscribe, rate and review.

Pete Davidson considers himself a long-distant migrant. He originates from the UK but has lived and worked in Asia, Africa and Canada over the years. He is currently the Senior Director of Conservation Strategy at Birds Canada, and is a member of the Committee of the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada.   

Jody Allair is an avid birder and naturalist who enjoys sharing his enthusiasm for the natural world. He is the Director of Community Engagement 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 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 now coordinates the Ontario Piping Plover Conservation Program for Birds Canada. Follow her work at @ontarioplovers

Andrés Jiménez is a Costa Rican wildlife biologist with a keen interest in snakes, frogs, birds and how human relationships are interconnected with the living world. He studied Tropical Biology in Costa Rica and has a Masters in Environmental Problem Solving from York University. Follow him at @andresjimo

This project  is supported by funding from Environment and Climate Change Canada. The views expressed herein are solely those of Birds Canada.

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When we visited Long Point Bird Observatory for the previous episode we could not get enough of Stu Mackenzie's bird banding stories, and incredible level of knowledge! So here are some more tidbits from Stu.  Don't forget to check out the full length episode to experience the awe of life at a banding station!

Remember to report bands!

Stu MacKenzie is responsible for the Motus Wildlife Tracking System, Long Point Bird Observatory, Thunder Cape Bird Observatory, and aspects of the Canadian Migration Monitoring Network.

Andrea Gress 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 now coordinates the Ontario Piping Plover Conservation Program for Birds Canada. Follow her work at @ontarioplovers

Andrés Jiménez is a Costa Rican wildlife biologist with a keen interest in snakes, frogs, birds and how human relationships are interconnected with the living world. He studied Tropical Biology in Costa Rica and has a Masters in Environmental Problem Solving from York University. Follow him at @andresjimo

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Bird observatories are an essential starting place for young biologists, but also for members of the public; to watch, to learn, and to fall in love with birds in a more intimate and up-close setting.

Long Point Bird Observatory is where it all begins for many of us. It is the founding program of Birds Canada, ultimately leading to everything we do today.  We urge you to visit a bird observatory near you, but for now, please join Andrea and Andres, as they field trip to Long Point Bird Observatory and learn all about banding and the special impact that bird observatories have for young biologists and the species that migrate through.

Special thank you to the volunteers and staff who shared their stories, expertise, and passion for birds with us. You’ll find information about the birds they are seeing and banding on the Sightings Board.

Bonus: which species can you identify singing in the background?

Don't forget to grab some Bird Friendly Certified Coffee! 10% of your purchase from Birds and Beans goes towards supporting this podcast and bird conservation in Canada when you use this link.

Stu MacKenzie is responsible for the Motus Wildlife Tracking System, Long Point Bird Observatory, Thunder Cape Bird Observatory, and aspects of the Canadian Migration Monitoring Network.

Andrea Gress 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 now coordinates the Ontario Piping Plover Conservation Program for Birds Canada. Follow her work at @ontarioplovers

Andrés Jiménez is a Costa Rican wildlife biologist with a keen interest in snakes, frogs, birds and how human relationships are interconnected with the living world. He studied Tropical Biology in Costa Rica and has a Masters in Environmental Problem Solving from York University. He is Birds Canada's Urban Program Manager and you can follow him at @andresjimo

Have a burning question? Many people might have the same question, we would love to answer it.
Please send us your voice memo with any bird question to -> [email protected]
Alternatively, call  519-586-3531, extension 128 and leave a voice mail!

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Spring is here! And so are the birds! 
Andrea quizzes Jody Allair on his best spring birding tips. They chat about favorite spring bird songs, how to brush up on ID skills, where to meet local birders ...and so much more!

Want access to BirdWatch Canada magazine? Subscribe here. 

Out of coffee? Want to slurp on a cup that supports both bird conservation and this podcast?! Grab some certified bird-friendly coffee for The Warblers now => at Birds and Beans.

Jody Allair is an avid birder and naturalist who enjoys sharing his enthusiasm for the natural world. He is the Director of Community Engagement 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 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 now coordinates the Ontario Piping Plover Conservation Program for Birds Canada. Follow her work at @ontarioplovers

Andrés Jiménez is a Costa Rican wildlife biologist with a keen interest in snakes, frogs, birds and how human relationships are interconnected with the living world. He studied Tropical Biology in Costa Rica and has a Masters in Environmental Problem Solving from York University. He is Birds Canada's Urban Program Manager and you can follow him at @andresjimo 

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Spring approaches and the birds are rapidly migrating back to their summer homes. They are taking up residence across Canada, preparing to nest in our backyards, local parks, and even in industrial areas. We love seeing and hearing them return for the summer. With three-quarters of Canada’s population residing in urban areas, and many of our favourite bird species sharing those spaces with us…how do we make sure our urban environments are safe places for birds?

We chat with Tim Beatley, author of The Bird-Friendly City, and long-time advocate for developing urban areas that co-exist with nature and emphasize high biodiversity. Following Tim, Sara Jordan-McLachlan joins us from Calgary to discuss how she and other volunteers are working to make the city more Bird Friendly, and how you can strive for the same in your hometown.

Timothy Beatley is  Professor of Sustainable Communities, in the Department of Urban and Environmental Planning, School of Architecture at the University of Virginia, where he has taught for the last twenty-five years. Much of Beatley’s work focuses on the subject of sustainable communities, and creative strategies by which cities and towns can fundamentally reduce their ecological footprints, while at the same time becoming more livable and equitable places. Beatley believes that sustainable and resilient cities represent our best hope for addressing today’s environmental challenges. 

Sara Jordan-McLachlan is a Calgarian member of the Bird-Friendly Calgary Team as a community member with a BSc in Zoology and an MSc in Environmental Practice. She is a volunteer member of the Calgary Migratory Species Response Team, a group that works to identify and mitigate window strikes in downtown Calgary and a member of the City's biodiversity Advisory Committee.   She is also the current coordinator for Calgary Captured, a long-term remote camera study in the city focused on wildlife movement and habitat connectivity. You can reach her at [email protected] or me personally at [email protected].

Find out more about Biophilic cities here.
Find out more about Nature Canada's Bird-Friendly City certification here

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