Will's Birdbrain

Will interviews one of the world's leading experts on the Common Loon, Dr. James D. Paruk. Together they discuss what it is that humans find so fascinating about loons, from their mournful wail to striking plumage. This conversation is flecked with awesome facts and unbelievable stories from Jim's adventures in the world of the loon.

 If you love loons too, check out Jim's book, Loon Lessons: Uncommon Encounters with the Great Northern Diver, to hear more stories directly from the Indiana Jones of Loons! 
https://www.upress.umn.edu/book-division/books/loon-lessons

Be sure to check out the Will's Birdbrain Instagram account for complementary episode photos and videos, plus many other awesome bird photos/stories! https://www.instagram.com/wills_birdbrain/?hl=en 

Got a favorite bird you'd like to hear discussed on the Podcast? Shoot Will an email and let him know what you'd like to hear, share a birding story, or just say what's up! Email inquiries - [email protected] 

Your support and interest is extremely helpful and encouraging! If you liked the show, please consider dropping a rating to show your support. Got suggestions for improvement, those could be added to a review! The goal of the Podcast is to share the love of birds, so be sure to share with your friends and family too. Together let's show some love to these common critters that so often get overlooked. 

Love the show, consider supporting me on Patreon! Click the link to sign up: https://www.patreon.com/willsbirdbrain

Remember, always be birding!

Support the show

Everyone is an artist, what inspires you? Will and Maleah explore how black-capped chickadees are some of the most inspirational little birds when it comes to art. From their intricate vocalizations to surprising control over bodily functions, there's much more than meets the eye with chickadees.

 The myth this week is U`tlûñ'ta, the Spear-finger, from the Cherokee people. What can this story teach us about how animals representation is important? http://folkmasa.org/yashpeh/mb_yashp.php?mishtane=4207

Be sure to check out the Will's Birdbrain Instagram account for complementary episode photos and videos, plus many other awesome bird photos/stories! https://www.instagram.com/wills_birdbrain/?hl=en 

Got a favorite bird you'd like to hear discussed on the Podcast? Shoot Will an email and let him know what you'd like to hear, share a birding story, or just say what's up!
 Email inquiries - [email protected] 

Your support and interest is extremely helpful and encouraging! If you liked the show, please consider dropping a rating to show your support. Got suggestions for improvement, those could be added to a review! The goal of the Podcast is to share the love of birds, so be sure to share with your friends and family too. Together let's show some love to these common critters that so often get overlooked. 

Love the show, consider supporting me on Patreon! Click the link to sign up: https://www.patreon.com/willsbirdbrain

Remember, always be birding!

Support the show

Join Will and Sarah for a candid conversation about a truly unsung hero of not just the bird world but the whole world - the turkey vulture! The duo meet at the Maine Maritime Museum to discuss the importance of the turkey vulture, what makes them great family birds, and what they can teach US about enriching our communities. 

The myth this week is The Blind Vulture, from the Hitopadesha originating in India. This is a cautionary tale about trusting strangers. https://www.culturalindia.net/indian-folktales/hitopadesha-tales/blind-vulture.html

Be sure to check out the Will's Birdbrain Instagram account for complementary episode photos and videos, plus many other awesome bird photos/stories! https://www.instagram.com/wills_birdbrain/?hl=en 

Got a favorite bird you'd like to hear discussed on the Podcast? Shoot Will an email and let him know what you'd like to hear, share a birding story, or just say what's up!
 Email inquiries - [email protected] 

Your support and interest is extremely helpful and encouraging! If you liked the show, please consider dropping a rating to show your support. Got suggestions for improvement, those could be added to a review! The goal of the Podcast is to share the love of birds, so be sure to share with your friends and family too. Together let's show some love to these common critters that so often get overlooked. 

Love the show, consider supporting me on Patreon! Click the link to sign up: https://www.patreon.com/willsbirdbrain

Remember, always be birding!

Support the show

Will and Savannah don their best deerstalker hats and dive into the true crime world with an investigation of one of the most notorious birds in the world - the Canada Goose. The duo examines real life cases of "bird crime," and what it means to be a bad bird. Can this lawless troublemaker be redeemed?! 
The myth this week is The Goose Wife, an Inuit tale. The legend follows Itajung, as he learns it is important to understand other people's perspectives, especially when it comes to family.

 https://www.worldoftales.com/Native_American_folktales/Eskimo_folktale_6.html#gsc.tab=0Be sure to check out the Will's Birdbrain Instagram account for complementary episode photos and videos, plus many other awesome bird photos/stories! https://www.instagram.com/wills_birdbrain/?hl=en 

Got a favorite bird you'd like to hear discussed on the Podcast? Shoot Will an email and let him know what you'd like to hear, share a birding story, or just say what's up!Email inquiries - [email protected]

 Your support and interest is extremely helpful and encouraging! If you liked the show, please consider dropping a rating to show your support. Got suggestions for improvement, those could be added to a review! The goal of the Podcast is to share the love of birds, so be sure to share with your friends and family too. Together let's show some love to these common critters that so often get overlooked.

Love the show, consider supporting me on Patreon! Click the link to sign up: https://www.patreon.com/willsbirdbrain

Remember, always be birding!

Support the show

Will and Kayta buckle up for a whirlwind roadtrip to Louisiana to see peli-culiar brown pelicans! Along the way they discuss how brown pelicans were critically endangered because of human carelessness when it came to pollution. What does it mean to advocate for conservation, and why are brown pelicans such an important example of the dangers of neglecting the environment? Along the way they also discuss what makes brown pelicans so fascinating, as they are common birds in some places in the USA, but not all over. 

The myth this week is about the Serbian cryptid the Cikavac. Will wrote this tale, based on the fantastic beast, about a lonely woman seeking vengeance from a town with the aid of a magical pelican.  

Be sure to check out the Will's Birdbrain Instagram account for complementary episode photos and videos, plus many other awesome bird photos/stories! 
https://www.instagram.com/wills_birdbrain/?hl=en
                                                                                                                                 
Got a favorite bird you'd like to hear discussed on the Podcast? Shoot Will an email and let him know what you'd like to hear, share a birding story, or just say what's up!
Email inquiries - [email protected]
                                                                                                                                  
Your support and interest is extremely helpful and encouraging! If you liked the show, please consider dropping a rating to show your support. Got suggestions for improvement, those could be added to a review! The goal of the Podcast is to share the love of birds, so be sure to share with your friends and family too. Together let's show some love to these common critters that so often get overlooked.

Love the show, consider supporting me on Patreon! Click the link to sign up: https://www.patreon.com/willsbirdbrain

Remember, always be birding!

Support the show

Will and Olivia discuss what makes mallards magical! Mallards are birds that can easily be found in cities and towns. They act as gateways to nature, animals and birding! The duo talks about the role urban birding has on the hobby - you don't always need to go on big adventures far away when birding! Olivia brings her experience as an "urban birder" to the episode, sharing many stories of unique mallard encounters. Also explored are the ideas of reconciling hunting and conservation, leucism, and hybridization! The myth this week is The Twelve Wild Ducks! 

Be sure to check out the Will's Birdbrain Instagram account for complementary episode photos and videos, plus many other awesome bird photos/stories! https://www.instagram.com/wills_birdbrain/?hl=en 

Got a favorite bird you'd like to hear discussed on the Podcast? Shoot Will an email and let him know what you'd like to hear, share a birding story, or just say hi!
 Email inquiries - [email protected] 

If you're interested in staying up to date on the show, consider following Will's Birdbrain on Repod as well! It's a free app from the Apple app store or Google Play store that lets people engage with podcast creators, and listen to their shows all on one central place. Come join the flock!https://repod.io/ 

Your support and interest is extremely helpful and encouraging! If you liked the show, please consider dropping a rating to show your support. Got suggestions for improvement, those could be added to a review! The goal of the Podcast is to share the love of birds, so be sure to share with your friends and family too. Together let's show some love to these common critters that so often get overlooked.

Love the show, consider supporting me on Patreon! Click the link to sign up: https://www.patreon.com/willsbirdbrain

Remember, always be birding!

Support the show

Will and Paul discuss when birds will start to live their lives right... gulls just want to have fun! Gulls' carefree personalities have lead people over the centuries to bestow heavenly attributes to these common birds. From messengers of God to tokens of luck, gulls have been viewed as good omens. Paul brings his museum and curatorial experience to ponder the value of bird art, and how gulls have been represented in history and culture via museums. Together they answer the question - can learning be fun? 
This episode's myth is the tale of Dylan of Wales. This will make you think twice about frolicking on the beach!

Be sure to check out the Will's Birdbrain Instagram account for complementary episode photos and videos, plus many other awesome bird photos/stories! https://www.instagram.com/wills_birdbrain/?hl=en

Got a favorite bird you'd like to hear discussed on the Podcast? Shoot Will an email and let him know what you'd like to hear, share a birding story, or just say hi!
Email inquiries - [email protected]

 If you're interested in staying up to date on the show, consider following Will's Birdbrain on Repod as well! It's a free app from the Apple app store or Google Play store that lets people engage with podcast creators, and listen to their shows all on one central place. Come join the flock!https://repod.io/Your support and interest is extremely helpful and encouraging! If you liked the show, please consider dropping a rating to show your support. 

Got suggestions for improvement, those could be added to a review! The goal of the Podcast is to share the love of birds, so be sure to share with your friends and family too. Together let's show some love to these common critters that so often get overlooked.

Love the show, consider supporting me on Patreon! Click the link to sign up: https://www.patreon.com/willsbirdbrain

Remember, always be birding!

Support the show

Will and Josh discuss crows' spooky representation in film, and why these birds are more than dark omens. Discover how crows have used their intelligence to their advantage over the centuries, and have complex social lives! The featured myth is the legend of How the Crow Became Black!

Be sure to check out the Will's Birdbrain Instagram account for complementary episode photos and videos, plus many other awesome bird photos/stories! 
https://www.instagram.com/wills_birdbrain/?hl=en
                                                                                                                                 
Got a favorite bird you'd like to hear discussed on the Podcast? Shoot Will an email and let him know what you'd like to hear, share a birding story, or just say what's up!
Email inquiries - [email protected]
                                                                                                                                  
Your support and interest is extremely helpful and encouraging! If you liked the show, please consider dropping a rating to show your support. Got suggestions for improvement, those could be added to a review! The goal of the Podcast is to share the love of birds, so be sure to share with your friends and family too. Together let's show some love to these common critters that so often get overlooked.

Love the show, consider supporting me on Patreon! Click the link to sign up: https://www.patreon.com/willsbirdbrain

Remember, always be birding!

Support the show

Will and Kayta explain where pigeons come from, and how they've interacted with people over the past 5000 years. They also discuss a few wild facts about pigeons and their ties to the military! Don't miss this week's myth- the Legend of the Pigeons of Krakow! 

Be sure to check out the Will's Birdbrain Instagram account for complementary episode photos and videos, plus many other awesome bird photos/stories! 
https://www.instagram.com/wills_birdbrain/?hl=en
                                                                                                                                 
Got a favorite bird you'd like to hear discussed on the Podcast? Shoot Will an email and let him know what you'd like to hear, share a birding story, or just say what's up!
Email inquiries - [email protected]
                                                                                                                                  
Your support and interest is extremely helpful and encouraging! If you liked the show, please consider dropping a rating to show your support. Got suggestions for improvement, those could be added to a review! The goal of the Podcast is to share the love of birds, so be sure to share with your friends and family too. Together let's show some love to these common critters that so often get overlooked.

Love the show, consider supporting me on Patreon! Click the link to sign up: https://www.patreon.com/willsbirdbrain

Remember, always be birding!

Support the show