Podcast Episodes
Back to Search
A Lost Hummingbird is Found Again
The Santa Marta Sabrewing is a hummingbird species so rare, they’ve only been documented twice in recent years. Native to the mountains of Colombia, they were officially described in 1946. No one rep…
Published on 7 months, 3 weeks ago
A Kettle of Vultures
In the daytime, hot air rises as the sun heats the ground. The rising column of air is called a thermal, and it’s the perfect way for a Turkey Vulture to hitch a ride. Like an elevator to the skies, …
Published on 7 months, 3 weeks ago
Raising the World’s Deadliest Bird
You might think the first bird species that humans raised in captivity would be a relatively small one, like a chicken. But evidence suggests that people in New Guinea reared the cassowary, often cal…
Published on 7 months, 4 weeks ago
Poetry in the Parks
For her signature project You Are Here, U.S. Poet Laureate Ada Limón sought to connect people and nature through poetry. In addition to curating a book of poems by the same name, Limón also partnered…
Published on 7 months, 4 weeks ago
Great-tailed Grackle
Great-tailed Grackles live up to their name. The glossy black males trail their long, V-shaped tails behind them as they fly, almost like a plane towing a banner ad. And while not quite as flashy, th…
Published on 8 months ago
The Legendary Phoenix
The ancient Greeks and Egyptians described a mythical bird called the Phoenix, a magnificent creature that was a symbol of renewal and rebirth. According to legend, each Phoenix lived for 500 years, …
Published on 8 months ago
Recycle Your Eggshells to Help Nesting Birds
Female birds need to eat calcium to have enough of the mineral to lay their eggs. But it can be hard to find enough of it to eat in nature. We can help our backyard birds by offering them some extra …
Published on 8 months ago
Kinglet Fireworks
Most of the time, a Ruby-crowned Kinglet is neither ruby nor regal. A tiny songbird washed in faded olive-green, the male shows a hint of crimson atop of his head — hardly a ruby crown. But don’t for…
Published on 8 months ago
Brewer's Sparrow, Sageland Singer
One of the most musical and complex bird songs in the U.S. is that of the Brewer's Sparrow. It's a veritable aria, ringing forth from the sagebrush of Eastern Washington's Columbia Basin. Shrub-stepp…
Published on 8 months ago
Pablo Neruda’s Celebrated Birds
Pablo Neruda is considered one of the greatest poets of the 20th century. Though the Chilean poet is best known for his writings about love, birds were also close to his heart. He composed more than …
Published on 8 months ago