Podcast Episodes

Magpie-Jay Flocks Are Led by Females

Found in much of Central America, White-throated Magpie-Jay flocks are family groups led by a dominant female. They include a mate and several female offspring that bring food to the primary female a…

Published on 2 years, 4 months ago

Birds, Nests, and Camouflage

Bird nests can be hard to find, often hidden in plain sight. Is the clever camouflage simply the result of using building materials that the birds happen to find? A Scottish research team used birds …

Published on 2 years, 4 months ago

Great Blue Herons on Land

Throughout much of North America, the Great Blue Heron graces waterways, ponds and lakes. They’re built for hunting fish and amphibians along the water — so it might be a surprise to see one stalking…

Published on 2 years, 4 months ago

Birds in Summer - The Heat of the Day

Just a few weeks past the solstice, and the real heat of summer is yet to come. Some shorebirds are already on their way south, but most songbirds will be here for a while longer. What's the best tim…

Published on 2 years, 4 months ago

Nest Boxes Help Bring Birds Back

Wherever you live, chances are a sweet-singing, cavity-nesting bird would be happy to perform in your yard — and it might stick around if you offer it a cozy nest box, like the one this Carolina Wren…

Published on 2 years, 4 months ago

Architecture for Avians

During her first year at the Yale School of Architecture, Kenyan graduate student Barbara Nasila was tasked to design a hypothetical outdoor pavilion in a local neighborhood called Dixwell, featuring…

Published on 2 years, 5 months ago

The Value of a Dust Bath

It might sound strange, but dirt helps birds scrub themselves clean. Birds of all sizes (like the Eurasian Skylark seen here) often scrape a depression in the ground and flick dirt onto their bodies,…

Published on 2 years, 5 months ago

Song Neighborhoods

Birds of the same species don’t always sing exactly the same as each other. But those that live near each other sometimes have similar songs. Scientists refer to this pattern as a song neighborhood. …

Published on 2 years, 5 months ago

“Clearing” by Camille T. Dungy

In this episode, writer Camille T. Dungy shares the poem “Clearing” from her new book, Soil: The Story of a Black Mother’s Garden.

More info and transcript at BirdNote.org. 

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Published on 2 years, 5 months ago

What Makes Feathers Both Strong and Light

Bird feathers are famously light, but they’re also strong, holding up under tricky flying and high winds. They’re made of beta keratin, a tougher version of the keratin that makes up human fingernail…

Published on 2 years, 5 months ago