On episode #47 I talk with Ryan Rodriguez at his Dad, at the office of his Dad and primary birding chauffeur Victor Rodriguez. Ryan learned to read at age 4 by studying the Sibley Guide to the Birds of North America for a full summer. He is an avid birder, Young Birder of the Year contest participant, and a wonderful guest on the Bird Banter Podcast. Enjoy. Check out the associated Bird Banter Blog Post for more information and photos of and about Ryan. Please leave comments, reviews, and contac...
Jan 30, 2020•42 min•Ep. 59
We record Episode #46 after our 8th consecutive long day of birding in the lower Rio Grande Valley of south Texas, and Ken and Bruce were gracious enough to talk with me about our time here. To learn more about Ken and Bruce's birding story and our times birding together check out two of my earliest episodes @2 with Ken Brown and #3 with Bruce LaBar. I think you'll enjoy both of them. During this episode we explored much of the valley, and it is far too much for podcast notes to discuss here. Ch...
Jan 25, 2020•35 min•Ep. 58
On The Bird Banter Podcast Episode #45 I talk with Annie Meyer. I first met Annie when she was a pre-teen birder, and we talk about her birding story, her birding and research experiences, and conservation issues regarding birds. She has wonderful stories to tell. I had a great time talking with Annie. Enjoy. You can reach out to Annie Meyer @anniemeyer on Facebook on Instagram @Annie_Meyer The website for Third Millennium Alliance in Equador, preserving corridors for wildlife is http://tmallian...
Jan 16, 2020•53 min•Ep. 57
On The Bird Banter Podcast Episode #44 Clarice Clark and Jerry Broadus, Tacoma area birders and volunteer conservation and ornithology researchers talk about their life experiences in these fields. They have really walked the walk in terms of putting their efforts, resources and time to further their passion for helping understand and safe birds and bird habitat. Here are some links to topics they discussed to learn more. First here is a link to our ABC Birding Club website and the article on th...
Jan 09, 2020•1 hr 16 min•Ep. 56
In this episode, after most of 2019 as the inaugural year of The Bird Banter Podcast, with 53 episodes, some brief and unnumbered, I look back at the guests I've talked with, the fun I've had, and feel happy with the year in the rear view mirror. Enjoy. Here are some links to things discussed in this episode: http://thespeckledhatchback.blogspot.com/ Dorian Anderson's current website and his Biking for the Birds 2014 Big Year Blog http://bikingforbirds.blogspot.com/ You can find Christian Hagenl...
Dec 29, 2019•35 min•Ep. 55
In this episode I talk with my son Brett. I'm visiting Brett in SE Asia, with visits to Chiang Mai, Thailand, and Phnom Penh, Cambodia. We talk about his travel and experiences in SE Asia, about birding in these two areas, and have a father-son talk about issues we have observed in these areas. I hope you enjoy. Here is a reference about where the plastic in our oceans comes from. 90% comes from just 10 rivers, 8 of which are in Asia. https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2018/06/90-of-plastic-pollutin...
Dec 13, 2019•26 min•Ep. 54
In this episode I talk with Alex Wang, a birder and conservation biologist living on the Big Island of Hawaii, who is home to visit his family in Tacoma. His Dad, Art Wang was my guest on Episode #14 so be sure to check that out too. We talk about many conservation issues for birds on the Hawaiian Islands, the inclusion of Hawaii into the ABA area, and Alex's birding story. Enjoy. This is a link to the Hawaii Birding Babe home page where you can likely find Alex to take you on a day of birding o...
Dec 06, 2019•1 hr 16 min•Ep. 53
Happy Thanksgiving. Let us give thanks for the wild birds we all love, for the time to see and study then, and for all our blessings. For more info on the history of Wild Turkeys in the U.S. see the associated post on The Bird Banter Podcast. http://birdbanter.com/index.php/2019/11/28/wild-turkeys-in-the-u-s-here-almost-gone-and-here-again/ Until next time. Good birding. Good day....
Nov 29, 2019•12 min•Ep. 52
In this episode I talk about the birding I've managed on my Kauai, Hawaii vacation. Enjoy. Check out my blog on Birdbanter.com to see photos from the trip and some of this info in writing. http://birdbanter.com/index.php/blog/ Until next time, Aloha.
Nov 22, 2019•18 min•Ep. 51
In this episode Isaiah and I talk about his 2019 Washington State Big year and his birding story. Isaiah is a top young Washington State birder, and I hope you find his story interesting. I also talk a bit about my upcoming vacation to Kauai and the issues with exotic species in Hawaii. You can contact Isaiah via the e-mail address available on his eBird profile page which also has up to date information on his WA big year progress and links to photos, etc. https://ebird.org/pnw/profile/MzA3NTU4...
Nov 18, 2019•32 min•Ep. 50
On The Bird Banter Podcast Episode #39 I talk with Rob Porter, creator of The Songbirding Podcast. On his podcast Rob takes listeners along with him on walks through birdy and otherwise quiet areas of Ontario, where he essentially gives a song-by-song narrative of the bird sounds he hears. You feel like you are out birding with a local expert who is teaching you about the birds you are hearing along with him. It is really cool. Be sure to check it out on any of the top podcast feeds. Here is a l...
Nov 11, 2019•39 min•Ep. 49
On The Bird Banter Podcast Episode #38 I talk with Alex Israel, a conservation activist with the Safe Flights program of the New York City Audubon Society. The combination of human light at night in cities combined with glass exterior skyscrapers in major migratory bird flyways is a lethal one to many songbirds. Listen to hear about this and more. Here is a link to the New York Audubon Societies Safe Flights Program page: http://www.nycaudubon.org/index.php/project-safe-flight This is the articl...
Nov 05, 2019•32 min•Ep. 48
On The Bird Banter Podcast Episode #37 I talk with Alaskan Island expert and trip leader John Pushcock. John has been able to lead trips to Attu in recent years using a seaworthy ship to transport birders from Adak to Attu, birding Attu by day, and sleeping on the boat at night. He also has led trips to Adak, Utgiagvik (previously Barrow), Alaska. John runs a Seattle based birding tour company Zugunruhe Birding Tours, website Zbirdtours.com http://www.zbirdtours.com/ You can find John on Faceboo...
Oct 29, 2019•45 min•Ep. 47
In this episode Tasha and I talk primarily about her work to support the endangered Steller's Eider in Alaska, but also about her birding story, her early experiences as a birder and as a field biologist, along with her work recently on Eastern Egg Island in Maine. Be sure to check out all the links on The Bird Banter website at http://birdbanter.com/index.php/blog/ Here is a link to Tasha's Instagram account @featheredobsession https://www.instagram.com/featheredobsession/?hl=en On the blog pos...
Oct 22, 2019•41 min•Ep. 46
On The Bird Banter Podcast Episode #35 Dr. Valdez and I talk about her birding story, and especially about her research in the Peruvian Amazon. Her project in the Madre de Díos (Mother of God) mountains in southeastern Peru is documenting the amazing biodiversity there, working with local youth to provide paying jobs, increase environmental awareness and provide valuable data on the bird and other species diversity there. A correction to the introduction, CECCOT is in the Tambopata region, not t...
Oct 14, 2019•32 min•Ep. 45
On The Bird Banter Podcast Episode #34 I talk birding with Brad Waggoner. Brad is a top Washington birder, and an especially avid Kitsap and Clallam County birder. He is the chairperson of the Washington Rare Birds committee, and one of the most respected Washington birders. Enjoy. Here is a link to the Washington Rare Birds committee page on the WOS website: http://wos.org/records/ Here is a link to Brad’s eBird list from 2 weeks ago when he had 99 species just in the town of Neah Bay: https://...
Oct 07, 2019•51 min•Ep. 44
In this episode I talk with Mike Resch about his quest to see at least half of the species of bird on the state checklist of each of the lower 48 states plus the District of Columbia. A daunting task, and he is nearly there. A wild story. Check it out. Note the thumbnail of this episode is a screenshot of the state lists diagram on Mike Resch's eBird profile. Note all the red and orange! Here is a link to Mike's blog: http://statebirding.blogspot.com/ Here is a link to Blair Bernson's blog, the ...
Sep 26, 2019•40 min•Ep. 43
In this episode I looked back at the first 10 episodes of The Bird Banter Podcast. I've learned a lot, had fun, and think I've gotten better at many aspects of hosting this podcast. I've certainly had fun, talked with birders I's never have met without the podcast, and have had generlly positive feedback. Please leave a rating and comments on this episode and about the podcast in general either on the Apple Podcast store, Spotify, Stitchder or whereever you get your podcast feeds. Alternatively ...
Sep 11, 2019•36 min•Ep. 42
On this episode I talk with John Patten Moss, a young birder from Georgia, who is also a unicycle enthusiast. John plans to do a big year in 2020, all while human powered and traveling on his touring UNICYCLE! Unbelievable? Listen and hear about his plans, his birding story and more. Here is a link to his website where he plans to have a blog chronicaling his trip and his big year. https://2020thevision.blogspot.com/ If this sounds somewhat like Dorian Anderson's 2014 Biking for Birds big year, ...
Sep 03, 2019•33 min•Ep. 41
In The Bird Banter Podcast Episode #30 with Peter Wimberger we meet on site at the Slater Museum of Natural History at the University of Puget Sound. This was a new experience for me, getting out of my studio and doing a recording at the site we are discussing. It led to good inspiration and energy and I hope you find it enjoyable. The Slater Museum has a website linked here where you can look at many of the specimens as photographs, and the Slater Museum Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/S...
Aug 28, 2019•50 min•Ep. 40
In this episode Christian and I talk about his recent trip to Attu, the eastern most island off Alaska that is still a part of the U.S. and therefore the American Birding Association Area, as well as his recent guiding experience and his time at the Hog Island National Audubon Camp as a counselor. He also talks about the process of writing his soon-to-be-released book Falcon Freeway. You can buy his new book at http://www.thebirdingproject.com/falconfreeway Hurry to get a signed copy by preorder...
Aug 20, 2019•34 min•Ep. 39
In this episode I go solo, and talk about things I'm learning as I take the Cornell University online course: Ornithology: Comprehensive Bird Biology. You can find about it here: https://academy.allaboutbirds.org I talk about bird anatomy and physiology, and try to focus on aspects of their structure and function that I find especially interesting. Check out the accompanying blog post at http://birdbanter.com/index.php/blog/ Also leave feedback at my facebook page @birdbanterpodcast Until next t...
Aug 15, 2019•21 min•Ep. 38
In this episode I talk with the McQuades, a birding couple who are on their 5th consecutive big year in the lower 48 states, and this is their 4th consecutive year of >600 species in the lower 48. We talk about their birding stories, birding as a couple, birding while working full time, birding on what they call the last ABA birding frontier, the Gulf of Mexico, where they bird at speeds of >50 mph using radar to find the widespread birds, and how social media has enhanced their efforts an...
Aug 07, 2019•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 37
In Episode #26 my guest Tim Larson makes a strong case for the use of poison to eradicate mice from the Farallone Islands off the coast of California. Rodent infestation of bird breeding islands is a huge issue. Seabirds are facing incredible pressure on their populations from overfishing, global warming, and other issues without solutions that have been proven to work. Rodent eradication can work, but is controversial because of the use of poisons with short-term effects on other animals than t...
Jul 31, 2019•35 min•Ep. 36
In The Bird Banter Podcast Episode #25 with Dr. John Fitchen we talk about the simlarities in our early lives, and then get into John's birding story. He started later than some birders, but when he got going, he hit is hard. Attu, a record breaking county big year, and now a memoir. Enjoy. You can buy Dr. Fitchen's book Life through the lens of a Doctor-Birder: A Memoir on Amazon, or on you can get a 10% discount at this link using the code "banter": https://aerbook.com/store/fitchen We talked ...
Jul 23, 2019•46 min•Ep. 35
On The Bird Banter Podcast Episode #24 Ed and Nick talk about Nick's recent Alaska trip, his 2019 "self-found" or "no chase" Connecticut big year where he is doing a big year where he does not chase birds found by others, rather looks for his own bird sightings. We also talk about his role in leading trips for the Connecticut Audubon, including an upcoming trip to sub-Saharan Africa, using NEXRAD to monitor migration, and of course his birding story. Nick has a blog, Shorebirder.com https://www....
Jul 17, 2019•53 min•Ep. 34
On The Bird Banter Podcast Episode #23 my guest is Ann Nightingale, a Victoria B.C. birder who has become the face of Victoria birding, is a great birding ambasador, a very good birder, and a great guest on the podcast. Be sure to hear about her trans-Pacific repositioning cruise, her work at the Rocky Point Bird Observatory as a bird bander a nd activist, and find out the origin of her enviably great name. Here are links to some of the things we talk about in the episode: Rocky Point Bird Obser...
Jul 10, 2019•34 min•Ep. 33
In Episode #22 I ask why am I, and I think lots of other people, birders. Why birding and not fly-fishing or painting or a million other hobbies/passtimes. Some stories and clips from previous episodes augment the answer. Enjoy. Here is a link to the Blair Bernson episode with the clip on. "The Rules of a Chase. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-bird-banter-podcast-episode-18-with-blair-bernson/id1450449001?i=1000440536850 If you prefer a platform other than iTunes you can find links to ...
Jul 01, 2019•20 min•Ep. 32
On this episode I talk with Dr. Geoffrey Hill, professor at Auburn University, about his birding as well as his research. We spend bit of time talking about his theory on speciation, involving compatability of mitochondrial and nuclear DNA. It is pretty interesting, and I expect you will find it informative and enjoyable. Here is a link to The Hill Lab website https://www.thehilllab.com/ This is his birding website: https://www.ornithologistsblog.com/ I found this article about Dr. Hill's resear...
Jun 24, 2019•45 min•Ep. 31
The Willettes? Is this a broadway dance group? A 60's music group? No, its a group of birder women who love to go birding together. That is of course when they are not drinking wine with bird labels, or buying or creating matching bird-theme apparel. I hope you enjoy this episode with Wilette #1, #4 and #13, also known as Diane, Faye and Laurel. Diane Yougenson-Quinn writes the lead article for almost every Tahoma Audubon newsletter. You can see her work here: https://www.tahomaaudubon.org/newsl...
Jun 17, 2019•38 min•Ep. 30
