In this episode of Birds of a Feather Talk Together , we’re diving deep into the world of kookaburras , the iconic laughing bird of Australia, with ornithologist Jenna McCullough . Jenna is a third-generation birdwatcher from Boise, Idaho, with a PhD in Biology from the University of New Mexico. She’s currently a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Kentucky and soon starting a prestigious National Science Foundation fellowship at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County and UCLA...
Jul 14, 2025•38 min•Ep. 102
Get ready for the crossover event bird lovers can’t stop talking about! In this special episode of Birds of a Feather Talk Together , we welcome the hilarious and musically gifted duo behind the Extremely Accurate Bird Songs Podcast — Tommy Siegel and Billy Libby . Join hosts John Bates , Shannon Hackett , RJ Pole , and Amanda Marquart as we: 🐦 Listen to unbelievably accurate (and funny) bird song performances 😂 Share nonstop laughs about birding and music 🎵 Discover how comedy and creativity...
Jul 07, 2025•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 101
Jenna Mccullough is a third generation birdwatcher from Boise, ID. She got her bachelors at the university of Idaho (2015); got her masters (2018) and PhD (2024) at the university of New Mexico. She's a postdoc at the university of Kentucky and about to start a National Science foundation fellowship at the natural history museum of Los Angeles County and UCLA. Jenna joins us to talk all about Kingfishers. There is an exhibit starting up at the Field Museum that Shannon and John have been involve...
Jun 30, 2025•49 min•Ep. 100
We’re joined by a fan of the show who reached out with a heartfelt letter that really moved us. Our guest, Marcel, is a passionate birder with a story that is truly touching. From being a world-class athlete to navigating the challenges of a severe brain injury, he found healing and meaning in nature and birding. We’ll start by sharing the touching email he sent us—and then we’ll introduce you to our inspiring new friend, Marcel. Along the way, we also talk about Belted Kingfishers, Cedar Waxwin...
Jun 23, 2025•1 hr 18 min•Ep. 99
This week, we have a truly special guest—Peter Kaestner, the first person in history to see over 10,000 bird species in the wild . It’s a mind-blowing achievement. Peter took us on an unforgettable journey through his life as a birder, and how his career as a diplomat allowed him to travel the globe. He shared incredible stories—like birding in Colombia during the height of Pablo Escobar’s power, and even discovering a new species. His passion, humor, and humility made this such a joy to record....
Jun 16, 2025•1 hr 34 min•Ep. 98
We’ve got a fun one for you this week as we get ready for a very special guest: Peter Kaestner—the first person to see 10,000 bird species in the wild. We speak to him next week. To prep for that epic conversation, we're taking a closer look at the bird that earned him that milestone: the Orange-tufted Spiderhunter. Spoiler alert—Amanda was not impressed by it at first, and John and Shannon do their best to change her mind. Along the way, we get into species counts, what they mean, and how birde...
Jun 09, 2025•35 min•Ep. 97
In this episode of Birds of a Feather Talk Together , we dive deep into the fascinating world of the Black-capped Chickadee —one of North America's most beloved birds. Discover the secrets behind the chickadee's distinctive “chick-a-dee-dee-dee” call, its remarkable memory, and how this tiny bird survives harsh winters with clever food-storing habits. Join us as we explore the Black-capped Chickadee’s habitat, behavior, and role in backyard birdwatching and forest ecosystems. Whether you're a se...
Jun 02, 2025•58 min•Ep. 96
In this episode of Birds of a Feather Podcast , we revisit one of our favorite past episodes all about the ruby-throated hummingbird —a truly fascinating and fast-flying species known for its shimmering feathers and incredible migration. Join hosts John Bates and Shannon Hackett , along with RJ Pole and Amanda Marquart , as we dive back into the world of this unique hummingbird and explore what makes it such a standout in the bird world. We also answer a listener mailbag question about mallard d...
May 26, 2025•36 min•Ep. 95
This week, we're revisiting a listener favorite all about Blackpoll Warblers —tiny birds with an absolutely epic migration. Whether you're new to warblers or already a seasoned birder, this episode is packed with fascinating facts and fresh insights. John and Shannon dive into what makes the Blackpoll Warbler’s journey so mind-blowing, and John gives us a broader look at warblers in general—including the time he spotted over 20 species in a single day ! It’s a fun, informative episode that’s sur...
May 19, 2025•41 min•Ep. 94
This week, we dive into the weird and wonderful world of the Great Potoo —a mysterious nocturnal bird with haunting eyes and an even stranger call. Ever wondered why robin eggs are blue ? We’ve got the answer! Plus, we spotlight one of North America’s most stunning songbirds: the Prothonotary Warbler , known for its brilliant yellow plumage and swampy haunts. If you're a bird lover, nature nerd, or just curious about the strangest birds on Earth , this episode is packed with fun facts, surprisin...
May 12, 2025•52 min•Ep. 93
In this nature-packed episode, we dive into the fascinating world of Wood Ducks —one of the most beautiful and iconic duck species in North America. Learn about their striking plumage, unique nesting habits, and the incredible moment when day-old ducklings leap from tree cavities to join their mother on the ground. We also share a recent encounter with a Barred Owl family , and answer a listener’s mailbag question about owl chicks spotted at Walt Disney World . Hosted by married ornithologists J...
May 05, 2025•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 92
In this timely and urgent episode, we explore the devastating impact of recent budget cuts and defunding of the National Science Foundation (NSF) on the U.S. scientific community. Originally planning to discuss Wood Ducks, our conversation quickly shifted to the broader crisis facing science in America today. Join married ornithologists John and Shannon as they share firsthand insights into how these funding cuts are affecting scientific research, biodiversity studies, and the future of environm...
May 05, 2025•31 min•Ep. 91
This week we are talking about one of the coolest birds in North America: The American Dipper. This is a smaller nondescript bird that has learned and adapted how find food in some of the roughest river water imaginable. It can fly through waterfalls, withstand rushing currents, and to the eye just looks like a little gray songbird. John and Shannon both have a ton of experience with them, so it’s a lot of fun to hear about these amazing birds. As always, its our hosts and married couple John Ba...
Apr 28, 2025•49 min•Ep. 90
If you listened to our series on the Feather Thief, or read the book, you are familiar with the Red-ruffed fruitcrow. It was also called the Indian crow in the book. We wanted to follow up the series to talk more in depth about one of the birds that was mentioned so much, and it was pretty fascinating to learn more about this bird that actually has not been researched much. As always, its our hosts and married couple John Bates and Shannon Hackett who are curators of birds at the Field Museum, a...
Apr 14, 2025•46 min•Ep. 89
This week we talk about the Spotted Towhee. RJ and Amanda saw them on their trip to Sedona, and thought it would be a fun bird to learn more about. Hosted by John Bates, Shannon Hackett, RJ Pole, and Amanda Marquart. Please send us your questions for us to answer as well! You can send them to podcast.birdsofafeather@gmail.com Make sure to follow us on Instagram, Blue Sky Social, YouTube and tik tok as well!! Here are links to our social and YouTube pages, give us a follow: YouTube Instagram TikT...
Apr 14, 2025•33 min•Ep. 88
In this exciting episode of Birds of a Feather Talk Together , we dive into the fascinating world of the Gambel's Quail – a stunning bird spotted by RJ and Amanda during their recent trip to Sedona, Arizona. With John’s Arizona roots, this bird-focused adventure made for the perfect topic, and trust us, it’s one you won’t want to miss! But that's not all – we also answer an intriguing listener question about owl pellets discovered at a flower farm in Illinois. Tune in for a mix of birdwatching t...
Apr 07, 2025•57 min•Ep. 87
In this episode of Birds of a Feather Talk Together, we dive deep into the world of the Hoatzin , one of the most unique and mysterious birds on the planet! With claws on their wings as chicks, these fascinating creatures might even offer a glimpse into the distant past of dinosaurs . Join our expert panel, including John Bates , Shannon Hackett , RJ Pole , Amanda Marquart , and special guest Jacob Drucker , as we explore the Hoatzin’s strange biology, incredible behaviors, and its surprising co...
Mar 31, 2025•24 min•Ep. 86
In this exciting episode of Birds of a Feather Talk Together , hosts John Bates, Shannon Hackett, RJ Pole, and Amanda Marquart dive into the fascinating world of the Purple Martin. Learn how these remarkable birds depend on man-made structures for nesting, particularly in the Eastern U.S., and why they’re so unique. In the second half, we tackle a mailbag question about a Grackle causing trouble by killing other birds in suburban areas. Is this behavior typical? This episode is packed with cruci...
Mar 24, 2025•25 min•Ep. 85
If you've listened to our other episodes, you know Shannon's stance on Mourning Doves. See if we can convince her otherwise in our episode on Mourning Doves. Hosted by John Bates, Shannon Hackett, RJ Pole, and Amanda Marquart. Please send us your questions for us to answer as well! You can send them to podcast.birdsofafeather@gmail.com Make sure to follow us on Instagram, Blue Sky Social, YouTube and tik tok as well!! Here are links to our social and YouTube pages, give us a follow: YouTube Inst...
Mar 17, 2025•28 min•Ep. 84
Harlequin Ducks are a captivating species of small, compact waterfowl known for their distinctive appearance. These beautiful ducks feature a large, rounded head, a small bill, and a steep forehead. Their striking plumage showcases a stunning slate blue color, accented with white stripes and chestnut sides. The head is especially eye-catching with a white crescent marking in front of the eye and chestnut highlights on the brow. In this week's episode of the Birds of a Feather Talk Together podca...
Mar 10, 2025•33 min•Ep. 83
In today’s thrilling episode, we dive deep into the fascinating world of true crime with Kirk Wallace Johnson , bestselling author of The Feather Thief: Beauty, Obsession, and the Natural History Heist of the Century . Join us as Kirk unravels the extraordinary story of a bizarre heist at The Natural History Museum in Tring, where a daring thief stole priceless rare bird feathers, setting off a global manhunt. This gripping narrative explores the obsession with these rare specimens and the relen...
Mar 03, 2025•1 hr 23 min•Ep. 82
This week we close out with our final thoughts on the Feather Thief, as well as talk about the importance of museums and their collections. It’s our last episode before we talk to the author Kirk Wallace Johnson, so get ready for next week. This week we talk a little bit about obsession in general, and how it is human nature to become obsessed, whether it was Alfred Russel Wallace, or even Edwin Rist. It’s important to channel that obsession into something positive because it can go dark really ...
Feb 24, 2025•35 min•Ep. 81
Welcome back to Part 5 of our exploration of the book The Feather Thief . We discuss the horrific act that’s still causing ripples in the world of museums. We’ll also take a closer look at the role museum collections play in science—a subject misunderstood by some fly-tiers in the book. We also talk about how museum specimens drive scientific progress. We’ll also touch on some of the oddball research requests museums have received over the years, including one inquiry about the Ivory-Billed Wood...
Feb 17, 2025•50 min•Ep. 80
Our adventure through the pages of the book The Feather Thief continues! We’re thrilled to have Jason Weckstein join us again. Jason is an enthusiastic fly fisherman and fly-tier, and also an amazing ornithologist. He joined us last week, and is back with even more laughs, stories, and an extraordinary depth of insight into the quirky worlds of both fly tying and bird watching. We dive into one of the birds mentioned in the book: the Argus Pheasant. Shannon has some captivating info about these ...
Feb 10, 2025•37 min•Ep. 79
We are doing a mini-series on The Feather Thief by Kirk Wallace Johnson. This week we have a very special guest, Jason Weckstein, join us for a conversation about the intricacies of fly-tying. Jason is not only an avid fly fisherman and fly tier but also a passionate ornithologist. Jason is an Associate Curator of Ornithology at the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University and Associate Professor in the Department of Biodiversity, Earth, and Environmental Science, Drexel University. Join...
Feb 03, 2025•45 min•Ep. 78
Part two of our Feather Thief mini-series! This week we cover chapters on Walter Rothschild’s infamous museum, the fashion madness known as "feather fever," which drove people to decimate millions of rare and exotic birds. Then we’ll explore the aftermath—how a group of determined women, appalled by the devastation, sparked a movement to protect birds, culminating in the founding of the Audubon Society. We are doing a mini-series that will break down parts of the book, and to sum it all up will ...
Jan 27, 2025•34 min•Ep. 77
In this special mini-series, we’re diving into The Feather Thief by Kirk Wallace Johnson, a gripping blend of true crime and cultural exploration. This fascinating story explores the themes of obsession, beauty, and the extreme lengths people will go to in pursuit of something they can’t have. In 2009, a daring thief broke into the British Museum of Natural History and stole hundreds of rare bird skins, all to fuel his obsession with the niche hobby of fly-tying for fly-fishing—a subculture that...
Jan 20, 2025•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 76
We’re stepping away from our usual routine to dive into something a bit different— The Feather Thief by Kirk Wallace Johnson. This is a story of a museum heist, someone who stole rare bird skins from a museum in order to sell them on the dark web to fly-fisherman. Two of our hosts, John Bates and Shannon Hackett, are curators at the Field Museum in Chicago, making them perfect guides to unravel this strange and captivating story. We’d love for you to join us by picking up a copy of the book and ...
Jan 19, 2025•20 min•Ep. 75
John is back from his trip to the Falkland Islands to study Gentoo Penguins, so we ask him all about his trip. We also answer a mailbag question on what birds do in the rain when it storms. Join John Bates, Shannon Hackett, RJ Pole, and Amanda Marquart for Birds of a Feather Talk Together. Please send us your questions for us to answer as well! You can send them to podcast.birdsofafeather@gmail.com Make sure to follow us on Instagram, Blue Sky Social and tik tok as well!! Here are links to our s...
Jan 13, 2025•57 min•Ep. 74
We are kicking it off the new year by revisiting an older episode that we did on the Willard’s Sooty Boubou. This was a bird that John and the team at the Field Museum were responsible for describing as a new species. We are doing a mini-series on the book The Feather Thief in a few weeks, so we wanted to share an episode that highlighted what John and Shannon do at the Field Museum before we kick that off. Bird specimen at The Field Museum led to describing the new species, and John tells us ab...
Jan 06, 2025•41 min•Ep. 73
