We're still down for the holidays but are sharing a segment that we did on the Archaeopteryx at The Field Museum. Birds are the only group of dinosaurs that survived when an asteroid hit the Earth 66 million years ago. A fossil called Archaeopteryx , with feathers, hollow bones, clawed wings, tiny teeth, and a long tail, is the earliest known dinosaur that also qualifies as a bird, and is on display at the Field Museum where two of our hosts John and Shannon work. Join John Bates, Shannon Hacket...
Dec 30, 2024•14 min•Ep. 72
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! This week we revisit a segment on the Christmas Bird Count. We also answer a question on the book the Feather Thief. We also finish it off with an exciting announcment for 2025 (spoiler, we are going to do a mini-series all about The Feather Thief!) 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 Ma...
Dec 23, 2024•10 min•Ep. 71
We talk about what the four of us have learned so far on our podcast journey. It's a fun reflection from RJ, Shannon, John, and Amanda. Enjoy! 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 social and YouTube pages, give us a follow: YouT...
Dec 16, 2024•22 min•Ep. 70
This week's episode is a little different. John is going on a trip to the Falkland Islands to study Gentoo Penguins, so we ask him all about his upcoming trip. We end up discussing avian influenza a bit as well, as Bird Flu is a major concern for the trip. 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 Insta...
Dec 09, 2024•35 min•Ep. 69
This week we discuss the Rusty Blackbird. Rusty Blackbird is one of North America’s most rapidly declining species. The population has dropped between 85-99 percent over the past forty years, and Amanda and RJ saw one a few weeks ago so we decided to talk about them. Join John Bates, Shannon Hackett, RJ Pole, and Amanda Marquart for Birds of a Feather Talk Together. We also answer a mailbag question on The Big Year (the movie with Owen Wilson, Steve Martin, and Jack Black, and also the book by M...
Dec 02, 2024•27 min•Ep. 68
We revisit an old episode on the Wild Turkey this week. These birds are a major conservation success story. We also talk about John seeing a turkey in the Democratic Republic of Congo, how turkeys got their name, and learn all about their magnificent feathers. Join John Bates, Shannon Hackett, RJ Pole, and Amanda Marquart for Birds of a Feather Talk Together. This week we are also joined by Jacob Drucker. Jacob Drucker is a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Chicago and the Field Museum studyi...
Nov 25, 2024•23 min•Ep. 67
Join John Bates, Shannon Hackett, RJ Pole, and Amanda Marquart as we discuss the White-throated sparrow. We talk about sparrows in general, and how to differentiate them based on behavior and not just their appearance. We also talk about how they have been shrinking in size over the last 50 years, and how the specimen collection at the Field Museum have helped determine that. We also talk about their different head-types, and mating preferences between the two head types. We also answer a mailba...
Nov 18, 2024•46 min•Ep. 66
This week on Birds of a Feather Talk Together , we’re discussing the fascinating wrentit with expert Kevin Burns! Known for its distinctive call featured in countless movies and TV shows, the wrentit is a secretive bird found primarily in California and Oregon. Despite being one of the most sedentary birds in North America, its closest relatives are found in Asia. Join bird experts John Bates, Shannon Hackett, RJ Pole, and Amanda Marquart as they dive into the unique behavior and intriguing hist...
Nov 11, 2024•47 min•Ep. 65
Kevin Burns joins us again to discuss the Inti Tanager. Kevin is an ornithologist and professor of biology at San Diego State University and goes way back with Shannon and John. Kevin tells us all about the story of this bird, from the sighting in the early 2000’s in Peru, to it finally being described as a species 20 years later. The bird earned the nickname the 'Kill Bill Tanager' due to its bright yellow feathers and black brow which resembled Uma Thurman’s outfit in the movie. We’re not quit...
Nov 04, 2024•57 min•Ep. 64
This super unique bird from New Caledonia has been isolated on an island in the Pacific for so long, but somehow its closest relative is the Sunbittern in Central and South America. Join John Bates, Shannon Hackett, RJ Pole, and Amanda Marquart as we discuss the Kagu. We also answer a question on feathers. Here is the organization that we were referencing in the feather question: https://libertywildlife.org/conservation-services/non-eagle-feather-repository-2/ Please send us your questions for u...
Oct 28, 2024•40 min•Ep. 63
In this captivating episode, we sit down with evolutionary biologist and acclaimed author Joan E. Strassmann to dive deep into the world of slow birding. Joan's latest release, The Slow Birding Journal , dropped on October 22nd and offers bird lovers a fresh, intentional approach to connecting with nature. This beautifully crafted journal invites bird enthusiasts to embrace mindfulness, patience, and curiosity as they explore the diverse avian life around them. Discover the fascinating backstory...
Oct 21, 2024•28 min•Ep. 62
Welcome to Birds of a Feather Talk Together , the ultimate birding podcast where we dive deep into the fascinating world of the Roseate Spoonbill. From their stunning pink feathers to their mysterious feeding habits, these iconic birds captivate birdwatchers and nature lovers alike. Join us as we explore their habitats, migration patterns, and conservation efforts, all while uncovering the secrets of this extraordinary species. Whether you're a seasoned birder or a curious newcomer, our episodes...
Oct 14, 2024•35 min•Ep. 61
This week we talk about the double-crested cormorant. We also answer a question on swans. Join John Bates, Shannon Hackett, RJ Pole, and Amanda Marquart for Birds of a Feather Talk Together this week. 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 and tik tok!! Here are links to our social and YouTube pages, give us a follow: YouTube Instagram TikTok BlueSky...
Oct 07, 2024•58 min•Ep. 60
This week’s episode with Kevin Burns is on Darwin’s Finches. Kevin and Shannon’s research reclassified Darwin’s Finches as Tanagers, so we hear all about what the process was like, and learn more about Darwin’s Finches in this week’s episode. Kevin, an ornithologist and professor of biology at San Diego State University, goes way back with Shannon and John, and led the research that reclassified what exactly a tanager is. John Bates, Shannon Hackett, RJ Pole, Amanda Marquart and Kevin Burns are ...
Sep 30, 2024•40 min•Ep. 59
This week we talk to Kevin Burns about Tanagers. Kevin, an ornithologist and professor of biology at San Diego State University, goes way back with Shannon and John, and led the research that reclassified what exactly a tanager is and what it isn’t. Many birds which have the common name Tanager, such as the scarlet tanager or western tanager, aren’t actually tanagers, and birds like Darwin’s finches actually are tanagers. Many of you might already know this, but we get to talk to Kevin about wha...
Sep 23, 2024•47 min•Ep. 58
Howdy everyone! We are down this week but will be back next week with some new very exciting episodes. Take a listen for the full breakdown! Thanks for your patience and support, we'll be back next week and back on schedule with brand new episodes :) Here are links to our social and YouTube pages, give us a follow: YouTube Instagram TikTok BlueSky...
Sep 16, 2024•1 min
This week we play some highlights from our previous episodes, including some moments with some of our guest. Topics discussed are the Golden-cheeked Warbler with Jack Wildlife, the Southern Cassowary with Wes Larson, the Christmas Bird Count with our host John Bates, Jack Wildlife is back to tell us about a camera that he gifted a young birder, Maureen Turcatel tells us about bugs, and European Goldfinches with Louise Bodt. John Bates, Shannon Hackett, RJ Pole, and Amanda Marquart are hosting as...
Sep 09, 2024•32 min•Ep. 57
This Eurasian bird is more extreme than it looks, and it may not be for what you are expecting. This bird puts the 'bird' in birds and the bees. Join us this week when we talk about the very sexual Alpine Accentor. John Bates, Shannon Hackett, RJ Pole, and Amanda Marquart discuss the Alpine Accentor in this week's episode. 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 and tik tok as well!! Here a...
Sep 02, 2024•40 min•Ep. 56
A bird that not very many people have seen in the wild, but it turns out that Shannon and John have seen a lot of them. They are native to Costa Rica, and only come out when the bamboo is flowering - which is not very often. Hear all about Shannon and John's trip to Costa Rica and learn more about these amazing little birds. We also answer a listener question on birds and government spies. John Bates, Shannon Hackett, RJ Pole, and Amanda Marquart discuss the Peg-billed Finch in this week's episo...
Aug 26, 2024•31 min•Ep. 55
Discover the Fascinating Black-Billed Magpie – A Deep Dive into These Intelligent, Exotic Birds In this exciting episode, RJ Pole and Amanda Marquart share their personal experiences with Black-billed Magpies from their time living in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. These incredible birds are known for their intelligence, striking appearance, and unique behaviors. Join bird experts John Bates and Shannon Hackett as they provide insightful facts and fascinating information about the Black-billed Mag...
Aug 19, 2024•29 min•Ep. 54
You might know him from the cartoon - but there's a lot more to the Greater Roadrunner than just saying beep beep. We talk all about the adaptations these speedy birds have made to be able to live in the desert, some interesting facts from the actual cartoon, as well as answer a mailbag question on the book The Feather Thief. John Bates, Shannon Hackett, RJ Pole, and Amanda Marquart discuss the Greater Roadrunner in this week's episode. Here is the link to the other podcast that Shannon was on t...
Aug 12, 2024•43 min•Ep. 53
Join us this week to talk about Burrowing Owls. These super cool and tiny owls live in burrows in the ground. Hear why, and all about their super unique behavior in this week's episode. Our usual hosts John Bates, Shannon Hackett, RJ Pole, and Amanda Marquart are joined by Aiyana Reissman to talk Burrowing Owls. Aiyana is the Animal Care Manager at the Living Coast Discovery Center in San Diego, California and has a ton of experience with these owls. In addition to the burrowing owls, we also ge...
Aug 05, 2024•58 min•Ep. 52
This week a little different than our usual episodes. Instead of talking about a single bird species, we each brought a different topic to the table to talk about. We talked about baby belted Kingfishers, CT scanning birds, different bird dialects, and a movie idea where a brown-headed cowbird leaves an egg in a human’s bassinet. What genre would that movie be? Listen to find out! Join John Bates, Shannon Hackett, RJ Pole, and Amanda Marquart for this week's episode of Birds of a Feather Talk To...
Jul 29, 2024•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 51
This week we are talking about the Northern Flicker. We talk about the red-shafted and yellow-shafted flickers in different parts of the continent, and how they can hybridize. We also talk about whether or not woodpeckers get CTE from banging their heads while pecking. We answer a mailbag question on the white throated sparrow changing its call. Join John Bates, Shannon Hackett, RJ Pole, and Amanda Marquart discussing the Northern Flicker! Please send us your questions for us to answer as well! ...
Jul 22, 2024•37 min•Ep. 50
This week’s episode is about the Giant Hummingbird. A recent study led by Jessie Williamson led to some groundbreaking discoveries about the Giant Hummingbird, including that there are actually two different species, one which has the longest migration of any hummingbird in the world. This amazing study, which included putting tiny backpacks on hummingbirds to track their movement, changed what we knew about Giant Hummingbirds. Here are links to our social and YouTube pages, give us a follow: Yo...
Jul 15, 2024•49 min•Ep. 49
Jack Turner AKA Jack Wildlife joins us to talk about Ospreys. Jack lives near the Chesapeake Bay, home to the most Osprey in the world. If you aren’t familiar with Jack Wildlife, he runs a popular birding meme account, and he’s also an accomplished wildlife photographer, tour guide, and Environmental Scientist. This episode is a ton of fun. We also talk about Jack's trip to Austin, Texas to see the endangered golden-cheeked warbler. Jack joined John Bates, Shannon Hackett, RJ Pole, and Amanda Ma...
Jul 08, 2024•1 hr 24 min•Ep. 48
We'll be down this week for the Fourth of July - but back next week. Upcoming episodes on Osprey, Giant Hummingbird, and Northern Flicker. We have a few asks to spread the joy of birding over the Fourth of July. Listen to hear more. Also here is a link to when John was on Ologies with Alie Ward: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/oology-eggs-with-john-bates/id1278815517?i=1000417763781 Here are links to our social and YouTube pages, give us a follow: YouTube Instagram TikTok BlueSky...
Jul 01, 2024•2 min
We talk about the endangered Light-footed Ridgway's Rail this week with guest Aiyana Reissman. Aiyana is the Animal Care Manager at the Living Coast Discovery Center in San Diego, California. She oversees the care for 25+ species of rescued bird native to the area along with the propagation programs for the endangered Light Footed Ridgway’s Rails. Living Coast Discovery Center is the only facility in the world where the Light-footed Ridgway's Rail can be viewed and have had great success with th...
Jun 24, 2024•49 min•Ep. 47
This week is a little different as we aren't discussing a bird, but rather the cicada phenomenon happening in Illinois right now. Maureen Turcatel of the Field Museum joins us to talk about the two different broods of cicadas both happening at the same time (the 13 year cicada and the 17 year cicada). We talk about how this is impacting birds, the rare blue-eyed cicada, and also the fungus that is making cicadas hyper-sexual. Maureen is an insect taxonomist and systematist, especially interested...
Jun 17, 2024•50 min•Ep. 46
Somehow it has taken us 45 episodes to get to our first hummingbird - but it's finally here! We have a ton of fun talking about the ruby-throated hummingbird today. John Bates, Shannon Hackett, RJ Pole, and Amanda Marquart are all here for our hummingbird discussion. Enjoy! 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 and tik tok as well!! Here are links to our social and YouTube pages, give us ...
Jun 10, 2024•36 min•Ep. 45
