Talkin' Birds - podcast cover

Talkin' Birds

Ray Brown's Talkin' Birdswww.talkinbirds.com
Ray Brown's Talkin' Birds is a call-in show of entertaining conversation about wild birds -- attracting them to your back yard, identifying them, feeding them, and learning more about them along the way. Every week, we have contests for prizes like bird feeders and other great bird-related stuff, along with expert guests. So, whether you're an experienced birder, or you're new to birding, listen in, and be part of the show by calling in with a question, sharing some information or observations, or trying for one of our prizes. It's birdwatching--in the backyard and beyond.

Episodes

#998 Aug. 11, 2024

On our latest show (#998 Aug. 11): fledgling chickadees in Maine; a fight over Florida’s state bird; Mike O’Connor reveals some surprises about goldfinch behavior; and Matthew Metz talks about EVs in urban areas.

Aug 11, 202430 min

##997 Aug. 4, 2024

On our latest show: A new plan to save species from extinction; The “Hot Rock” sparrow; and hummingbird feeding fact and fiction.

Aug 04, 202430 min

##996 July 28, 2024

On our latest show: a salute to the mighty kingbirds; how hummingbirds avoid collisions; and good news and bad news as we wrap up Plastic-free July.

Jul 28, 202430 min

#995 July 21, 2024

On today’s show: Avian Audio Postcards from New York and California; a summer birding essay from Minnesota; and special Plastic-free July guest, Dana Ripper from the Missouri River Bird Observatory and BeyondPlastics.org.

Jul 21, 202430 min

#994 July 14, 2024

On our latest show: We listen to Mexican Jays, Great-tailed Grackles and Lesser Goldfinches; Mike O’Connor talks about the plucky (and polygynous) House Wren; and Highland Electric Fleet’s Amy McGuire tells us how her company is helping to clean up toxic pollution-spewing school buses.

Jul 14, 202430 min

#993 July 7, 2024

On our latest show, we revisit how to create a Homegrown National Park, with Doug Tallamy; we hear some cool birds from Oregon and British Columbia; we get oriole-feeding advice from Mike O’Connor; and we celebrate the start of Plastic-free July.

Jul 07, 202430 min

#992 June 30, 2024

On our latest show: the beautiful but belligerent Mute Swan; avian audio postcards from Colorado and Canada; and the hosts of the Bird Joy podcast.

Jun 30, 202430 min

#991 June 23, 2024

On our latest show: Avian Audio Postcards from Texas and Massachusetts; a colorful eider that summers … and winters in Alaska; and we learn about keeping our drinking water safe.

Jun 23, 202430 min

#990 June 16, 2024

On our latest show (#990 June 16): Bird reports from Wisconsin, Florida, and Costa Rica...and a rufous-backed bird from the Southwest.

Jun 16, 202430 min

#989 June 9, 2024

On our latest show (#989 June 9): Dorian Anderson’s 18,000-mile bike birding adventure; listener audio postcards from Maine and Italy; flamingos across America; and more bird feeding myths busted by Mike O’Connor.

Jun 09, 202430 min

#988 June 2, 2024

On our latest show: the (Not from) Nashville Warbler; why AI and birds may not mix; and Kenn Kaufman's new John James Audubon book

Jun 02, 202430 min

#987 May 26, 2024

On our latest show: Chris Harbard tells us about the upcoming Southwest Wings Birding and Nature Festival; we learn about an under-appreciated mimic; we listen to audio postcards from Ohio and Georgia; and Mike O’Connor busts some myths about backyard bird feeding.

May 26, 202430 min

#986 May 19, 2024

On our latest show: The "spurious" oriole; Jody Allair on how to help migratory birds; and Mike O'Connor on appreciating ants.

May 20, 202430 min

#985 May 12, 2024

On our latest show: Listening to birds from southern Italy; learning about bird-friendly gardens with author Jen McGuinness; and talking about the “Necklaced Warbler.”

May 12, 202430 min

#984 May 5, 2024

On our latest show: We talk about an unusual goldfinch; we listen to audio postcards from Dauphin Island, Georgia, and the Dominican Republic; we learn about fascinating bird behavior from our Mike O’Connor; and we bop along to Dr. Sean Anderson’s “Plastic Pollution Rockabilly Song.”

May 05, 202430 min

#983 April 28, 2024

On our latest show: Do birds sing in their sleep? — a Science Corner report. Plus, listener audio postcards from the Great Dismal Swamp, and the Pocosin National Wildlife Refuge; and backyard birding observations from Al Batt in Minnesota and Mike O’Connor on Cape Cod.

Apr 28, 202430 min

#982 April 21, 2024

On our latest show: The warblers that use nest boxes; the Biggest Week in American Birding; highlighting Earth Day; and a groovy member of the cuckoo family.

Apr 21, 202430 min

#981 April 14, 2024

On our latest show: renowned birdsong expert Don Kroodsma and his new book that comes alive with song. Plus, nest box advice from backyard bird expert Mike O’Connor; and an Eastern Bluebird-themed Audio Postcard.

Apr 14, 202430 min

#980 April 7, 2024

On our latest show: Birding and Plirding (and Plishing) in South Carolina; Audio Postcards from California and Mississippi; and was there really a roadrunner on Cape Cod?

Apr 07, 202430 min

#979 March 31, 2024

On our latest show: a final(?) Flaco the Owl update; avian audio postcards from Vermont and Massachusetts; and the Wonderful World of Woodpeckers with the Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s Kevin McGowan.

Mar 31, 202430 min

#978 March 24, 2024

On our latest show: Birds in the Sierra Nevada foothills; saving the Greater Sage-Grouse; fighting plastic pollution with water filters; and Mike O’Connor on Red-headed Woodpeckers, and the right way to deal with insects on your trees.

Mar 24, 202430 min

#977 March 17, 2024

On our latest show: Another Audubon group changes its name; we listen to Fish Crows from Florida; we feature the largest shorebird in North America; and Mike O’Connor weighs in about birds on wires. Hear it here: Talkinbirds.com/archive

Mar 17, 202430 min

#976 March 10, 2024

On our latest show: Shooting one owl to save another owl; audio postcards from Georgia and Florida; Al Batt’s Blue Jay observations; a Science Corner penguin piece; and Mike O’Connor’s woodpeckers-pecking-on-your-house advice.

Mar 10, 202430 min

#975 March 3, 2024

On our latest show (#975  March 3):  A Flaco the Eurasian Eagle-owl update: audio postcards from California and New Zealand; Mike O’Connor’s thoughts on the benefits of bird feeding; and a salute to the Father of Modern Conservation, Aldo Leopold.

Mar 03, 202430 min

#974 Feb. 25, 2024

On our latest show: ABA Big Year superstar Gino Ellison wows us about how many species he ID’d in a single year. Plus, we meet one of the most spectacular birds in North America, and Mike offers a listener some help with his pigeon problem.

Feb 25, 202430 min

#973 Feb. 18, 2024

On our latest show: David Clapp visits the Sax-Zim Bog in Minnesota; we listen to audio postcards from North Carolina and Connecticut; and we talk about an Audubon controversy.

Feb 18, 2024

#972 Feb. 11, 2024

On our latest show: Smart bird feeders; bluebirds in our backyard; and a great California bird festival.

Feb 11, 202430 min

#971a Feb. 4, 2024

On this special re-broadcast, Charles Barkley calls us Bird Nerds; we talk to Will Valentine about his Birdbrain podcast and black birder pioneers; and Mike O’Connor talks about Ospreys vs Bald Eagles.

Feb 04, 202430 min

#971 Jan. 28, 2024

On our latest show: Field Notes from an Unintentional Birder (author Julia Zarankin); America’s smallest warbler; an audio postcard from SW Florida; and Mike O’Connor’s ideas for suet alternatives.

Jan 28, 202430 min

#970 Jan. 21, 2024

On our latest show: hear all about a big Northeast birding symposium, and a wide-ranging owl; and listen to a flock of Orange-winged Parrots in an Audio Postcard from Miami.

Jan 21, 202430 min