Out There With the Birds

After wrapping up a year of unprecedented challenges at Bird Watcher's Digest, we wanted to give you some insight into how COVID-19 has impacted our lives both personally and professionally. Join BWD advertising sales director Kelly Ball, editor Dawn Hewitt, and publisher Wendy Clark as they talk about kissing 2020 and all of its obstacles goodbye, and looking ahead to new beginnings in 2021!

After wrapping up a year of unprecedented challenges at Bird Watcher's Digest, we wanted to give you some insight into how COVID-19 has impacted our lives both personally and professionally. Join BWD advertising sales director Kelly Ball, editor Dawn Hewitt, and publisher Wendy Clark as they talk about kissing 2020 and all of its obstacles goodbye, and looking ahead to new beginnings in 2021!

An event managed by the San Diego Audubon Society, the San Diego Bird Festival enjoys a reputation as one of the top birding festivals in the world. Jen Hajj, an accomplished musician, birder, educator, and birding-events manager, is the ringmaster of the festival. Wendy Clark, BWD's publisher, spoke with Jen about intriguing changes in the upcoming festival, and how we can all participate safely, whether at home or in person.

Ben Lizdas is a familiar name in the global birding community. Having spent 16 years at Eagle Optics, nearly three years with Bird Watcher's Digest/Redstart Birding, and now working with Swarovski Optik North America, Ben has a unique perspective on birds, birding optics, and the birding community. If you've been following Out There with the Birds since its inception, you may also know that Ben was the original co-host of this podcast alongside the late Bill Thompson, III. Ben reminisces with host Wendy Clark about his time at BWD, and all things birds and birding.

There's more to Al Batt than meets the funny bone. Bird Watcher's Digest readers adore Al for his sometimes silly, sometimes goofy, sometimes touching, always joyful column in each issue. But did you know has a weekly radio show (available on the Internet), has a column published in about 100 newspapers, and collaborates on comics that have been published in The New Yorker? BWD editor Dawn Hewitt had a fun time interviewing Al recently. Listen up! We think you'll enjoy it, too.

Wendy Clark, Publisher of Bird Watcher's Digest, recently talked with Scott Whittle and Mike Lanzone about the TERRA PROJECT, a cutting-edge development in data tracking and wildlife conservation. The TERRA is a device, a project, and a network. The device prototype has already been developed and is a compact, weatherproof device with a mic and radio tracker that wirelessly connects to your home, listening and identifying the nature around you while contributing to a massive conservation network. It is affordable, easy to use, and could affect conservation in unprecedented ways. Join Wendy, Scott, and Mike in their conversation about this fascinating project and learn more about how we can all become part of the global TERRA NETWORK.

Paul Baicich has been author of the Quick Takes column in Bird Watcher's Digest for more than a dozen years, is author of three important books on birds and bird watching, worked for the American Birding Association for 14 years, and is an ardent champion of bird conservation. In this episode of OTWTB, BWD editor Dawn Hewitt chats with Baicich about his lifelong passion for birds, and his myriad bird-related projects, past, present, and future.

In a world where we all feel disconnected, The Birding Co-op provides a diverse, ambitious, and supportive global community who wants to make the birding world a better place through responsible tourism practices, advocating for social liberties, and advancing science-based environmental changes. Wendy Clark, Publisher of Bird Watcher's Digest, recently chatted with founding members of the Birding Co-op, Mollee Brown, Christina Baal, and Andrew Guttenberg, to learn more about this exciting up-and-coming organization and movement.

David Bird has written the Bird Behavior column in Bird Watcher's Digest since 1995. He's well qualified: Recently retired, he was a professor of biology and wildlife management at McGill University in Montreal, Quebec, and researched kestrels, Cooper's hawks, and other raptors extensively. In this episode of Out There With the Birds, BWD editor Dawn Hewitt asks Professor Bird whether his name had anything to do with his career choice--as well about his lifetime of learning about birds.

Bird Watcher's Digest is PROUD to support the first event of its kind on October 17th and 18th--the GLOBAL BIRD WEEKEND. This event is open to everyone in the world, it's free of charge, and its purpose and mission is to raise awareness and engagement of birds and birders on every continent around the world. It's also a great opportunity to help raise funds that will be used to fight the illegal bird trade in Asia and around the world. Join BWD Publisher Wendy Clark along with Tim Appleton and Jim Lawrence from the UK to learn more about this exciting event, why it's happening, and how YOU can get involved!

George Armistead is many things: pro birder, author, tour leader, marketer, and tolerant of jalapeños as a pizza topping. After earning a master’s degree in environmental studies, George, a native Philadelphian, opted out of a consulting career and began his birding journey. In this episode, host Kelly Ball and George revisit his birding career spectrum: from professional guide on birding trips, to book author, to founder of BirdPhilly, an informal birding group to encourage people to discover the City of Brotherly Love’s birds. Come for the stories and stay for the speed round of questions at the end to hear how George was foiled by a bristle-thighed curlew in 2002.

Artist, birder, and all-around amazing human Christina Baal joined host Wendy Clark for a wonderful talk about birding and the arts. Christina shares her personal story of an early love of art and nature and how that grew into her present-day artistic platform, drawing 10,000 birds. Christina speaks candidly, sharing stories about how birding, birders, and birds have lifted her heart--and her art--to new heights. We are proud to present Christina Baal as our November/December 2020 cover artist for Bird Watcher’s Digest. We know that you will find her as colorful and unique as the art she shares with the world. Join Wendy and Christina as they discuss how art, nature, and the power of birding in the time of COVID can bring much-needed peace and joy to our lives.

In December 2019, BWD President and Publisher Wendy Clark joined female leaders from the global birding industry on an all-women's tour of the Santa Marta region of Colombia. On their final day of the tour, they discussed their unforgettable experience and how they bonded, exhilarated as they celebrated the women of Colombia--and one another. We hope you'll enjoy their heartwarming discussion of the extraordinary birds of Colombia, the development of women in business and leadership in South America, and most of all, how our families, our communities, and our world rise to new heights when women love, support, and empower one another.

In late 2019, BWD publisher Wendy Clark chatted with Jennifer Rycenga, Raymond Van Buskirk, and Michael Retter--all avid birders and members of the group QBNA (LBGTQ Birders of North America). The QBNA's mission is to facilitate communication among LGTBQ birders and their allies in North America and Hawaii. Join host Wendy Clark, Jennifer, Raymond, and Michael for this "pre-Covid", candid conversation about QBNA, diversity, and how a shared love of birds, birders, and birding can unify all people around the world.

In November 2019, long before the COVID-19 pandemic, BWD Publisher Wendy Clark spent some time with her friend David Lindo here in the United States. David is a native of London, England, and now lives in Extremadura, Spain. David is also our newest Bird Watcher's Digest columnist. You will find David's Urban Birding column in both recent and upcoming issues of BWD. In this podcast Wendy and David discuss his life journey, his passion for birding, and how a little boy from London, years later, became known around the world as The Urban Birder.

If you are interested in the highly anticipated debut of Zeiss's Victory SF 32 binoculars, then you will want to join Kelly Ball, ad sales director of Bird Watcher's Digest, as she chats with optics guru Rich Moncrief of Zeiss Sports Optics. Rich has worked with Zeiss for 18 years, and you'll understand the value he brings to this position as he explains what differentiates the Victory SF 32 from others in the birding market; what distinguishes an 8-power binocular from a 10-power binocular; why COVID-19 has delayed the Victory SF 32's official launch to market; and how customers can take advantage of a limited-time promotional offer to advance bird watching for the next generation of birders.

In this two-part interview, Dawn Hewitt, editor of Bird Watcher's Digest, chats with the premier authority on the raptors of North America, Jerry Liguori. He is author of several books on raptors, and helped develop the ground-breaking Raptor ID app. Here in Part 2, Jerry discusses, among other things, his remarkable life and his debilitating illness.

In this two-part interview, Dawn Hewitt, editor of Bird Watcher's Digest, chats with the premier authority on the raptors of North America, Jerry Liguori. He is author of several books on raptors and helped develop the groundbreaking Raptor ID app. Jerry's also a bird photographer--and that's how Dawn knows him: He has contributed many photos to BWD through the years. Especially since he is in poor health--as you might be able to tell from his voice--it is an honor to introduce Jerry Liguori to our podcast listeners.

Springtime is nesting time! In this episode, BWD's advertising sales director, Kelly Ball, interviews wildlife conservation photographer Chris Brinkman, who follows local nesting urban owls--particularly barred owls and great-horned owls--in his hometown of Columbus, Ohio.

Bird Watcher's Digest Editor Dawn Hewitt provided the keynote presentation for eighth annual (and first-ever virtual) Hatchie BirdFest, on April 24, 2020. Her talk was a nod to her beloved, late boss, Bill Thompson, III, who occasionally presented a perpetually evolving talk titled "The Perils and Pitfalls of Bird Watching." Dawn's is an informative celebration of the thrills and challenges of assembling North America’s oldest popular birding magazine. This podcast also features a beautiful and moving original song, written by Bob Raines for the 2020 Hatchie BirdFest, and performed along with Sam Raines, titled "All That's Left of Eden."