birdwatcher

Turns out that birds are just as pissed about the changes to the Endangered Species Act as we are. In this episode, we highlight birds who fight back and give humans a taste of their own medicine. GO BIRDS, GO!!

Note: if we're being real, these birds don't seek out people to kill or thirst for human blood. But some people have been killed or injured by birds, namely because the human victim was threatening a bird, getting too close, or encroaching upon an aggressive species' territory. Consider this podcast episode your warning to not be stupid...and bask in the majestic glory that is BIRDS.

USEFUL RESOURCES

• Bird Studies Canada: Doing great work for birds in Canada!
• Toronto Ornithological Club: hotspots to bird in Toronto!
• Technoparc Montréal: where our new friend, Alyssa, took us birding

BIRDS WE DISCUSSED (in order)

• Least Bittern
• Snowy Owl
• Bald Eagle (including our favorite Bald Eagle that almost attacked Trump)
• Southern Cassowary
• Ring-Necked Pheasant
• Wild Turkey
• Penguins
• Emu
• Common Ostrich
• Lamb (Bearded) Vulture
• Barred Owl
• Great Horned Owl
• Loggerhead Shrike
• Australian Magpie

OTHER COOL SH*T

• Reply All (Mo’s other favorite podcast *cough*)
• Chris Pratt taming southern cassowaries…uh, velociraptors. 
• Apparently this is what happens on an emu farm

There have been lots of weird news stories about birds lately - Hannah tells Erik a few of her favorites including stoner gulls, chunky crows, and men who stare at gulls.

Also, we are right in the middle of the fall shorebird migration!  Hannah and Erik search the coastline for some birds moving through and discuss some highlights about this annual event. 

Show Notes:
She Birds Website
Crows with High Cholesterol Article
Crows with High Cholesterol Research Paper
Some Ducks Lose Their Penis Annually
Gull Steals Weed to Save Guy
Staring at Gulls Study
Fantastic Journeys of Shorebirds
Fall Migration Hot Spots

eBird Lists:
Del Rey Beach
Seaside Cove
Sunset Beach

Connect with us at...
IG: @Hannahgoesbirding and @Erikgoesbirding
Twitter: @WeGoBirding
Facebook: @HannahandErikGoBirding
Email us at HannahandErikGoBirding@gmail.com
Website: http://www.gobirdingpodcast.com

We first reached out to birding expert Laura Erickson to talk about the birds of Harry Potter (check out episode 11!). This episode—the second half of our conversation with her—is filled with her inspirational perspective on life, relatable observations about birding as a hobby, and stories you really have to hear from her in order to believe them. 

Laura’s been watching birds since 1953, but it took two decades and several spark birds (which we’ll discuss) to get out there birding. She’s written more than a dozen books about birds, including National Geographic’s Pocket Guide to the Birds of North America, the American Birding Association’s Field Guide to Birds of Minnesota, and the one she considers most important, 101 Ways to Help Birds. Laura is the first—and, regrettably, only—woman to win the American Birding Association’s highest honor: the Roger Tory Peterson Award for Promoting the Cause of Birding. If you stick around until the end of this episode, you’ll also learn why she’s the self-proclaimed Queen of Bird Shit, which we totally agree with.

USEFUL RESOURCES

• Laura's amazing website (DUH), including the 101 Ways to Help Birds
• The rehab center that took care of Archimedes the Eastern Screech-Owl: Back to the Wild Wildlife Rehabilitation Center
• Robert Nero's book on Great Gray Owls
• Jennifer Ackerman's brilliant book, The Genius of Birds
• Laura's favorite birding guide, The Golden Guide
• Improve your warbler identification—and songs!—with The Warbler Guide
• Get yo'self some bird-friendly, Smithsonian-certified COFFEE

BIRDS WE MENTIONED (IN ORDER)

• Eastern Screech-Owl (Laura's owl!)
• Northern Goshawks
• Sharp-shinned Hawk
• Great Horned Owl
• Black-Capped Chickadee
• American Robin
• Great Gray Owl
• Woodhouse's Scrub-Jay
• House Sparrow
• Rock Pigeon
• Northern Cardinal
• Blue Jay
• Ovenbird
• Yellow Warbler
• Chestnut-sided Warbler
• American Redstart
• Pacific Golden-Plover

Time to talk munchies! In this episode, learn how to attract birds with FOOD (because who doesn't love food?). We get into the nitty-gritty so you can bring the kinds of birds to your yard that you want to see. Learn what kinds of feeders are best for certain types of birds, as well as the preferred foods for different birds.

Plus, in this week's "Birds in the News," get the inside scoop on the latest bird conspiracy theories and bird sh*t outbreak.

Hit us up on Instagram and Twitter, or send us an email at hellobirdshit@gmail.com!

BIRD SHIT WE DISCUSSED

USEFUL RESOURCES

• An awesome roundup on different feeder types and food preferences for a variety of birds
• How to choose birdseed for your feeder (and by bird type)
• Make your own suet cakes: Audubon approved!
• More great birdseed advice

BIRDS WE MENTIONED (in order)

• Black-Crowned Night-Heron
• Doves
• Common Grackle
• Finches
• Hummingbirds
• European Starlings
• Nuthatches
• Woodpeckers
• Black-capped Chickadee
• Northern Flicker
• Wrens
• Warblers
• Thrushes
• Blue Jay
• Tufted Titmouse
• Common Redpoll
• Baltimore Orioles
• Scarlet Tanagers
• Gray Catbird

BIRDS IN THE NEWS

• "Birds Aren't Real," says conspiracy theorists
• Night Heron Poop Party 

OTHER COOL SH*T

• Milwaukee's Best Petite Kosher Dill Pickles
• "Believe in the Bieb" - Beliebers

The problem with birdwatching is that, once you start, your only goal in life is to ALWAYS BE AROUND BIRDS. One way you can do that is by beautifying your home with plants that birds freakin’ love. 

We’ll cover plant species that attract specific kinds of birds for various regions in the United States. Don’t worry if you have a black thumb (like Sarah). Most of these plants are low maintenance and native to specific regions. That means low-key gardening and high-reward birding. Make sure to check out the resources listed below to get native plant recommendations for birds near you! 

BIRD SHIT WE DISCUSSED

USEFUL RESOURCES

• NestWatch: get certified to monitor your birdhouses for research!
• YardMap: match birds and plants based on your region
• YardMap also has useful info on native bird-friendly plants by region
• Audubon’s amazing zip-code-specific recommendations for plants that birds love!
• Super specific Bluebird box sizes, dimensions, and recommendations

BIRDS WE MENTIONED (in order)

• Great Lakes Piping Plovers
• Mallard
• Orange-Fronted Parakeet
• Cedar Waxwing
• Northern Cardinal
• Finches
• Orioles
• Hummingbirds
• Brown Thrasher
• Red-Eyed Vireo
• Eastern Bluebird
• European Starlings
• House Sparrows
• Savannah Sparrow

BIRDS IN THE NEWS

• Mamby music festival canceled in Chicago!! YAY piper plovers
• Parakeet back from the brink of extinction thanks to lots of sex

OTHER COOL SH*T

• Sarah’s favorite plant: artificial IKEA wheatgrass in a pot.
• Hilarious “House Hunters” tweets making fun of the insane budgets on the show

When he rediscovered the elusive night parrot in 2013, John Young became a hero in the bird world.

But his reputation is now in tatters after the veracity of his latest fieldwork was criticised by a panel of experts.

Did the charismatic naturalist fake evidence of the green and yellow feathered creature?

Ann Jones investigates a scandal that threatens to undermine conservation efforts.

Hannah and Erik traveled to Madras, Oregon to volunteer as eagle spotters at the Eagle Watch festival!  They discuss the event, their conversations with guests, a bit of history of the festival, and where it plans to go in the future...and maybe a few lifers!

Also, Hannah and Erik recently got a copy of the new, hit board game, Wingspan from Stonemaier Games!  They obsessively played it and told you all the in's and out's.  It's a ton of fun to play...once this episode is up, we might go play some more!

Show Notes:
Round Butte Overlook Park
The Cove Palisades State Park
Round Butte Overlook eBird checklist
Orenco Woods Nature Park eBird checklist
Wingspan website
Wingspan YouTube tutorial video
Wingspan Facebook