The American Birding Podcast

The end of August 20206 sees us looking forward to fall, but pausing first to enjoy a discussion about some interesting pieces of bird and birding news from the last few weeks. Friends of the podcast Martha Harbison, Frank Izaguirre, and Ryan Mandelbum join host Nate Swick to talk about urban bird behavior, the lifespans of female birds, and a whole lot about bird poop. Seriously. More than we expected. 
Links to items discussed in this episode:
Urbanization reduces shyness and neophobia in a common waterbird
Do birds enjoy flying?
Why is it so hard to find DNA in bird poop?
Female birds have shorter lifespans than male birds across 35 North American species, researchers find
Guy Tudor, Whose Art Brought Obscure Birds to Life, Dies at 91
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Nashville based singer/song-writer Bonner Black is confidently making her way in the worlds of both music and birding. She's been touring bird festivals all over the world this year and and she is a fun follow on social media with often hilarious takes on birding culture. Bonner's well-received debut album Hopeless RomANTICS featured songs that landed on The New York Times 2023 Spring Playlist, and her fourth studio project is a 5 song EP titled Little Bird in a Big Sky, which features some birdy touches amongst the more expected tracks, releases on August 20th. She joins us to talk about birds, music, and how to make a living combining the two. 
Also, sent Nate your hottest bird takes for a special LIVE Take it or Leave it at the Rio Grande Valley Bird Festival. 
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Birds and trees are a natural combination, and in author Marina Richie's latest, Feathered Forest: Aloft With Birds in Ancient Trees, she meditates on the big forests of her home in the Pacific Northwest and the birds that inhabit them. From Pacific Wrens on the forest floor, to Vaux's Swifts high above the canopy, each bird offers insights into the grandeur of these places. 
Also, thought we were done with NACC taxonomy? But wait, there's more! Nate updates listeners on the last proposal packet and the potential for a new crossbill. 
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Migration is a tough time of year for many birds, as they make their long dangerous journey between breeding grounds and wintering territories. The path taken by many sees them passing over or stopping to nest in increasingly urban landscapes. These landscape changes affect birds in many ways, some obvious, some more subtle. That is the work of researcher Lauren Pharr, at the time of this interview, a PhD student studying urban noise and light pollution and their affect on birds. She joined host Nate Swick in April 2021 to chat about her work, wildlife research in urban settings, and community science.\
Also, Nate is back from a wonderful Black Belt Birding Festival. 
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It's the last Thursday of the month and that means it's time for another This Month in Birding panel. July marks the turning point of the year, and the inexorable slide to fall. This month's panel features Jody Allair, Stephanie Beilke, and Nick Lund, who join host Nate Swick to talk AI's intrusion into birding, wind turbines marked for birds, and our favorite bird frenemies. 
Links to articles discussed in the episode:
AI-altered images on birdwatching forums putting research at risk
Bio-informed blade patterns for mitigating bird collisions with wind turbines
This Rugged New York Heron Is Suddenly Facing Extinction in the City. Why?
55-years of Tree Swallow monitoring sheds light on the consequences of insect decline
Pigeons and People Have Been Frenemies for Longer Than You Think
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