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Threatened — Nature
Threatened

Stories about the enduring connections between birds, people and landscapes.

Copyright: © BirdNote

Latest Episodes:

An Unusual Place to Eat and Rest Feb 07, 2023

In Puerto Rico, there is an area of saline lagoons, salt flats and mangrove swamps where humans have extracted salt for over 500 years. We often describe the effects of human activity on the environment as negative. But the migratory birds that eat and rest in one of the most visited places by locals and tourists probably see things differently.

More info and transcript at BirdNote.org.

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The Scientific Name Doesn’t Do It Justice Jan 31, 2023

Birds have their common English name and a name in the languages of all the places they might fly through. And then they have their Latin name, which is their taxonomic name, the one scientists use. In this episode, we learn about a decades-long effort in Puerto Rico to change San Pedrito's scientific name, why it matters and the journeys of two people seeking to make it happen.

More info and transcript at BirdNote.org.

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BirdNote is a nonprofit. Your tax-deductible gift makes these shows possible.

Protecting a Bird and Ourselves Jan 24, 2023

How do you organize a group of people to protect a bird from powerful forces? The Julián Chiví, or Black-whiskered Vireo, reveals a story of a community banding together to save a species, its environment, and ultimately, the people themselves. The organizers in Puerto Rico decided to go beyond just presenting alarming facts—and their strategy worked.

More info and transcript at BirdNote.org.

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BirdNote is a nonprofit. Your tax-deductible gift makes these shows possible.

The Puerto Rican Parrot Comeback Jan 17, 2023

In the season premiere, we travel to Puerto Rico to meet a bird that has survived deforestation, hurricanes and the exotic pet trade. The Puerto Rican parrot saw its numbers drop to almost zero at one point. But today, its population is growing and stabilizing. To achieve this, the people involved had to make some difficult tradeoffs.

More info and transcript at BirdNote.org.

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BirdNote is a nonprofit. Your tax-deductible gift makes these shows possible.

Hawai’i: Hope for the ‘Ua‘u Aug 09, 2022

We end our season with a little seabird that’s making a comeback. The Hawaiian Petrel, or ‘Ua’u, was once written off as going or gone from the islands. But after recent discoveries of remnant colonies, we see how some human intervention with the right tools can make a huge difference for birds and protect a population on the brink.

Some brief swearing at 6:22

More info and transcript at BirdNote.org.

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BirdNote is a nonprofit. Your tax-deductible gift makes these shows possible.

Hawai’i: Saving the ʻAlalā Aug 02, 2022

Hawai‘i has its own species of crow, the clever and charismatic ʻAlalā. But the species hasn’t been able to survive in its shrinking native habitat. The only reason the ʻAlalā still exists is because of captive breeding programs. Reintroducing them to the wild is fraught with challenges, but it’s needed for the continuation of the species and for the health of the forest itself.

More info and transcript at BirdNote.org.

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BirdNote is a nonprofit. Your tax-deductible gift makes these shows possible.

Hawai’i: Rewriting the Story of Extinction Jul 26, 2022

In 1823, a young princess was presented with an incredible gift, and a choice: protect the Native Hawaiian way of life, or embrace the teachings of newcomers. Today, the gift resides in a museum, and its story tells of tragedy and hope, the duality of life, and maybe a different understanding of our current extinction crisis.

More info and transcript at BirdNote.org.

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BirdNote is a nonprofit. Your tax-deductible gift makes these shows possible.

Hawai’i: The Mosquito Problem Jul 19, 2022

How do you fight a disease carried by mosquitoes as climate change helps them spread? Avian malaria could wipe out whole species of birds, and people are going to great lengths to stop it. There’s hope on the horizon. Scientists believe they have a way to wipe out the mosquitos first. But will it come in time for the honeycreepers?

More info and transcript at BirdNote.org.

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BirdNote is a nonprofit. Your tax-deductible gift makes these shows possible.

Hawai’i: Protecting Palila Jul 12, 2022

In the season premiere, we travel to Hawai‘i to meet a unique group of birds called honeycreepers. Over 55 species of honeycreepers once existed, but over half of them have gone extinct. One of them, the Palila, is still holding on. What do we need to do to protect it?

More info and transcript at BirdNote.org.

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BirdNote is a nonprofit. Your tax-deductible gift makes these shows possible.

Threatened Season 3 Trailer Jun 28, 2022

Threatened returns with Season 3 on Tuesday, July 12th. These five new episodes explore the unique ecology and conservation of the Hawaiian Islands. Of the 44 endemic bird species in Hawai‘i, 33 are endangered. The good news: people are helping these birds fight for survival. Take a deep dive with host Ari Daniel to see how humans are answering the call to protect the birds of Hawai‘i, and how the lives of these birds are connected with the lives of the Hawaiian people.

More info and transcript at BirdNote.org.

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BirdNote is a nonprofit. Your tax-deductible gift makes these shows possible.

The Future of Bird Migration with Scott Weidensaul Oct 19, 2021

Today’s episode was produced by Ari Daniel, Allison Wilson, Mark Bramhill, Conor Gearin, and Sam Johnson. Fact checking by Conor Gearin, mixing by John Kessler. Original theme music by Ian Coss.

Special thanks to Willistown Conservation Trust.
Additional Resources:
A World on the Wing: The Global Odyssey of Migratory Birds | Book by Scott Weidensaul

Motus Wildlife Tracking System: Explore GPS-Tracked Bird Migration Routes

One Way to Save Birds: Pay Farmers to Flood Their Land | KQED

A boon for birds: Once overlooked, China’s mudflats gain protections | Mongabay

A Phenomenal Discovery, Bringing A Glimmer Of Hope To A Declining Species Of Bird | Manomet

A bird’s eye view of quantum entanglement | NOVA

Plantation Ecology Aug 31, 2021

In the final episode of this season Host Ari Daniel tours the marsh at the Nemours Wildlife Foundation with Dr. Drew Lanham, cultural and conservation ornithologist at Clemson University. They bring us a story of time travel. Of touching a place through old hands and seeing it through new eyes. Of honoring a people for the incredible work they did— and sharing how that work continues today, and is reflected in the birds that call this place home.

Related Resources:

Connect with BirdNote on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter
Sign up to receive BirdNote's weekly newsletter

BirdNote is an independent nonprofit media production company. Your dollars make it possible to create sound-rich shows that connect you to the joys of birds and nature. Support BirdNote’s conservation mission, and get more of the content you love, by subscribing to BirdNote+ at https://birdnote.supercast.tech or make a one-time gift at BirdNote.org. Thanks!

Block Island, Bird Central Aug 24, 2021

Every spring, millions of birds travel the Atlantic Flyway, one of four major North-South routes for migratory birds in the Americas. Along the way, they need to stop for food, water, and rest— and Block Island, Rhode Island, provides. In this episode, producer Ben James takes us to this special place where we meet master bird bander Kim Gaffett. She is the latest in a long line of women citizen scientists whose work on Block Island has instilled a powerful culture of bird study and conservation, stretching back over a hundred years.

Related Resources:
50 Years of Bird Banding - Block Island Times
Thirsty Birds “Burn the Engine” in Flight - NPR
Block Island - The Nature Conservancy in Rhode Island
Block Island Conservancy
The Bird Lady of Block Island, Miss Elizabeth Dickens - BlockIsland.com
Flying Transformers: Birds Gear Up for Migration

Connect with BirdNote on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter
Sign up to receive BirdNote's weekly newsletter

BirdNote is an independent nonprofit media production company. Your dollars make it possible to create sound-rich shows that connect you to the joys of birds and nature. Support BirdNote’s conservation mission, and get more of the content you love, by subscribing to BirdNote+ at https://birdnote.supercast.tech or make a one-time gift at BirdNote.org. Thanks!

Credits

Host & Senior Producer: Ari Daniel
Producer: Ben James
Editor: Caitlin Pierce, Rough Cut Collective
Audio mix: Rob Byers, Johnny Vince Evans, and Michael Raphael, Final Final V2
Theme song and original music: Ian Coss
Additional music: Blue Dot Sessions
Content Director: Allison Wilson
Audio and Video Editor: Sam Johnson
Fact-checker and Digital Producer: Conor Gearin
Artwork: Clint McMillen at Braincloud Design

Threatened is a production of BirdNote. Learn more about the BirdNote team.

Vultures in Zimbabwe Aug 17, 2021

Zimbabwe is home to six species of vultures, five of which are critically endangered and at risk of extinction. At Victoria Falls, researchers and wildlife rehabilitators are working to increase populations, and advocates in the cities of Bulawayo and Harare educate farmers and traditional healers on the importance of these birds to healthy ecosystems. Producer ish Mafundikwa takes us on a road trip around the country to explore the issues affecting these often misunderstood and maligned birds.

Related Resources:
BirdLife Zimbabwe
Vulture Conservation - Victoria Falls Wildlife Trust
Saving Africa’s Vultures - BirdLife International
Judge the Vulture Ambassador - Victoria Falls Wildlife Trust
The Race to Save Africa’s Vultures - BBC Earth
Video - Saving Africa’s Vultures in 2020 - BirdLife International
Connect with BirdNote on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter
Sign up to receive BirdNote's weekly newsletter

BirdNote is an independent nonprofit media production company. Your dollars make it possible to create sound-rich shows that connect you to the joys of birds and nature. Support BirdNote’s conservation mission, and get more of the content you love, by subscribing to BirdNote+ at https://birdnote.supercast.tech or make a one-time gift at BirdNote.org. Thanks!

Host & Senior Producer: Ari Daniel
Producer: ish Mafundikwa
Editor: Caitlin Pierce, Rough Cut Collective
Audio mix: Rob Byers, Johnny Vince Evans, and Michael Raphael, Final Final V2
Theme song and original music: Ian Coss
Additional music: Blue Dot Sessions
Content Director: Allison Wilson
Audio and Video Editor: Sam Johnson
Fact-checker and Digital Producer: Conor Gearin
Artwork: Clint McMillen at Braincloud Design

Puffins: Cute to Catalyst Aug 10, 2021

At Bempton Cliffs, on the Yorkshire Coast on the east side of the UK, about 3,000 charismatic little seabirds nest. The puffin is a sparkbird for producer Paul Drury-Bradey and many others that come to see them in the summer months. But these awkward flyers with colorful bills can spark more than just an interest in birds and birding. Conservationists hope they can also spark interest in addressing climate change, reducing and cleaning up plastic waste, and other human-caused challenges that threaten their existence.

Related Resources:

Video - A Day in the Life of RSPB Bempton Cliffs Reserve | RSPB
Bempton Cliffs Nature Reserve
Atlantic Puffin - More at All About Birds
Counting Puffins - Bempton Cliffs - The RSPB Community
Atlantic Puffin Conservation in the UK - Joint Nature Conservation Committee

Connect with BirdNote on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter
Sign up to receive BirdNote's weekly newsletter

BirdNote is an independent nonprofit media production company. Your dollars make it possible to create sound-rich shows that connect you to the joys of birds and nature. Support BirdNote’s conservation mission, and get more of the content you love, by subscribing to BirdNote+ at https://birdnote.supercast.tech or make a one-time gift at BirdNote.org. Thanks!

Host & Senior Producer: Ari Daniel
Producer: Paul Drury-Bradey & Nic Granville-Fall
Editor: Caitlin Pierce, Rough Cut Collective
Audio mix: Rob Byers, Johnny Vince Evans, and Michael Raphael, Final Final V2
Theme song and original music: Ian Coss
Additional music: Blue Dot Sessions
Content Director: Allison Wilson
Audio and Video Editor: Sam Johnson
Fact-checker and Digital Producer: Conor Gearin
Artwork: Clint McMillen at Braincloud Design

Ospreys and Environmental Restoration Aug 03, 2021

Butte, Montana, used to be home to some of the most productive copper mines in the country. About a quarter of the world’s supply came from the area and it’s now the site of a massive effort to restore the degraded ecosystem. But, the local birds aren’t just victims of the pollution; they can actually tell us if things are getting better as all the pollution gets cleaned up. Birds here offer portraits of what’s happening on a larger ecosystem scale—especially Ospreys, which are at the top of the food chain and depend on waterways that are now contaminated with heavy metals. Producer Nick Mott travels along this polluted area to peer into the lives of these birds to see what they reveal.

Related Resources:

Watch the Hellgate Ospreys Nest Cam livestream
Learn about the Montana Osprey Project
More about Ospreys at All About Birds
"Old Mines Still Plague Montana’s Clark Fork" - High Country News
"Lasers, Drones, and Air Cannons: Inside the Effort to Save Migrating Waterfowl From a Toxic Death" in Audubon

Connect with BirdNote on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter
Sign up to receive BirdNote's weekly newsletter

BirdNote is an independent nonprofit media production company. Your dollars make it possible to create sound-rich shows that connect you to the joys of birds and nature. Support BirdNote’s conservation mission, and get more of the content you love, by subscribing to BirdNote+ at https://birdnote.supercast.tech or make a one-time gift at BirdNote.org. Thanks!

Host & Senior Producer: Ari Daniel
Producer: Nick Mott
Editor: Caitlin Pierce, Rough Cut Collective
Audio mix: Rob Byers, Johnny Vince Evans, and Michael Raphael, Final Final V2
Theme song and original music: Ian Coss
Additional music: Blue Dot Sessions
Content Director: Allison Wilson
Audio and Video Editor: Sam Johnson
Fact-checker and Digital Producer: Conor Gearin
Artwork: Clint McMillen at Braincloud Design

Swallow-tailed Kites in the Black Belt Jul 27, 2021

In the Black Belt region of Alabama, we go on a birding tour and learn about the Swallow-tailed Kite. The Swallow-tailed Kite’s range in this region decreased rapidly over the past one hundred years, primarily due to habitat loss from agriculture, urban development, and logging. Now protected by the State of Alabama, we visit a family farm where the kites are frequently seen and learn how the ensuing curiosity about the birds has brought new opportunities. Producer Jay Avery brings us this story of a threatened bird, an historically excluded human community, and how they are helping each other.

Related Resources:

Visit the website for Connecting with Birds and Nature Tours
Learn about the Black Belt in Alabama Audubon
See how the Avian Research and Conservation Institute tracks Swallow-tailed Kites
Get an overview of Swallow-tailed Kites on All About Birds
Sustainability Ag-vocate: Christopher Joe of Joe's
Learn about Christopher Joe of Joe's Black Angus Farm and Connecting with Birds and Nature Tours

Connect with BirdNote on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter
Sign up to receive BirdNote's weekly newsletter

BirdNote is an independent nonprofit media production company. Your dollars make it possible to create sound-rich shows that connect you to the joys of birds and nature. Support BirdNote’s conservation mission, and get more of the content you love, by subscribing to BirdNote+ at https://birdnote.supercast.tech or make a one-time gift at BirdNote.org. Thanks!

Host & Senior Producer: Ari Daniel
Producer: J. Nailah Avery
Editor: Caitlin Pierce, Rough Cut Collective
Audio mix: Rob Byers, Johnny Vince Evans, and Michael Raphael, Final Final V2
Theme song and original music: Ian Coss
Additional music: Blue Dot Sessions
Content Director: Allison Wilson
Audio and Video Editor: Sam Johnson
Fact-checker and Digital Producer: Conor Gearin
Artwork: Clint McMillen at Braincloud Design

Red-Cockaded Woodpeckers and The Endangered Species Act Jul 20, 2021

Georgia’s longleaf pine forests are home to many endangered species, including the Red-cockaded Woodpecker. This resilient and unusual little bird is making a comeback from the brink of extinction thanks to an unexpected partner and recovery efforts set in motion by the Endangered Species Act. But complicated rule changes and bureaucracy have put the protected status, and in turn the birds themselves, in jeopardy. This story comes to us from Producer Claire Reynolds.

Learn about the Fort Benning Military Installation on Audubon.org
Check out the Red-cockaded Woodpecker on All About Birds
See what USFWS says about Red-cockaded Woodpecker recovery
Read "Longleaf Pine Forests: A Southern Treasure" on Nature.org
Learn about Pinus palustris (Longleaf Pines)

Connect with BirdNote on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter
Sign up to receive BirdNote's weekly newsletter

BirdNote is an independent nonprofit media production company. Your dollars make it possible to create sound-rich shows that connect you to the joys of birds and nature. Support BirdNote’s conservation mission, and get more of the content you love, by subscribing to BirdNote+ at https://birdnote.supercast.tech or make a one-time gift at BirdNote.org.Thanks!

Host & Senior Producer: Ari Daniel
Producer: Claire Reynolds
Editor: Caitlin Pierce, Rough Cut Collective
Audio mix: Rob Byers, Johnny Vince Evans, and Michael Raphael, Final Final V2
Theme song and original music: Ian Coss
Additional music: Blue Dot Sessions
Content Director: Allison Wilson
Audio and Video Editor: Sam Johnson
Fact-checker and Digital Producer: Conor Gearin
Artwork: Clint McMillen at Braincloud Design

The Siberian Crane: From Taiwan to Tundra Jul 13, 2021

In the first episode of this new season of Threatened, we go on a life-changing journey with Sunny Tseng, a PhD student at the University of Northern British Columbia and a researcher at the Endemic Species Research Institute in Taiwan, where she’s based. The story starts in 2014 with a Siberian Crane that got blown off course, ending up in Taiwan. It’s a bird that usually migrates from the Siberian tundra — an ecosystem that’s currently undergoing a dramatic transformation as our climate changes — to southeast China. The appearance of a Siberian Crane in Taiwan was unexpected, and it set off a chain of events that put Sunny on the path that led her to where she is today.

Related Resources:

"Eco-Celebrity Crane Inspires Wetland Protection in Taiwan" in Smithsonian Magazine
"Lost Siberian Crane Wins Taiwan’s Heart While Improving Its Food Supply" in Atlas Obscura
"Lost cranes find sanctuary in Taiwan, Japan" in The Japan Times
"Rare Visit to Taiwan by Siberian Crane Is a Bird-Watcher’s Dream" in The New York Times

Connect with BirdNote on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter
Sign up to receive BirdNote's weekly newsletter

BirdNote is an independent nonprofit media production company. Your dollars make it possible to create sound-rich shows that connect you to the joys of birds and nature. Support BirdNote’s conservation mission, and get more of the content you love, by subscribing to BirdNote+ at https://birdnote.supercast.tech or make a one-time gift at BirdNote.org.Thanks!

Producer and Host: Ari Daniel
Editor: Caitlin Pierce, Rough Cut Collective
Audio mix: Rob Byers, Johnny Vince Evans, and Michael Raphael, Final Final V2
Field recording: Sunny Tseng
Theme song and original music: Ian Coss
Additional music: Blue Dot Sessions
Content Director: Allison Wilson
Audio and Video Editor: Sam Johnson
Fact-checker and Digital Producer: Conor Gearin
Artwork: Clint McMillen at Braincloud Design

Season 2 Coming July 13 Jul 01, 2021

We're traveling the world to hear stories about birds and people who care about them.

Introducing: The Bring Birds Back Podcast May 14, 2021

Like many birders, host Tenijah Hamilton discovered her love of birds during the pandemic. Now she invites listeners to join her in appreciating the beauty and mystery of the birds all around us and taking action on their behalf. As Tenijah speaks with bird experts from all walks of life, she and the listener learn, together, how to bring birds back.

Follow the show in your podcast app and stay tuned for our first episode on May 19th.

Protecting Biodiversity in the Boreal Forest Dec 15, 2020

In the season finale we visit Thaidene Nëné, a huge swath of land in the Boreal Forest, and learn how the Łutsël K’é Dene First Nation and the Canadian government came together to protect an area that’s vital for birds, indigenous people, and the health of the entire planet.

The Boreal Forest is one of the most important bird habitats in the Western Hemisphere. Billions of birds nest and hatch their eggs here. It is also the ancestral home of the Łutsël K’é Dene First Nation, who’ve spent decades trying to preserve the land on their terms. Their solution could well provide a blueprint for sustainable conservation around the world.

There's more to the story!

For the full transcript and more visit BirdNote.org.

Special thanks to Emily Blake, Emily Cousins, and Janna Graham for their help in making this episode.

BirdNote is an independent nonprofit media production company. Your dollars make it possible to create sound-rich shows that connect you to the joys of birds and nature. Support BirdNote’s conservation mission, and get more of the content you love, by subscribing to BirdNote+ at https://birdnote.supercast.tech or make a one-time gift at BirdNote.org.Thanks!

Watching Over Western Sandpipers Dec 08, 2020

We visit the Fraser Estuary, where fresh water meets the salty Pacific Ocean in British Columbia, Canada. Scientists are confirming what locals and birders have long known -- these mudflats are a unique and important pitstop for Western Sandpipers during their epic migration.

The Pacific Flyway is a migratory route for at least a billion birds. For many, like the Western Sandpiper, it’s an epic journey twice a year. Each spring they fly from wintering grounds in South America all the way to the Arctic where they breed in the summer. They then fly back down in the fall. Our understanding of what fuels that journey is changing, and a port expansion could jeopardize an important food source.

There's more to the story!

For the full transcript and more visit BirdNote.org

BirdNote is an independent nonprofit media production company. Your dollars make it possible to create sound-rich shows that connect you to the joys of birds and nature. Support BirdNote’s conservation mission, and get more of the content you love, by subscribing to BirdNote+ at https://birdnote.supercast.tech or make a one-time gift at BirdNote.org.Thanks!

Curlews, Sparrows, and the Ecological Trap Dec 01, 2020

In Idaho, native grasslands were once a rich mosaic of plant life that supported a diverse cohort of birds. But as European settlers moved west, they converted those rich grasslands into farms. Today, very little native grassland habitat remains in the Intermountain West. In this episode of Threatened, producer Monica Gokey takes us on a quest to search for Long-billed Curlews, find a patch of restored habitat containing a bounty of grassland birds, and speak with the people working to protect and expand what’s left of this unique habitat.

There's more to the story!

For the full transcript and more visit BirdNote.org

BirdNote is an independent nonprofit media production company. Your dollars make it possible to create sound-rich shows that connect you to the joys of birds and nature. Support BirdNote’s conservation mission, and get more of the content you love, by subscribing to BirdNote+ at https://birdnote.supercast.tech or make a one-time gift at BirdNote.org. Thanks!

A Riot of Nesting Seabirds Nov 24, 2020

In the series premier, we head to a summer home for seabirds — a place where kittiwakes, murres, auklets, and puffins gather by the thousands. Gerrit Vyn, a conservation media producer, describes the scene as "a cauldron of raucous bird sound." Scientists and Aleut locals share how the birds are faring in a changing climate, and we explore importance of seabirds in island traditions.

Full transcript available at BirdNote.org.

Additional Resources:

BirdNote is an independent nonprofit media production company. Your dollars make it possible to create sound-rich shows that connect you to the joys of birds and nature. Support BirdNote’s conservation mission, and get more of the content you love, by subscribing to BirdNote+ at https://birdnote.supercast.tech or make a one-time gift at BirdNote.org. Thanks!

Threatened Trailer Oct 29, 2020

A new podcast from BirdNote about the enduring connections between birds, people and landscapes. Join host Ari Daniel for an escape to the natural world — and a glimpse into the lives of the people working to protect it.

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