Bird Sh*t Podcast - TopPodcast.com

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11: The Birding World of Harry Potter with Laura Erickson Jul 30, 2019

Show notes

Happy Birthday, Harry Potter! In honor of our favorite wizard's 39th birthday, we're talking about the wonderful birding world of Harry Potter. Special guest and birding guru Laura Erickson—the internet's Professor McGonagowl—joins us to discuss details on all of the real (and magical) birds of Harry Potter. For instance: why is Ravenclaw's emblem an eagle? Could a snowy owl really carry a Nimbus 2000? What's up with phoenixes?
Laura is an expert in the bird field with more than a dozen books written 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. She was science editor at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology for a couple of years and the first woman (and, shamefully, so far the last) to win the American Birding Association’s highest honor: the Roger Tory Peterson Award. She even dresses up as Professor McGonagowl for Harry Potter events! Learn some amazing facts, like if a snowy owl can carry a broom, to share with your Harry Potter friends!

Drop us a digital line! Email hellobirdshit@gmail.com or find us on Instagram (@birdshitpodcast) and Twitter (@hellobirdshit)
USEFUL RESOURCES
SWEET HARRY POTTER SHIT

Laura Erickson's incredible website on the birds of Harry Potter...this woman is amazing!
Meet the real-life Nicholas Flammel (and sorcerer’s stone)
The etymology of some Harry Potter names
JK Rowling's love of owls, said from the legendary lady herself.
Get sorted into your house on Pottermore!
Depictions of ravens throughout magical history
All about the birds of alchemy: this is some serious shit, you guys.
The mythology of the phoenix

BIRDS WE MENTIONED (in order)

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10: Attract Birds to Your Yard with Native Plants Jul 23, 2019

Show notes

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)

BIRDS IN THE NEWS

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

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9: Let's talk about bird sex (because of course we would) Jul 16, 2019

Show notes

We’re not big into euphemisms. This episode is all about birds having sex. With so many different bird species in the world, it’s no wonder that there are hundreds of different ways birds attract, court, and lock down a mating partner.

In addition to “doing the birdie dirty,” learn about the clever, generous, and romantic ways birds woo a mate. Maybe you’ll pick up some great courtship moves, like the Great Crested Grebe tango, the Red-Capped Manakin moonwalk, the free fallin’ Bald Eagle death spiral…ok, maybe not that last one unless you’re into some seriously kinky sh*t. One thing’s for certain: human courtship will look preeeeetty boring after this. Prepare to start nesting.
USEFUL RESOURCES

Info about the infamous “necrophilia duck” research article
Bald Eagle courtship rituals
A helpful overview (that we used a lot!) discussing the different kinds of bird courtship
Cool examples of Bowerbird bowers (aka their colorful bachelor pads)
Here’s how forced perspective works
Find free condoms and STD testing near you (for humans)
Email us your bird sex questions (or other bird questions)! hellobirdshit@gmail.com
Stalk us on Instagram: @birdshitpodcast

BIRDS WE DISCUSSED (in order)

Lake Duck
Indian Peafowl (aka Peacock)
Mallard
Bald Eagle (listen to our special Bald Eagle episode!)
Birds of Paradise
Red-Capped Manakin (MOONWALKING DANCE! AWESOME VIDEO!!)
Great Crested Grebe
American Robin
Bowerbirds (general)
Satin Bowerbird

OTHER COOL SH*T

“Let’s Talk About Sex” by Salt-N-Pepa: just a little warm-up music to get you into the mood for this episode
Teeth might be the scariest movie ever…?
“Angel of Music” a la Phantom of the OperaI
We don’t get into it much, but there are some funky Birds of Paradise dancing rituals out there
Actual Great-Crested Grebe “weed dance”
Humans and Hobbits showing how forced perspective works in film

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8: The Most Famous Birds in History—Seven Legendary Birds Jul 09, 2019

Show notes

There are many unsung bird heroes throughout history. There was the dove that Randy Johnson struck with a fastball. Or the bird that pooped on your dad during a family vacation. #memories
Unlike these nameless legends, other birds have withstood the test of time and are in our history books (ok, probably only our history books, but they're still well-known). Meet seven famous birds from throughout history. We'll give you their full backstories, introduce the supporting (mostly human) counterparts that helped them rise to fame, and provide fun anecdotes about their famous antics so you can marvel in their birdy brilliance.
Got a favorite famous bird we missed? Email us at hellobirdshit@gmail.com or find us on Instagram @birdshitpodcast and share it with us!
BIRD SHIT WE DISCUSSED
USEFUL RESOURCES (about the famous birds in this episode)

The birds from “The Birds”

Short clip showing why The Birds is so scary (you should go watch the whole thing if you haven’t seen it, unless you don’t want to be scared of birds)
Jimmy Stewart = LOVE

Jimmy the Raven

Lots of info about Jimmy the Raven
Turns our Stewart Little had a Roadster, but there was that creepy “The Mouse and the Motorcycle” movie from the 1980s.

Alex the Gray Parrot

A touching feature on Irene and Alex the Gray Parrot (by Neil deGrasse Tyson!)
ALEX WAS SO SMART YOU GUYS.
Help save parrots from being illegally traded.

Pierre the Penguin

Pierre the Penguin in his wetsuit
Chicken capes, in case you need one…

Dick the Mockingbird

Thomas Jefferson and his mockingbirds
Other presidential pets
The mockingbird song from “Dumb and Dumber”

Rufus the Hawk

Meet Rufus the Hawk (and his handler, Imogen Davis)
Great feature on Rufus the Hawk (this bird is super famous, guys.)
Rufus the Hawk’s Twitter handle…sexy profile pic or nah?)

Gertie the Duck

Photos and backstory on how Gertie became so famous: straight from the Milwaukee Journal (Sentinel) itself.
Buy

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7: Amazing Bald Eagle facts to celebrate America's f*cking birthday (Independence Day) Jul 02, 2019

Show notes

ICYMI, America is turning 244 years old. We're skipping the fireworks, hot dog eating contests, and awkward beach sunburns this year and celebrating with a (bird)sh*t ton of facts about America's favorite poster bird. Learn about the history of the Bald Eagle as America's symbol and some cool facts about these North American birds of prey!
Drop us a digital line! Email hellobirdshit@gmail.com or find us on Instagram (@birdshitpodcast)
BIRD SHIT WE DISCUSSED
USEFUL RESOURCES

Cornell Lab of Ornithology: info on Bald Eagles
History.com: the Bald Eagle's history in early American Congress
(another source about Congress and the Bald Eagle...maybe not legit?)
US Fish & Wildlife Service: DDT and its impact on Bald Eagles
Mental Floss: cool facts about Bald Eagles
Rachel Carson's book Silent Spring(highlighting DDT's impact on Bald Eagles)

BIRDS WE MENTIONED (in order)

OTHER COOL SH*T

We don't really eat meat, but here are the Vienna Natural Casings Hot Dogs if you're into that stuff.
Upcoming bird debate in Chicago area: which bird should be the state bird of Illinois? (Just for funsies, not legit legislative)
"Fly Like an Eagle" -- Seal did it best.
Seinfeld theme song: the boop-iest theme song ever.

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6: How to Choose Birding Binoculars: Interview with Griffin Dennis Jun 26, 2019

Show notes

Binoculars are simple tools, in theory: they make it easier to see things—like birds—that are far away. But how do binoculars work? What do the numbers on binoculars mean? How much should you pay for a pair of birding binoculars? What should you name your binoculars?
Thanks to our special guest, self-proclaimed-optics-nerd Griffin Dennis, you'll have the answer to all these questions by the end of this episode. Learn everything you've ever wanted to know about how to choose a pair of binoculars for bird watching, whether you're just getting into birding or looking to "level up" your gear.
Plus, we ponder the plights, perils, and pleasing post-Sandy payoffs of Piping Plovers. (Sorry, that was a bit much.)
BIRD SHIT WE DISCUSSED
USEFUL RESOURCES

Audubon’s “Getting Started” binocular recommendations
Audubon’s “Good Value” binocular recommendations
Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s advice for choosing bins
An excellent binoculars overview from REI
Sign the petition to protect Chicago’s nesting Piping Plover pair
Located in Chicago? Email piperwatch@chicagobirder.org and volunteer to protect the nesting Piping Plovers at Montrose Beach
eBird is a great, free birding app to help you ID birds (like tricky shorebirds)

BINOCULARS RECOMMENDATIONS

Griffin: Nikon Prostaff 3s 8x42
Mo’s binoculars (aka Oscar): Celestron Nature DX 8x42
Sarah’s binoculars (aka Bindi): YOU DON’T WANT THESE.

BIRDS WE MENTIONED (in order)

OTHER COOL SH*T

Listen to our trip from Point Pelee, Canada!
Sid (and Brainy) from the “Hey Arnold!” cartoon
Follow Griffin (our guest) on Instagram
More about rising water levels in the Great Lakes

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5: Gay Birds Who Strut Their Feathers for Pride Month Jun 18, 2019

Show notes

Giant corporations are coming out of the woodwork for Pride Month and Bird Shit Podcast is jumping on the bandwagon. (The "bandwagon" is like a party bus, right?) We aren't sporting a rainbow logo this month, but we are celebrating with some fabulous tales of homosexual and transgender behavior exhibited by birds.
Scientists have observed same-sex relationships in quite a few bird species. According to National Geographic, there are male ostriches that only court their own gender, and pairs of male flamingos that mate, build nests, and even raise foster chicks. Join us to hear about four bird species that love who they love and stay true to themselves.
Also, in Birds in the News, we uncover (more) new insights into the world's end—and the birds going down with it. YAY, OPTIMISM.
BIRD SHIT WE DISCUSSED
USEFUL RESOURCES
Researcher Bruce Bagemihl’s book, Biological Exuberance: Animal Homosexuality and Natural Diversity
BIRDS WE MENTIONED (in order)

Chinstrap Penguins
Guianan Cock-of-the-rock (smaller than we thought…)
Laysan Albatross
Superb Birds of Paradise
Long-wattled Umbrella Bird
Black Swan
Mute Swan
Saltmarsh Sparrow
American Crow

BIRDS IN THE NEWS

OTHER COOL SH*T

Birdcage = most famous gay “birds”
Roy and Silo: adorable gay penguin couple at New York’s Zoo
Fake chicken eggs encourage hens to lay!
Awesome Birds of Paradise footage from Planet Earth!
RuPaul owns the runway (and so many other things!)
Not the Black Swan we discussed, but still noteworthy
“Earth” by Lil’ Dicky: save the world!!
ICYMI, the world is ending in 2050.

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4: Bird Shit Podcast Goes to Canada—Point Pelee National Park Birding, Part 2 (ft. a Prothonotary Warbler!) Jun 11, 2019

Show notes

Our trip to Point Pelee National Park in Canada was sooooo much fun, we split the goodness into two episodes. In this episode, you'll hear some of our favorite bird calls (like the Carolina Wren and a turkey pecking at a window) and meet a fellow birder who saw a Prothonotary Warbler with us. Lastly, we end with our trip takeaways for becoming better birders—and a real-life bird shit!
BIRD SH*T WE DISCUSSED
USEFUL RESOURCES
Thanks to Friends of Point Pelee for all the great info as we planned our trip!
Follow Bird Shit on Instagram
Send us an email (we'd love to hear from you!)
Peterson Field Guide to Birds (recommended by Mark, who we interview in this episode)
BIRDS WE MENTIONED (in order)
Yellow-Billed Cuckoo
American Robin
Red-winged Blackbird
Wild Turkey
Carolina Wren
Dunlin
Semipalmated Sandpiper
Least Sandpiper
Prothonotary Warbler
Yellow Warbler
Pileated Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Sandhill Crane
Canda Goose
Mallard
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Barn Swallow
OTHER COOL SH*T
Our full species lists from Point Pelee National Park
Leave us an iTunes review if you don't hate this.
Best private-room karaoke in Chicago
#birdblessed
"War of the Worlds" tripod robot or bullfrog call?
Thanks for a crazy Friday night, Rick's in Ann Arbor.

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3: Bird Shit Podcast Goes to Canada—Point Pelee National Park Birding Trip, Part One May 29, 2019

Show notes

Some girls take weekend trips to Napa Valley, New Orleans, or Las Vegas. Mo and Sarah decided to go to Canada. Poor life decision? Possibly. But if you're a birder (or pretending to be a birder for the sake of a podcast you started), there are few places as incredible as Point Pelee National Park in Ontario, Canada for a spring migration birding trip.
This is part one of a two-part series on our trip to Point Pelee for the big spring birding migration. In part one, we interview four friendly birders about their favorite bird moments and their advice for newbies who are just getting started with birding. Plus, listen to some beautiful sounds from the Point Pelee wilderness and the birds that kept us company on our hikes. These sound bytes of chirping birds are perfect for drifting off into a peaceful sleep. Don't worry, we won't be mad.
BIRD SH*T WE DISCUSSED
USEFUL RESOURCES
The Peterson Bird Guides: learn bird calls (thanks for the advice, Craig!)
Find a local birding group near you
BIRDS WE MENTION (in order)
Orchard Oriole
American Robin
Red-winged Blackbird
Barn Swallow
Worm-eating Warbler
Sandhill Crane
Colima Warbler
Least Bittern
Common Tern
Little Gull
American Bittern
Willow Ptarmigan
Greater Prairie-Chicken
Northern Cardinal
Red-Eyed Vireo
Yellow Warbler
Black-and-White Warbler
Cedar Waxwing
Carolina Wren
Sanderling
Dunlin
Whimbrel
OTHER COOL SH*T
Here's an example of what a migration fallout looks like #birdarmageddon
HERDEZ GUACAMOLE SALSA
"The Barber of Seville"...aka the Carolina Wren's call?
Yurts at Point Pelee are dope

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2: How to plan a birding trip (complete with blow-up dolls) May 21, 2019

Show notes

Planning a birding trip requires slightly different logistics than a weekend getaway. Are your binoculars packed? Have you familiarized yourself with birds in the region? Did you pack your blow-up dolls? As Mo and Sarah pack for their upcoming trip to Point Pelee National Park in Ontario, Canada, they share their advice for birding trip preparations.
Plus, we debate whether or not Morgan Freeman will outlive Emperor Penguins in this week's "Birds in the News."
BIRD SHIT WE DISCUSSED
USEFUL RESOURCES
Find a local birding mailing list for your region!
BIRDS WE MENTIONED (in order)
Large-Billed Crow (Jungle Crow)
Eurasian Tree Sparrow
Rock Pigeon
Mandarin Duck
Secretarybird
Emperor Penguin
White-Throated Rail
Warblers (and how to ID them!)
Kinglets
American Robin
BIRDS IN THE NEWS
A brave bird took down the world’s most expensive fighter jet
Bummer news for Antartica’s Emperor Penguins :-(
The bird that went extinct...then came back!
OTHER COOL SH*T
Point Pelee National Park, Ontario
March of the Penguins
Wall-E blubber people
“It’s a (migrant) trap!”
There are SO MANY Kit-Kat flavors in Japan.
Blow-up dolls...but we’re not including a link.

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