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Migrations: The Triumphant Comeback of the Aleutian Cackling Goose Oct 08, 2025

Show notes

Aleutian Cackling Geese, which have a slighter build and shorter beak than Canada Geese, build their nests on a chain of islands off the western coast of Alaska. In the 1700s, fur traders introduced foxes to the islands, nearly wiping out the geese. For decades, they were believed to be extinct. But in the 1960s, a biologist discovered about 300 birds nesting on Buldir Island. Habitat protections have allowed their populations to recover.

More info and transcript at BirdNote.org.

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Migrations: Veeries Predict Hurricanes Oct 07, 2025

Show notes

In some years, tawny-colored thrushes called Veeries cut their breeding season short. Researchers discovered that Veeries tend to stop breeding early in the same years that the Atlantic hurricane season is particularly severe. Surprisingly, Veeries are sometimes better at predicting hurricane conditions than computer models! Despite their forecasting prowess, though, Veeries are vulnerable to climate change.

More info and transcript at BirdNote.org.

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Nineteen Owls Oct 06, 2025

Show notes

Owls have a reputation for hooting and hunting at night. But when you take a look – and listen – to the 19 species that live in the U.S. and Canada, it’s clear that these raptors defy stereotypes.

More info and transcript at BirdNote.org.

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Creating an Inviting Habitat Oct 05, 2025

Show notes

Bird feeders and birdbaths are great ways to attract birds to your yard, but they aren’t the only ways to entice our feathered friends. Planting an area densely with native shrubs, trees, and other vegetation can create a natural look that some birds are more likely to feel at home in because it resembles their native habitat. Shy singers, like the Fox Sparrow or Veery, will repay you with their beautiful songs.

More info and transcript at BirdNote.org.

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The First North American Wildlife Refuge Oct 04, 2025

Show notes

In the center of Oakland, California, is Lake Merritt. People row in it, picnic and jog around it, and it's a place of respite within the city. And it hosts waterbirds such as ducks, geese, egrets, pelicans, cormorants, and coots. A beautifully illustrated field guide by Alex Harris, Birds of Lake Merritt, describes the birds found around the waters of Lake Merritt, its history since the Ohlone peoples have populated it, all the way till today.

More info and transcript at BirdNote.org.

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Waterfowl heritage with Kelsey Leonard Oct 03, 2025

Show notes

Kelsey Leonard is a leading scholar in Indigenous water governance, climate justice, and Earth law. In the latest season of Bring Birds Back, Kelsey explores the storied relationship between Indigenous people, wetlands, and birds. Kelsey says waterfowl hunters have helped to document that natural history. In many Indigenous hunting traditions, duck decoys are crafted to look so life-like that they can lure free-flying ducks to wetlands where hunters lie in wait. Some of the decoys carved at Shinnecock are more than 100 years old and depict species that are no longer found on Long Island.

Listen to the full conversation in our episode about Indigenous Water Justice in season 7 of Bring Birds Back!

More info and transcript at BirdNote.org.

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Júlia d’Oliveira on Recreating Extinct Animals Oct 02, 2025

Show notes

Júlia d’Oliveira is a paleoartist who brings extinct species to life in artwork. For each species she illustrates, she learns everything she can about the species to come up with a realistic portrait. Júlia hopes her paleoart offers something different from the grotesque versions of dinosaurs in movies she remembers from growing up.

More info and transcript at BirdNote.org.

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Snowy Albatross Molt Oct 01, 2025

Show notes

Most birds molt and regrow their flight or wing feathers — one at a time along each wing — to stay in prime condition for flying. But for a Wandering Albatross, with a whopping 10-to-12-foot wingspan, that’s a big job! It takes the large albatrosses a full year to molt, and they have to put off breeding until the next year. It’s one or the other. But they make the birds incredibly efficient flyers and true masters of the wind.

¡Escuche este episodio en español aquí!

More info and transcript at BirdNote.org.

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Why Are There Flightless Birds? Sep 30, 2025

Show notes

The ability to fly seems to define birds. But there are more than 50 species of flightless birds throughout the world — from the Ostrich and Kiwi to flightless rails, ducks, and this Humboldt Penguin. Why did they evolve the inability to fly? Many dwelt on islands. Others evolved until they were huge, like the extinct 12-foot-tall Moas of New Zealand. And the penguins? Unlike most flightless birds, they still have the strong flight muscles and keeled breastbones of flying birds. They are supremely graceful flyers — but they do it under water!

More info and transcript at BirdNote.org.

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Spark Bird: Birding from the Bus Sep 29, 2025

Show notes

Kelsen Caldwell drives a bus in and around Seattle for King County Metro. As a bus driver, sometimes there’s downtime if your bus is moving too fast. What do you do with all that extra time? If you’re Kelsen, you fall in love with birds.

More info and transcript at BirdNote.org.

Want more BirdNote? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter. Sign up for BirdNote+ to get ad-free listening and other perks.

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

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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