Dirty Bird Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Episode 64: It's a Hard (wood) Cock Life: (American Woodcock) Jan 16, 2024

Show notes

Life is tough for an American Woodcock. You nest on the ground, everything wants to eat and shoot you, and your habitat is decreasing. Plus, even the ornithologists seem not to care about your evolution! On the plus side, migration is more of a swinging vacation than an arduous journey! Join John as he talks all about the American Woodcock's funny vocalizations and feeding behaviors, its conservation concerns, and its unique courtship display. Recorded on a breezy day in First Landing State Park, even a fox stops by to listen!
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Thanks to dreamroux for suggesting this episode!
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Intro music by Ricky Pistone and outro music by the Sidewalk Slammers
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Birds sounds from xeno-canto.org
Opening Call by Jim Berry
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Meep Call by Alex Lin-Moore
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Up Close Call by Justin Watts
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Flight Call Justin Saucier
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Cackle by Paul Driver
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Wing Whistle by Paul Driver

Episode 63: Forever A-Loon (Common Loon) Nov 17, 2023

Show notes

When you hear the haunting call of a common loon, you may feel alone and scared, but seeing this beautiful bird is sure to raise your spirits! Learn all about the many unique and beautiful calls of the Common Loon which can be found in lakes across northern America and also featured in many horror movie soundtracks. While it appears peaceful paddling on the water, these birds can be extremely violent during the breeding season. Join Dr. John as he explores the breeding, feeding evolution, and other fun facts about the Common Loon!
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Thanks to Henson for suggesting this episode!
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Thanks to Jessica Coker for providing the cover art! Follow her on instagram @thepsoreywing
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Intro music by Ricky Pistone and Outro music by the Sidewalk Slammers. Check them out wherever you get your music
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All Bird sounds are from xeno-canto.org

Opening Call by Bruce Lagerquist

Wail call 1 by Sunny Tsang

All Bird sounds are from xeno-canto.org

Opening Call by Bruce Lagerquist

Wail call 1 by Sunny Tsang

Wail call 2 by Nicholas Comparato

Tremelo call by Davyd Betchkal

Tremelo call 2 by Lance A.M. Benner

Yodel call by Thomas Zgirski

Yodel call 2 by Panvert Robin

Hoot Call by Lauren Harter

Episode 62: Dirty Bird Shorties: The Common Loon Nov 17, 2023

Show notes

Spend a few minutes learning about the Common Loon! Hear their unique vocalization, learn about their unique swimming mechanisms, and find out their hidden angry side.
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Intro music by Ricky Pistone
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Cover art by Jessica Coker, follow her on instagram @theospreywing
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All Bird sounds are from xeno-canto.org

Wail Call by Sunny Tsang

Tremelo call by Davyd Betchkal

Yodel call by Thomas Zgirski

Episode 61: Dirty Bird Shorties- Magnificent Frigatebird Sep 29, 2023

Show notes

Did you know young frigate birds play like puppies? And that adults croon to each other like Barry White to get in the mood? Learn fun, fast facts about the breeding and feeding of this giant shore bird with Dirty Bird Shorties! Check out full length episodes for even more bird facts
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All Bird Sounds are from xeno-canto.org

Begging Call by Ricardo José Mitidieri

Calling and bill snapping by Bobby Wilcox

Drumming by Leonardo Ordóñez-Delgado

Fighting sounds by Bobby Wilcox

Intro music by Ricky Pistone. Check him out wherever you get your music

Short clip of “Can’t Get Enough of Your Love Babe” by Barry White used

Episode 60: Frig Off! (Magnificent Frigatebird) Sep 29, 2023

Show notes

Magnificent Frigatebird? More like Massive Frigatebird! With huge 7 foot wings, a big red throat sack, and the longest breeding period of any sea bird, the Magnificent Frigatebird lives life large. It even will throw its weight around to steal food from all manner of creatures, earning its comparison to a frigate warship. Learn all about the life history, evolution, and population threats to this amazing bird of the tropics.

All Bird Sounds are from xeno-canto.org

Begging Call by Ricardo José Mitidieri

Calling and bill snapping by Bobby Wilcox

Drumming by Leonardo Ordóñez-Delgado

Fighting sounds by Bobby Wilcox

Intro music by Ricky Pistone and Outro music by the Sidewalk Slammers. Check them out wherever you get your music

Short clip of “Can’t Get Enough of Your Love Babe” by Barry White used

Episode 59: An Elephant Bird Never Forgets: The 4 Extinct Elephant Birds of Madagascar Aug 23, 2023

Show notes

The (possibly recently!) extinct Elephant Birds were fittingly named. Not only were they the largest birds to ever live with eggs even bigger than dinosaur eggs, they also filled a vital niche in Madagascar similar to that of Elephants of mainland Africa. Learn all about the four extinct species of Elephant birds with John and Tim in this episode! We talk about their fossil record, amazing facts about their biology, their evolutionary history, and how they went extinct. Also, we cover the geological history of Madagascar and the arrival of the first humans to the island. Learn everything you need to know about Elephant Birds!
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Thanks for the iTunes review RMbirder!
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Big thanks to Astrapionte for providing the cover art for this episode! Find their artwork @strpit7108 on deviantart, youtube, and Reddit!
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Also huge shout out to everyone who voted in the Dirty Bird Daryl poll, personalized shout outs to everyone in this episode!
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Intro music by Ricky Pistone and outro music by the Sidewalk Slammers, find them wherever you get your music

Episode 58: Spread Eagle: All about America's bird the Bald Eagle Jul 01, 2023

Show notes

In this 4th of July special, John talks all about America’s bird the Bald Eagle! While majestic appearing, the Bald Eagle has quite the bad reputation amongst those who have observed its habits up close, Benjamin Franklin even called it “very lousy”! But do its redeeming qualities make up for its sometimes nasty nature? Explore these topics as John tells you everything you need to know about the Bald Eagle! Also, the return of Punchy Joe who talks about the Bald Eagle pair that have spent 10 years raising young just off his dock. And a listener message from friend of the show Charlie! Learn about Bald Eagle Biology, their interactions with humans, how it became America's bird, Native american legends, about a Bald Eagle that fought in the civil war, threats to their population, and their evolutionary history. So put in your headphones, light up the BBQ, and press play on this episode!

Cover art by Jessica Coker! Check out all her work on her Instagram page @jessicacokerartist

Outro music by the Sidewalk Slammers, check them out wherever you get your music

All bird sounds are from xeno-canto.org

Bald Eagle Call 1 by: Steve Hampton

Bald Eagle Call 2 by: Davyd Betchkayl

Bald Eagle Call 3 by: Paul Marvin

Osprey Call by: Bruce Lagerquist

Bald Eagle majestic call by: Russ Wigh

Red-Tailed Hawk Call by: Peter Ward and Ken Hall

Bald Eagle Capture call by Paul Marvin

Civil War music by adeluc4 from freesounds.org

Native American drum by sandyrb from freesounds.org

Bird flap by agentDD from freesounds.org

Landing sound by yoyodaman234 from freesounds.org

Find dirty bird podcast Tshirts at https://www.teepublic.com/user/dirtybird-podcast

Episode 57: Swift Into High Gear (White-Throated Swift) Jun 01, 2023

Show notes

In this listener suggested episode, Dr. John talks all about the White-Throated Swift, a graceful aerial acrobat of the Western US. Learn about the aeronautical engineering behind its amazing flying abilities and how its death defying courtship dives sometimes get it in trouble. Also, did you know white-throated swift and tobacco chewing cowboys have something in common? Accompanied by the frogs and birds of First Landing State Park, John explores the feeding, breeding, evolutionary history, and fun facts of this amazing bird!
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Thanks to Charlie for suggesting this episode and providing pictures and videos of White-Throated Swifts he's taken!
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Link for T-shirts: https://www.teepublic.com/user/dirtybird-podcast
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Intro music by Ricky Pistone and Outro Music by the Sidewalk Slammers. Check them out wherever you get your music
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Bird calls are from xeno-canto.org

Intro Swift Call by Lauren Harter

“Shrieked out” Swift notes by Thomas Magarian

National Geographic description sounds by Thomas Beverly

Episode 56: Boom Chika Boom! All About the Humble Chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus) May 13, 2023

Show notes

Ricky is back! In between dumb puns, jokes, and laughs we learn about how the chicken went from prowling the jungles of Asia to being in backyards across the globe. Learn about the surprising intelligence of these birds, the different breeds of chickens, and what a wattle is. Get EGGcited!
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Intro music by Ricky Pistone and Outro Music by the Sidewalk Slammers. Check them out wherever you get your music

Episode 55: Don't Kria Over Spilled Milk: The Birds of Iceland Round 2 with special guest Cass Apr 11, 2023

Show notes

You can take the birder out of Iceland, but you can’t take Iceland out of the birder! John is joined by bird enthusiast Cass to discuss both of their experiences birding in Iceland. Along the way, John shares cool facts about birds such as the Artic Tern (Kria), Norther Fulmar (fyll), Pink Footed Goose, and many more. Learn about the gross defense mechanism of Fulmars, the carnivorous sheep of Iceland, and the epic ice age fight for survival of the pink footed goose. Also, plenty of tangents about non-bird related aspects of Iceland both John and Cass love. If you’ve ever wanted to learn more about the land of ice and fire, this episode is for you!

Cover art: John holds a juvenile redwing that fell out of a tree on him during a trot through the woods of Reykholt. The bird was returned to his perch safely! Hear the full story on the episode!

All bird sound are from xeno-canto.org

Northern Fulmar Chuckle by: Stanislas Wroza

European Golden Plover Call by: Michel Veldt

Ptarmigan Call by: Jens Kirkeby

Snipe Drumming sound by: Herald Pfleger

Intro theme by Ricky Pistone and Outro music by the Sidewalk Slammers. Check them out wherever you get your music!