Dirty Bird Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Episode 44: Pane in the Glass: The Deadly Effect of Windows on Birds: An Interview with Dr. Daniel Klem Jr., author of Solid Air- Invisible Killer- Saving Billions of Birds from Windows Apr 26, 2022

Show notes

Right now as you read this, you are probably inside of a death trap for birds. Moderns homes, schools, and offices are often fitted with expansive windows and while aesthetically pleasing to us humans, this is a huge problem for birds. The average residential house kills 3-5 birds per year, resulting in upwards of a billion bird deaths total in the US. But, there are solutions! Join John as he interviews Dr. Daniel Klem Jr. about his recent book Solid Air- Invisible Killer- Saving Billions of Birds from Windows. Dan has spent a lifetime researching and advocating for this underappreciated, but serious, problem for birds. Don't let your home, office, or school be a drain on bird populations! Learn how you can make your windows bird safe and also advocate for architecture that saves birds!

Episode 43: Tell It Shrike It Is (Loggerhead Shrike) Mar 23, 2022

Show notes

While technically songbirds, Shrikes are some of the most vicious predators in the bird world. Learn how they earned the nickname “Butcher Birds” through one of their morbid behaviors…this episode may not be for the faint of heart! Also, we explore the life history, evolution, feeding, and breeding of the Loggerhead Shrike. Did you know Loggerhead Shrikes have some pretty unusual breeding practices? If you’ve never seen this bird, it may be because its undergoing massive population declines throughout its North American range. But what’s killing Loggerhead Shrikes and what can we do to save them? This episode covers everything there is to know about the Loggerhead Shrike, listen and become an (unofficial) shrike expert!

Cover Art Photo by Allen Schmierer, Public Domain

Link for Dirty Bird Shrike T-Shirts!: https://www.rinoski.studio/shop

Theme Song by Ricky Pistone and Outro music by the Sidewalk Slammers

All Bird Sounds from Xeno-Canto.org

Opening Song of Loggerhead Shrike by Ed Pandolfino

“Shriek” Call by Russ Wigh

Robin with Cleft Tongue Shrike Call by Isain Contreras Rodriguez

“Blue Sky through Angry Clouds” Song by Lance A.M. Benner

Rusty Door Hinge Call by Jacob Saucier

Clip of Gollum from “Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers” film 2002

Episode 42: Top of the Mourning to Ya! (Mourning Dove) Feb 23, 2022

Show notes

In this episode of Dirty Bird Podcast, John explains nearly everything there is to know about the Mourning Dove. He’s also joined by the bird of First Landing State Park in Virginia Beach, Virginia who chime in while John records in this swampy woodland. Although these birds are very common (and actually the most populous bird in North America) they have many little known facts. Learn about surprising dove relatives as John explains their evolutionary history, find out how Mourning Doves and Cows share a common breeding strategy, and learn about the dazzling secret hidden in male Mourning dove plumage. With plenty of dumb jokes sprinkled in between, this episode is sure to keep you smiling while you learn. Check it out and tell a friend!

This episode was first suggested by Emily, thank you! If you have a bird you want John to do an in depth episode on, write him an email at dirtybirdpodcast@gmail.com or on Instagram @dirtybirdpodcast

Big thanks to Jay Pogo for the cover art for this episode

Also, remember to write a review on Apple Podcast! Write to John to receive some free Dirty Bird Stickers!

Intro music by Ricky Pistone, outro music by the Sidewalk Slammers. Check them out wherever you get your music. Be sure to watch the Dirty Bird Music video on youtube!

Bird sounds are from Xeno-Canto.org

Loon call by Davyd Betchkal

Great Horned Owl by Christopher McPherson

Coo 1 by Manuel Grosselet

Coo 2 by Christopher McPherson

Dove Coo 3 by Bruce Lagerquist

Coo 4 (female) by paul marvin

Wing Whistle 1 by David Darrell-Lambert

Wing Whistle 2 by Phoenix Birder

Wing Whistle 3 by Thomas Magarian

Episode 41: Nerds of a Feather: Interview with Wildlife Researcher Dack Jan 16, 2022

Show notes

Shoot the bird shit with John and Dack! Wildlife researcher and good friend of the show Dack joins John to explore the world of bird research. Dack explains how Ornithology is about more than just counting birds and explains how radar, satellites strapped on vultures, and even cloud cover can tell us a lot about our feathered friends. Dack also tells personal stories from his own lifetime spent in research and sheds some light on the darker side of wildlife research funding. And of course, it wouldn’t be Dirty Bird without lots of dumb laughs and jokes. See into the world of a wildlife researcher in this very special episode of Dirty Bird Podcast!

References Mentioned by Dack in the Show:

Internet of Wildlife - https://celltracktech.com/internetofwildlife/

MODIS https://earthdata.nasa.gov/earth-observation-data/near-real-time/download-nrt-data/modis-nrt

Using cloud cover to research birds http://www.earthenv.org/cloud

Biomass of Birds vs Humans https://www.pnas.org/content/115/25/6506

Become a citizen scientist! https://ebird.org/home

We’ve lost one in four birds since 1970 https://www.3billionbirds.org/

Turn your backyard into a wildlife habitat https://homegrownnationalpark.org/

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

Episode 40: Don't Poo Poo the Hoopoe! (Eurasian Hoopoe, African Hoopoe, Madagascar Hoopoe) Dec 21, 2021

Show notes

What’s black and white and smells all over? The Hoopoe (Pronounced Who-Poo) is a bird with a sneaky, stinky superpower- its basically a real life Pokemon! John and Tim tell incredible facts about this boldly colored bird while having lots of laughs along the way. Learn about its unique microbiome, evolutionary history, feeding and breeding. Also, find out how the Ancient Egyptians to Medieval monks have both praised and reviled this colorful critter. Special thanks to listener Seb who suggested I finally do an episode on a bird found in Europe!

Thanks to Rob van Mourick for the cover art for this episode!

Intro music by Ricky Pistone, Outro music by the sidewalk slammers. Check them out on youtube and spotify

Hoopoe Song 1 by Romuald Mikusek

Hoopoe Song 2 by Olivier Swift

Hoopoe Song 3 by Karol Kustusch

African Cuckoo song by Dries Van de Loock

Hoopoe Song 4 by Carles Guinart

Madagascan Hoopoe by Ken Behrens

Eastern Screech Owl by Dan Lane

Hoopoe interaction call by Jesus Carrion

Hoopoe Rattle Call by Jarek Matusiak

Nestling begging call by Romuald Mikusek

Episode 39: Pelican I kick it? Yes you can! (Brown Pelican) Nov 30, 2021

Show notes

John quests for a tribe of brown pelicans, recording from the shores of the Outer Banks of North Carolina. The ocean waves, gull cries, and occasional Brown Pelican sighting are the perfect backdrop for this information packed episode. While seemingly common coastal birds, Brown Pelican have an incredible life history and almost went extinct at one point! Debunk some common myths about these birds and some little known facts about their evolutionary adaptations that help make them the terror of sardines all over the world.
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Learn everything you need to know about Brown Pelicans!
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Thanks to Jessica Coker for this episodes cover photo! Find more of her photos at www.jessicacokerstudio.com
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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 pelican nestling sounds are from xeno-canto.org
Pelican Nestling Sound 1 by Manuel Grosselet
Pelican nestling sound 2 by Isain Contreras Rodraguez

Episode 38: If the Shoe(bill) Fits: (Shoebill Stork) Nov 10, 2021

Show notes

The Shoebill Stork is one of the most interesting species in the bird world. Standing at over 5 feet tall with a massive, hooked bill this creature would be a terrifying swamp monster...if it didn't look like a Muppet. Join Tim, John, and Larry the noisy dog as they learn about how the Shoebill Stork walks on water, engages in some extreme sibling rivalry, and makes sounds similar to a firing range. At Dirty Bird Podcast, we tell you everything you need to know about an individual bird species with fowl language included. Thanks to Amanda Canda for suggesting this episode!
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Cover Art By Peter Ganaj from Pexels, in Public Domain
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Sound Credit: Shoebill growling https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=noF-CLNSUZU&ab_channel=ThatsCrazyVideos

Shoebill bill clacking https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QFgYT3HfgP8&ab_channel=LazyReplays

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Intro music by Ricky Pistone and outro music by The Sidewalk Slammers
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Got a suggestion for a bird? Send a message to dirtybirdpodcast@gmail.com or message on Instagram @Dirtybirdpodcast

Episode 37: Puffin Puffin Pass (Atlantic Puffin) Oct 03, 2021

Show notes

What's black and white and dirty all over? An Atlantic Puffin in it's frat house burrow of course! Learn about these very social birds and their party-like breeding behaviors. This episode is full of strange and fun facts- like how puffin bills glow in the dark, how they may be on the diet for some deep sea monsters, and how they basically live in an underground frat house with other species. Also, my friend Hubert from Iceland talks about his experience visiting a puffin colony! Interspersed with folklore and evolutionary history, this episode is educational and entertaining for all you bird nerds and nature enthusiasts.
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Intro by Ricky Pistone and Outro by the Sidewalk Slammers
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All bird sounds are from xeno-canto.org
Puffin Opener by Anthony McGeehan

Pufflin begging chirp by Stanislas Wroza

Puffling scream by Rombout de Wijs

Puffin Wingbeats by Stanislas Wroza

Puffin Moan by Irish Wildlife Sounds

Puffin Grunts 1 by Stein Ø. Nilsen

Puffin Grunts 2 by Andrew Harrop

Puffin Grunts 3 by Stein Ø. Nilsen

Episode 36: Bittern Pill to Swallow (American Bittern, Least Bittern) Sep 03, 2021

Show notes

Everyone has heard of herons and egrets, but bitterns get no love. That is, until listener Kayla suggested this episode on the American and Least Bittern! These shy wetland birds are easy to overlook but hold some amazing secrets. The American Bittern’s booming call and snow white breeding plumage patches make any day on the marsh magical while the Least Bittern’s feisty crest feathers and acrobatic antics give it a lot of personality. Learn how to identify the various calls of these two amazing birds. Using scientific articles, historical anecdotes, and the writings of John James Audubon I talk all about the feeding, breeding, and evolutionary history of these birds. Also, I unpack the mystery of the exceedingly rare Cory’s Bittern. Listen and learn!

See more of Kayla’s amazing photography at https://www.kaylalindquistphotography.com/

Also stay tuned at the end to hear an awesome review left by Chelsey on apple podcasts. Leave a review to claim your free Dirty Bird Podcast stickers!

Intro music by Ricky Pistone, check out all his music on Youtube. Outro music “NY Redneck” by the Sidewalk Slammers

All bird sounds from xeno_canto.org

Least Bittern Rack-rack call by Paul Driver

Least Bittern song by Paul Marvin

Eurasian Bittern “Booming Call” by Susanne Kuijpers

Least Bittern Call2 by John V. Moore

Least Bittern Alarm Call by Dan Lane

Least Bittern Cough Call by Daniel Lane

American Bittern song by Jeff Dyck

American Bittern song water by Frank Lambert

American Bittern song with buildup by Jack Bowling

Episode 35: Flying Fish: Collab with Katie Osborn of the Fisherwoman Podcast Aug 18, 2021

Show notes

On a surface level, birds and fish may seem like they don't have a lot in common, but they are just two pieces of this lovely ecosystem we love to learn about. Join John and Katie on a special collaboration episode between DBP and the Fisherwoman Podcast. On the Fisherwoman podcast, fisheries researcher Katie Osborn discusses all kind of fish facts with experts in the field. In this episode, John and Katie swap facts on some of their favorite bird and fish species and discuss a very special ecosystem: wetlands! Learn about the first fish in space, what smelt really smell like, and much much more.
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Cardinal from the cover art comes from the very talented Tj Rinoski. Check out some of his artwork and Dirty Bird T-shirts at https://www.losesome-losesome.com/
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Intro song by Ricky Pistone. Check out his Youtube channel https://www.youtube.com/c/rickypistone
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Outro music "NY Redneck" by the Sidewalk Slammers. Find them wherever you get your music

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