Life List: A Birding Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Discovering a new bird species: Interview with Dan Lane Mar 14, 2022

Show notes

Episode 18 is a special one: our first interview with ornithologist, guide, and artist Dan Lane!
Ever wondered what it's like to discover a new bird species...and what to do after discovering it? You won't want to miss this interview where Dan recounts the epic 20-year journey in the discovery of the Inti Tanager.
Cool links: Learn more about Dan on his website

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Get more Life List by subscribing to our newsletter and joining our Patreon for bonus content. Talk to us and share your topic ideas at lifelistpodcast.com.
Thanks to Kowa Optics for sponsoring our podcast! Want to know more about us? Check out George's company, Hillstar Nature; Alvaro's company, Alvaro's Adventures, and Mollee's company, Nighthawk Agency, to see more about what we're up to.

Bird Mysteries! Feb 28, 2022

Show notes

We start by, what else? comparing pelagic updates from the east and west coasts with a few European bird names thrown in. Did we watch the Super Bowl? Superb owl? Tune in to find out. Measure Alvaro's junk food identification skills before we dive into some *drumroll* bird mysteries our hosts have experienced!

Species mentioned: Egyptian Plover; Vermilion Flycatcher; Brujo Flycatcher; and you know, various alcids and gulls and raptors
Cool links:

Check out this awesome drone footage of Hillstar Nature’s recent pelagic
And see a sample trip report on eBird

P.S. Pardon the interruption from a very cute and well-meaning golden retriever.
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Play dead, see condors Feb 14, 2022

Show notes

“In any other scenario, this would be a wickedly, inappropriate, ridiculous idea… but we’re birders.”
Thus begins many a birding tale, eh? In this case, we're talking condors. George and Alvaro dive into what makes a rare bird special, subspecies specifics, wild versus released or escaped birds, and more.
Highlight bird species: Condors; Steller's Sea Eagle and other Steller species; Tundra Swan; Southern Lapwing; and various other subspecies

Highlight locations: Middle Creek WMA, PA; Hawaii; Cuba; Thailand; Colombia

Don’t miss out: Birding Your Best Life and Hillstar Nature

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Travel: Uganda! A deep dive on our adventure Jan 31, 2022

Show notes

Talk about an epic birding adventure! George and Mollee recount their recent travels in Uganda. We deep dive into the things we didn’t expect and what we still can’t stop thinking about.
Highlight bird species: Shoebill; a variety of weavers; African Finfoot; Rock Pratincole; plus many mammals
Special thanks: To Hannah and Erik of Hannah and Erik Go Birding podcast and Peter Burke of Alvaro's Adventures for their guest appearances

Don’t miss out: Frontiers in Ornithology Symposium; African Birding Expo; Bird Uganda Safaris; International Women Birder's Conference

Send your topic ideas to lifelistpodcast@gmail.com

The ecological findings of yard listing Jan 17, 2022

Show notes

Find out what we almost named Life List and a deep dive into the cultural implications of the question: “Have you seen the eagle?” Then, here’s to a new yard list for George! The guys also discuss elitism in birding... did Ontario Field Ornithologists come up with a solution to the age-old birder paradigm of sharing rare bird sightings? Learn how Goosanders in Europe have the same plumage pattern but a totally different structural shape than Common Mergansers.

Warning: We also discuss an unfortunately tasty group of rodents in South America including Shakira the pet Capybara…

Highlight bird species: A tale of three eagles species! (of course, there’s a nuance there); Goosander (Common Merganser, definite split, we say!), Pigeon Guillemot (snowi subspecies), Burrowing Owl, Rock Wren, Golden-winged Warbler, Cattle Tyrants

And hey! When you’re tired of birds, find some squirrels! After all, they’re mostly diurnal, vocal, and just waiting to have ID codes cracked. Squirrel tours, anyone?

Don’t miss out: Ontario Field Ornithologists, Squirrels of the West, and Birding Your Best Life
PSA: Give money to conservation and the local bars. Details in the ep.

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Lotta duck talk today Jan 03, 2022

Show notes

We kick off 2022 with winter duck updates in the form of some mallard-esque species, including Black, Mottled, and Mexican Ducks. We chat about Saw-whets and other owls, plus how the public interacts with them. Plus, have you heard about the collaboration of leading conservation organizations to support expeditions to re-find 10 lost bird species? Leonardo DeCaprio has. We also pay homage to the leaders in the field and fine human beings we lost over the past few weeks.
Highlight bird species: Various ducks; Dovekie; Great Skua; Saw-whet Owls

Locations mentioned: Cuba, New Jersey coast

Don’t miss out: on Hillstar Nature's upcoming tours

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You better love whales and owls Dec 22, 2021

Show notes

We catch up on Christmas Bird Counts, some Swifty talk, landfill birding, and how with experience, identification becomes recognition, just like finding a good friend in a crowded room. George also recounts the American Birding Association's Bird of the Year Reveal Party — welcome, year of the Burrowing Owl! — and more on owls, including vocal evidence to separate the burrowing owl into species and how owls decorate their nests. And a Steller’s Ja-- no wait, Eagle! continues to make dramatic appearances around the continent, spurring George and Al to recount their experiences with these massive eagles in Japan. Plus, we offer a few last-minute Christmas gift ideas, including gifts for kids who are interested in birding.

Highlight bird species: A few accipiters and falcons; Steller's Sea Eagles; and of course, Burrowing Owls!

Locations mentioned: Hokkaido, Japan; Philly; various Christmas Bird Count locations

Don’t miss out: on ABA's field guides to California and Pennsylvania

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Turkeys in a landfill Nov 27, 2021

Show notes

The guys start with chatting birding updates and well-documented views of beers among birders. Then they dive in: they’re at risk of overdoing their interest in gulls, but they just don’t care. One cool thing about gulls is that it’s often relatively easy to get great looks at them — the challenge is in learning from what you’re seeing! Needless to say, the pod is ready for gull season to kick off. And what else comes around with gull season? Christmas Bird Count season, of course! They also chat about national birds, ABA’s Bird of the Year unveiling, the mysterious Fuegian Snipe, and how Tierra del Fuego got its name.

Highlight bird species: Common Raven; a variety of winter gulls, including Vaga Herring gulls; and the incredibly unique and mysterious Fuegian Snipe!

Locations mentioned: Wrap up of the year’s Half Moon Bay, CA pelagics; Jersey Shore

Don’t miss out: on Alvaro’s workshops; check out the vast database of webinars on the Los Angeles Birders website; and ABA’s Bird of the Year Reveal Party

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Ep 10: That's called naked birding! Nov 08, 2021

Show notes

You're in for a great story this week! Alvaro gives us an update on his journey through hearing loss and regaining it through a cochlear implant. But before that, we chat about late fall birding, Elaenia IDs, and more about ear birding.

Highlight bird species: Various Elaenias, including Small-billed and White-crested

Locations mentioned: Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, west coast pelagics

Don’t miss out: on Birdability

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Ep 9: A glass-half-full Bobolink Oct 25, 2021

Show notes

This week, the guys talk George’s wedding and house search (Do you think they made an eBird checklist? The answer may surprise you!); the Naturally Adventurous podcast; Black Rails and their close relatives; how genetics and appearances can differ; Kirtland’s Warblers seen throughout fall migration, plus notes on their evolution; the Cape May Fall Festival; and chasing Sulphur-bellied Flycatchers.

Highlight bird species: Black Rail and close relatives, Kirtland’s Warbler; Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher

Locations mentioned: Western Kansas, the Jack Pine region of Michigan and beyond; Cape May

Don’t miss out: on the Naturally Adventurous podcast and Alvaro’s upcoming workshops

Send your topic ideas to lifelistpodcast@gmail.com