The Warblers by Birds Canada

Latest Episodes:

What's so great about the Great Backyard Bird Count? Jan 24, 2023

Show notes

Season 3 of the Warblers Podcast launches today with an episode about the Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC). Andrea connects with experts from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Audubon Society, and our own Kerrie Wilcox, who all work together to organize the GBBC in Canada and the US. They talk program history, the evolution of birding and technology, and the importance of having engaging entry-level bird monitoring opportunities for people.
Spoilers...you don't need a backyard to get involved. Join the Great Backyard Bird Count.
The Warblers is brought to you by Birds Canada a non-profit, charitable organization. Please make a donation today to support the podcast and bird conservation work in Canada.
Kerrie Wilcox manages the Great Backyard Bird Count in Canada and Project FeederWatch, a program that turns people’s bird feeding hobby into research for conservation. She loves feeling the enthusiasm and commitment of the volunteers and seeing how much we've learned from their contributions.
Becca Rodomsky-Bish is the project leader for the Great Backyard Bird Count with the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Becca also works as the project leader for Nest Quest Go!, a crowd-sourced project where citizen scientists help transcribe historic nest records.
Kathy Dale is the Director of Science Technology and Community Science Team Lead at the National Audubon Society. She leads the delivery of programs such as the Great Backyard Bird Count and the Christmas Bird Count.
Andrea Gress studied Renewable Resource Management at the University of Saskatchewan. She pivoted towards birds, after an internship in South Africa. Upon returning, she worked with Piping Plovers in Saskatchewan and now coordinates the Ontario Piping Plover Conservation Program for Birds Canada. Follow her work at @ontarioplovers

Send us your bird questions! Email podcast@birdscanada.org, DM us on social media, or comment on any episode or review platform. We will answer the top questions on December's episode.

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Did the birds win at COP15? Dec 21, 2022

Show notes

Patrick Nadeau returns for a follow-up chat about his time at COP15; the Convention on Biological Diversity. He highlights some of the key outcomes and what they mean for biodiversity in Canada and the world as a whole. Tune in for some feel good vibes and what to watch for in 2023.
The Warblers is brought to you by Birds Canada a non-profit, charitable organization. Please make a donation today to support the podcast and bird conservation work in Canada.
Patrick Nadeau is a biologist by training, with over a decade of experience in leadership roles in the environment sector. He is now the President & CEO of Birds Canada, always striving to protect the beauty and diversity of life on Earth.
Andrea Gress studied Renewable Resource Management at the University of Saskatchewan. She pivoted towards birds, after an internship in South Africa. Upon returning, she worked with Piping Plovers in Saskatchewan and now coordinates the Ontario Piping Plover Conservation Program for Birds Canada. Follow her work at @ontarioplovers

Send us your bird questions! Email podcast@birdscanada.org, DM us on social media, or comment on any episode or review platform. We will answer the top questions on December's episode.

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'Tis the season for the Christmas Bird Count Dec 12, 2022

Show notes

This isn't your typical holiday tradition, but it might become your favourite! The Christmas Bird Count runs from December 14th to January 5th each year. It is a long-running program that helps researchers get a grasp on how the bird populations are faring across the western hemisphere. Yousif Attia joins the podcast to help us understand the significance of the CBC for both the participants and the birds. Plus he shares tips for how you too, can turn this into a winter tradition. No eggnog required!
Join a CBC with Birds Canada, or if you're tuning in from outside of Canada, visit Audubon for locations near you.
Please consider supporting the podcast you love and bird conservation in Canada with a donation today. The Warblers is brought to you by Birds Canada a non-profit, charitable organization.
Yousif Attia grew up watching birds and exploring the wilds of central and southern Alberta since he and his family immigrated there when he was four years old, he is now settled on the Fraser Estuary on the West Coast of BC. Yousif has worn many hats over the years at Birds Canada, including work on species-at-risk in southern Ontario, field surveys in the boreal including the Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas-2, and managed the Long Point Bird Observatory where he eventually became a North American Banding Council certified trainer. Yousif is now part of a team at Birds Canada that coordinates the Christmas Bird Count and eBird in Canada, and another that develops content on the website. Follow on @ysattia or @biophylia

Andrea Gress studied Renewable Resource Management at the University of Saskatchewan. She pivoted towards birds, after an internship in South Africa. Upon returning, she worked with Piping Plovers in Saskatchewan and now coordinates the Ontario Piping Plover Conservation Program for Birds Canada. Follow her work at @ontarioplovers

Send us your bird questions! Email podcast@birdscanada.org, DM us on social media, or comment on any episode or review platform. We will answer the top questions on December's episode.

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What COP15 means for birds Dec 02, 2022

Show notes

You are soon to hear a lot of buzz about COP15, as the Convention on Biological Diversity kicks off in Montreal. These big conventions can get a little confusing. What are the outcomes? Does it make a difference for the planet? For the birds?
We think this one does! We're very excited that it's happening here in Canada, where we can ALL be a part of it. President & CEO of Birds Canada joins the podcast for a quick chat about what we can expect from COP15 and why it matters.
Please consider supporting the podcast you love and bird conservation in Canada with a donation today. The Warblers is brought to you by Birds Canada a non-profit, charitable organization.
Patrick Nadeau is a biologist by training, with over a decade of experience in leadership roles in the environment sector. He is now the President & CEO of Birds Canada, always striving to protect the beauty and diversity of life on Earth.
Andrea Gress studied Renewable Resource Management at the University of Saskatchewan. She pivoted towards birds, after an internship in South Africa. Upon returning, she worked with Piping Plovers in Saskatchewan and now coordinates the Ontario Piping Plover Conservation Program for Birds Canada. Follow her work at @ontarioplovers

Send us your bird questions! Email podcast@birdscanada.org, DM us on social media, or comment on any episode or review platform. We will answer the top questions on December's episode.

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Birding with Neil Pasricha Nov 22, 2022

Show notes

What do you do when you get a chance to go birding with one of your favorite authors?? Go birding...but also, record a podcast!
Jody Allair catches up with Neil Pasricha near Edmonton, AB, for some fall birding. They chat about birding culture, the value of getting into nature, and geek out about some of their favourite bird sightings.
Please consider supporting the podcast you love and bird conservation in Canada with a donation today. The Warblers is brought to you by Birds Canada a non-profit, charitable organization.
Don't forget to grab some Bird Friendly Certified Coffee! Christmas is coming! 10% of your purchase from Birds and Beans goes towards supporting this podcast and bird conservation in Canada when you use this link.
Neil Pasricha is the New York Times bestselling author of seven books which have sold over 2,000,000 copies, including The Book of Awesome and The Happiness Equation. Neil gives over 50 talks per year, hosts an award-winning podcast, and relaxes by birding around his home in Toronto.
Jody Allair is an avid birder and naturalist who enjoys sharing his enthusiasm for the natural world. He is the Director of Community Engagement at Birds Canada and has written numerous articles on birds, birding, and connecting with nature. You can find him on Twitter and Instagram at @JodyAllair.
Andrea Gress studied Renewable Resource Management at the University of Saskatchewan. She pivoted towards birds, after an internship in South Africa. Upon returning, she worked with Piping Plovers in Saskatchewan and now coordinates the Ontario Piping Plover Conservation Program for Birds Canada. Follow her work at @ontarioplovers

Send us your bird questions! Email podcast@birdscanada.org, DM us on social media, or comment on any episode or review platform. We will answer the top questions on December's episode.

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Inspired by YOU! Nov 14, 2022

Show notes

We are beyond thrilled to have received a Nature Inspiration Award from the Canadian Museum of Nature. Andrea and Andres take a moment to react to the positive news.
Thank you to everyone who has been listening and supporting the podcast, and of course a big thank you to everyone taking action for birds!
Andrea Gress studied Renewable Resource Management at the University of Saskatchewan. She pivoted towards birds, after an internship in South Africa. Upon returning, she worked with Piping Plovers in Saskatchewan and now coordinates the Ontario Piping Plover Conservation Program for Birds Canada. Follow her work at @ontarioplovers
Andrés Jiménez is a Costa Rican wildlife biologist with a keen interest in snakes, frogs, birds and how human relationships are interconnected with the living world. He studied Tropical Biology in Costa Rica and has a Masters in Environmental Problem Solving from York University. Follow him at @andresjimo

Send us your bird questions! Email podcast@birdscanada.org, DM us on social media, or comment on any episode or review platform. We will answer the top questions on December's episode.

Support the show

The Wake-up Call: Marbled Murrelet Oct 25, 2022

Show notes

The Marbled Murrelet keeps researchers on their toes. Their nests are tucked away in the mossy upper branches of old growth forests...the last place we'd ever expect to find a seabird! David joins us from British Columbia to shed some light on these fascinating birds; where you might spot one, the challenges they face, and how to help.
Get some Bird Friendly Certified Coffee to keep you warm and toasty this fall! 10% of your purchase from Birds and Beans goes towards supporting this podcast and bird conservation in Canada when you use this link.
Dr. David Bradley has spent a lifetime studying and appreciating birds; from Tree Swallows in Canada, to Kokako's in New Zealand, and everything in between. Currently, David is the British Columbia Director for Birds Canada. He is focusing on an invasive mammalian predator study in Haida Gwaii, and a Long-billed Curlew migration tracking study in the Kootenay Mountains.
Andrea Gress studied Renewable Resource Management at the University of Saskatchewan. She pivoted towards birds, after an internship in South Africa. Upon returning, she worked with Piping Plovers in Saskatchewan and now coordinates the Ontario Piping Plover Conservation Program for Birds Canada. Follow her work at @ontarioplovers
Andrés Jiménez is a Costa Rican wildlife biologist with a keen interest in snakes, frogs, birds and how human relationships are interconnected with the living world. He studied Tropical Biology in Costa Rica and has a Masters in Environmental Problem Solving from York University. Follow him at @andresjimo
This project was undertaken with the financial support of the Government of Canada through the federal Department of Environment and Climate Change is supported by funding from Environment and Climate Change Canada. The views expressed herein are solely those of Birds Canada.

Send us your bird questions! Email podcast@birdscanada.org, DM us on social media, or comment on any episode or review platform. We will answer the top questions on December's episode.

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Key Biodiversity Areas - Canada's Critical Places for Nature Sep 27, 2022

Show notes

Key Biodiversity Areas or KBAs are sites that are important for the survival of a species or ecosystem.
Canada is a global leader in identifying KBAs which will play a critical role in our efforts to halt and reverse biodiversity loss before it’s too late. As part of the KBA Canada Secretariat, together with our partners and volunteers, Birds Canada is identifying the most precious places in Canada.
The KBA program has the potential to be a game-changer for safeguarding threatened biodiversity, as it is now possible to focus conservation efforts where it matters the most. Currently, there are 1056 critical sites under review, which will cover about 10% of Canada!
Acronyms in this episode:
KBA = Key Biodiversity Area
IBA = Important Bird and Biodiversity Area
IUCN = International Union for Conservation of Nature
WCS = Wildlife Conservation Society Canada
EBAR Maps = Ecosystem-based Automated Range Maps
NGO = Non-governmental Organization
Looking for ways to help bird conservation? Get some Bird Friendly Certified Coffee! 10% of your purchase from Birds and Beans goes towards supporting this podcast and bird conservation in Canada when you use this link.

Andrew Couturier is the Senior Director of Landscape Science and Conservation at Birds Canada. He is celebrating 25 years with the organization. He is proud to have pioneered work on mapping the distribution, abundance, and migratory connections of birds that is featured regularly in scientific papers, books, popular publications, websites, and field guides.
Amanda Bichel is the Key Biodiversity Areas Coordinator at Birds Canada. She loves working with enthusiastic and dedicated volunteers to monitor KBAs for priority species, carrying out conservation activities, organizing events, and increasing awareness of the program.
Andrea Gress studied Renewable Resource Management at the University of Saskatchewan. She pivoted towards birds, after an internship in South Africa. Upon returning, she worked with Piping Plovers in Saskatchewan and now coordinates the Ontario Piping Plover Conservation Program for Birds Canada. Follow her work at @ontarioplovers
Have a burning question? Many people might have the same question, we would love to answer it.
Please send us your voice memo with any bird question to -> podcast@birdscanada.org
Alternatively, call 519-586-3531, extension 128, and leave a voice mail!

Send us your bird questions! Email podcast@birdscanada.org, DM us on social media, or comment on any episode or review platform. We will answer the top questions on December's episode.

Support the show

The Wake-up Call: Bicknell's Thrush Aug 22, 2022

Show notes

Bicknell's Thrush field work sounds like a dream job for those who love extreme, dense forest conditions. Bears, moose, getting thwacked in the face with branches...utter bliss for the diehard biologists!
For most people though, those conditions are less than ideal. This makes learning about the Bicknell's Thrush quite challenging. How do we track the population of such an elusive bird species? How do we protect it, when many people don't even know it's there?
Amy-Lee shares with us the joy of studying this drab but loveable bird in the forests of the Maritimes provinces.
Dive deeper into Bicknell's Thrush and the joys of field work here.
Amy-Lee mentioned that even simple actions like drinking Bird Friendly Certified Coffee can help this species. Get yours here! 10% of your purchase from Birds and Beans goes towards supporting this podcast and bird conservation in Canada when you use the link.
Dr. Amy-Lee Kouwenberg coordinates the High Elevation Landbird Program, and the Atlantic Nocturnal Owl Survey for Birds Canada. She works closely with forestry managers and regulators in northern New Brunswick and the Cape Breton Highland, to protect bird habitat in the industrial forest.
Andrea Gress studied Renewable Resource Management at the University of Saskatchewan. She pivoted towards birds, after an internship in South Africa. Upon returning, she worked with Piping Plovers in Saskatchewan and now coordinates the Ontario Piping Plover Conservation Program for Birds Canada. Follow her work at @ontarioplovers
Andrés Jiménez is a Costa Rican wildlife biologist with a keen interest in snakes, frogs, birds and how human relationships are interconnected with the living world. He studied Tropical Biology in Costa Rica and has a Masters in Environmental Problem Solving from York University. Follow him at @andresjimo
This project was undertaken with the financial support of the Government of Canada through the federal Department of Environment and Climate Change is supported by funding from Environment and Climate Change Canada. The views expressed herein are solely those of Birds Canada.

Send us your bird questions! Email podcast@birdscanada.org, DM us on social media, or comment on any episode or review platform. We will answer the top questions on December's episode.

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Minisode: An update on Chewie the Piping Plover Aug 16, 2022

Show notes

Chewie is a Piping Plover that brings much drama with her everywhere she goes, and we love her for it! Find out what she got up to since she was featured in the June minisode "Piping Plovers- A Love Story". If you have not listened to that episode, go back and check it out BEFORE listening to this one!
Learn more about band combos, and report a banded Piping Plover here. Reporting bands helps researchers track the population and leads to improved conservation for the species.
To learn more about plovers or volunteer for Piping Plover programs in Ontario or Atlantic Canada visit Birds Canada.
Andrea Gress studied Renewable Resource Management at the University of Saskatchewan. She pivoted towards birds, after an internship in South Africa. Upon returning, she worked with Piping Plovers in Saskatchewan and now coordinates the Ontario Piping Plover Conservation Program for Birds Canada. Follow her work at @ontarioplovers

Send us your bird questions! Email podcast@birdscanada.org, DM us on social media, or comment on any episode or review platform. We will answer the top questions on December's episode.

Support the show

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