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BirdNote Daily
30 episodes
Whose Nest is This Anyways?
Aug 17, 2026 · 2 min
Osprey are birds of prey with a wingspan more than 5 feet across. These large raptors construct huge stick nests that get up to 6 feet wide and 12 feet tall! While the Ospreys only occupy the upper portions of this structure, other birds have been observed taking up residence in the nooks and crannies below. This unexpected living arrangement is a classic example of protective nesting. Nesting birds – be they songbirds or raptors – must always be on the alert for egg-eating predators. But with p…
Bonaparte's Gull Chorus-line
Aug 16, 2026 · 2 min
Small, tern-like Bonaparte's Gulls often form a chorus-line at the water's edge. Side by side, in half an inch of water, they stomp their feet as fast as they can. Under this pummeling, a smorgasbord of shrimp is stirred up for the gulls to harvest. Is this a learned behavior, or were these gulls born knowing how to forage cooperatively? Who knows? But it's hard to imagine a more nutritional dance routine! More info and transcript at BirdNote.org. Want more BirdNote? Subscribe to our weekly news…
Migrations: You're Going the Wrong Way!
Aug 15, 2026 · 2 min
During migration, some birds change orientation and travel almost the same distance — but in the opposite direction — as the rest of their species. The phenomenon is called misorientation. First-year birds are particularly susceptible. Many vagrant birds never find their way back on course, but some do, getting more comfortable with the route each year. More info and transcript at BirdNote.org. Want more BirdNote? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter. Sign up for BirdNote+ to get ad-free listening…
How Birds Drink
Aug 14, 2026 · 2 min
How do birds drink? A robin takes a mouthful of water and then tips its head way back to send the water down its gullet. Pigeons are among the few birds that can suck in water with their heads down. Swallows and swifts skim a beakful of water on the wing. Gulls, like the Western Gull, can even drink salt water. If you have a birdbath, be sure to keep it clean. The birds' health is at stake. More info and transcript at BirdNote.org. Want more BirdNote? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter. Sign up…
Black-throated Sparrow Sings in the Desert
Aug 13, 2026 · 2 min
Sparrows are iconic desert denizens of the southwestern U.S. and northern Mexico. They thrive in open arid habitats, with evenly spaced shrubs, trees, and cacti. Historically, these native ecosystems were naturally maintained with frequent, low-intensity fires. But decades of drought and fire suppression have set the stage for hotter, more destructive blazes. We can protect Black-throated Sparrows and their vibrant habitats by preventing overgrazing on rangelands, combating the spread of invasiv…
Piper’s Sandpipers
Aug 12, 2026 · 2 min
In this special kids edition of BirdNote Daily, Piper Bayard shares her love of sandpipers. 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.
Learning More About Birds by Sketching Them
Aug 11, 2026 · 2 min
Many people take an interest in birds as they get older. But others start very early, like one young BirdNote listener named Ben Bradmon. He has been learning how to identify birds by their calls. His favorite is the Tufted Titmouse. He has also begun deepening his knowledge of birds by sketching them, letting him focus on details of the birds’ appearance and their habitats. More info and transcript at BirdNote.org. Want more BirdNote? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter. Sign up for BirdNote+ to…
The Black-and-White Warbler
Aug 10, 2026 · 2 min
Black-and-white Warblers are tiny songbirds that breed in North America’s deciduous forests and winter as far south as Colombia. They feast on insects gleaned from leaves or plucked from cracks in tree bark. You’ll often find them clinging to tree trunks or the undersides of thick branches — acting more like a nuthatch than a warbler. Like many songbirds, Black-and-white Warblers migrate at night — using the stars to navigate. Unfortunately, nocturnal light pollution can disrupt their sense of d…
Another BirdNote Quiz
Aug 9, 2026 · 2 min
Let's have some fun and test your bird ID skills! This quiz features: an American Robin an Olive-sided Flycatcher, (like the photo above) a Red-tailed Hawk a Steller's Jay, which you're most likely to hear west of the Rockies and a Blue Jay, usually seen east of the Rockies. 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…
Catios — The Best of Both Worlds
Aug 8, 2026 · 3 min
Cats love the outdoors, but they’re also one of the biggest threats to birds — killing as many as four billion a year in North America. Outdoor cats also live much shorter lives. Cynthia Chomos designed a cat patio or “catio” so that everyone can win. The enclosed outdoor space keeps both cats and birds safe. Learn more in season 1 of Bring Birds Back, available in your favorite podcast app! More info and transcript at BirdNote.org. Want more BirdNote? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter. Sign up…
For Shorebirds, Summer Ends Early
Aug 7, 2026 · 2 min
We often think of birds migrating south in the fall. But many species kick off their big trips surprisingly early in the year. Shorebirds nesting in the Arctic tundra are an extreme example. Birds like the American Golden-Plover have a small window of time to build a nest, find a mate, and lay eggs in the short Arctic growing season. Golden-plovers actually leave their juvenile young behind to begin flying south in mid-summer. The juveniles find their own way to South America later in the year!…
Buff-breasted Sandpiper
Aug 6, 2026 · 2 min
A male Buff-breasted Sandpiper courts a female on their breeding grounds far north of the Arctic Circle. He raises his wings, flashing their silvery-white undersides, as he sings his clicking serenade. These birds spend much of the year on grasslands in Argentina, migrating to the Arctic in late spring. In the lower 48, September is a good time to look for this long-distance traveler. During migration, they show a distinct preference for grassy expanses such as pastures and rice fields. Purchasi…
BirdNoir: That Crow Sounds Fishy
Aug 5, 2026 · 2 min
Every good investigator knows to stay vigilant for suspicious behavior. But not every unfamiliar bird is caw-se for alarm. In this episode of BirdNoir, Private Eye Michael Stein reveals that there’s more to a crow than meets the eye. 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 A…
An Amazing World of Owls
Aug 4, 2026 · 2 min
Owls are magnificent animals that share our cities with us, and live in some of the most extreme environments on Earth. They range in size from huge, like the Blakiston’s Fish-Owl of Eastern Asia, to the songbird-sized Elf Owl, weighing less than half a deck of cards. Owls play key roles in their ecosystems and even help control pests such as non-native rodents. By giving these amazing birds their space when they’re nesting, preserving habitats where they breed and hunt, and avoiding rodenticide…
White-winged Doves and Saguaro Cactuses
Aug 3, 2026 · 2 min
White-winged Doves are common throughout Central America, the Caribbean, and North America’s Desert Southwest. Like the closely related Mourning Doves, they primarily eat seeds and grains. But in the Sonoran Desert, White-winged Doves time their migration to sync up with the Saguaros’ reproductive cycle – to the benefit of both species. The cacti provide doves with a crucial source of water in the driest part of the Sonoran summer. The doves sustain the saguaros as pollinators and seed disperser…
Singing Under Streetlights
Aug 2, 2026 · 2 min
Some birds have always called nocturnally, but other species are relative newcomers to the nighttime music scene, specifically in urban areas. Birds such as European Robins often sing well into the night. Scientists are studying what environmental cues might lead to this behavior. While artificial light could be a factor, recent studies suggest that some birds may be avoiding daytime city noise by singing nocturnally. More info and transcript at BirdNote.org. Want more BirdNote? Subscribe to our…
Australia's Rainforest Birds
Aug 1, 2026 · 2 min
The rainforests of Eastern and Northeastern Australia harbor many species of birds found almost nowhere else. This Eastern Whipbird — which is more often heard than seen — hangs out in the dense understory. Easier to lay eyes on is the large, pigeon-like Wompoo Fruit-Dove. Feathered in a stunning combination of green, purple, and yellow, this bird is clearly named for its voice. And a pig-like grunting on the forest floor tells us we’re in the company of the Southern Cassowary. Its helmet — call…
Common Nighthawks at the Ballgame
Jul 31, 2026 · 2 min
An evening baseball game isn’t the only thing illuminated by the bright stadium lights. High in the air, countless flying insects are drawn to them. And those insects are a perfect snack for the game’s avian attendees! Common Nighthawks swoop with their wide mouths open to hoover up the flying insects under the lights, performing aerial stunts over the athletes on the ground. This episode is sponsored by Quinn Sedgley, who wants everyone to help birds and wildlife. More info and transcript at Bi…
Cormorants Dive During the Day
Jul 30, 2026 · 2 min
At midday, it might seem like the birds that were so active in the morning have gone silent, maybe even vanished. But cormorants rally in the afternoon, offering a second chance to see and hear them. During the breeding season, Double-crested Cormorants have two peaks of fishing activity: the first around 9 a.m., and the second around 3 p.m. Their efficient fishing lets them spend most of the day drying their feathers and croaking at their neighbors. More info and transcript at BirdNote.org. Wan…
Birds in Summer — the Heat of the Day
Jul 29, 2026 · 2 min
Just a few weeks past the solstice, and the real heat of summer is yet to come. Some shorebirds are already on their way south, but most songbirds will be here for a while longer. What's the best time of day to look for them? Many birds are most active in the early morning, taking advantage of the abundance of insects at that hour. Midday heat sends people inside, and birds take a siesta, too. And then, both birds and bugs rev up again in the late afternoon. But hummingbirds and also gulls — inc…
Zoos as Night Heron Habitats
Jul 28, 2026 · 2 min
Zoos can be great places to see birds, and not just in an aviary – wild birds sometimes feel right at home in these urban green spaces. For example, Black-crowned Night Herons love nesting near bodies of water where they can catch fish, frogs, and other prey. They may find that the pond within a crocodile exhibit is also the perfect spot for a rookery! Next time you visit a zoo near you, keep an eye out for local species, too. More info and transcript at BirdNote.org. Want more BirdNote? Subscri…
Bearded Vulture Nests Are Natural Museums
Jul 27, 2026 · 2 min
Bearded Vultures have lived alongside humans for thousands of years. Though these majestic raptors are mostly found in Asia and Africa today, they were once abundant in Europe, too. While Bearded Vultures have vanished across much of their original range, their nests remain like time capsules of a bygone era. Researchers analyzed historical nests in southern Spain where the birds haven’t been seen in nearly a century. They found thousands of bone fragments, dozens of egg shells — as well as hund…
Anhingas — Snakebirds
Jul 26, 2026 · 2 min
In the black water of a Louisiana bayou, the water ripples where a slender form glides just beneath the surface. It appears to be a snake, but look closer at the long, narrow spike of a beak. It’s a snakebird, a colloquial name for the Anhinga, swimming with just its head and neck above the water. An Anhinga hangs motionless in the water or swims slowly just below the surface, its neck crooked, like that of a cobra. When an unwary fish swims close, the bird’s head darts forward, impaling its pre…
The Ballet of the Grebes
Jul 25, 2026 · 2 min
When a pair of Western Grebes decides it’s time to mate, they call loudly and approach one another. Each bird curves, then straightens, its long neck gracefully. They then face each other, necks on the water’s surface, their bills flipping up drops of water. If attraction prevails, they rush together and off they go across the water, running on the surface side by side. Standing straight up with necks held high and feet churning like propellers, they no longer look much like grebes - more like p…
The Superbly Adapted Osprey
Jul 24, 2026 · 2 min
This Osprey looks similar to other birds of prey. But the species is truly unique among raptors. For example, the Osprey is the only raptor with oily feathers. And the Osprey’s long, slender, arched wings help it clear the water as it takes flight after catching a fish. The Osprey we see today — just one species worldwide — has changed little since tens of millions of years ago, suggesting that over this period, it has remained particularly well suited to its environment. More info and transcrip…
Spark Bird: Olya Weekley And The House-Martins
Jul 23, 2026 · 2 min
When wildlife conservationist Olya Weekley was a little kid, she noticed something incredible from her grandmother’s kitchen window: a pair of House Martins had built a mud nest in the eaves of their third floor apartment. That experience sparked Olya’s life-long love of birds. Now she leads the nestbox program at Tucson Bird Alliance, which designs nestboxes for desert birds and helps people create nesting opportunities at home. More info and transcript at BirdNote.org. Want more BirdNote? Subs…
Kipukas and Akis
Jul 22, 2026 · 2 min
One of Hawaii’s rarest forest birds is this ‘akiapola’au. Some of the roughly 1,000 'akis left on earth live and breed in kipukas on the lower slopes of Mauna Loa, Hawaii’s largest active volcano. A kipuka is an island of native forest surrounded not by water but by recent lava flows - a green oasis in a sea of black lava. Kipukas are critical areas of native habitat. And the ‘akiapola’au is especially adapted to this habitat and its flora. As the bird forages up and down tree trunks and across…
Pick Up Plastic for Seabirds
Jul 21, 2026 · 2 min
Billions of pounds of plastic end up in our global oceans every year. Birds – like this Short-tailed Shearwater – that mistake this pollution for food often die from malnutrition, poisoning, or damage to their digestive systems. We can all make the world a safer place for birds and people by keeping plastic out of our waterways. You can replace single-use plastics with reusable items, join a community clean up day in your area, or maybe skip party balloons at your next event. More info and trans…
J. Drew Lanham’s Taxonomy of Bird Obsessions
Jul 20, 2026 · 2 min
Ornithologist J. Drew Lanham's favorite bird is “the one with feathers.” But here, he shares a few species that have been especially on his mind lately — “selected birds of the moment annotated by why.” 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…
Rock Climbing Among the Peregrines
Jul 19, 2026 · 2 min
Eagle Cliff in New Hampshire’s Franconia Notch State Park is an important nesting site for Peregrine Falcons. Each year, popular climbing routes in the area close temporarily to give nesting falcons their space. After peregrines disappeared from the northeast due to the pesticide DDT, Eagle Cliff was the first natural rock face to host a successful peregrine nest. Now, state agencies and New Hampshire Audubon work with rock climbing groups to decide when to close cliffs in the summer. More info…
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