The birds are back: spring behaviours explained
The Warblers by Birds Canada
The birds are back! From raptors doing trust falls, to grebes running across water - birds are displaying their finest selves all across Canada!
In this episode, Kyle Horner breaks down the common, the weird, and the obscure bird behaviours that you should be looking for this spring. We also get interesting insights into the "mess" that is the Canada Goose. And Kyle shares what he considers the best birds to look for at this time of year, whether you're in Halifax, Kelowna, or somewhere in between!
Want more info on how to help birds? Visit Your Guide to Helping Canada's Birds.
Birds and Beans will donate to this podcast when you use the code "warblers" at checkout. Thanks for your support!
Kyle Horner was gifted the love of birdlife and storytelling from his father. From a young age he was obsessed with talking about nature to others (whether or not they wanted to hear it), and his career has been spent doing just that. Kyle has worked in environmental education and science communication for parks, zoos, botanical gardens, outreach programs, non-profits, and the University of Guelph. As the NatureCounts Engagement Coordinator, he is excited to find the stories in the data and share the incredible potential of this fascinating project.
Andrea Gress (she/her) secretly thinks Piping Plovers are better than all the other birds...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 then as the Ontario Piping Plover Coordinator. Years of sharing her love of plovers with beach goers has turned into a full time communications role with Birds Canada.
Point Counts and Missing Pots: The Adventures of Bird Atlassing
The Warblers by Birds Canada
The Breeding Bird Atlas is the ultimate province-wide bird survey. In this episode, Atlas coordinators from Newfoundland, Ontario, and Saskatchewan share how and why Atlassing is a key part of bird conservation. We hear their biggest challenges, favourite stories from the field, and why you should be a part of it all. From boast worthy birds, to blackflies - the Breeding Bird Atlas is a project driven by a love for birds and for Canada's most far to reach places.
It's not too late to join an Atlas!
- Newfoundland: nf.birdatlas.ca
- Ontario: birdsontario.org
Pull out the camping pot, boil some water, and brew some bird-friendly coffee! Birds and Beans will donate to this podcast when you use the code "warblers" at checkout.
Catherine Dale had an early career job studying Tree Swallows which sparked her love for birds, animal behaviour, and spending time in the field. She began working with Birds Canada in 2019 as the Coordinator of the Newfoundland Breeding Bird Atlas, and has spent the past six years learning about the amazing province she now calls home. She also coordinates the NL Nocturnal Owl Survey and the newly launched Short-eared Owl Survey.
Kaelyn Bumelis spent her undergraduate summers studying aerial insectivores, which inspired her to pursue a Master of Science in Biology at Western University, where she focused on niche segregation among sympatric Barn, Cliff, and Tree swallows. Today, Kaelyn serves as the Project Manager for the Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas, a role that allows her to blend her love of birding and conservation with her enthusiasm for connecting and exchanging knowledge with others.
LeeAnn Latremouille is originally from Montreal, but fell in love with the prairies and has called Saskatoon home for the last 10 years. In addition to coordinating the Saskatchewan Breeding Bird Atlas, she also runs the Saskatchewan Nocturnal Owl Survey, delivers the MarshWatch educational program, and has recently taken on a role with our Grassland Bird Conservation Team as the coordinator for the Integrated Monitoring of Bird Conservation Regions effort in Prairie Canada.
Andrea Gress (she/her) secretly thinks Piping Plovers are better than all the other birds...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 then as the Ontario Piping Plover Coordinator. Years of sharing her love of plovers with beach goers has turned into a full time communications role with Birds Canada.
So cute, so deadly: Northern Saw-whet Owl
The Warblers by Birds Canada
By size, shape and style, you might mistake this owl for a cuddly toy, but it's actually a deadly predator. In today's episode we chat about the Northern Saw-whet Owl - their adaptations, how to identify them by sound, how banding operations are helping to track their populations, and how you could get involved!
Happy Superb Owl day! #superbowl
Protect habitat while sipping on a cup of bird-friendly coffee! Birds and Beans will even donate to this podcast when you use the code "warblers" at checkout.
Join the Nocturnal Owl Survey, or keep an eye out for owl banding at a banding station near you. Follow Long Point Bird Observatory on FB or IG @longpointbirds
Kyle Cameron got hooked on birds from a young age and turned it into a career! He currently works as the Ontario Projects Biologist for Birds Canada, where he provides contributions to numerous projects including education programming, the Motus wildlife tracking system, and the Long Point Bird Observatory.
Andrea Gress (she/her) secretly thinks Piping Plovers are better than all the other birds...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 then as the Ontario Piping Plover Coordinator. Years of sharing her love of plovers with beach goers has turned into a full time communications role with Birds Canada.
Did a chickadee steal my hotdog? Experts answer your questions
The Warblers by Birds Canada
As a special treat we've rounded up some of your most curious bird related questions and answered them in this episode (or tried to!).
Why do some birds have red eyes? Can owls hybridize? Can birds smell? And of course, we'll try to solve the hotdog mystery.
Help us keep doing what we do best by donating today. Or another great way to help...
Order some bird-friendly coffee for your cozy holiday season, and when you use the code "warblers", Birds and Beans will donate to this podcast.
Check out Winter is better with Project FeederWatch for more information about bird feeding, or How do birds survive the extremes of winter?! for some mind blowing winter bird facts!
Some of you asked where to find ornithology jobs. We recommend checking the Birds Canada site if you'd like to work with us! Or check out Work Cabin for jobs in the larger conservation community.
Others asked for audio and birdsong resources for North America. Try:
- Merlin Bird ID: field guide app with sounds
- Sibley Birds: field guide app with sounds
- Larkwire: quiz app to learn bird sounds
- xeno-canto: online database of sounds
Lindsay Lalach is currently working towards her Masters of Science in Biology at Simon Fraser University, her research is focused on the winter movement and foraging ecology of Brandt's Cormorants in the Salish Sea.
David Toews is an Assistant Professor in the Biology Department at Penn State University. He did his undergrad at Acadia University in NS, and MSc and PhD at UBC. He also serves as the “population genetics expert” for the Birds Specialist Subcommittee of COSEWIC. He has studied avian evolution since 2005, and has been focused on speciation and hybridization in warblers.
Doug Tozer is the Director of Waterbirds and Wetlands with Birds Canada. His academic and professional career has focused on developing workable conservation solutions for birds, and raising awareness of the importance of these animals; through programs such as the Great Lakes Marsh Monitoring Program, Canadian Lakes Loon Survey, and Long Point Waterfowl and Wetlands Research Program.
Jody Allair is an avid birder and naturalist who enjoys sharing his enthusiasm for the natural world. He is the Director of Communications 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 (she/her) secretly thinks Piping Plovers are better than all the other birds...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 then as the Ontario Piping Plover Coordinator. Years of sharing her love of plovers with beach goers has turned into a full time communications role with Birds
The Wake-up Call: Eastern Whip-poor-will
The Warblers by Birds Canada
Some call them goatsuckers, others may think of them as dragons in the night sky...but we know them lovingly as the Eastern Whip-poor-will.
We're joined by three researchers who are exploring the habitats, food sources, and migratory ranges of the Eastern Whip-poor-will. We learn all kinds of spooky facts about this elusive species, and gain insights into their threats and challenges. Plus we get to take a behind the scenes look at how research is done for this species at risk.
Help us keep doing what we do best by donating today. Thank you!
Natasha shared many great ways to help the Eastern Whip-poor-will and aerial insectivores, here are some of our favorites:
And if you'd like to keep learning, check out the State of Canada's Birds, get some quick facts, or dive into some research that was mentioned in the episode!
Help birds and bugs today by ordering some bird-friendly coffee. When you use the code 'warblers' at check out, Birds and Beans makes a donation to this podcast.
Victoria Pepe is a first-year master’s student at the University of Waterloo, working under the supervision of Dr. Liam McGuire. She is researching the home range dynamics and nest site selection of Eastern Whip-poor-wills. Victoria hopes to help bridge the knowledge gaps for this species with her research, helping to inform landowners on how they can help support Whip-poor-will populations and entice this iconic bird to use their properties.
Lauren Weeks is completing her master's in the McGuire Lab at the University of Waterloo. Her main topics of interest are avian migration and diet composition. Passionate about the outdoors, Lauren loves hiking while looking for cool birds and bugs. She hopes her research will contribute to conservation efforts to support species at risk.
Natasha Barlow grew up near Point Pelee National Park in southern Ontario, and didn't fully appreciate the area until she had already moved away. Thankfully, she realized the error in her ways, and after completing her masters assessing the efficacy of restoration and conservation strategies on protecting sagebrush songbirds, she now coordinates various field-based research projects, runs citizen science programs, and advocates for change for aerial insectivores in Ontario as a Projects Biologist with Birds Canada.
Andrea Gress (she/her) secretly thinks Piping Plovers are better than all the other birds...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 then as the Ontario Piping Plover Coordinator. Years of sharing her love of plovers with beach goers has turned into a full time communications role with Birds Canada.
Winter is better with Project FeederWatch
The Warblers by Birds Canada
As we get deeper into the fall months, we're joined by Olivia Carvalho to chat about an underappreciated pastime... winter birding!
With Olivia coordinating Project FeederWatch in Canada, she has great insights on how to help birds through the coldest months, winter adaptations, birds you might expect to see at your feeder, and more!
What birds are at your feeder? Let us know by joining Project FeederWatch!
Remember, you don't need to have a feeder to be part of the fun!
Stay warm this winter with a cup of Bird Friendly coffee from Birds and Beans. Use the code "Warblers" to support this podcast. Grab a bag today!
Olivia Carvalho is the Community Engagement Specialist for Birds Canada. She oversees the coordination of Project FeederWatch, Great Backyard Bird Count, and Gardening for Birds in Canada. Her role connects her with thousands of birders (and birds!) across the country, and she believes birding is for everyone.
Andrea Gress (she/her) secretly thinks Piping Plovers are better than all the other birds...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 then as the Ontario Piping Plover Coordinator. Years of sharing her love of plovers with beach goers has turned into a full time communications role with Birds Canada.
Canada's bird populations: the good, the bad, the uplifting
The Warblers by Birds Canada
How are Canada's birds doing? Recently released, The State of Canada's Birds brings us valuable insights into the health of our favourite species. Some have recovered wonderfully, like waterfowl and birds of prey, yet others are struggling and need urgent attention.
Catherine Jardine of Birds Canada and Marie-Anne Hudson with Environment and Climate Change Canada join us - after spending 4 years of their lives digging into this data - to share the biggest news on Canada's birds.
Explore the report and share what you learn. Together, we can have a positive impact on Canada's birds.
Marie-Anne Hudson has a BSc from McGill University in Applied Zoology and a PhD from McGill University in Wildlife Biology, which she got while also working as an environmental consultant and bird bander. With over a decade of experience, in 2023 she became the Unit Head of the Science Coordination and Reporting Unit with Environment and Climate Change Canada.
Catherine Jardine is the Associate Director of Data Science and Technology at Birds Canada. Her work focuses on supporting hundreds of research and monitoring projects investigating the ecology, distribution and population dynamics of all bird species through two main platforms; NatureCounts (naturecounts.ca) and the Motus Wildlife Tracking System (motus.org).
Andrea Gress (she/her) secretly thinks Piping Plovers are better than all the other birds...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 then as the Ontario Piping Plover Coordinator. Years of sharing her love of plovers with beach goers has turned into a full time communications role with Birds Canada.
Quebec's river of warblers
The Warblers by Birds Canada
An incredible migratory phenomenon occurs along the St. Lawrence River in Quebec. Thankfully, the Tadoussac Bird Observatory is located in just the right place to observe and study this mass movement of warblers and other songbirds.
Alexandre Terrigeol joins us during peak migration to share more about this phenomenon and about the other work occurring at the bird observatory, including bird banding research, educational workshops, and an annual birding festival!
Learn more about the Tadoussac Bird Observatory (or Observatoire d'oiseaux de Tadoussac). Support bird observatories through the Birds Canada Birdathon.
Pick up a bag of Bird Friendly coffee from Birds and Beans; supporting everyone from the boreal birds in this episode, to the coffee farmers themselves. Use the code "Warblers" to support this podcast!
Alexandre Terrigeol is a biologist and director of the Tadoussac Bird Observatory. A relative newcomer to the world of ornithology, he uses both his work and his free time to share his passion for biodiversity, particularly birds. As much as possible, he wants to contribute to research through participatory science tools, photography and sound recordings.
Andrea Gress (she/her) secretly thinks Piping Plovers are better than all the other birds...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 then as the Ontario Piping Plover Coordinator. Years of sharing her love of plovers with beach goers has turned into a full time communications role with Birds Canada.
Vultures: Sentinels of the Skies
The Warblers by Birds Canada
With their heads buried in a carcass, vultures may seem like gross, unwanted creatures. But we have to disagree! Vultures have fascinating adaptations that make them essential parts of a healthy ecosystem. John Kinghorn joins us from South Africa to share his unabashed love for vultures, help us understand why their populations are plummeting, and what we can do to help.
Learn more about the many projects BirdLife South Africa is leading and collaborating on to help vultures. And celebrate International Vulture Awareness Day on September 7th by sharing this podcast!
This was a listener suggested episode. Leave us reviews, comments on social media, or send an email with your episode suggestions!
Bird-friendly certified coffee is an easy way to support habitat conservation (and this podcast!). Birds and Beans will donate 10% of proceeds to Birds Canada when you check out with the code "Warblers", or use this link.
John Kinghorn undertook a southern African Birding Big Year at age 19, and became the sixth person to record more than 800 bird species in the region in one calendar year, also setting a record for the youngest person achieve this milestone. His deep-rooted passion for conservation shines through in everything that he does. With a career spanning 11 years as a professional specialist bird guide, John acquired an LLB [law] degree and completed his articles of clerkship as a Candidate Attorney. John is currently spearheading BirdLife South Africa’s world renown Community Bird Guide Programme, empowering communities, and continuing to enhance South Africa’s status as leaders in avitourism through key stakeholder engagement.
Andrea Gress (she/her) secretly thinks Piping Plovers are better than all the other birds...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 then as the Ontario Piping Plover Coordinator. Years of sharing her love of plovers with beach goers has turned into a full time communications role with Birds Canada.
Grasslands, Birds, and Beef
The Warblers by Birds Canada
Grassland ecosystems and birds are increasingly under threat as agricultural operations expand to meet growing food demands. Yet, agriculture itself can be the solution!
Through personal anecdotes and a deep appreciation for the unique wildlife of the Canadian prairies, Ian Cook highlights the importance of grasslands and the need to find collaborative approaches that support farmers and producers, as well as the birds we all love.
Learn more about the Bird-friendliness Index here.
It takes a team. Ian wanted to shout out to the following groups for supporting this work: Environment and Climate Change Canada, Manitoba Habitat Conservancy, Saskatchewan Stock Growers Foundation, South of the Divide Conservation Action Program Inc., Nature Conservancy of Canada, and Fish and Wildlife Development Fund.
Another way to support habitat protection is by drinking Bird Friendly coffee! Purchase through this link, or type "Warblers" into the coupon code box, and Birds and Beans will donate 10% of the purchase price to Birds Canada. Thank you!
Ian Cook is the Grassland Conservation Manager at Birds Canada. Ian grew up on a mixed farm in western Manitoba, developing a deep connection with the natural world, which inspired him to pursue a career that bridges agriculture and conservation. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture from the University of Manitoba and is a Professional Agrologist and Certified Crop Advisor. Through his work, Ian strives to find mutually beneficial solutions for wildlife, the environment, farmers, ranchers, and society at large, and create working landscapes full of birdsong and bursting with life.
Andrea Gress (she/her) secretly thinks Piping Plovers are better than all the other birds...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 then as the Ontario Piping Plover Coordinator. Years of sharing her love of plovers with beach goers has turned into a full time communications role with Birds Canada.
The Wake-up Call: Olive-sided Flycatcher
The Warblers by Birds Canada
"Quick, three beers!" Jody Allair joins us to propose that the Olive-sided Flycatcher is one of Canada's best boreal birds. Will you agree?
While they do breed in the boreal forest, the cosmopolitan Olive-sided Flycatcher can be seen right across Canada during migration. Join us to learn more about their charming song and hunting habits, so that you can spot this bird the next time it perches on a tree top near you. And as usual, learn how you can help this threatened species and others like it.
Pick up your very own Olive-sided Flycatcher t-shirt here. All proceeds support bird conservation in Canada. Yay, merch!!
And continue to learn more about Birds Canada's 2024 Avian Ambassador.
Pick up some Bird Friendly coffee to support habitat protection! Purchase through this link, or type "Warblers" into the coupon code box, and Birds and Beans will donate 10% of the purchase price to Birds Canada. Thank you!
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 (she/her) secretly thinks Piping Plovers are better than all the other birds...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 then as the Ontario Piping Plover Coordinator. Years of sharing her love of plovers with beach goers has turned into a full time communications role with Birds Canada.
Getting to know Swifts and Swallows
The Warblers by Birds Canada
This bonus episode is all about getting to know swifts and swallows, those speedy aerial acrobats that make summer skies so lively.
Rielle Hoeg joins us to help shed some light on these two groups of birds. You'll get pointers on how to tell them apart, and which species are present across Canada. We also learn about their population status and a cool new project in Atlantic Canada aiming to protect Bank Swallow habitats.
Learn more about how you can help Aerial Insectivores across Canada. And check out this incredible story about Chimney Swifts...in a barn.
Rielle Hoeg grew up in rural Nova Scotia, playing in the woods and developing an appreciation for all the wonderful critters, plants and fungi around her. During her undergraduate and Master’s degrees at Acadia University, she had opportunities to work with shorebirds, aerial insectivores, and her spark bird: the Leach’s Storm-petrel! At Birds Canada, Rielle splits her time amongst Chimney Swifts, Piping Plovers, shorebirds, and Leach’s Storm-petrels, and is grateful to work with so many passionate, inspiring people (colleagues and volunteers alike!).
Andrea Gress (she/her) secretly thinks Piping Plovers are better than all the other birds...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 then as the Ontario Piping Plover Coordinator. Years of sharing her love of plovers with beach goers has turned into a full time communications role with Birds Canada.
Warblin' about Warblers
The Warblers by Birds Canada
Around 37 warbler species nest in Canada each summer. But how much do you really know about them?
Long overdue, this episode is all about warblers! We explore the quirkiest behaviours, the best warbler songs, marvel over fun facts, and hear tips on where to find warblers no matter where you are in Canada. If you've ever wondered what that quick flash of bright yellow in the tree is...this episode is for you.
Help warbler species and help The Warblers Podcast at the same time! Order Bird Friendly Certified Coffee from Birds and Beans. They'll donate 10% of the proceeds to Birds Canada when you check out with the code "Warblers", or use this link.
Brendan Boyd has been working with birds in some way or another for most of his life. Growing up in Toronto, he spent his free time exploring green spaces across the city and volunteering at the Toronto Bird Observatory. While birds started off as a hobby, they have now turned into a career. Before joining Birds Canada as the Ontario Forest Birds Program Coordinator, Brendan completed his PhD, which examined how the size of forests that adult Wood Thrushes choose to nest in, affects their long-term survival.
Alex Isreal is an aspiring naturalist, wildlife biologist, and an all-around nature enthusiast. Alex’s interest in birds began during her undergraduate degree, and she continued to pursue this interest into her Master’s degree where she studied nesting behaviour in Wood Thrushes. Although Alex is currently working as a bat researcher, her first love and introduction to wildlife biology will always be birds.
Andrea Gress (she/her) secretly thinks Piping Plovers are better than all the other birds...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 then as the Ontario Piping Plover Coordinator. Years of sharing her love of plovers with beach goers has turned into a full time communications role with Birds Canada.
A Writer's Guide to Conserving Grasslands
The Warblers by Birds Canada
Trevor Herriot grew up exploring the aspen parkland and grasslands of southern Saskatchewan, deeply connected to the natural world around him. His passion for the prairies led him to become one of Canada’s most vocal proponents for the protection of grassland birds through his writing.
With a recently released first novel, The Economy of Sparrows, and several award winning non-fictions books under his belt, we were keen to sit down with Trevor to learn more about what drives his grassland focused writing, and explore the threats and issues that are top of mind for many across the prairies.
Help bird habitats today, simply by sipping on a cup of Birds and Beans coffee! When you purchase through this link, or type "Warblers" into the coupon code box, Birds and Beans will even donate 10% of the purchase price to Birds Canada. Thank you!
Recommended reading from this episode:
The Economy of Sparrows - Trevor Herriot
Grass, Sky, Song - Trevor Herriot
Hours and the Birds - R. D. Symons
The Wind Birds - Peter Matthiessen
The Singing Life of Birds - Donald Kroodsma
The Spell of the Sensuous - David Abram
Arctic Dreams - Barry Lopez
Braiding Sweetgrass - Robin Wall Kimmerer
The Unsettling of America - Wendell Berry
Or anything written by Scott Weidensaul or Aldo Leopold
If you’ve got another book that listeners would love, please leave your recommendation in a review!
Trevor Herriot is a naturalist, grassland conservationist, and the author of several award-winning books, including Grass, Sky, Song and the national bestseller River in a Dry Land, both of which were short-listed for the Governor General’s Award for Nonfiction. He is a recipient of the Kloppenburg Award for Literary Merit and the Saskatchewan Order of Merit. He and his wife Karen live in Regina, and spend much of their time on a piece of Aspen Parkland prairie east of the city. His latest work, The Economy of Sparrows is his eighth book, but first novel.
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 (she/her) secretly thinks Piping Plovers are better than all the other birds...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 then as the Ontario Piping Plover Coordinator. Years of sharing her love of plovers with beach goers has turned into a full time communications role with Birds Canada.
NatureCounts: Helping Birds with Your Data
The Warblers by Birds Canada
Do you track bird sightings on eBird? Or have you participated in a citizen science project that helps to monitor bird populations, like Project FeederWatch or the Christmas Bird Count?
In this episode we learn what happens after the binoculars are put away. Whether reporting a single American Goldfinch at your feeder, or the efforts of a really successful Big Day, your observations create a real impact in bird conservation actions across Canada!
Catherine Jardine joins us to explain how your findings feed into NatureCounts, a massive database that helps to track bird populations and leads to informed conservation actions.
Catherine Jardine is the Associate Director of Data Science and Technology at Birds Canada. Her work focuses on supporting hundreds of research and monitoring projects investigating the ecology, distribution and population dynamics of all bird species through two main platforms; NatureCounts (naturecounts.ca) and the Motus Wildlife Tracking System (motus.org).
Andrea Gress (she/her) secretly thinks Piping Plovers are better than all the other birds...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 Program for Birds Canada.
The Wake-up Call: Roseate Tern
The Warblers by Birds Canada
The Roseate Tern is a dapper looking seabird that spends much of its breeding season far away from humans....yet most of the threats it faces are human related. Julie McKnight joins us to explore the challenges and joys of protecting and monitoring this threatened species.
Share Roseate Tern sightings and photos using eBird, you'll make Julie very happy! And if you're lucky enough to see a banded tern, report that sighting here.
If you're fascinated by some of the finer details of Roseate Tern conservation in Nova Scotia, check out the Tern Reports by Ted D'Eon, an extremely passionate friend of the terns!
Julie McKnight is a Species at Risk Recovery Biologist with the Canadian Wildlife Service of Environment and Climate Change Canada. Based in Halifax, NS, she works with species experts to develop recovery programs for a range of Species at Risk, primarily in Atlantic Canada. She co-chairs the Canadian Roseate Tern Recovery Team and can’t wait to welcome the terns back to Canada this May.
Andrea Gress (she/her) secretly thinks Piping Plovers are better than all the other birds...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 Program for Birds Canada.
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.
The Superb Snowy Owl
The Warblers by Birds Canada
To celebrate Superb Owl weekend (or the big football game for some folks), we decided to throw you an episode about one of our star players, the Snowy Owl!
We all love owls! Please take a moment to learn more about safely observing and photographing owls.
Join the Great Backyard Bird Count. It takes as little as 15 minutes to make a difference and you can participate from anywhere in the world!
The Nocturnal Owl Survey will be looking for helpers from February through April. And the Christmas Bird Count would love your help in December and January.
Andrew Coughlan is a biologist with a wide range of experience working with birds. Born in England, Andrew has lived in Québec since 1996. Before becoming the Director of Quebec for Birds Canada, he worked for 10 years as a research officer at Laval University. Before that, in England, he worked for the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust and the Zoological Society of London.
Andrea Gress (she/her) secretly thinks Piping Plovers are better than all the other birds...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 Program for Birds Canada.
The healing power of nature and birds
The Warblers by Birds Canada
January is a tough time of year, but birds can help! We guarantee *good feels* by the end of this episode.
We're joined by Dr. Melissa Lem who directs Canada's nature prescription program. She helps us explore the science behind why nature makes us feel good. Also joining the podcast, is Melissa Hafting, a powerhouse birder from British Columbia who shares her personal experience of using birding to benefit her health and also to create community through forming the BC Young Birders Program.
This episode contains lots of bird songs, and will inspire you to head into the great outdoors!
Can't wait to read Melissa Hafting's book? Pre-order Dare to Bird: Exploring the Joy and Healing Power of Birds from Rocky Mountain Books, Amazon, or Indigo.
Get a prescription for nature with PaRX.
Dr. Melissa Lem is a Vancouver family physician who also works in rural and northern communities within Canada. Director of PaRx, Canada’s national nature prescription program powered by the BC Parks Foundation, and President of the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment, she is an internationally recognized leader in the field of nature and health. As a widely published writer, climate change panelist on CBC Radio's Early Edition, in-house medical columnist for CBC TV Vancouver, and Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of British Columbia, one of her major priorities is knowledge translation. Follow her on IG @drmelissalem or X @melissa_lem
Melissa Hafting is an ecologist that is passionate about bird conservation. She runs the B.C. Rare Bird Alert website. She also founded the British Columbia Young Birders Program, which aims to bring youth of different backgrounds together for fun excursions in the natural world. She loves mentoring youth and making birding more inclusive and accessible to all especially to those in the BIPOC and LGBTQ+ communities. Follow her on IG @bcbirdergirl or through her blog.
Andrea Gress (she/her) secretly thinks Piping Plovers are better than all the other birds...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 Program for Birds Canada.
How do birds survive the extremes of winter?!
The Warblers by Birds Canada
Brrrr! A polar vortex is chilling western Canada while the east is being battered by snowy winter storms! Yet, we can still see birds out the window...how do they do it?
In this bonus episode you'll learn how tough birds really are, plus get some tips to help the winter birds near you!
Join Project FeederWatch today! It's the perfect winter activity. Plus your data contributes to bird conservation.
Keep those feeders clean! Get some easy, helpful tips here.
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, a producer of this podcast, and has written numerous articles on birds, birding and connecting with nature. You can find him on Twitter and Instagram at @JodyAllair.
Andrea Gress (she/her) secretly thinks Piping Plovers are better than all the other birds...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 Program for Birds Canada.
A Year for the Birds: 2023 highlights from across Canada
The Warblers by Birds Canada
From British Columbia to Newfoundland, and everywhere in between...join Yousif Attia, Jared Clarke, and Andrea Gress, as they discuss some of the biggest birding news from 2023. Learn about how Red Crossbills might be more mysterious than you realize, hear their takes on Bird Names for Birds, and marvel over some of the best rare bird sightings of the year.
Follow Jared's birding adventures on Instagram, or hop on one of his tours through Bird•The•Rock!
Support the podcast! Your gift helps keep the podcast running, and supports bird conservation!
Jared Clarke grew up on the northeast coast of Newfoundland and was introduced to the outdoors at a very young age, mostly by his grandfathers. He discovered birds & birding while working for a local conservation group and never looked back. Despite his “official” training as a health researcher (Ph.D. Medicine), his love of nature and sharing it with others increasingly led him astray. He currently runs a small bird and nature tour business, called Bird•The•Rock, and routinely leads trips at home and abroad for various tour companies.
Yousif Attia grew up chasing birds and exploring the wilds of central and southern Alberta since he and his family immigrated to Edmonton when he was four years old. After moving around the country, he is now settled on the Fraser Estuary on the West Coast of BC. Yousif has worn many hats 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 overseeing the Long Point Bird Observatory where he became a North American Banding Council certified trainer. Yousif is now part of a team at Birds Canada that leads the Christmas Bird Count and eBird in Canada, and he manages the Birds Canada website and media library. Follow Yousif at @biophylia
Andrea Gress (she/her) secretly thinks Piping Plovers are better than all the other birds...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 Program for Birds Canada.
The Wake-up Call: Black Swift
The Warblers by Birds Canada
Join Black Swift researchers on a journey through the forest to find one of the most elusive species in Canada....will they succeed?
As Black Swift populations decline, the crews at Birds Canada strive to understand the whole picture, and find ways that we can all help these aerial insectivores. In this episode you'll learn all about Black Swifts, and also glimpse into the lives of wildlife researchers.
To continue learning, and see incredible footage of Black Swifts, check out our short video, Of Waterfalls and Wings - Surveying for the Mysterious Black Swift.
In 2022 the team recorded the first instance of a Black Swift colony with multiple active nests in coastal B.C. Read more about that exciting finding here!
Rémi Torrenta has always had a passion for wildlife and birds. He obtained a MSc in Ecology in the south of France, and then a PhD at Université de Moncton, NB. After 8 years of work experience with forest birds in eastern Canada, he has been the BC Projects Coordinator for Birds Canada since 2021. Remi delivers Citizen Science programs, as well as various Species at Risk research and monitoring projects, and outreach and education programs in western Canada.
Lindsay Lalach grew up in the Southern Interior of BC and developed a deep appreciation of biodiversity and wildlife. She completed a degree in environmental studies and geography from the University of Victoria and is passionate about Species at Risk. Lindsay is currently completing her Masters degree at Simon Fraser University.
Eve Kenny was the Conservation Area Interpreter for Birds Canada during the summer of 2023, and has been lucky enough to have spent time birding in New Zealand, Ireland, and Japan! She was thrilled to be a part of the Black Swift surveying efforts, and encourages everyone to learn more about this remarkable bird.
Kris Cu grew up in the bustling city of Manila, Philippines and often watched the Pied Fantails forage around the neighbour’s garden. Upon moving to Canada, he completed a Biological Sciences degree from Simon Fraser University and has embarked on numerous science communication roles. Currently, he supports the Birds Canada team through photography, videography, social media, outreach and connecting minority communities to birds and the natural world.
Andrea Gress (she/her) secretly thinks Piping Plovers are better than all the other birds...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 Program for Birds Canada.
The Wake-up Call: Burrowing Owl
The Warblers by Birds Canada
Burrowing Owls...those weird little owls that nest underground, and scowl disapprovingly at us with their bright yellow eyes. This episode is for them! We've invited Graham Dixon-MacCallum from the Wilder Institute to share quirky facts about this captivating species, help us understand why they're threatened, and learn more about a few of the conservation tools being used to help.
As promised, here are some pointers for photographing owls without causing them harm.
Check out these many great organizations working to help Burrowing Owls in Canada!
- Manitoba Burrowing Owl Recovery Program
- Saskatchewan Burrowing Owl Interpretive Center in Moose Jaw
- Operation Burrowing Owl ran by Nature Saskatchewan
- Grasslands National Park and Parks Canada
- Operation Grassland Community in Alberta
- Burrowing Owl Conservation Society of BC
Graham Dixon-MacCallum leads the burrowing owl project at the Wilder Institute. His job requires coordinating with the federal and provincial governments, local ranchers, soldiers, graduate students, and multiple departments across the Wilder Institute. Aside from his work with burrowing owls, Graham has also studied anti-predator behavior in the conservation breeding population of Vancouver Island marmots at the Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo. Graham has worked on a wide variety of species across Canada, and in Costa Rica, Peru, and Gabon.
Andrea Gress (she/her) secretly thinks Piping Plovers are better than all the other birds...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 Program for Birds Canada.
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.
Indigenous-led Conservation Protects Bird Habitats
The Warblers by Birds Canada
We can learn a lot about conservation by looking to Indigenous leadership. In this episode, we head to Wolastoqey Nation in New Brunswick to learn about how Indigenous-led conservation may be exactly what the birds need.
Our guests, Gordon Grey from Bilijk First Nation, Jamie Gorman from Neqotkuk First Nation, and Kelsey Butler of Birds Canada, offer exceptional insights into Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas (IPCA), and get us motivated and excited about a future where IPCAs are a key tool for protecting natural areas and critical habitats.
Learn more or get in touch with Wolastoqey Nation in New Brunswick.
If you're curious about Bicknell's Thrush, you can get that episode here.
Gordon Grey is the Impact Assessment Manager for Wolastoqey Nation in New Brunswick (WNNB). He is a community member of Bilijk (the Wolastoqey community at Kingslcear) who works primarily with an environment first approach to assessing the multitude of projects within the Wolastoqey territory for adverse impacts to Aboriginal and Treaty Rights. He leads the Environment and Culture team for the WNNB, whose role includes cultural surveys, Indigenous monitoring and Indigenous Land and Resource and Use Studies (ILRUs). He has Western Science degree in Earth Ocean and Atmospheric Science from UBC, with mixed lineage but includes his Grandfather Wilfred Charles "Wimpy" Solomon , a renown medicine man and bastian for the Wolastoqey culture, he strives towards understanding for proponents and government officials through his two-eyed seeing approach.
Jamie Gorman is a resource development consultation coordinator - Neqotkuk /Tobique First Nation - I have the honour of working with a passionate and determined team focused on protecting Wolastoqey rights. Interest in language reclamation and oral histories - old trees and running rivers.
Kelsey Butler supports the management and delivery of all Atlantic programs for Birds Canada. She credits her father for helping her become an amateur (but enthusiastic) birder while growing up in New Brunswick. Kelsey has a Master’s in Environmental Management from the University of New Brunswick, and has been working in the environmental non-profit sector ever since. Most recently she worked for the Wolastoqey Nation as their Conservation Lead and Consultation Manager.
Andrea Gress (she/her) 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
Sharing Anishinaabe Bird Names through Tourism
The Warblers by Birds Canada
You might remember Joe Pitawanakwat from a previous episode, Bneshiinyik, where he shared knowledge about how birds are named in the Anishinaabe language. Since we last spoke with him, Joe has been working on many projects to continue expanding and sharing Indigenous Knowledge. In this episode, we tag along with him for one of those projects. Join us for a birding adventure on Manitoulin Island!
Wikwemikong Tours offers an array of Indigenous Tourism experiences in the Manitoulin Island and Killarney Region. Their year-round services specialize in cultural tours and land-based learning experiences. Check them out!
Get a copy of Joe's Anishinaabe bird name pamphlet here.
Joseph Pitawanakwat is an Ojibwe knowledge keeper for ancestral knowledge of plants, medicine and language. He is from Wiikwemikoong First Nation on Manitoulin Island and he is the founder and director of Creator’s Garden, an Indigenous outdoor, and now online, education-based business focused on plant identification, beyond-sustainable harvesting, and teaching every one of their linguistic, historical, cultural, edible, ecological and medicinal significance through experiences. He is uniquely blending and reinforcing that Indigenous knowledge with an array of western sciences. @creators.garden on Instagram and Twitter.
Mandaago Osawamick and Jack Rivers are cultural tour guides for Wikwemikong Tours.
Andrea Gress (she/her) 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
Every egg counts; an extraordinary conservation story
The Warblers by Birds Canada
With only 150 individuals in the Great Lakes region, every single egg matters. In 2023, the Piping Plover conservation effort went to great lengths, as Ontario eggs were raised and released from captive rearing in Michigan, for the very first time. Sydney Shephard joins us to share the juicy details about this effort, the chaos of a Piping Plover field season, and good news from the Great Lakes region.
Birds and Beans delivers bird-friendly certified coffee across Canada, and donates 10% of your purchase to this podcast and bird conservation in Canada when you use this link. Plus, it's yummy.
As we get updates on this story (did the captive reared fledglings survive?!), we will share them on our socials @ontarioplovers
Sydney Shepherd firmly believes that by bridging science with outreach and education, we can foster communities of stewards and tackle environmental goals together. She is grateful to work with Birds Canada on the Ontario Piping Plover program and see the synergy between scientific research and community action every day.
Andrea Gress (she/her) secretly thinks Piping Plovers are better than all the other birds...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
The birds are back: spring behaviours explained
40:05
Point Counts and Missing Pots: The Adventures of Bird Atlassing
46:15
So cute, so deadly: Northern Saw-whet Owl
22:28
Did a chickadee steal my hotdog? Experts answer your questions
38:40
The Wake-up Call: Eastern Whip-poor-will
33:45
Winter is better with Project FeederWatch
20:34
Canada's bird populations: the good, the bad, the uplifting
30:51
Quebec's river of warblers
25:27
Vultures: Sentinels of the Skies
38:48
Grasslands, Birds, and Beef
35:19
The Wake-up Call: Olive-sided Flycatcher
28:05
Getting to know Swifts and Swallows
16:58
Warblin' about Warblers
37:51
A Writer's Guide to Conserving Grasslands
29:24
NatureCounts: Helping Birds with Your Data
32:38
The Wake-up Call: Roseate Tern
33:46
The Superb Snowy Owl
14:14
The healing power of nature and birds
28:31
How do birds survive the extremes of winter?!
14:07
A Year for the Birds: 2023 highlights from across Canada
37:09
The Wake-up Call: Black Swift
24:23
The Wake-up Call: Burrowing Owl
35:19
Indigenous-led Conservation Protects Bird Habitats
23:06
Sharing Anishinaabe Bird Names through Tourism
14:49
Every egg counts; an extraordinary conservation story
22:16