Episodes
Founder of Ornitheology, pastor Kevin Burrell believes God has written reminders of his love and care all over the cosmos. From the call of a chickadee to the Scriptural reminders not to fear, this episode is a tour of beauty, goodness, and birds.
Links from Kevin's show:
Ornitheology
Kevin on Twitter
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Published 05/06/24
Bestselling author Amy Tan gives us a tour of her new book, The Backyard Bird Chronicles and describes why, even when we're sitting at home, birds can help us feel free.
Links from Amy's show:
The Backyard Bird Chronicles
Amy's website
Birding links:
Merlin Bird ID
e-Bird
Follow The Thing With Feathers:
TTWF on Twitter
TTWF on Instagram
TTWF on...
Published 04/29/24
Presbyterian pastor Roy Howard is spending his retirement with and for the birds. From Peregrin Falcons to the birds of Ecuador to Gerard Manley Hopkins, Roy takes us on a delightful birding journey.
Links from Roy's show:
Gerard Manley Hopkins poem
Mary Oliver poem
Birding links:
Merlin Bird ID
e-Bird
Follow The Thing With Feathers:
TTWF on Twitter
TTWF on...
Published 04/22/24
SUNY Oswego Assistant Professor and Provost Dan Baldassarre brings us his wisdom on bird banding, the joy of teaching undergrads, Harpy Eagles, and which birds are the most badass.
Links from Dan's show:
Dan's faculty profile
Dan on Twitter
Harpy Eagle
Birding links:
Merlin Bird ID
e-Bird
Follow The Thing With Feathers:
TTWF on Twitter
TTWF on Instagram
TTWF on...
Published 04/15/24
Madison resident Mary Gemignani spends her free time with Sandhill Cranes. Today we learn all about these leggy, gentle giants from a photographer who sees them through a lens of love.
Links from Mary's show:
Mary on Twitter
International Crane Foundation
Birding links:
Merlin Bird ID
e-Bird
Follow The Thing With Feathers:
TTWF on Twitter
TTWF on Instagram
TTWF on...
Published 04/08/24
Ted Floyd has edited Birding Magazine for decades. He holds the longest consecutive birding streak in eBird and believes in the revitalizing power of getting out into nature daily. Plus: learn why Bushtits are so dang cool.
Links from Ted's show:
How to Know the Birds
Birding Magazine
The ABA Podcast
Birding links:
Merlin Bird ID
e-Bird
Follow The Thing With Feathers:
TTWF on Twitter
TTWF on...
Published 04/01/24
Daryl Ellis joins Courtney to chat about her new book, Looking Up: A Birder's Guide to Hope Through Grief.
Plus: hear chapter one and get a 20% code for the book!
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Published 03/25/24
Birding royalty Kenn Kaufman joins us to talk about drawing birds, the joy of being a beginner, and his new book The Birds That Audubon Missed.
Links from Kenn's show:
The Birds That Audubon Missed
Kenn on Facebook
Birding links:
Merlin Bird ID
e-Bird
Follow The Thing With Feathers:
TTWF on Twitter
TTWF on Instagram
TTWF on Facebook
The Thing With Feathers is...
Published 03/18/24
Author of over 30 children's books, Glenys Nellist believes in making space for children (and adults!) to live in wonder. We talk about her brand-new book Song of the Seasons, the differences between American Robins and their British cousins, and the comfort of mystery.
Plus: an original song about hope by Ephram Wilkoff.
Links from Glenys's show:
Glenys's books
Glenys on Instagram
Glenys on Facebook
Ephram's original song, "Hope is a Long Story"
Birding links:
Merlin...
Published 03/11/24
Essayist and storyteller Shemaiah Gonzalez brings us to her backyard in the Pacific Northwest for all the Starling/Blue Jay drama.
Plus, the hope of literature, the joys and struggles of parenthood, and where to find a Trumpeter Swan.
Links from Shemaiah's show
Shemaiah on X
Shemaiah's Undaunted Joy Substack
Shemaiah on Facebook
Birding links:
Merlin Bird ID
e-Bird
Follow The Thing With Feathers:
TTWF on Twitter
TTWF on...
Published 03/04/24
Courtney talks to the Cape May Bird Observatory’s Program Coordinator, naturalist Adehl Schwaderer, about why counting birds is important, how to tell one raptor from another, why the Cape May Birding Festival is so rad (it really is!), and why vultures are the most elegant birds.
Links from Adehl's show
Cape May Spring Bird Festival
Cape May Bird Observatory
Trektellen (international bird counts)
Birding links:
Merlin Bird ID
e-Bird
Follow...
Published 02/26/24
Professional photographer Stu McClay Smith guides us through how to snap that perfect shot, what equipment we need to get started, and why cats (of all things!) are bringing him hope.
Links from Stu's show
Stu on X/Twitter
Stu on Instagram
Stu's Photography Website
Birding links:
Merlin Bird ID
e-Bird
Follow The Thing With Feathers:
TTWF on Twitter
TTWF on Instagram
TTWF on Facebook
The Thing...
Published 02/19/24
Join us as we learn how much we can learn from backyard birds. Today on the show, Emma Greig joins us from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology to talk all things Project FeederWatch.
From the average number of backyard bird species (you'll be surprised!) to signing up for a free hawk poster, this informative episode is not to be missed.
Links from Emma's show:
Project FeederWatch
Cornell Lab of Ornithology
More about Emma
Birding links:
Merlin Bird...
Published 02/12/24
Orange County, California birder Kristen Johnson serves as a shepherd/pastor at an EFCA church in Fullerton. From southern California hotspots to birding as grief work to caring for singles in the church, this is a conversation not to be missed.
Links from Kristen's show
Connect with Kristen
Birding links:
Merlin Bird ID
e-Bird
Follow The Thing With Feathers:
TTWF on Twitter
TTWF on Instagram
TTWF on Facebook
The...
Published 02/05/24
Public health professional Andrew Walsh writes on the intersections between faith and science. Join us for a conversation ranging from West Nile virus to the multiverse.
Links from Andrew's show:
Science Corner: Improper Names (Emerging Scholars Blog)
Andrew's book: Faith Across the Multiverse
Links birding links:
Merlin Bird ID
e-Bird
Follow The Thing With Feathers:
TTWF on Twitter
TTWF on Instagram
TTWF on...
Published 01/29/24
Professional podcaster Justin Gerhardt joins us to chat about other ways to identify birds, the joy of curiosity, and why the stories of the Old Testament keep him coming back.
Links from Justin's show:
Holy Ghost Stories Podcast
Birding links:
Merlin Bird ID
e-Bird
Follow The Thing With Feathers:
TTWF on Twitter
TTWF on Instagram
TTWF on Facebook
The Thing With Feathers is produced by Courtney Ellis....
Published 01/22/24
How can birds help us through the painful pieces of life? Roger Hutchison, author, illustrator, and speaker, serves at Palmer Memorial Episcopal Church in Houston, and came to us for a vibrant conversation about mental health, spirituality, birds, and hope.
Links from Roger's show:
The Art of Calm
Sparrow's Prayer
Roger's Website
Roger on Instagram
Roger on Facebook
Birding links:
Merlin Bird ID
e-Bird
Follow The Thing With...
Published 01/15/24
Sarah L. Sanderson is the author of The Place We Make: Breaking the Legacy of Legalized Hate. We talk birding in Cameroon, the glory of bald eagles, and what it means to face down hard histories and work for justice.
Links from Sarah's show:
Sarah's book: The Place We Make
Sarah on Twitter
Sarah on Facebook
Sarah's Website
Birding links:
Merlin Bird ID
e-Bird
Follow The Thing With Feathers:
TTWF on Twitter
TTWF on Instagram
TTWF...
Published 01/08/24
Courtney's husband Daryl comes back to update us on his birding progress, chat about all things natural theology, and brings us the joy of a black-billed magpie.
Birding links:
Merlin Bird ID
e-Bird
Follow The Thing With Feathers:
TTWF on Twitter
TTWF on Instagram
TTWF on Facebook
The Thing With Feathers is produced by Courtney Ellis. Original music by Del Belcher. New episodes every Monday.
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Published 12/18/23
Anita Peebles believes that wonder and curiosity are holy practices, that studying the ecology of a community can be a fascinating practice, and that chickadees can be messengers.
Join us on this episode of The Thing With Feathers as we learn from this birding Baptist pastor.
Links from Anita's show:
New Directions for Holy Questions (Anita's book)
Anita's website
Birding links:
Merlin Bird ID
e-Bird
Follow The Thing With Feathers:
TTWF on Twitter
TTWF on...
Published 12/11/23
Poet Jody Collins has a way with words and a love for birds! Hear a few verses from her new book, "Mining the Bright Birds," and the story of our favorite fan mail yet on The Thing With Feathers.
Links from Jody's show:
Jody's website & book
Birding links:
Merlin Bird ID
e-Bird
Follow The Thing With Feathers:
TTWF on Twitter
TTWF on Instagram
TTWF on Facebook
The Thing With Feathers is produced by Courtney Ellis....
Published 12/04/23
Carol Pope Gordon is a Midwesterner with an eye for capturing the whimsical world of birds. From goofy puffins to soaring osprey, she takes us on a journey into the world of birding photography.
Links from Carol's show:
Carol on Twitter
Carol on Bluesky
The famous puffin photo
Birding links:
Merlin Bird ID
e-Bird
Follow The Thing With Feathers:
TTWF on Twitter
TTWF on Instagram
TTWF on Facebook
The Thing With Feathers is produced by...
Published 11/27/23
Tigers! Tragopans! Tea! Birder and photographer Mohit Mehta reminds us of how birds help us to be present in the moment as he shares the beauties of the birds of India.
Links from Mohit's show:
Mohit on Twitter
Mohit's blog
Birding links:
Merlin Bird ID
e-Bird
Follow The Thing With Feathers:
TTWF on Twitter
TTWF on Instagram
TTWF on Facebook
The Thing With Feathers is produced by Courtney Ellis. Original music by Del Belcher. New episodes every...
Published 11/20/23
Laura Fabrycky is a theologian and birder interested in finding (and learning from!) the forgotten things. From female birds to female saints, we dive deep into the many intersections between the avian world and the world of faith.
Links from Laura's show:
Laura's website
Laura's book (Keys to Bonhoeffer's Haus)
Laura's article, The Birds and the Beguines (Comment Mag)
Kenn Kaufman's article on female birds
Birding links:
Merlin Bird ID
e-Bird
Follow The Thing...
Published 11/13/23