"I can't think about plants without thinking about birds and I can't think about birds without thinking about plants," says Natasza Fontaine in our conversation about her life as an avian ecologist, natural science illustrator, bioacoustician, and a birder. Fontaine is a founding member of Black Botanists Week. She was selected as the Bird of the Year Artist 2024 by the American Birding Association. Fontaine illustrated the Golden-Winged Warbler for the ABA Birding magazine. Listen to her...

Birds sing to "defend and impress" (All About Birds). Bird songs are good for soul, though this depends on the person listening, the species of bird, and the type of sound they are making (Dr. Eleanor Ratcliffe via Natural History Museum UK). New Yorker Elijah Shiffer composes jazz pieces to celebrate the birds he observes in the city. Shiffer is a saxophonist, a composer, a music critic, and a bird guide. Excerpts from several of the songs on Shiffer's new album, City Of Birds, Volume I, are...

One way to communicate the violence of window strikes is through art. Emmett White entered Wunderkammer 2023, a taxidermy competition, with a sculpture of seven pigeons colliding with windows. In this episode, we talk with Emmett about the piece, his other less woeful taxidermy projects, and a healthy dose of live birds. You can follow Emmett White on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/get.stuffed.taxidermy/ Season 4 of Your Bird Story aka CHIRP is funded with a ⁠⁠⁠⁠Voice for...

How do we recognize and commemorate the life and death of wild creatures among us? Gyotaku is a Japanese ink printing method conventional used by fishermen to print their fish to verify species and size. NYC-based artist Molly Tenzer uses gyotaku to print the dead bodies of birds and mammals she encounters in the city. Tenzer expresses gratitude to Tape Hernandez for introducing her to the art of gyotaku. We saw Tenzer's work first hand at the 2023 Wunderkammer taxidermy competition. You...

Halcyon Journey: In Search of the Belted Kingfisher by Marina Richie was published in 2022. Earlier this year Georgia read the book and knew she had to speak with the author. Halcyon Journey is the best of nature writing. Each ingredient in the book is wonderful on its own but together make an awe-some read. The Belted Kingfisher, the female Belted Kingfisher, the kingfisher in Indigenous cultures, kingfishers around the world, friendship, community science, scientific contributions, Western...

The Friends of the Moshassuck River is led by Greg Gerritt. He has a 50-year history in environmental advocacy from NYC to Rhode Island. From the Friends website: "The Narragansett Indians gave the river its name, Mooshausick, meaning the river where moose watered." Greg hasn't spotted any moose on the river, but he has seen and heard many other creatures. Tune into our conversation about how to make a woodland, being a river keeper, and observing birds. Listen to the end to hear Greg...

In honor of fall bird migration and Halloween, we are re-airing this episode about the birds of African diasporic myth and folklore. Enjoy it again or for the first time. Fresh episodes coming in November and December. --- Kene'h Oweh is the creator and storyteller of By the Fire. In conversation with Ken, she shared myths and folk tales about birds and bird-like creatures of the Black diaspora. She also spoke about feeding birds during the lockdown in London, and her burgeoning...

We sit down with Nate Stick to talk about his sciency childhood, his career path, his blog, fave bird facts, and his bird watching strategies which he wrote about in his book, Birding for the Curious: The Easiest Way for Anyone to Explore the Incredible World of Birds. Nate is the digital communications manager and podcast host at the American Birding Association. You can follow Nate on Instagram at n8swick. +++ Season 4 of Your Bird Story aka CHIRP is funded with a Voice for Nature...

Don't call Rodney Stotts a master falconer. He told me other people gave him the label. He focuses on relationships between birds and people. During our conversation, Rodney refused to choose a favorite bird. Every species and individual bird has special characteristics. He honors people in his life by naming birds after them. "Whenever I am missing one of them, I can take that bird and fly that bird, and it's just like we're together." Dippy's Dream, Rodney's sanctuary, is named for his...

Katy Tanis, children's book writer and illustrator and pattern designer, describes herself as "not a bird-bird person." In our conversation, Katy talks about Edward and Annie, her book about Rockhopper Penguins; her fascination with goldenrod and the Golden-crowned Kinglets who she's observed on this plant; and the cardinals and shore birds near her home. It sounds like Katy is a bird person. Learn more about Katy's art at Daughter Earth. +++ Season 3 of Your Bird Story aka CHIRP is...

In this episode Devan Aptekar shares his joyful journey of being a science teacher in a New York City middle school. Devan's goal for students is for them to graduate middle school believing and knowing they are scientists. Georgia brought the Explore Birds education program to 12 science classes at Devan's school in the fall of 2022. Devan and Georgia talk about the experiences of the students. She asks Devan to discuss how his colleagues perceived the program and the impact the program has...

How do you disrupt the "great forgetting machine" that is colonialism? Biologist and zoologist Dr. Leo Douglas offers this observation among many: "The more we can encourage people to think about this history, it's the more we can bring a broader cross section of society into the conservation fold, and give them a wider variety of reasons why they should be concerned or interested or value the natural world." Dr. Douglas drops many insights in our conversation about the history of the...

Our sister program, Washington Square Park Eco Projects, has been conducting a wildlife survey in Washington Square Park since 2016. Tatiana and Ted, neighborhood residents, volunteer to collect survey data. We spoke with them about their experiences walking the survey transect, noticing birds, and observing the park over time. +++ Season 3 of Your Bird Story aka CHIRP is made possible with a Voice for Nature Foundation grant. +++ Production Creator and Host: Georgia Silvera...

Environmental artist Julie Peppito talks with us about the origin of her art, her family ties to New York, the materials she uses in her "creature-like sculptures, layered tapestries, large installations, collages, and playground art." Our favorite Peppito piece is "United Birds of America," a site-specific sculpture for the "For the Birds" exhibit at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden in 2022. Julie talks about the making of this birdhouse and the American Robin who visited the sculpture as she was...

Kene'h Oweh is the creator and storyteller of By the Fire. In conversation with Ken, she shared myths and folk tales about birds and bird-like creatures of the Black diaspora. She also spoke about feeding birds during the lockdown in London, and her burgeoning interest in pigeons. Definitely subscribe to By the Fire! +++ Season 3 of Your Bird Story aka CHIRP is made possible with a Voice for Nature Foundation grant. +++ Production Creator and Host: Georgia Silvera Seamans Producer and...

Monica Yadeun wears many hats. She is a veterinarian, a bird advocate, and an environmental innovator. Her initiative Pollinator Resorts is part of the World Economic Forum. She founded Guardianas de las Aves. In our conversation, Monica talks about her path to veterinary care, doctoral degree in decolonize pedagogy, bird diversity conservation, and favorite birds(s). She tells us that she gets to know birds by spending time in their places.  Follow Guardianas de las Aves on Instagram...

Katie Leung's childhood interest in charismatic megafauna and predatory mammals and fish has evolved to include raptors like the Eastern Screech-Owl and the Osprey. Katie describes her previous work with raptors in New York City. She is effusive about her new job working on the Hudson River, a "beautiful, vast estuary".  I appreciate Katie's willingness to talk about balancing vigilance in light of anti-Asian hate and enjoying and working in the outdoors. Read about the eagle hacking project...

Last month, Your Bird Story x CHIRP spent two weeks with 12 science classes in a Manhattan public middle school. We showed bird specimens, prepared bird specimens, talked about birds and urban ecology, and swapped bird stories. This episode is based on a recording made in one classroom during the preparation of a Yellow-bellied Cuckoo specimen. Our thanks to TSMS.  +++ Season 3 of Your Bird Story is devoted to bringing more field recordings to listeners. CHIRP, as we are calling this...

UX designer Zoey Liangzhang caught the birding bug in New York City. Among her spark birds was a Red-tailed Hawk that spent time on her fire escape. When she returned to Beijing she immersed herself in the birdwatching community there. In this month's episode, Zoey talks about her birding life in both cities as well as her hopes for the future of birding in Beijing. Follow Zoey's bird adventures on Instagram. Learn more about the organizations she volunteers with such as Friends of Nature....

How much do you know about the American Robin? Turdus migratorius is the focus of the doctoral research of Emily Williams, an avian ecologist. How big are robin roosts? Are female robins territorial? How flexible is their migration? After all, migratory is in their name. Emily's research, based in Washington DC, is highlighting and revealing much about this underappreciated common bird. Follow Emily on Twitter and on her website. +++ Season 3 of Your Bird Story is devoted to bringing more...

The Your Bird Story team listened through our 2-year archive and selected three of our favorite segments to share with you to close out Season Two. You'll hear about deterring bird-airplane conflicts, Black people in the outdoors are not unicorns, making friends through bird watching, experiencing nature as a child, and the importance of caring for nature. Take a listen. +++ Season 2 of Your Bird Story is made possible with a Puffin Foundation grant. +++ Production Creator and Host:...

Large urban centers can be wonderful places to encounter nature. From LA to NYC, Melissa Breyer has experienced urban wildlife, and is keenly aware of threats to wildlife in cities, especially to migratory birds. She works with Project Safeflight to rescue and to collect data about collisions. While changing existing city architecture is a huge task, Melissa reminds us that there are also simple ways to help migratory birds in cities, such as turning off lights at night and keeping cats...

Shimona Quazi, a forester and researcher in Singapore, shares her childhood memories of unstructured and organic discoveries about nature. She recalls exposure to rural birds, caged birds, balcony birds, and family members who went hunting. Through her role as research projects manager, Shimona is knowledgeable about the important role birds play in forest ecosystems. Finally, she points to Singapore's commitment to a green, resilient city. +++ Season 2 of Your Bird Story is made possible...

In this episode, Akilah and Alyssa share their approaches to education and ethical birding. They also spotlight the human dimensions of biological diversity. As New Yorkers it's no surprise they praise the city, but it's no exaggeration! NYC provides opportunities for diverse people, plants, and animals to thrive together. Follow Alyssa on Instagram at alizurd and Akilah on Twitter at BirdingQueens. +++ Season 2 of Your Bird Story is made possible with a Puffin Foundation...