Explore every episode of the podcast Bird Nerd Book Club
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ryan Goldberg - Bird City | 06 Nov 2025 | 00:33:02 | |
Ryan Goldberg came to birding unexpectedly, but as many first-timers do after seeing their “spark” bird, he fell hard. Enamored with the incredible variety of species that pass through his hometown of New York City, and with the other passionate birders he meets, he embarks on a year of reporting on the natural wonders hiding amidst the skyscrapers. He learns that millions of birds migrate through the city each year—more than four hundred different species have been found in New York, many more than in Yellowstone National Park. Connect with me at... GoodReads: Hannah Buschert | |||
| Stephen Rutt - The Seafarers | 09 Oct 2025 | 00:29:46 | |
The British Isles are remarkable for their extraordinary seabird life: spectacular gatherings of charismatic Arctic terns, elegant fulmars and stoic eiders, to name just a few. Often found in the most remote and dramatic reaches of our shores, these colonies are landscapes shaped not by us but by the birds. In 2015, Stephen Rutt escaped his hectic, anxiety-inducing life in London for the bird observatory on North Ronaldsay, the most northerly of the Orkney Islands. In thrall to these windswept havens and the people and birds that inhabit them, he began a journey to the edges of Britain. From Shetland, to the Farnes of Northumberland, down to the Welsh islands off the Pembrokeshire coast, he explores the part seabirds have played in our history and what they continue to mean to Britain today. The Seafarers is the story of those travels: a love letter, written from the rocks and the edges, for the salt-stained, isolated and ever-changing lives of seabirds. This beguiling book reveals what it feels like to be immersed in a completely wild landscape, examining the allure of the remote in an over-crowded world. Connect with me at... GoodReads: Hannah Buschert | |||
| Roger Pasquier - Birds at Rest | 30 Jan 2025 | 00:25:03 | |
Roger Pasquier's Birds at Rest is the first book to give a full picture of how birds rest, roost, and sleep, a vital part of their lives. It features new science that can measure what is happening in a bird’s brain over the course of a night or when it has flown to another hemisphere, as well as still-valuable observations by legendary naturalists such as John James Audubon, Alfred Russel Wallace, and Theodore Roosevelt. Much of what they saw and what ornithologists are studying today can be observed and enjoyed by any birder. Connect with me at... GoodReads: Hannah Buschert | |||
| Ian Parsons - Of the Trees and the Birds | 02 Jan 2025 | 00:28:58 | |
Ian Parsons', Of the Trees and the Birds, tells the story of how trees and birds go together, as they have done for millions of years, evolving long before we did. Over their long and shared history, they have formed numerous relationships, some of which are basic and obvious to us, like a bird using a tree to perch in whilst searching for food. Others are more intricate, but still noticeable to us, with the classic example being that many tree species use birds to propagate their next generation by providing their seed wrapped in nutritious food parcels that we call berries. But even this relationship can be more involved than it at first seems, with some trees using lethal methods to ensure that they get the seed courier method they want, whilst other trees use ultraviolet signals to inform the birds that the berries are ready and even change the shade of the berry to indicate whether it is best eaten in the evening or the morning. Connect with me at... GoodReads: Hannah Buschert | |||
| 2024 Wrap-up with Buteo Books | 05 Dec 2024 | 00:23:45 | |
It is the end of 2024 - so time for a bit of a wrap-up! Lyzy Lusterman, owner of Buteo Books, joined me to talk about some favorites, some trends, and books to look forward to in 2025. Connect with me at... GoodReads: Hannah Buschert | |||
| Tessa Boase - Etta Lemon | 07 Nov 2024 | 00:31:47 | |
Tessa Boase's Etta Lemon is a gripping narrative exploring two formidable heroines and their rival, overlapping campaigns. Moving from the feather workers’ slums to high society, from the first female political rally to the rise of the eco-feminist, it restores Etta Lemon to her rightful place in history – the extraordinary woman who saved the birds. Connect with me at... GoodReads: Hannah Buschert | |||
| John Lawton - Inn Search of Birds | 10 Oct 2024 | 00:31:40 | |
Most birders keep lists of the species birds they have seen, but do any keep a list of pub birds, that is birds on pub signs and in pub names? John Lawton's Inn Search of Birds is about these pub birds, their natural histories, folk-histories and those of the pubs that bear their names, some of the people involved in the story, and the memories that pub birds have evoked over a birding lifetime. This may appear to be a niche aspect of birding but before the advent of modern technology, pubs in ‘good birding spots' were often the best place to find out from other birders “What's about?”, preferably over a pint. Connect with me at... GoodReads: Hannah Buschert | |||
| Lillian Stokes & Matt Young - The Stokes Guide to Finches of the United States and Canada | 12 Sep 2024 | 00:54:56 | |
Lillian Stokes and Matt Young's The Stokes Guide to Finches of the United States and Canada has everything you could possibly want to know about the finches of North America (including Hawaii!) and Canada. Learn all you need to know about identifying and attracting finches with this comprehensive, gloriously colorful field guide from America’s foremost authorities on birds and nature. Connect with me at... GoodReads: Hannah Buschert | |||
| Randi Minetor - The Complete Language of Birds | 15 Aug 2024 | 00:26:05 | |
Randi Minetor's The Complete Language of Birds dives into an unusual dimension of historical and arcane knowledge with the study of birds. A collection of fun and interesting facts about birds gathered from science and culture, the stunning illustrations and lively descriptions make this an engaging guide you’ll return to again and again. Connect with me at... GoodReads: Hannah Buschert | |||
| Sophie Osborn - Feather Trails | 18 Jul 2024 | 00:36:22 | |
Sophie Osborn's Feather Trails: A Journey of Discovery Among Endangered Birds is the story of one woman’s remarkable work with a trio of charismatic, endangered bird species—and her discoveries about the devastating threats that imperil them. A wildlife biologist and birder, Osborn reveals how the harmful environmental choices we’ve made—including pesticide use, the introduction of invasive species, lead poisoning, and habitat destruction—have decimated Peregrine Falcons, Hawaiian Crows, and California Condors. Check out my GoodReads Review. IG: @Hannahgoesbirding and @Erikgoesbirding Connect with me at... GoodReads: Hannah Buschert | |||
| Geoff Wisner - A Year of Birds | 20 Jun 2024 | 00:28:59 | |
Geoff Wisner's A Year of Birds is a work of art as well as a work of literature. With 150 watercolors and field sketches by renowned bird artist Barry Van Dusen and a foreword by celebrated naturalist Peter Alden, the author of numerous Audubon Field Guides, Henry David Thoreau's writings on birds are showcased in a way never seen before. Unlike previous collections, the observations in A YEAR OF BIRDS are arranged by the day of the year, emphasizing the relationship of birds with their environment and the spiritual significance of the seasons. On any given day, curious readers might step into their yards and compare the birds they observe with those that Thoreau saw and heard. IG: @Hannahgoesbirding and @Erikgoesbirding Connect with me at... GoodReads: Hannah Buschert | |||
| Sarah T. Dubb - Birding with Benefits | 23 May 2024 | 00:31:48 | |
Sarah T. Dubb's, Birding with Benefits, published by Gallery Books is a romance novel about a divorcée who embarks on her “year of yes” and crosses paths with a shy and sensitive birdwatcher who changes her life. IG: @Hannahgoesbirding and @Erikgoesbirding Connect with me at... GoodReads: Hannah Buschert | |||
| Michael Brooke - No Island Too Far | 11 Sep 2025 | 00:23:16 | |
Throughout a lifetime of biological and seabird research, Michael Brooke has been blessed with the opportunity to visit a huge array of islands dotted across all the oceans of the world. His is an island list fit to make the armchair traveller green with envy – and potentially seasick. Truly no island has been too far: from St Kilda to Spitsbergen, from Hawaii to the furthest reaches of the Southern Ocean, with all manner of destinations in between. No Island Too Far is deeply knowledgeable and at times humorous book, Brooke shares the experience of stupendous scenery, amazing wildlife and cutting-edge scientific investigation, all blended with idiosyncratic adventures. We discover a great deal about the peculiar ecology and unique species of islands, looking at everything from plants, mammals, reptiles and birds to human aspects, with a splash of history and anecdote. Check out my GoodReads Review here. Connect with me at... GoodReads: Hannah Buschert | |||
| Jeff Ollerton - Birds and Flowers | 25 Apr 2024 | 00:36:23 | |
Jeff Ollerton's Birds and Flowers explores the relationships between plants and birds which first emerged at least 50 million years ago and over time have influenced the evolution of both groups. Check out my GoodReads review IG: @Hannahgoesbirding and @Erikgoesbirding Connect with me at... GoodReads: Hannah Buschert | |||
| Gretchen Newberry - The Nighthawk's Evening | 28 Mar 2024 | 00:19:58 | |
Gretchen Newberry's The Nighthawk Evening focuses on the bird itself—its complex conservation status and cultural significance—and the larger, often hidden world of nocturnal animals. Along the way, she gives readers insight into the daily life of a scientist, especially one who works primarily at night. The Nighthawk’s Evening uses one scientist and one species to explore the challenges, disappointments, and successes of scientific research and conservation efforts. IG: @Hannahgoesbirding and @Erikgoesbirding Connect with me at... GoodReads: Hannah Buschert | |||
| Jordan Spalding - Black-throated Blue Warbler | 29 Feb 2024 | 00:24:09 | |
Jordan Spalding's Black-throated Blue Warbler looks into the life of a female black-throated blue warbler throughout a single breeding season, from migration to migration. It is an exploration of the natural environment and a celebration of the tenacity of life. As well as delving into where the natural sciences meet the natural world and the impact we have on the places we work to protect. IG: @Hannahgoesbirding and @Erikgoesbirding Connect with me at... GoodReads: Hannah Buschert | |||
| Susan Myers - The Bird Name Book | 01 Feb 2024 | 00:23:55 | |
Susan Myers, The Bird Name Book, is an alphabetical reference book on the origins and meanings of common group bird names, from “accentor” to “zeledonia.” A cornucopia of engaging facts and anecdotes, this superbly researched compendium presents a wealth of incisive entries alongside stunning photos by the author and beautiful historic prints and watercolors. Myers provides brief biographies of prominent figures in ornithology―such as John Gould, John Latham, Alfred Newton, and Robert Ridgway―and goes on to describe the etymological history of every common group bird name found in standardized English. She interweaves the stories behind the names with quotes from publications dating back to the 1400s, illuminating the shared evolution of language and our relationships with birds, and rooting the names in the history of ornithological discovery. IG: @Hannahgoesbirding and @Erikgoesbirding Connect with me at... GoodReads: Hannah Buschert | |||
| Trish O'Kane - Birding to Change the World | 04 Jan 2024 | 00:43:50 | |
Trish O'Kane's Birding to Change the World details the astonishing science of bird life, from migration and parenting to the territorial defense strategies that influenced her own activism. A warm and compelling weave of science and social engagement, this is the story of an improbably band of bird lovers who saved their park. And it is a blueprint for muscular citizenship, powered by joy. Connect with me at... GoodReads: Hannah Buschert | |||
| Cameron Cox - Terns of North America | 07 Dec 2023 | 00:30:26 | |
Cameron Cox's Terns of North America: A Photographic Guide published by Princeton University Press, is the essential identification guide to the terns, noddies, and skimmers of North America. Covering every species and featuring hundreds of high-quality color images, this book is the ideal companion for anyone interested in this charismatic but sometimes challenging group of seabirds. Connect with me at... GoodReads: Hannah Buschert | |||
| Heather Wolf - Find More Birds | 09 Nov 2023 | 00:34:18 | |
Find More Birds by Heather Wolf is a gorgeously photographed trove of 111 ingenious tips for seeing more birds wherever you are—from crowd favorites (hummingbirds, owls, eagles) to species you’ve never spotted before. Connect with me at... GoodReads: Hannah Buschert | |||
| Yellowstone's Birds | 12 Oct 2023 | 00:37:57 | |
Yellowstone's Birds: Diversity and Abundance in the World's First National Park, edited by Douglas W. Smith, Lauren E. Walker, and Katherine E. Duffy, explores a beloved national treasure: Yellowstone National Park. Established in 1872, Yellowstone National Park is the oldest and arguably the most famous national park in North America, attracting millions of visitors each year. While many come to the park for its recreational activities, the wildlife of Yellowstone is just as alluring. This book brings together more than 30 leading experts to provide the first comprehensive survey of the natural history, science, and conservation of birds in Yellowstone. Covering most bird species breeding within the great park as well as the many migrants that pass through, Yellowstone’s Birds is a scientific tour de force and an essential resource for visitors to Yellowstone and bird lovers everywhere. Read my GoodReads review here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5829652445 Connect with me at... GoodReads: Hannah Buschert | |||
| Conor Mark Jameson - Find W. H. Hudson | 14 Sep 2023 | 00:51:01 | |
Finding W. H. Hudson by Conor Mark Jameson came about due to an imposing, life-size oil painting dominates the main meeting room at the RSPB’s base in the heart of England: ‘the man above the fireplace’ – always present, rarely mentioned. Curious about the person in the portrait, the author began a quest to rediscover William Henry Hudson (1841–1922). It became a mission of restoration: stitching back together the faded tapestry of Hudson’s life, re-colouring it in places and adding new threads from the testaments of his closest friends. Read my GoodReads review here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5780861794 Connect with me at... GoodReads: Hannah Buschert | |||
| Mary Colwell - Curlew Moon | 17 Aug 2023 | 00:24:10 | |
Curlew Moon by Mary Colwell is the chronicles of her impressive journey, weaving a wonderfully told story of the experiences on her walk, interspersed with the natural history of this most impressive of birds that has fascinated us for millennia. Colwell started walking in the early spring when birds were first arriving on their breeding grounds in the west of Ireland, walking through to Wales when they incubated their eggs. She then travelled through England to coincide with the time when the chicks were hatching. Six weeks after setting out she arrived in East Anglia as the fledglings were beginning to try out their wings. By finishing on the east coast, she marked the place where many curlews would come to spend the winter. Read my GoodReads review here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5699892181 Connect with me at... GoodReads: Hannah Buschert | |||
| Michael J. Parr - The Birds of the Tropical Andes | 14 Aug 2025 | 00:33:10 | |
Spanning much of the western part of South America, the Andes are home to some of the world’s most magnificent birds, from exquisite hummingbirds to fabulous flamingos. This beautifully illustrated large-format book celebrates the splendor and extraordinary diversity of Andean birds and the habitats they depend on. It draws on the latest findings from the field and sheds light on the lush alpine and forested terrains that make this avifauna so rich and plentiful. With illuminating essays that share invaluable perspectives from some of the region’s leading bird conservationists, Birds of the Tropical Andes takes readers from the Pacific coast to the jungles of the Amazon, crossing peaks and high plains in search of spectacular birdlife. Check out my GoodReads Review. Connect with me at... GoodReads: Hannah Buschert | |||
| Merilyn Simonds - Woman, Watching | 20 Jul 2023 | 00:27:01 | |
Woman, Watching: Louise de Kiriline Lawrence and the Songbirds of Pimisi Bay by Merilyn Simonds is a remarkable biography of an extraordinary woman — a Swedish aristocrat who survived the Russian Revolution to become an internationally renowned naturalist, one of the first to track the mid-century decline of songbirds. Read my GoodReads review here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4782820121 Connect with me at... GoodReads: Hannah Buschert | |||
| Colin Beale - 101 Curious Tales of East African Birds | 22 Jun 2023 | 00:23:05 | |
101 Curious Tales of East African Birds offers bite-size stories about fascinating birds featuring cutting-edge research. And is packed with stunning photographs of East African birds, both iconic and little known. Read my GoodReads review here: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/61728879 Connect with me at... GoodReads: Hannah Buschert | |||
| Cin-Ty Lee & Andrew Birch, Field Guide to North American Flycatchers | 25 May 2023 | 00:27:58 | |
Field Guide to North American Flycatchers: Empidonax and Pewees is the first guide from Cin-Ty Lee, illustrated by Andrew Birch that covers a difficult group of birds for beginners through expert birders. Connect with me at... GoodReads: Hannah Buschert | |||
| Julia Zarankin, Field Notes from an Unintentional Birder | 27 Apr 2023 | 00:22:50 | |
Julia's first book, Field Notes from an Unintentional Birder, is a Canadian bestseller published by Douglas & McIntyre in 2020. Connect with me at... GoodReads: Hannah Buschert | |||
| Jennifer Bristol, Cemetery Birding | 30 Mar 2023 | 00:28:05 | |
Jen Bristol's new book, Cemetery Birding, is an unexpected guide to birding some amazing spots that don't get visited too often. Connect with me at... GoodReads: Hannah Buschert | |||
| Trailer | 25 Mar 2023 | 00:00:41 | |
Welcome to the Bird Nerd Book Club! Connect with me at... GoodReads: Hannah Buschert | |||
| Chris Sweeney - The Feather Detective | 17 Jul 2025 | 00:32:57 | |
In The Feather Detective, award-winning journalist Chris Sweeney charts the astonishing life and work of this overlooked pioneer. Once divorced, once widowed, and sometimes surly, Roxie shattered stereotypes and pushed boundaries. Her story is one of persistence and grit, obsession and ingenuity. Drawing on reams of archival material, court documents, and exclusive interviews, Sweeney delivers a moving and amusing portrait of a woman who overcame cultural and scientific obstacles at every turn, forever changing our understanding of birds—and the feathers they leave behind. Check out my GoodReads Review. Connect with me at... GoodReads: Hannah Buschert | |||
| Becca Rowland - Bird Talk | 19 Jun 2025 | 00:19:45 | |
Have you ever gone for a walk in the woods and wondered what bird was making a sound like a siren going off, or somebody revving a chainsaw engine—or sneezing? Do you hear birds every day, in the park or your neighborhood, but never know quite what you are listening to? Birds are singing all around us, and author and illustrator Becca Rowland, aka Girl in White Glasses, connects the dots between their songs and the birds who make them, helping you to easily identify and remember their calls in her book, Bird Talk: Hilariously Accurate Ways to Identify Birds by the Sounds They Make. Combining illustrations of common and rare birds with fascinating facts and whimsical descriptions of their calls, this book is full of humor and charm. Connect with me at... GoodReads: Hannah Buschert | |||
| Peter Cavanagh - How Birds Fly | 22 May 2025 | 00:40:44 | |
Bird flight is a mesmerizing spectacle, yet its intricacies remain largely shrouded in mystery for most. Even after over a century of study, certain aspects of bird flight continue to baffle the public and ornithologists alike. Peter Cavanagh, a dedicated bird photographer, pilot, and expert in the fields of biomechanics and anatomy, has dedicated a decade to crafting this remarkable book, How Birds Fly. Through awe-inspiring photography and conversational prose, Peter unveils the complex evolutions and physics of bird flight, making it accessible to bird lovers of all levels. Connect with me at... GoodReads: Hannah Buschert | |||
| Danielle Whittaker - The Secret Perfume of Birds | 24 Apr 2025 | 00:26:32 | |
Danielle Whittaker's The Secret Perfume of Birds is the untold story of a stunning discovery: not only can birds smell, but their scents may be the secret to understanding their world. Check out my GoodReads review. Connect with me at... GoodReads: Hannah Buschert | |||
| Mike Stark - Starlings: The Curious Odyssey of a Most Hated Bird | 27 Mar 2025 | 00:21:46 | |
Mike Stark’s Starlings: The Curious Odyssey of a Most Hated Bird is a first-of-its-kind history of starlings in America, an oddball, love-hate story at the intersection of human folly, ornithology, and one bird’s tenacious will to endure. Has there ever been a more hated bird than the European starling? Let loose in New York City’s Central Park by a misguided aristocrat, the starlings were supposed to help curb insect outbreaks and add to the tuneful choir of other songbirds. Rather than staying put, the dark and speckled starlings marched across the continent like a conquering army. In less than sixty years, they were in every state in the contiguous United States and their numbers topped two hundred million. Cities came under siege; crops buckled beneath their weight. Public sentiment quickly soured. Check out my GoodReads Review. Connect with me at... GoodReads: Hannah Buschert | |||
| Matt Kracht - Worst Birds Ever | 27 Feb 2025 | 00:28:39 | |
Professional birding amateur and national bestselling author Matt Kracht has had it with these goddamn birds. His new book, A Dumb Birds Field Guide to the Worst Birds Ever, is a warning, a field guide to help you identify and stay away from the absolute worst birds ever to plague planet Earth. Featuring an all-new scientific scale devised by the author that proves how awful birds really are. Check out my GoodReads Review. Connect with me at... GoodReads: Hannah Buschert | |||
| 2025 Wrap-up with Buteo Books | 04 Dec 2025 | 00:25:13 | |
It is the end of 2025 - so time for a bit of a wrap-up! Lyzy Lusterman, owner of Buteo Books, joined me to talk about some favorites, some trends, and books to look forward to in 2025. Connect with me at... GoodReads: Hannah Buschert | |||
| Dr. Grainne Cleary - Why Do Birds Sing | 01 Jan 2026 | 00:30:56 | |
While the question 'why do birds sing?' might seem a simple one, the answer is complex! Connect with me at... GoodReads: Hannah Buschert | |||
| Tim Beatley - The Bird-Friendly City | 29 Jan 2026 | 00:36:37 | |
*I am aware I uploaded the incorrect file initially. The correct file has been posted, however it can take time for streaming services to update.* How does a bird experience a city? A backyard? A park? As the world has become more urban, noisier from increased traffic, and brighter from streetlights and office buildings, it has also become more dangerous for countless species of birds. Also check out... The Promise of Bird-Friendly Cities Connect with me at... GoodReads: Hannah Buschert | |||
| Jennifer Bristol - Wild Women For Good | 26 Feb 2026 | 00:31:17 | |
Women have been shaping the conservation movement in Texas since the nineteenth century, though their stories are rarely told. Women played an invaluable role in the establishment of parks, protection of wildlife, developing policies that value nature, and defending communities against pollution and destruction of habitat. Their efforts enriched and reinforced the natural heritage of Texas. Jennifer Bristol's Wild Women for Good: Stories of Conservation in Texas celebrates those who dared to step forward to make a difference and to tell the complex story of conservation in the Lone Star state. Wild Women for Good spans a century and a half of conservationists—rural and urban—and the differences they made. Opening with the first conservation movement in Texas and the effort to stop the millenary industry’s slaughter of birds for their plumage, the book shows how early advocates broke down barriers and opened doors for other women to save and protect species, land, and water for future generations. Connect with me at... GoodReads: Hannah Buschert | |||
| James H. McCommons - The Feather Wars | 26 Mar 2026 | 00:37:18 | |
An epic, fascinating history of the fight to save America's birds featuring heroes, martyrs, villains, and conflicted do-gooders. James H. McCommons', The Feather Wars is an entertaining and expansive work of American history, an incredible story about how disparate characters—progressive politicians, free-thinking society belles, nature writers and artists, bird-loving U.S. presidents, gunmakers, business titans, and brave game wardens—came together to save hundreds of species of birds. Heroes, martyrs, villains, and conflicted do-gooders—the early bird conservation movement had them all. Together they transformed how Americans thought and cared about birds, forever altering the American landscape. Check out my GoodReads review. More about James: https://www.jamesmccommons.com/ Connect with me at... GoodReads: Hannah Buschert | |||
| Maria Mudd Ruth - The Bird with Flaming Red Feet | 23 Apr 2026 | 00:33:41 | |
Author and longtime volunteer surveyor Maria Mudd Ruth weaves together science, field observation, and community storytelling in this engaging exploration of one bird’s life. Drawing from over a decade of beachside study, she dives deep into the guillemot’s behaviors, quirky traits, and ecological relationships. Along the way, readers meet the passionate citizen scientists who have built a unique community around caring for and studying this vibrant bird. Check out my GoodReads review. Connect with me at... GoodReads: Hannah Buschert | |||
| Richard Smyth - A Sweet, Wild Note | 21 May 2026 | 00:30:22 | |
Birdsong is the soundtrack to our world. We have tried to capture its fleeting, ephemeral beauty, and the feelings it inspires, for millennia. Richard Smyth's A Sweet, Wild Note explores science, music, literature, landscape and the thousand different ways in which birdsong has moved us. A bright song on a lonely street can lift our mood, bringing comfort, wonder or joy. But can we learn to listen, really listen, to what the birds are saying? Or do they just tell us back our own tales? More about Richard Smyth. Connect with me at... GoodReads: Hannah Buschert | |||