Explore every episode of the podcast Birds of a Feather Talk Together
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 55: Peg-billed Finch - Elusive bird from Costa Rica, Shannon and John's experience with them | 26 Aug 2024 | 00:31:13 | |
A bird that not very many people have seen in the wild, but it turns out that Shannon and John have seen a lot of them. They are native to Costa Rica, and only come out when the bamboo is flowering - which is not very often. Hear all about Shannon and John's trip to Costa Rica and learn more about these amazing little birds. Here are links to our social and YouTube pages, give us a follow: | |||
| 54: Black-billed Magpie - Fighting cats, bird funerals, and interactions with humans | 19 Aug 2024 | 00:29:15 | |
Discover the Fascinating Black-Billed Magpie – A Deep Dive into These Intelligent, Exotic Birds In this exciting episode, RJ Pole and Amanda Marquart share their personal experiences with Black-billed Magpies from their time living in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. These incredible birds are known for their intelligence, striking appearance, and unique behaviors. Join bird experts John Bates and Shannon Hackett as they provide insightful facts and fascinating information about the Black-billed Magpie, one of North America's most captivating species. From their smart problem-solving abilities to their beautiful plumage, this episode covers everything you need to know about these exotic birds. Plus, don't miss our special segment where we answer a fun listener question about Wombat poop vs. bird poop! Tune in now for an informative and fun-filled episode about Black-billed Magpies, with expert insights from our bird-loving hosts. Please send us your questions for us to answer as well! You can send them to podcast.birdsofafeather@gmail.com Here are links to our social and YouTube pages, give us a follow: | |||
| 46: Cicadas with Maureen Turcatel - impact on birds, blue-eyed cicada, and fungus! | 17 Jun 2024 | 00:50:15 | |
This week is a little different as we aren't discussing a bird, but rather the cicada phenomenon happening in Illinois right now. Maureen Turcatel of the Field Museum joins us to talk about the two different broods of cicadas both happening at the same time (the 13 year cicada and the 17 year cicada). We talk about how this is impacting birds, the rare blue-eyed cicada, and also the fungus that is making cicadas hyper-sexual. There was a cool segment on cicadas in the tv show The Americas with Tom Hanks, we hope this helps tell that story too! Make sure to follow us on instagram and tik tok as well!! Here are links to our social and YouTube pages, give us a follow: | |||
| 45: Ruby-Throated Hummingbird - Also a question on feather iridescence and/or mutation | 10 Jun 2024 | 00:36:00 | |
Somehow it has taken us 45 episodes to get to our first hummingbird - but it's finally here! We have a ton of fun talking about the ruby-throated hummingbird today. John Bates, Shannon Hackett, RJ Pole, and Amanda Marquart are all here for our hummingbird discussion. Enjoy! Here are links to our social and YouTube pages, give us a follow: | |||
| 44: House Wren, we also talk about The Archaeopteryx at the Field Museum | 03 Jun 2024 | 00:34:17 | |
This week we talk about the house wren, but first we talk a little bit about the newest addition to the Field Museum: The Archaeopteryx. A fossil called Archaeopteryx, with feathers, hollow bones, clawed wings, fifty tiny teeth, and a long bony tail, is the earliest known dinosaur that also qualifies as a bird. Here are links to our social and YouTube pages, give us a follow: | |||
| 43: Kirtland's Warbler - Back From the Endangered Species List, Connection to Leopold and Loeb? | 27 May 2024 | 00:38:03 | |
We talk about a bird that was majorly affected by the parasitic brown-headed cowbird so much that it was on the endangered species list for nearly 50 years. One of the rarest songbirds in North America, the Kirtland’s Warbler migrates back and forth from the Bahamas to Michigan every year. We also learn that this bird was studied back in the 1920’s by Nathan Leopold, one half of the murdering crime pair Leopold and Loeb. We kick it off talking about the Whooping Crane that was spotted in the northern Chicago suburbs. We also answer a mailbag question on using fake calls when looking for birds. Here are links to our social and YouTube pages, give us a follow: | |||
| 42: Brown-Headed Cowbird - Laying eggs in someone else's nest | 20 May 2024 | 00:32:33 | |
Brown-headed cowbirds don't build nests - instead they sneak into other nests and lay their eggs and let other birds raise their young for them. Many consider them 'mafia' birds, as they will destroy another bird's nest if they aren't raising their young correctly. These parasitic birds will outgrow the other chicks in the nest, its kind of like a horror story! Hear all about these bizarre birds in this awesome episode of Birds of a Feather Talk Together. John Bates, Shannon Hackett, RJ Pole, and Amanda Marquart discuss the brown-headed cowbird. Here are links to our social and YouTube pages, give us a follow: | |||
| 41: Wes Larson of Tooth and Claw Talks Southern Cassowaries and His Epic Australia Adventure | 13 May 2024 | 00:50:35 | |
In this electrifying episode of Birds of a Feather Talk Together, we’re joined by none other than Wes Larson, the visionary behind Tooth and Claw, as he takes us on an unforgettable journey to Australia in search of one of the world's most elusive and fascinating birds—the Southern Cassowary. Known for its striking appearance and powerful presence, the Southern Cassowary is as mysterious as it is majestic. Wes shares his firsthand experience tracking this incredible bird in Australia and offers a glimpse into the wild world of conservation, birdwatching, and adventure. Whether you're a seasoned birder or a wildlife enthusiast, this episode is packed with jaw-dropping insights, behind-the-scenes stories, and expert knowledge that will leave you inspired to embark on your own birdwatching adventures. Tune in for a fascinating conversation about what it’s like to witness one of nature’s true wonders up close, and learn why the Southern Cassowary is both a conservation success story and a reminder of the fragile beauty of our planet. Don’t miss this exclusive interview with Wes Larson of Tooth and Claw—subscribe, listen, and join us in exploring the wild world of birds, one feathered friend at a time! Here are links to our social and YouTube pages, give us a follow: | |||
| 40: Blackpoll Warbler - Impressive Migration, Also More About Warblers... | 05 May 2024 | 00:45:36 | |
Warbler season is officially here. We talk about the Blackpoll Warbler - the warbler with one of the longest and most impressive migration. Here are links to our social and YouTube pages, give us a follow: | |||
| 39: Bald Eagles - Massive Nests, Aerial Cartwheels, and Coming Back From DDT | 29 Apr 2024 | 00:35:19 | |
Bald Eagles are amazing - everyone knows it. We touch on everything from Benjamin Franklin, to how DDT decimated their population and the significant comeback that they've made, to their aerial cartwheel performances. It's a really fascinating episode, and we learn about the 'eagle suit' that Amanda's sister's dog wears so he doesn't get picked up by a bald eagle in his backyard. Here are links to our social and YouTube pages, give us a follow: | |||
| 38: Florida Trip - Osprey, Brown Pelican, Shorebirds, and we also talk about the Eclipse | 22 Apr 2024 | 00:47:19 | |
This week's episode is a little different than usual. Instead of discussing one bird, we talk about RJ and Amanda's recent trip to Florida and all of the birds that they saw. RJ and Amanda ask John and Shannon about the Osprey, Brown Pelicans, Cormorants, Black Skimmers, American Oystercatchers, and many more. Here are links to our social and YouTube pages, give us a follow: | |||
| 37: European Roller - Migration Across the Sahara, Vomiting for Self-Defense | 08 Apr 2024 | 00:26:15 | |
John and Shannon's son moved to Slovakia to play professional hockey - so we discuss a bird native to that area: The European Roller. These birds are super cool and so much fun to learn about. From their interesting leapfrogging migration pattern to Africa, to the self-defense method that many of their chicks use: vomiting. Make sure to google these birds because their color is absolutely magnificent. Here are links to our social and YouTube pages, give us a follow: | |||
| 53: Greater Roadrunner - Adaptations to Live In the Desert, How Fast Are They? | 12 Aug 2024 | 00:42:33 | |
You might know him from the cartoon - but there's a lot more to the Greater Roadrunner than just saying beep beep. We talk all about the adaptations these speedy birds have made to be able to live in the desert, some interesting facts from the actual cartoon, as well as answer a mailbag question on the book The Feather Thief. John Bates, Shannon Hackett, RJ Pole, and Amanda Marquart discuss the Greater Roadrunner in this week's episode. Here are links to our social and YouTube pages, give us a follow: | |||
| 36: The Brown Creeper, How Animals Evolved to Fly, and Round 2 of Round Robin Voting! | 01 Apr 2024 | 00:30:35 | |
This week we talk about one of Shannon’s favorite birds: The Brown Creeper. The way these tiny little birds climb all over trees, and look like a piece of bark, is truly amazing, and adorable. Here are links to our social and YouTube pages, give us a follow: | |||
| 35: European Starlings with Louise Bodt + Round Robin Tourney First Round Voting :) | 25 Mar 2024 | 00:35:55 | |
This week we talk to Louise Bodt about the European Starlings. Louise Bodt is a PhD candidate at the University of Chicago and the Field Museum using introduced birds to study rapid evolutionary change. Prior to joining the Field Museum birds lab, she worked as a science educator in NYC where she got her MS in biology investigating genetics of invasive European starlings. Here are links to our social and YouTube pages, give us a follow: | |||
| 34: European Goldfinches with Louise Bodt - European birds introduced in the U.S. | 18 Mar 2024 | 00:36:01 | |
This week we talk to Louise Bodt about the European Goldfinch. Although they are native to Europe, there is actually a population living in Northern Illinois and Southern Wisconsin. Louise tells us how they got there, other examples of them being introduced, and much more. Louise Bodt is a PhD candidate at the University of Chicago and the Field Museum using introduced birds to study rapid evolutionary change. Prior to joining the Field Museum birds lab, she worked as a science educator in NYC where she got her MS in biology investigating genetics of invasive European starlings. Louise is such an amazing guest, you're going to enjoy this one!! Here are links to our social and YouTube pages, give us a follow: | |||
| 33: Tufted Puffins - Shannon's Favorite Puffin | 11 Mar 2024 | 00:32:15 | |
This week Shannon makes her case for why Tufted Puffins are the best. Amanda points out that the tufts look like the hair on the back of Donald Trump's head, which doesn't go over well with Shannon :). It's a blast and a ton of fun discussing the Tufted Puffin. Marky Mutchler joins us again on this one, Marky is a PHD student at the University of Chicago. Here are links to our social and YouTube pages, give us a follow: | |||
| 32: Common Puffin (Or Atlantic Puffin) - John's Favorite Puffin | 04 Mar 2024 | 00:26:40 | |
A listener wrote in and asked for us to do a puffin episode. It turns out that John and Shannon each have a different favorite puffin. This week we'll talk about John's favorite: the Common Puffin (or Atlantic Puffin.) Next week we'll talk about the Tufted Puffin. Puffins are so cool, you'll enjoy this one and next week's as well! Marky Mutchler joins us again this week as well. Enjoy!! Here are links to our social and YouTube pages, give us a follow: | |||
| 31: Limpkins Interview Part 2 with Marky Mutchler | 26 Feb 2024 | 00:25:33 | |
Part 2 of our interview Marky Mutchler to talk about Limpkins. Marky is a PHD student at the University of Chicago, and is studying limpkins. Limpkins have been seen outside of their range, as far north as Chicago and even Nova Scotia. One limpkin was found dead in Illinois recently, and the dead bird was brought to the Field Museum for research, so we talk to Marky, John, and Shannon to see what they’ve learned. Here are links to our social and YouTube pages, give us a follow: | |||
| 30: Limpkins Interview Part 1 with Marky Mutchler | 20 Feb 2024 | 00:24:29 | |
We interview Marky Mutchler this week and talk about Limpkins. Marky is a PHD student at the University of Chicago, and is studying limpkins. If you’re not familiar, Limpkins are a bird that is native to South America and their range covers Florida as well. They’ve been expanding northwards lately, and there were many citing in Illinois this summer. Marky tells us about them being spotted as far north as Nova Scotia as well. Will they be able to survive winters? How are they finding food in these new locations? Marky talks us through many of the theories and evidence as well. One of the limpkins was found dead in Illinois recently, and the dead bird was brought to the Field Museum for research, so we talk to Marky, John, and Shannon to see what they’ve learned. Here are links to our social and YouTube pages, give us a follow: | |||
| 29: Flame Bowerbird - Building A Bower and Attracting A Mate | 12 Feb 2024 | 00:28:12 | |
Join John Bates, Shannon Hackett, RJ Pole, and Amanda Marquart as we talk about flame bowerbirds. John and Shannon provide a lot of really fascinating information on these incredible birds, from how they can manipulate the size of their pupils, how they use blue objects to attract a mate, and why we don’t know more about these birds in general. Here are links to our social and YouTube pages, give us a follow: | |||
| 28: Blue Jays - Acorns and Oak Trees | 05 Feb 2024 | 00:35:51 | |
On this week's episode we discuss Blue Jays. Join John Bates, Shannon Hackett, RJ Pole, and Amanda Marquart as we talk all about Blue Jays. We talk about how bird flu changed their population, their inconsistent migration, and their relationship with acorns and oak trees. We kick off the episode talking about Sharp-Tailed Grouse in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. Here are links to our social and YouTube pages, give us a follow: | |||
| 27: Birds of a Feather Talk Together Backstory - Our Origin Story | 29 Jan 2024 | 00:14:13 | |
This week we are doing something a little different - we are telling you our origin story. With so many episodes out on different birds, we wanted to give our listeners an explanation of who we are, how we got together, and why we are making this podcast. Join John Bates, Shannon Hackett, RJ Pole, and Amanda Marquart in our Birds of a Feather Talk Together origin story. Here are links to our social and YouTube pages, give us a follow: | |||
| 52: Burrowing Owls with Aiyana Reissman from Living Coast Discovery Center | 05 Aug 2024 | 00:58:24 | |
Join us this week to talk about Burrowing Owls. These super cool and tiny owls live in burrows in the ground. Hear why, and all about their super unique behavior in this week's episode. Our usual hosts John Bates, Shannon Hackett, RJ Pole, and Amanda Marquart are joined by Aiyana Reissman to talk Burrowing Owls. Aiyana is the Animal Care Manager at the Living Coast Discovery Center in San Diego, California and has a ton of experience with these owls. Here are links to our social and YouTube pages, give us a follow: | |||
| 26: Mallard Duck - We Also Talk About Christmas Bird Count | 22 Jan 2024 | 00:41:16 | |
John talks about the Christmas Bird Count, and then we talk all about the Mallard Duck. From their sexual dimorphism (for part of the year), to their matching speculum stripes, to how they differ from other ducks. Join John Bates, Shannon Hackett, RJ Pole, and Amanda Marquart in our most recent episode. Here are links to our social and YouTube pages, give us a follow: | |||
| 25: Puteketeke or Great Crested Grebe - Thanks John Oliver for Making This 'Bird of the Century' | 15 Jan 2024 | 00:36:52 | |
We kick off the new year talking about the Puteketeke or the Great Crested Grebe. We were following closely while John Oliver's campaign to make this New Zealand's bird of the century, and are so excited to talk about this super cool bird. John Oliver used his show 'Last Week Tonight' to raise awareness about these birds, and in turn raised a ton of awareness about birds in general, particularly in New Zealand. We talk about the Puteketeke's exotic mating dance, to carrying chicks on their back, to whether or not they actually fly? Join John Bates, Shannon Hackett, RJ Pole, and Amanda Marquart in our most recent episode. Here are links to our social and YouTube pages, give us a follow: | |||
| 24: The Hoatzin - A Link To The Dinosaurs? | 18 Dec 2023 | 00:26:04 | |
These birds have claws on their wings when they are young, and may be a link back to the dinosaurs. Join John Bates, Shannon Hackett, RJ Pole, Amanda Marquart, and our guest Jacob Drucker to talk about the Hoatzin. This is a fun episode where we talk about these strange, unique, and downright fascinating birds. Here are links to our social and YouTube pages, give us a follow: | |||
| 23: Rock Pigeons (Rock Doves) - You see them everywhere in the city, but did you know how amazing they are? | 11 Dec 2023 | 00:32:06 | |
Join John Bates, Shannon Hackett, RJ Pole, Amanda Marquart, and our guest Jacob Drucker to talk about Rock Pigeons. One of our listeners wrote in and asked us to do an episode on Pigeons, and what a great idea that was! From their navigational abilities, to the impact that humans have had on their evolution, to their color variation, we cover so many interesting topics. You'll gain a new appreciation for these birds, and won't ever look at them the same way. Here are links to our social and YouTube pages, give us a follow: | |||
| 22: Hawaiian Honeycreepers with Jacob Drucker - Part 2 | 04 Dec 2023 | 00:35:50 | |
Part 2 of John Bates, Shannon Hackett, RJ Pole, and Amanda Marquart interviewing Jacob Drucker to discuss Hawaiian Honeycreepers. Here are links to our social and YouTube pages, give us a follow: | |||
| 21: Hawaiian Honeycreepers with Jacob Drucker - Part 1 | 27 Nov 2023 | 00:29:57 | |
John Bates, Shannon Hackett, RJ Pole, and Amanda Marquart interview Jacob Drucker this week to discuss Hawaiian Honeycreepers. Here are links to our social and YouTube pages, give us a follow: | |||
| 20: Wild Turkey - Conservation success, magnificent feathers, sexual dimorphism | 20 Nov 2023 | 00:27:19 | |
We have a Thanksgiving special this week as we discuss the Wild Turkey. These birds are a major conservation success story, hear all about it in this weeks episode. We also talk about John seeing a turkey in the Democratic Republic of Congo, how turkeys got their name, and learn all about their magnificent feathers. Join John Bates, Shannon Hackett, RJ Pole, and Amanda Marquart for Birds of a Feather Talk Together. Here are links to our social and YouTube pages, give us a follow: | |||
| Teaser: Sticker Giveaway + Update on New Episodes | 10 Nov 2023 | 00:01:38 | |
New episodes coming soon. In the meantime, who wants free stickers? Here are links to our social and YouTube pages, give us a follow: | |||
| 19: Ravens - How Smart Are Birds? Using Tools and Imitating Calls | 30 Oct 2023 | 00:20:22 | |
Happy Halloween! Today we cover one of the smartest birds that also happens to be associated with death and overall spookiness: The Raven. They know how to use tools, can impersonate other birds, and possibly could even say the word "Nevermore"... Hear all about Ravens in this week's episode. John Bates, Shannon Hackett, RJ Pole, and Amanda Marquart discuss Ravens. Here are links to our social and YouTube pages, give us a follow: | |||
| 18: The Shoebill - A Large Bird With An Even Larger Bill - Also A Beginners Guide To Birding | 23 Oct 2023 | 00:23:37 | |
This bird has been a viral sensation lately: The Shoebill! Hear John Bates, Shannon Hackett, RJ Pole, and Amanda Marquart discuss this wildly unique African bird. Its gigantic shoe-shaped bill and its stoic demeanor have made this bird ripe for folklore. Hear what it was like for John to see a Shoebill in the wild, and learn more about these magnificent (and a little bit spooky) birds. Here are links to our social and YouTube pages, give us a follow: | |||
| 51: Multiple Topics: Belted Kingfisher Family, CT Scanning Birds, Bird Dialect, and A Movie About Cowbirds? | 29 Jul 2024 | 01:06:18 | |
This week a little different than our usual episodes. Instead of talking about a single bird species, we each brought a different topic to the table to talk about. We talked about baby belted Kingfishers, CT scanning birds, different bird dialects, and a movie idea where a brown-headed cowbird leaves an egg in a human’s bassinet. What genre would that movie be? Listen to find out! Join John Bates, Shannon Hackett, RJ Pole, and Amanda Marquart for this week's episode of Birds of a Feather Talk Together. Here are links to our social and YouTube pages, give us a follow: | |||
| 17: Bloodsucking Birds! Vampire Finches, Oxpeckers, and Egyptian Plovers - Oh my! | 09 Oct 2023 | 00:23:46 | |
Spooky season is officially here, as we get together to talk about Bloodsucking Birds. There is an event at The Field Museum in Chicago later this month that is about bloodsuckers of all kinds, so we decided to release an episode all about bloodsucking birds. Join John Bates, Shannon Hackett, RJ Pole, and Amanda Marquart as we discuss Vampire Finches, Oxpeckers, and the myth that Flamingos feed blood to their young. Here are links to our social and YouTube pages, give us a follow: | |||
| 16: Bird Collisions in Chicago - Nearly 1,000 Birds Die In A Single Night | 09 Oct 2023 | 00:20:38 | |
You've probably seen it on the news, but hear what John and Shannon have to say about the recent migration collision in Chicago. Last week Chicago had one of the largest migration nights ever, totaling what could have been 1 million birds in a single night. Unfortunately, this resulted in almost 1,000 birds colliding with buildings and dying. Hear about what caused this, what we can do to stop it from happening, and where building collisions ranks among other mass-casualties of birds (do you think its more or less than deaths from cats?) Here are links to our social and YouTube pages, give us a follow: | |||
| 15: Ring-Billed Gull - Not A Seagull! Also, That Diet is Trash... | 23 Sep 2023 | 00:36:14 | |
This week we discuss the Ring-Billed Gull and what differentiates it from other gulls. It's been a ton of fun to learn more about common birds, and then going back after listening/recording and seeing these common birds in a new way. You'll learn all about the Ring-Billed Gulls in this episode, as John Bates, Shannon Hackett, RJ Pole, and Amanda Marquart discuss these gulls. We also answer a mailbag question about traveling specifically to see birds, and species counting as well. (One thing to note, we recorded this episode a few weeks ago, and mention fall migration just getting started. Once this episode is released, fall migration is in full effect.) Here are links to our social and YouTube pages, give us a follow: | |||
| 14: Willard's Sooty Boubou - A New Species Discovered; John and The Field Museum's Involvement | 11 Sep 2023 | 00:40:30 | |
This is one of our favorite episodes to date. The Willard's Sooty Boubou is a bird that lives in the Albertine Rift in Africa at a very specific elevation. John and his team at the Field Museum are actually responsible for determining that this bird is in fact its own unique species. We talk about what that process was like, what birding in Uganda, Rwanda, and The Democratic Republic of Congo was like, which included chimps pulling birds out of nets, and the threat of local militia groups. Join John Bates, Shannon Hackett, RJ Pole, and Amanda Marquart as we discuss the Willard's Sooty Boubou. Enjoy! Here are links to our social and YouTube pages, give us a follow: | |||
| 13: Killdeer - The 'Broken Wing' Display, Also a Discussion on Wildfire Smoke Impacting Birds | 04 Sep 2023 | 00:33:15 | |
This week we discuss the Killdeer. These shorebirds (that aren't always near the shore) will put on a display where they pretend like they are injured to lure predators away from their eggs. Join John Bates, Shannon Hackett, RJ Pole, and Amanda Marquart as we discuss the Killdeer. We also follow up on a previous discussion about how smoke and wildfires impact birds. We talk about a study in California called "Project Phoenix" where birders can help participate in studying the impact that wildfire smoke has on birds. Here are links to our social and YouTube pages, give us a follow: | |||
| 12: Roseate Spoonbill - The Color Pink, Birds Going Bald | 28 Aug 2023 | 00:35:36 | |
With the recent sightings of the Roseate Spoonbill in Green Bay, Wisconsin we thought it would be a good time to discuss these amazing birds. John Bates, Shannon Hackett, RJ Pole, and Amanda Marquart talk what gives them their bright pink color, why they have a receding hairline, and what they are doing so far up north. We also discuss briefly the Limpkin that has been seen up in the Chicago area, and answer a question from one of our listeners. The listener Dustin Weidner is a photographer in Chicago, and reached out to us on Instagram with a question about the Great Blue Heron. It feels good to be back, enjoy! Here are links to our social and YouTube pages, give us a follow: | |||
| 11: Oilbirds - Using Echolocation and Living in Caves | 31 Jul 2023 | 00:27:12 | |
What lives in caves, uses echolocation to navigate through the air, and is nocturnal? Oilbirds! These birds are so interesting, and no they are not bats. John Bates, Shannon Hackett, RJ Pole, and Amanda Marquart discuss the Oilbird. This is a super wild one, so grab your night-vision binoculars and join us to learn more about the Oilbird. Here are links to our social and YouTube pages, give us a follow: | |||
| 10: Northern Cardinal - What Causes That Bright Red Color? Is This Your State Bird? | 24 Jul 2023 | 00:27:18 | |
This week we discuss a bird that is common in most of the US: The Northern Cardinal. The state bird in 7 states, this bird wasn't always as widespread as it is today. Learn what has led to their increased distribution, and also what gives the males that bright red color. John Bates, Shannon Hackett, RJ Pole, and Amanda Marquart discuss The Northern Cardinal. Like all of our episodes, this is great for people who are brand new to birding, or expert level. Please share with someone who you think would enjoy! Here are links to our social and YouTube pages, give us a follow: | |||
| 9: Great Horned Owl - An Elusive Predator! Also, What Is A Species? | 17 Jul 2023 | 00:37:05 | |
We all know the Great Horned Owl, you can close your eyes and picture it. Hear what experts John Bates and Shannon Hackett have to say about these amazing birds as they discuss them with RJ and Amanda. Although beautiful and majestic, these birds are vicious predators. We also answer one of our listener questions about what a species is, and why that matters. This opens up some really interesting discussion. Enjoy! Here are links to our social and YouTube pages, give us a follow: | |||
| 8: Purple Martin - Living in Man-Made Homes + A Killer Grackle | 10 Jul 2023 | 00:31:37 | |
John Bates, Shannon Hackett, RJ Pole, and Amanda Marquart discuss the Purple Martin. These birds live almost entirely in man-made structures in the Eastern US, listen to learn more. We also discuss what impact fireworks have on birds, and what the recent smoke across the US means for birds. After that, we read a mailbag question about a Grackle that has been killing other birds in the suburbs. It's a jam-packed episode - our first since the 4th of July. Enjoy! Here are links to our social and YouTube pages, give us a follow: | |||
| 50: Northern Flicker - Hybridization, CTE From Banging Head? | 22 Jul 2024 | 00:36:48 | |
This week we are talking about the Northern Flicker. We talk about the red-shafted and yellow-shafted flickers in different parts of the continent, and how they can hybridize. We also talk about whether or not woodpeckers get CTE from banging their heads while pecking. We answer a mailbag question on the white throated sparrow changing its call. Join John Bates, Shannon Hackett, RJ Pole, and Amanda Marquart discussing the Northern Flicker! Here are links to our social and YouTube pages, give us a follow: | |||
| 7: Mailbag + Teaser | 27 Jun 2023 | 00:15:18 | |
We have a shorter episode this week as we dive into a few of our listener mailbag questions. We talk about Red Knots on Sanibel Island, Florida. We'll be back after the Fourth of July with some more full episodes. Check out our instagram @birds_of_a_feather_podcast for more updates. We'll post an episode there of when John was on Ologies with Alie Ward. Here are links to our social and YouTube pages, give us a follow: | |||
| 6: Frigatebird, The Gular Pouch, and Flying High For Fun? | 19 Jun 2023 | 00:29:24 | |
On this week's episode we discuss the Frigatebird. John Bates, Shannon Hackett, Amanda Marquart and RJ Pole all talk about the Frigatebird, it's bizarre gular pouch and what is used for, and whether or not birds fly 'for fun'. (Spoiler alert, we think they do!) We also answer a mailbag question about the "Owl Theory" from the true crime documentary The Staircase. Hear what two bird experts think and owl is capable of! You won't want to miss this fun episode of Birds of a Feather Talk Together. Here are links to our social and YouTube pages, give us a follow: | |||
| 5: Sandhill Cranes - Migration, and Mating for Life (a myth?) | 12 Jun 2023 | 00:35:16 | |
On this week's episode we discuss Sandhill Cranes. Join John Bates, Shannon Hackett, RJ Pole, and Amanda Marquart as we dive into the world of the beautiful Sandhill Crane. From their migration, to whether or not birds 'mate for life', we get deep into discussion on these magnificent birds. We also cover the Ruby Crowned Kinglet, and answer a mailbag question on Peacocks. Enjoy! Here are links to our social and YouTube pages, give us a follow: | |||
| 4: American Woodcock - Dancing and Peenting | 05 Jun 2023 | 00:28:34 | |
John Bates and Shannon Hackett discuss the American Woodcock with their co-hosts RJ Pole and Amanda Marquart. We discuss their mating rituals, and learn some new details about these amazing birds. Here are links to our social and YouTube pages, give us a follow: | |||