The Spark Bird Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

In this episode of The Spark Bird Podcast, hosts Jenn Lodi-Smith and Janet McNally welcome Ivan Phillipsen, creator and host of The Science of Birds podcast and co-owner of Wild Latitudes worldwide nature tours.

Ivan shares how a seemingly ordinary moment with his friend led him to his spark bird, the California Towhee. Ivan also shares his journey shifting from academia to science communication, the joy of returning to a more holistic view of the natural world, and the importance of scientific literacy in an age of misinformation.

Links & Resources from This Episode

🐦 Explore more of Ivan's work and listen to his podcast on The Science of Birds website.

🌍 Discover global birding adventures by visiting Wild Latitudes, the tour company Ivan co-owns.

🎧 Revisit the episode "How to Find Birds" from The Science of Birds, which they discussed in this week's episode.

🔍 Build your field ID skills with Ivan's episode, "How to Identify Birds in the Field."

📸 Follow Ivan on Instagram for bird science, naturalist insights, and behind-the-scenes snapshots on his work.

▶️ Watch more from The Science of Birds on Ivan's YouTube channel.

Show Notes by Kayla Gajewski

In this episode of The Spark Bird Podcast, our hosts Jenn Lodi-Smith and Janet McNally welcome Seunguk Shin, Assistant Professor at the University of Missouri's School of Natural Resources.

Seunguk shares how a Northern Cardinal became his spark bird. A moment of connection that still fuels his research, teaching, and creativity today. From developing bird and insect education projects for children to exploring how time in nature restores our attention.

Links & Resources from This Episode

📘 Read the article discussed in this episode here to learn more about Seunguk's collaborative research on birding and environmental education.

🌍 Visit the Human-Bird Interactions Project website at human-bird-interactions.nres.illinois.edu to explore videos and ongoing research related to the study.

🎧 Check out The Field Guides Podcast episode, "Put a Ring on It: All About Bird Banding", mentioned in this week's conversation.

🎬 Watch the "Bird in the Hand" video on YouTube to see the mist-netting project at Nature Day Camp 2022, a collaboration between the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and the Urbana Park District.

🧠 Learn more about Dr. Seunguk Shin's research and background on his University of Missouri faculty page.

💼 Connect with Seunguk on LinkedIn to follow his latest projects and publications.

Show Notes by Kayla Gajewski

In this episode, hosts Jenn Lodi-Smith and Janet McNally speak with Chris Allieri, founder and executive director of NYC Plover Project, which he launched in 2021 after recognizing a gap in conservation efforts right in his own city. During the height of the pandemic, when New York City's plover nesting grounds were especially vulnerable, Chris stepped up, not just to protect the birds, but to build a stronger culture of conservation in the city. His story is one of grassroots action, intergenerational learning, and a call to all of us to take part in protecting what's wild and at risk right in our own backyards.

Photo Credit: Benjamin Forbes

Resources & Links from This Episode

🌐 Visit nycploverproject.org to learn about the mission, meet the volunteers, and find out how to get involved.

📸 Follow @nycploverproject on Instagram for updates from the beaches and behind-the-scenes conservation work.

🕊️ Log your bird sightings on eBird, a powerful tool for community science and bird tracking.

📱 Download Merlin Bird ID to help identify birds by sight or sound while you're out exploring the world.

Show Notes by Kayla Gajewski

In this episode of The Spark Bird Podcast, hosts Jenn Lodi-Smith and Janet McNally welcome musician Nandi Rose of Half Waif. Nandi shares her Spark Bird story, recounting how a flash of color spotted in Costa Rica opened the door to a quieter, deeper noticing back home in the Upper Hudson Valley. For Nandi, it's less about sight and more about sound, and bird song has become her guide. Even without binoculars, there's a sense of recognition in the songs. A feeling of being spoken to, of returning to something familiar and sacred. Her music, like her birding, is shaped by this listening, drawing inspiration from moments of hearing the flute of a Wood Thrush or catching a glimpse of an Indigo Bunting in flight.

(Photo by: Logan White)

✨ Explore more from Nandi Rose:

🌐 Visit halfwaif.com to dive into her music, visuals, and creative world.

📝 Read her Substack, Ordinary Talk, where she writes beautifully about creativity, nature, and the quiet moments in between.

🎧 Listen to Half Waif on Spotify and wherever you stream music. Her songs echo the landscape she so often birds in. To listen in, start here.

Show Notes by Kayla Gajewski

In this special crossover episode, The Spark Bird Podcast's Jenn Lodi-Smith teams up with Bill Michalek of The Field Guides Podcast for a walk through Buffalo's historic Forest Lawn Cemetery. As they explore the grounds, Jenn and Bill reflect on their spark birds, discuss bird migration and conservation. The episode also features Spark Bird stories from a variety of voices from the Feminist Bird Club of Buffalo in Forest Lawn Cemetery, showcasing the power of community in birding.

Resources & Links from This Episode

🔗 Listen to more nature adventures with Bill and Steve on The Field Guides Podcast YouTube channel.

🌼 Plan your next birding experience at the Allegany Nature Pilgrimage.

🌳 Learn more about Buffalo's historic parks and Forest Lawn with the Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy.

🚫🐱 Lights Out! Cats In! is a campaign focused on bird-safe practices like keeping cats indoors and turning off lights at night during migration. Check it out here.

📖 Want a deeper dive into bird-safe, compassionate cat management strategies? Read this piece in Conservation Biology here.

🦜 Meet the Western New York Young Birder Club, uplifting the voices and skills of young birders across the region.

📍 Seen a bird strike a window? Report it on dBird to help researchers make cities safer for birds.

🌍 Visualize global data on bird-window collisions with the Global Bird Collision Mapper.

 🧭 Explore how the birding community is becoming more inclusive and accessible at Birdability

Show notes by Kayla Gajewski

In this episode of The Spark Bird Podcast, hosts Jenn Lodi-Smith and Janet McNally talk with Lyanda Lynn Haupt, a writer known for exploring the connections between people and the natural world. The conversation follows Haupt's path into bird watching, beginning in her childhood in the Pacific Northwest and shaped by her parents' casual interest in birds. She recalls memorable encounters with species like the Northern Spotted Owl and how those moments influenced her work. Lyanda Lynn Haupt also talks about her experience living with a Starling, named Carmen, which inspired her book Mozart's Starling.

(Photo credit: Tom Furtwangler)

🗓️ Join Lyanda Lynn Haupt for a special talk hosted by the Western New York Land Conservancy on June 4 more info & RSVP here

🌐 Learn more about Lyanda Lynn Haupt and her work at her website: lyandalynnhaupt.com 

📸 Follow her on Instagram for nature moments, bird musings, and writing life: @lyandahaupt

📚 Explore all of her books in one place: Books

Lyanda Lynn Haupt's books mentioned in this episode, in order of appearance:

🐦 Crow Planet: Essential Wisdom from the Urban Wilderness 📖 Find it on Amazon

🎼 Mozart's Starling- Inspired by her time living with a starling 🐤 Find it on Amazon

🌱 Rooted: Life at the Crossroads of Science, Nature, and Spirit. A beautiful reflection on how nature, science, and spirit connect in our everyday lives. 🛒 Order or learn more on her home page here.

Show Notes by Kayla Gajewski

In this episode of The Spark Bird Podcast, hosts Jenn Lodi-Smith and Janet McNally talk with Aaron Haiman about his lifelong passion for birding, sparked by a childhood experience with a White-Tailed Kite. 

Aaron shares his unique journey from becoming a young birder to his current role at the Wildlife Conservation Board in California. The conversation explores the importance of mentorship in birding, the barriers young birders face, and the joy of contributing to bird conservation.

We're excited to share all the ways you can follow and connect with Aaron, the voice behind A Birding Naturalist. Explore his world of birds, nature, and thoughtful storytelling here:

📘 Check out Aaron's book, Birds of the California Delta. A beautifully illustrated guide that showcases the birdlife of California's Delta region. Perfect for birders, naturalists, and the bird-curious alike.

🎥 Watch Aaron's videos at @ABirdingNaturalist for birding adventures, tips, and nature stories.

✏️ Read his reflections and posts on his blog: ABirdingNaturalist

📸 Follow for stunning bird photography and behind-the-scenes looks: @abirdingnaturalist

🌐 Join Aaron's conversations at abirdingnaturalist.bsky.social.

🧵 Catch his latest thoughts and updates: threads.com/@abirdingnaturalist.

Show Notes by Kayla Gajewski

In this episode of The Spark Bird Podcast, hosts Jenn Lodi-Smith and Janet McNally interview Dr. George Divoky, an ornithologist with a Ph.D. in Zoology. He shares his Spark Bird story, recounting how a sighting of a Slate-colored Junco in his childhood ignited his passion for birding.

He discusses his research on Black Guillemot and the challenges posed by climate change. Dr. Divoky also shares his personal experiences of solitude and connection with nature during his fieldwork in remote locations. 

(Photo Credit Joe McNally)

❄️ Friends of Cooper Island – Learn more about Dr. George Divoky's decades of research on Arctic seabirds and climate change: https://cooperisland.org

Show Notes by Kayla Gajewski

In this episode of The Spark Bird podcast, hosts Jenn Lodi-Smith and Janet McNally welcome Marcia OBara, a retired registered nurse and avid birder. Marcia shares her inspiring journey of birding in all 50 states and recounts her Spark Bird moment in 1984 that ignited her passion for birding. Despite living with a severe lung disease, Marcia continues to lead accessible birding trips for the Tucson Audubon Society and other organizations. She discusses how the practice has evolved from field guides to apps, and why accessibility in birding matters now more than ever.

A photo by Freya McGregor. Taken in Tuscaloosa AL. Pictured are Freya, Marcia and Patrick Oaks (Freya's husband)

Resources & Links from This Episode

🕊️ Tucson Bird Alliance – Learn more about Marcia's work with this organization and their commitment to accessible birding in Arizona: Visit Website

♿ Access Birding – A fantastic resource focused on making birding accessible for all: Explore Access Birding

🗺️ Birdability Map – Discover birding locations with accessibility features near you: View the Map

📚 Birds of the World – An extensive online resource from the Cornell Lab for bird research and identification: Explore Here

🛫 WINGS Birding Tours – Join expert-led birding tours around the world: Learn More

🌍 Victor Emanuel Nature Tours (VENT) – A global birding travel company offering inclusive and educational nature experiences: Visit VENT

🐦 Merlin Bird ID – Identify birds by photo, sound, or description with this powerful app from the Cornell Lab: Download Merlin

📱 eBird Mobile – Log your bird sightings and contribute to global bird science: Get the App

Show Notes by Kayla Gajewski

In this episode of The Spark Bird Podcast, hosts Jenn Lodi-Smith and Janet McNally talk with Pam Lowell, a social worker, watercolor artist, and author. Pam shares her Spark Bird story, describing how sightings of a Quetzal and an Osprey ignited her passion for birding and transformed her life.

Pam highlights her volunteer work with Mass Audubon, her book My Summer with Ospreys: A Therapist's Journey Towards Hope, Community, and Healing Our Planet, and the importance of environmental advocacy.

Resources & Links from This Episode

Pam Lowell's Work & Socials:

📖 My Summer with Ospreys: A Therapist's Journey Towards Hope, Community, and Healing Our Planet – Read more here 

🌍 Pam Lowell's Website – Visit here

📸 Follow Pam on Instagram – @palwrites

Wild America & RTPI Book Discussion:

📅 Join RTPI for an exciting discussion of Wild America and the books it inspired, led by RTPI Scholar-in-Residence Jenn Lodi-Smith. This four-part program is part of RTPI's exhibition, Art that Matters to the Planet: Wild America, celebrating the 70th anniversary of this environmental classic.

🔗 Learn more & register here

Show Notes by Kayla Gajewski