The Warblers by Birds Canada – Details, episodes & analysis

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The Warblers by Birds Canada

Birds Canada

Science

Leisure

Science

Frequency: 1 episode/20d. Total Eps: 94

This award winning podcast shares Canadian information, insights and inspiration on the world of birds and bird conservation. The lively discussions are hosted by Andrea Gress whose curiosity leads to discovering fun facts and useful tips from expert guests. Thanks to our incredible listeners, The Warblers podcast was named the winner of the 2022 Nature Inspiration Award, and nominated for Outstanding Science Series by the 2025 Canadian Podcast Awards!

We love to hearing from you. Share your comments, bird questions or episode ideas here -> podcast@birdscanada.org

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Data updated on 09/09/2026

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https://conserve.birdscanada.org/page/117771/donate/1?ea.tracking.id=WarblersBuzzsprout
94 shares
https://birdsandbeans.ca/warblers/
37 shares
https://www.birdscanada.org/about-us/our-team/our-staff/
12 shares

https://www.instagram.com/andresjimo
19 shares
https://www.instagram.com/birds.canada
2 shares

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Score global : 68%

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Window Collisions: an invisible threat to birds

Season 6 · Episode 10

Tuesday, September 8, 2026 • Duration 54:13

From science and building design, to art and community action, there are many ways to reduce bird-window collisions. This is a significant conservation challenge, but we already have the tools and knowledge to make a difference.

Our guests bring two different backgrounds and areas of expertise. We start by exploring the science: how monitoring is done, which windows are problematic, and what the numbers tell us about the scale of this issue. Then Brendon Samuels helps us understand how policy and building design can prevent collisions, and how we can push for change at every level of government. Vanessa Hum brings an artistic and community-focused perspective, sharing how art, volunteering, and monitoring can raise awareness and inspire action.

This is truly an expansive issue with just as many solutions. Explore more below, and don't forget to enter into the prize draw!

flap.org - information about preventing collisions at home or at work, and using policy for structural solutions
birdmapper.org - a community science tool for the public to report bird collisions, and document locations of new bird friendly buildings
birdsafe.ca - information and tools for building owners, and where to find information on Canada's national bird friendly building design standard
stopbirdcollisions.org - the Bird Collisions Prevention Alliance which is dedicated to improving collaborating across sectors to limit bird collisions
featherfriendly.com/pages/artist-series - to explore Vanessa's work with Feather Friendly

Enter the Draw!

To win one of three Feather Friendly Pro DIY kits, follow these steps:

Share your love of the Warblers by leaving a review for the podcast on whatever platform you listen on. If using Spotify, you can leave a comment on any episode.
Email us a copy of the review - just let us know which review was yours and what platform we can find it on. Email podcast@birdscanada.org
If you win, we’ll contact you by email.

Reviewers located in Canada are eligible for the give-away.

Dr. Brendon Samuels is the Bird Safe Buildings Coordinator with FLAP Canada and a postdoctoral researcher with the Ecological Design Lab at Toronto Metropolitan University. Brendon lives in London, Ontario where he works closely with London's local Bird Friendly City team, as well as the municipal government in a community advisory role. Originally trained in ecology and psychology, Brendon's research focusses on developing municipal policy solutions for bird safe buildings and improving landscape connectivity in cities.

Vanessa Hum is a bird-friendly window artist based in Ottawa, Ontario. She recently completed her Masters at Simon Fraser University in British Columbia, where her research focused on quantifying bird-window collisions across campus. Passionate about making science accessible, Vanessa combines science with art by creating bird-friendly window murals that help prevent bird collisions while transforming glass into engaging public art. She is also part of Feather Friendly’s Artist Series, where homeowners and businesses can purchase her ready-made bird-friendly patterns or commission a custom design that is both beautiful and effective.

Andrea Gress (she/her) secretly thinks Piping Plovers are better than all the other birds...studied Renewable Resource Management at the University of Saskatchewan. She pivoted towards birds, after an internship in South Africa. Upon returning, she worked with Piping Plovers in Saskatchewan, and then as the Ontario Piping Plover Coordinator. Years of sharing her love of plovers with beach goers has turned into a full time communications role with Birds Canada.

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Tracking Semipalmated Sandpipers at the Bay of Fundy

Season 6 · Episode 9

Tuesday, August 4, 2026 • Duration 41:24

The Bay of Fundy is one of Canada's best kept birding secrets. Following the ebb and flow of the tides are tens of thousands of Semipalmated Sandpipers - and just off the coast, the rocky islands are alive with nesting terns, razorbills, puffins and more!

Lucas Berrigan and Avery Nagy-MacArthur join us to explain why this region is so magical for Semipalmated Sandpipers, and how the Motus Wildlife Tracking System has been essential in understanding how and why birds move through the area. They also give top-tier advice on how to help shorebirds across the country, and offer ideas for how locals can get involved with the birds at the Bay of Fundy.

Fly like a bird onto a dream vacation with Birding Ecotours! Check out all their tour options at birdingecotours.com

Listeners of The Warblers now get 10% off Bird-friendly coffee orders from Birds and Beans with the code 'warblers' at checkout.

Learn more about Space to Roost and Motus - start by exploring the Motus map for Semipalmated Sandpiper.

Avery Nagy-MacArthur started volunteering with Birds Canada as a Piping Plover monitor in 2008 on the south shore of Nova Scotia, which sparked an interest in a career in ornithology. Throughout her Bachelor's and Master's studies, she focused on Whimbrel, and breeding Arctic and Common Terns. She now works as the Atlantic Canada Shorebird Programs Biologist for Birds Canada.

Lucas Berrigan completed a Master’s on the post-breeding behavior of Swainson’s Thrushes at Acadia University, then joined the Birds Canada’s team in the Atlantic Region in 2018 to run the Maritimes Marsh Monitoring Program. Since then, he has taken on more responsibilities related to the Motus Wildlife Tracking System – namely, managing the Atlantic array of Motus receiver stations and supporting Motus users worldwide. He works as the Motus Manager of Technology and Web Development for Birds Canada.

The Wake-up Call: Evening Grosbeak

Season 6 · Episode 8

Monday, July 6, 2026 • Duration 22:14

The Warblers go birding! Join Andrea Gress and Jody Allair as they search for the Evening Grosbeak. While searching the woods, they chat about how to use eBird to find a specific species, discuss nerdy fun facts about Evening Grosbeaks, and encounter a variety of forest loving birds - from Western Tanagers to Pacific Wrens. Jody also shares why Birds Canada picked the Evening Grosbeak as the 2026 Avian Ambassador - what makes this species worthy of some extra love.

Read Jody's blog on Evening Grosbeak, complete with stunning pictures and range maps.

The eBird checklist from their adventure.

When you order from birdsandbeans.ca/warblers you receive 10% off your coffee order, plus you support bird-friendly coffee farms which provide essential habitat for birds. It's a win-win!

Jody Allair is an avid birder and naturalist who enjoys sharing his enthusiasm for the natural world. He is the Director of Communications at Birds Canada and has written numerous articles on birds, birding and connecting with nature. You can find him on Bluesky and Instagram at @JodyAllair.

Andrea Gress (she/her) secretly thinks Piping Plovers are better than all the other birds...studied Renewable Resource Management at the University of Saskatchewan. She pivoted towards birds, after an internship in South Africa. Upon returning, she worked with Piping Plovers in Saskatchewan, and then as the Ontario Piping Plover Coordinator. Years of sharing her love of plovers with beach goers has turned into a full time communications role with Birds Canada.

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Do field guides still matter? The latest guide to the birds of Alberta

Season 6 · Episode 7

Monday, June 1, 2026 • Duration 32:07

With apps like Merlin and eBird, do field guides even matter anymore? David Scott and Gavin McKinnon share why they developed a brand new book: A Field Guide to the Birds of Alberta. Backed by their love of birds, this episode is full of birding adventure stories from the boreal forest to the Rockies to the prairies, along with interesting insights about writing a field guide - a massive undertaking that is still worth the effort.

Get a copy of A Field Guide to the Birds of Alberta, sold at most major book stores. Huge thanks to Gavin, David, and all the photographers who contributed, for sending proceeds to Birds Canada.

Listeners of The Warblers now get 10% off coffee orders from Birds and Beans with the code 'warblers' at checkout. Choosing Bird Friendly coffee is an easy (and delicious) way to support migratory species!

Get on a tour with Gavin - check out Meadowlark Birding Tours.

Gavin McKinnon developed a deep fascination for birds at an early age after he visited Point Pelee National Park on a weekend trip with his parents. Since then, he has traveled extensively in Canada and to numerous locations in the tropics and around the globe in search of unique birding opportunities. In 2022, Gavin founded Meadowlark Birding Tours, intending to share his passion for birds with others. After high school, he studied Renewable Resource Management at Lethbridge College and briefly worked in environmental consulting. In addition to leading tours, Gavin is actively involved in the local birding community, serving as a volunteer eBird reviewer.

David Scott was born and raised in northern Ontario, and began venturing from home to find birds while in high school and has been an avid birder and naturalist ever since. After moving to southern Alberta, he came to love the birds of the prairies, badlands, foothills, and mountains as he did those of the boreal forest on the Canadian Shield. A librarian by trade, David works at the University of Lethbridge and volunteers for Nature Lethbridge, eBird, the Christmas Bird Count, and the provincial bird records committee.

The Wake-up Call: Louisiana Waterthrush and Acadian Flycatcher

Season 6 · Episode 6

Monday, May 4, 2026 • Duration 39:16

The Louisiana Waterthrush or "Eastern Forest Dipper" exudes quiet and calm, much like the forests it's found in. Meanwhile, the Acadian Flycatcher screams "PIZZA" as it bursts from a branch to snag a bite (of insect!). Both birds are charming in their own ways, but both face a worrying threat: Hemlock Woolly Adelgid, an invasive species that has made it's way into Canada.

We hear from researchers Brendan Boyd and Samreen Munim, who spend their summers deep in the forests with these birds. The joy they get from their work is contagious - this is a delightful episode about a very serious issue.

As a special treat, listeners of The Warblers now get 10% off coffee orders from Birds and Beans with the code 'warblers' at checkout.

Learn more about how to monitor and stop the spread of HWA.

Samreen Munim, as the Ontario Forest Birds Program Assistant Coordinator for Birds Canada, works with volunteers, as well as private and public landowners across southern Ontario, to monitor, study, and conserve forest birds. She loves meeting people who are so passionate about forests and forest birds, and greatly enjoys getting to spend so much time outdoors with some of the most at-risk species in Ontario (and some of the best birds out there!).

Brendan Boy, Ph.D, Ontario Forest Birds Program Coordinator with Birds Canada, studied the long term effects of nesting in small forest fragments for Wood Thrushes– where he spent four field seasons living at Long Point, fully immersed in Ontario’s Carolinian region. He’s thrilled to once again be working in this amazingly biodiverse area, and excited to play a key role in the conservation of Ontario’s forest birds.

The Secrets of Bird Nests with Mark Peck

Season 6 · Episode 5

Tuesday, April 7, 2026 • Duration 49:55

Bird nests literally come in all shapes and sizes: burrowed into a sand bank, tucked into grass, underground, high up, stretchy, sturdy, flimsy. Even the chicks are radically different, with some leaping out of trees at a day old, and others clinging to the nest for weeks. Each species has their own unique nesting strategy - Mark Peck helps us explore how and why they work. He also shares tips on how to observe the breeding birds around us!

Join Project NestWatch here.

Grab a cup of Birds and Beans - Bird Friendly coffee that donates to this podcast when you order at: birdsandbeans.ca/warblers

From Madagascar to the Philippines, and even tours closer to home - Birding Ecotours has a dream trip for you! Explore their tours at birdingecotours.com

Mark Peck was the Collections Specialist in Ornithology at the Royal Ontario Museum for 41 years until his retirement in 2024. He is the author of Bird Eggs: A Young Naturalist’s Guide, is Vice-President of the Ontario Field Ornithologists, who awarded him the Distinguished Ornithologist Award in 2024, and is a longtime member of the Toronto Ornithological Club.

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Kinglets: flashy crests and stretchy nests

Season 6 · Episode 4

Tuesday, March 17, 2026 • Duration 26:06

Overlooked and underappreciated - kinglets are one of Canada’s toughest little birds! Golden-crowned and Ruby-crowned Kinglets are both fascinating and unique in their own ways. One stays with us all winter long, which is impressive for a bird smaller than a chickadee. And the other lays up to 12 eggs in a stretchy nest! Join us for an exploration of both species: identification tips, bird songs, and fun facts.

We're always keen to hear from you! Email the podcast with your episode ideas, leave a comment on YouTube or Spotify, or drop us a review on any of the podcasting platforms like Apple or Overcast.

Birds and Beans will donate to this podcast when you use the code "warblers" at checkout. Thanks for your support!

Kyle Horner was gifted the love of birdlife and storytelling from his father. From a young age he was obsessed with talking about nature to others (whether or not they wanted to hear it), and his career has been spent doing just that. Kyle has worked in environmental education and science communication for parks, zoos, botanical gardens, outreach programs, non-profits, and the University of Guelph. As the NatureCounts Engagement Coordinator, he is excited to find the stories in the data and share the incredible potential of this fascinating project.

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Birds and Cats

Season 6 · Episode 3

Monday, March 2, 2026 • Duration 54:03

With close to 9 million domestic cats in Canada, and a third of them regularly roaming outdoors, we know that birds are heavily impacted by cats. In fact, cats are considered the number one threat to birds in Canada.

Our guests, Julia Kilgour and Jonathan Chu, help us explore this fascinating and complex issue. From the science – predation numbers, the most vulnerable bird species, and how we study cats outdoors – to the complex emotions and human behaviours that impact conservation strategies. Jonathan and Julia help us learn how positive changes for birds doesn't have to mean leaving our furry friends behind.

Travel to Madagascar, and other dream birding destinations with Birding Ecotours, visit birdingecotours.com

Warm up with some Bird Friendly coffee from Birds and Beans. They donate to this podcast when you order at birdsandbeans.ca/warblers

Jonathan Chu is a PhD candidate at the University of Guelph studying the impacts of outdoor domestic cats on wildlife. He accomplishes this by attaching tiny animal-borne cameras to cats, allowing him to see the world from the point-of-view of a cat! Jonathan started in ecology from his love of birds and previously studied North American bird migratory timing advance, dispersal distance and wing morphology. He is also an avid birder who finds any excuse to go out and watch birds, though less so currently as a busy PhD student!

Julia Kilgour (she/her) is an urban ecologist based in Guelph, Ontario who wants to solve the problem of outdoor cats and their impacts on birds. For the last 10 years, she’s been studying the effects of outdoor cats on birds and people in cities across North America. Julia is excited to work with communities in Canada to develop local strategies to help address this daunting issue. She is passionate about wildlife of all kinds, and loves watching and learning about birds (and other creatures) in her local urban forests.

Marsh Bird Madness

Season 6 · Episode 2

Tuesday, February 17, 2026 • Duration 39:14

Some of Canada's weirdest and most wonderful birds can be found in marshes! But which ones have the marshiest adaptations?...is it the Thunder Pumper?

Gwendolyn Clark helps us explore the fascinating lives of the American Bittern, Sora, and Nelson's Sparrow. From extra long toes, to crossed-eyes, and some of the strangest sounds birds can make - we are excited for you to meet these species. Plus, learn about Marsh Watch and the Marsh Monitoring Program; two ways to help marsh birds and their habitats.

Join Marsh Watch if you'd like to dip your toes into the marsh, or the Marsh Monitoring Program if you're keen to take your skills up a notch and help marsh birds at the same time. Both are heaps of fun!

Help warblers and The Warblers podcast with some Birds and Beans coffee. Birds and Beans donates to this podcast when you order at birdsandbeans.ca/warblers. Thank you!

Gwendolyn Clark studied ecology and evolutionary biology in university with a focus on tropical fish, and during this time she volunteered as a nest searcher at Tommy Thompson Park in Toronto and rediscovered a love of birds. At Birds Canada she first managed the Chimney Swift Chimney Restoration Fund, but now is now the Marsh Monitoring Field Coordinator in Atlantic Canada.

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Shorebird Conservation in James Bay, "Just you and the birds"

Season 6 · Episode 1

Tuesday, February 3, 2026 • Duration 28:46

James Bay is an essential stopover site for thousands of migrating shorebirds - Hudsonian and Marbled Godwits, Whimbrels, Red Knots, and more. But this once reliable habitat is threatened.

Back in August, Cléa Frapin of Birds Canada, headed to a shorebird camp in James Bay to see it for herself. She spoke with Indigenous Elders, wildlife biologists and locals, to better understand the threats that Canada's North is facing, and why we must all tune into this issue and work together - for the birds and for the people.

Learn more about the Mushkegowuk Council here, and the James Bay Shorebird Project here.

A warm welcome to our newest sponsor, Birding Ecotours! Be sure to check out their selection of birding tours from all across the globe at birdingecotours.com

Cléa Frapin is originally from France, but moved to New Brunswick in 2018 to pursue a MSc in seasonal trophic interaction modeling across the Arctic biome. She has worked with Birds Canada on Piping Plover and Bicknell Thrush monitoring programs in the Atlantic, and now works on Northern habitat conservation and contributes to the development of Indigenous-led conservation initiatives with the Science in the North program.

Edward Sutherland is is from Kashechewan First Nation, and works as the Community Engagement Coordinator with Mushkegowuk Council's Lands & Resources Department.

Vicki Sahanatien has 25+ years of experience leading natural resource conservation programs and multi-disciplinary teams in the Canadian Arctic. Currently she works as the Knowledge and Research Manager with Mushkegowuk Council.

Christian Friis works at the Canadian Wildlife Service, Environment and Climate Change Canada. Christian is interested in shorebird ecology, with a focus on migrants in Ontario and James Bay.

The Warblers by Birds Canada – Details, episodes & analysis

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The Warblers by Birds Canada – Details, episodes & analysis

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