BirdNote show

BirdNote

Summary: Escape the daily grind and immerse yourself in the natural world. Rich in imagery, sound, and information, BirdNote inspires you to notice the world around you. Join us for daily two-minute stories about birds, the environment, and more.

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Podcasts:

 Nest Cavities - Book Early | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: Unknown

Swallows and bluebirds - like this Western Bluebird - are among the earliest northbound migrants to arrive, heralding spring a month before the equinox. Both species will nest only in cavities, such as old woodpecker holes or man-made nestboxes.

 American Coots | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: Unknown

American Coots settle onto lakes and estuaries, forming rafts of hundreds, even thousands, of birds. They like to feed on aquatic vegetation, and sometimes they lumber ashore to nibble at grasses and agricultural crops. The coot's lobed toes help it swim and maneuver under water.

 You Are What You Eat | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: Unknown

House Finches are familiar birds all across North America. Researchers have shown that the red coloration of males is produced from carotenoid pigments in the birds' diet.

 Hakalau Forest National Refuge - With Jack Jeffrey | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: Unknown

Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge was created in 1985 to protect endangered birds and their rainforest habitat. Only about 25% of old-growth forests remain on the Big Island of Hawaii, and people like Jack Jeffrey have been working to protect and restore them.

 Altamira Oriole | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: Unknown

It was only in 1939 that this Altamira Oriole was first found north of the Rio Grande River. Now it happily visits residents on the Texas side of the river, especially where a juicy orange half waits in a backyard feeder.

 Chickadee Line-up | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: Unknown

You'll find the Black-capped Chickadee across the northern US into Canada. The Carolina Chickadee holds sway in the Southeast. Hear the husky voice of a Mountain Chickadee in the Rockies. Travel to Canada for the Boreal Chickadee. The Chestnut-backed Chickadee calls the Pacific Northwest home.

 Crow Funeral - with Tony Angell | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: Unknown

Tony Angell, along with Professor John Marzluff of the University of Washington, wrote the book, Gifts of the Crow: How Perception, Emotion, and Thought Allow Smart Birds to Behave Like Humans.

 Bald Eagle - National Symbol | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: Unknown

Stretch your arms as far as you can, and imagine a bird whose reach is even greater! Sitting about three feet tall, the Bald Eagle has a wingspan of more than six feet. When you see a mature Bald Eagle, you'll see a snowy-white head and tail with a dark brown body.

 How Birds' Names Change | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: Unknown

Have you ever heard of a marsh hawk or a sparrow hawk? These long-familiar bird names have passed into history. The study of birds, like any science, remains a work in progress.

 American Kestrel | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: Unknown

The American Kestrel is the smallest, most numerous, and most widespread North American falcon. This bird is built for speed, its long pointed wings often bent back at the tip. While hunting, kestrels hover above an open field.

 Annual Great Backyard Bird Count | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: Unknown

The 2013 Great Backyard Bird Count, February 15-18, 2013, is sponsored by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Birdwatchers across the country count birds and then report the numbers on-line.

 Red-crowned Cranes Dance on Hokkaido | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: Unknown

On a snow-covered field in northern Japan, two majestic Red-crowned Cranes face one another, raise their heads toward the sky, and call in unison. As they call, the pair begins to dance. They bow to one another, then throw their heads over their backs, then bow again.

 Anna's Hummingbirds Winter in the North | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: Unknown

Most hummingbirds retreat south in autumn, but Anna's Hummingbirds are found in northern latitudes throughout the year. Since 1960, they've moved their year-round limit north from California to British Columbia.

 Storks Bring Babies | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: Unknown

Storks and babies have been linked together for centuries. But how did that old legend get started? Researchers suggest that the legend goes back to pagan times, when civilizations were keen to have high birthrates.

 Raven's Love Song | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: Unknown

Ravens are seen as tricksters in many traditions. But Common Ravens have a softer side. During courtship, a pair will often sit side by side, sometimes preening each other's feathers. And during that ritual, one or both may make soft warbling sounds.

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