The Spark Bird Podcast

In this episode of The Spark Bird Podcast, our hosts Jenn Lodi-Smith and Janet McNally welcome Angela Schumpert, also known as The Berd Nird! What began as casual backyard birding turned into a moment that sent her reaching for her first field guide.  Drawing on her background in the Air Force and law enforcement investigation, Angela shares how attention to detail, patience and observation naturally translate from her career into the art and joy of building The Flock.   Links & Resources from This Episode 🦜 Join Angela's online birding community, The Flock, for meetups, contests, and birding trips! 🌿 Learn more about Angela and explore her resources at her website, The Berd Nird. 📸 Follow Angela's birding adventures and humor on Instagram @the_berd_nird. 🎥 Watch more of her content on TikTok at @berdnird4 ▶️ Subscribe to her YouTube channel, @theberdnird. 👍 Connect with Angela on Facebook.   Show Notes by Kayla Gajewski

In this episode of The Spark Bird Podcast, our hosts Jenn Lodi-Smith and Janet McNally welcome Jamie Cunningham, Education Director at Black Swamp Bird Observatory and birding and photography guide with Saberwing Nature Tours. Jamie shares how an unexpected Eastern Bluebird at a backyard nest box, followed by a life-changing visit to Magee Marsh during spring migration, sparked a deeper fascination with birds that shaped both her personal and professional life.   Links & Resources from This Episode 🌎 Learn more about Jamie's birding and photography travel experiences through Saberwing Nature Tours, where she leads birding and photography tours around the world! 🐦 Explore the work of the Black Swamp Bird Observatory the organization behind The Biggest Week in American Birding, the Ohio Young Birders Club, and year-round education and field programs. Stay connected through their Facebook page Black Swamp Bird Observatory for events and community updates, and follow @bsbobird on Instagram. 🎉 Find festival details, schedules, and registration information for The Biggest Week in American Birding wesbite, and follow them on Instagram @biggestweek and Facebook.  🌱 Discover programs and opportunities for young birders through the Ohio Young Birders Club, including field trips, events, and community resources. Follow the Ohio Young Birders community on Instagram @bsbobird for updates and opportunities.     Show Notes by Kayla Gajewski  

In this second special Birds on the Niagara International Birding Festival feature, our hosts Jenn Lodi-Smith and Janet McNally welcome Corina Newsome, a conservation scientist at the National Wildlife Federation and the festival's keynote speaker. Corina's work is rooted in advancing urban biodiversity conservation with environmental justice. She challenges the idea that conservation only happens in remote places, reminding us that cities are unique landscapes full of wildlife and wonder waiting to be explored and protected. Links & Resources from This Episode 🐦 Follow Corina on Instagram and explore urban wildlife, birding, and environmental justice through Corina's lens. 💼 Connect with Corina on LinkedIn to learn more about her professional work in conservation science or to ask any questions you may have! 🎤 Attend her keynote address "Loving by Nature" at Birds on the Niagara International Birding Festival! To register and find full details, visit the Birds on the Niagara website events page.  🪶 Register at their website and come birding at the 2026 Birds on the Niagara Festival happening February 12th–16th.   Show Notes by Kayla Gajewski

In this special Birds on the Niagara International Birding Festival feature, our hosts Jenn Lodi-Smith and Janet McNally welcome Marcus Rosten, a birder and conservationist whose journey into birding began with one unforgettable encounter. This episode celebrates birds as a gateway to conservation, community, and understanding our place within a larger global ecosystem. Highlighting why events like the Birds on the Niagara International Birding Festival matter now more than ever. In this photo, Marcus is holding the American Woodcock from his Spark Bird story he shared with us! Links & Resources from This Episode 🐦 Want to visit Buffalo and experience the Birds on the Niagara International Birding Festival? Learn more about the festival, events, birding along the Niagara region and come bird with us February 12th-16th! 🌿 To learn more about the Western New York Wildway, explore the conservation work Marcus discusses and how land protection keeps habitats connected, visit the Western New York Land Conservancy website.   Show Notes by Kayla Gajewski

In this episode of The Spark Bird Podcast, hosts Jenn Lodi-Smith and Janet McNally sit down with environmental educator Eva Matthews Lark to talk about how winter warblers became her spark birds during a difficult period in her life. Now memorialized in her bird-inspired tattoo, those birds helped her find comfort and a deeper connection to birding. Eva also discusses their work in environmental education, the importance of meeting people where they are through technology, and how inclusive, intentional birding spaces enable people to show up as their authentic selves, finding belonging both in nature and in community.   Links & Resources from This Episode 🐦 Check out Eva's quarterly mini-episode "Tail Feathers" on the Voices of Open Space podcast for more birding stories and tips from the field. 🌿 If you want to visit Hog Island Audubon Camp, she'll be leading the Let's Go Birding Together session! 🏞️ Birding in Boulder County? They have insider knowledge from working with Boulder County Parks & Open Space and are welcome to give tips for the best local birding adventures. 📸 Follow her adventures and connect on Instagram at @flyingmullet.  

In this episode of the Spark Bird Podcast, hosts Jenn Lodi-Smith and Janet McNally talk with author and naturalist Leigh Ann Henion about what it means to really pay attention to the world around us, especially after dark.  Leigh Ann shares her early love of birds, names the Great Blue Heron as her spark bird, and reflects on how certain species have shaped her curiosity and connection to nature. They discuss her book Night Magic: Adventures Among Glowworms, Moon Gardens, and Other Marvels of the Dark, where she challenges the idea that darkness is something to fear or avoid, and instead, invites readers to take another look as a living habitat full of possibility. Resources & Links from This Episode 🌿 Visit Leigh Ann Henion's website to learn more about her writing and work. 📘 Connect with Leigh Ann on Facebook. 📸 Follow Leigh Ann on Instagram @leighannhenion. 📚 Learn more about Leigh Ann's books here, including Night Magic: Adventures Among Glowworms, Moon Gardens, and Other Marvels of the Dark, and Phenomenal: A Hesitant Adventurer's Search for Wonder in the Natural World 🌙 Explore Night Magic: Adventures Among Glowworms, Moon Gardens, and Other Marvels of the Dark and order the book here. 💡 Learn more about the Lights Out Program, an initiative to reduce light pollution and protect birds.   Show Notes by Kayla Gajewski

In this episode of The Spark Bird Podcast, hosts Jenn Lodi-Smith and Janet McNally welcome Kelly Sue O'Connor, creator of the mental-health and birding project Birder Brain. After recently returning home to Nova Scotia from Ontario, Kelly Sue shares the unexpected spark that ignited her birding journey by rescuing a domestic canary, lovingly nicknamed Banana Bird, on a Toronto street. From that moment, birding became not just a hobby but a grounding practice.   Links & Resources from This Episode ⭐ Explore Kelly Sue's work on her website: 👉 https://www.birderbrain.org/ 📸 Follow Kelly Sue's personal birding journey on Instagram @birder_ks 🌿 Connect with the Birder Brain community on Instagram @birderbrain   Birding reminds us we're never truly alone. Just as birds flock together, we can reach out for connection when things feel heavy. Whether through birding, community, or conversation, reaching out is a sign of strength. 💬 If you ever feel isolated, know there's always someone to listen. The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is available anytime. For more information and resources, visit the 988 Lifeline website. 🍁 For listeners in Canada, compassionate support is available. You're part of a larger community that cares. For Canadian suicide prevention support and resources, visit the Government of Canada.   Show Notes by Kayla Gajewski

In this episode of the Spark Bird Podcast, hosts Jenn Lodi-Smith and Janet McNally sit down with Isabelle Groc, a photojournalist, author, and documentary filmmaker based in Vancouver, British Columbia. Isabelle specializes in wildlife, marine ecosystems, and the relationships between people and the natural world. Isabelle shares how her lifelong passion for conservation began with a moment of devastation. Growing up in France, she learned about the massive Amoco Cadiz oil spill and saw the heartbreaking images of seabirds coated in oil. A spark that ignited her desire to tell stories, protect species, and shine a light on environmental crises. Links & Resources from This Episode 🌊 Learn more about Sandpipers' Last Supper on the film's website. 🎥 Watch the full documentary on CBC's Nature of Things YouTube channel. 📷 Explore Isabelle's photography and projects on her website. 📚 Browse her books, including A Hummingbird on My Balcony here. 🛒 Order A Hummingbird on My Balcony directly from Orca Book Publishers. 📸 Follow Isabelle on Instagram. 💼 Connect with her on LinkedIn.     Show Notes by Kayla Gajewski

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

This week on The Spark Bird Podcast, hosts Jenn Lodi-Smith and Janet McNally are joined by Rosy Tucker, Program Manager at Hog Island Audubon Camp. Rosy shares how a Red Knot first ignited her love for birds and how that moment eventually led to a career as a teacher and environmental educator. From memorable classroom moments to the Atlantic Puffin Restoration Project, she reminds us that nature isn't far away, it's right in our own backyards. Links & Resources from This Episode 🌐 Learn more about Hog Island and explore upcoming programs at hogisland.audubon.org/programs/camp. 📸 Follow Hog Island on Instagram @hogislandaudubon for stunning bird photos, updates, and camp highlights. 🪶 Discover the island's history, volunteer opportunities, and ways to get involved at hogisland.audubon.org.   Show Notes by Kayla Gajewski

In this week's episode, our hosts Jenn Lodi-Smith and Janet McNally welcome Sarah T. Dubb, a novelist whose love for birding inspired her debut book, BIRDING WITH BENEFITS. Sarah shares her journey from growing up in Tucson, Arizona, to becoming a passionate birder and writer. She discusses her process of writing and publishing her debut novel, and its adaptation into a Hallmark Plus movie, Adventures in Love & Birding. Links & Resources from This Episode 🌐 Visit Sarah's website at www.sarahtdubb.com to learn more about her work and updates on her next novel, Honey Bee Mine, coming February 2026. 📸 Follow Sarah on Instagram @sarahtdubbwrites for updates on her work and creative inspiration. 🎬 Watch Adventures in Love & Birding now streaming on Hallmark+, or gain with the Hallmark+ BingePass!   Show Notes by Kayla Gajewski

In this week's episode, hosts Jenn Lodi-Smith and Janet McNally welcome writer, educator, and professional rock climber Pedro Hoffmeister. What began as a remembrance trip for a friend's grandfather turned into an unexpected spark bird story. Despite setbacks, Pedro embraced the adventure! He shares how spending time in nature, along with meditation and cognitive therapy, helped him slow down, observe more birds, and heal after a traumatic brain injury. Resources & Links from This Episode 📸 You can follow Pedro to catch snapshots of him rock climbing, his daily life, and writing updates on Instagram at @pedro_hoffmeister. 🎬 He also shares videos and creative work on TikTok at @pedro_hoffmeister. 📖 To connect with him on Facebook, visit Pedro Casapardo Hoffmeister. 🌐 Learn more about Pedro and explore his books and projects on his website, pedrohoffmeister.com. 🎙️ Pedro's newest project, the American Afterlife Podcast, launches this October! Find it and follow for new episodes this Fall on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and iHeart. Show Notes by Kayla Gajewski

In this week's episode of The Spark Bird Podcast, our hosts Jenn Lodi-Smith and Janet McNally meet with Christina Baal, a birder and artist whose story began not with a sighting, but with the quest to find a 'dandelion-colored' Yellow Warbler.  That golden spark launched a lifetime of birding and the dreams she's been chasing ever since. Inspired by Ken Kaufman's memoir, she set herself the goal of painting 10,000 birds, saying, "Ken Kaufman can do it. So can I." Today, Christina blends art and birding in joyful, unexpected ways. Left: Christina's stunning painting of an Osprey in flight. Right: A snapshot from Christina's bird-inspired wedding, featuring her in-laws dressed as Trogons. Resources & Links from This Episode 🖌️ Visit Christina's Website to learn more about her art and birding adventures. 🎨 Check out Christina's Art to see her whimsical paintings and bird illustrations. 💌 Support Christina on Patreon and gain access to her bird trading cards and exclusive artwork. 📚 Read Kenn Kaufman's Memoir Kingbird Highway: The Biggest Year in the Life of an Extreme Birder, the book that inspired Christina's birding journey.   Show Notes by Kayla Gajewski

In this episode of The Spark Bird Podcast, our hosts Jenn Lodi-Smith and Janet McNally are joined by Mike Sacopulos, an attorney and publisher of Bird Watcher's Digest (BWD) Magazine. Mike shares how birding brought him comfort during a challenging period of his childhood, carrying him through big life transitions and eventually leading him to BWD. They also discuss the magazine's global artwork, the letters that remind Mike of its lasting impact, and how birding with BWD creates connections across generations of readers and birders alike.   Resources & Links from This Episode 🌿 Learn more about Bird Watcher's Digest and subscribe at the BWD website. 📘 Connect with the BWD birding community on the BWD Facebook page. 🎁 Give the gift of birding! Surprise someone with a BWD subscription here. 🦆 Explore conservation efforts with Ducks Unlimited. ℹ️ Read more about their mission on the Ducks Unlimited About page.   Show Notes by Kayla Gajewski

On this week's episode of The Spark Bird Podcast, our hosts Jenn Lodi-Smith and Janet McNally meet with celebrated naturalist and author Kenn Kaufman, whose fascination with birds began in early childhood and never faded. Inspired by richly illustrated wildlife books, Kenn developed a passion for the natural world that took him hitchhiking across North America as a teenager. He shares stories from the road, his work writing and illustrating about nature, and why community is such a vital part of birding. Resources & Links from This Episode 🌎 Check out the Kaufman Field Guides website for more resources and inspiration to fuel your next outdoor adventure. 📖 Get to know Kenn Kaufman and the journey that's made him one of the most beloved voices in the birding world. 🚗 Take a ride through Kenn's teenage adventures in his memoir Kingbird Highway, a must-read for any nature enthusiast. 📚 Explore the Kaufman Field Guides series to sharpen your skills and see the world through fresh eyes. 🎨 Follow Kenn on Instagram for stunning art and a closer look at his creative process.   Show Notes by Kayla Gajewski

In this episode of The Spark Bird Podcast, our hosts Jenn Lodi-Smith and Janet McNally talk with Laura Marris, Visiting Assistant Professor in the English department at the University at Buffalo. Laura shares how birding with her dad as a child shaped the way she sees the world. And we discuss her book The Age of Loneliness, reflecting on the decline in bird abundance, the role of community science, and what it means to truly notice the living world around us. This conversation is about more than birdwatching; it's about presence, memory, and the quiet ways nature holds us through change. *During the episode, Jenn mentioned a word she couldn't recall at the time, it's the Romanian word "dor," which captures a deep sense of longing or missing something you love.* Resources & Links from This Episode 📖 Learn more about Laura's upcoming book The Age of Loneliness from Graywolf Press. 📚 Order your copy on Bookshop or listen to the audiobook on Libro.fm. 🌐 Visit lauramarris.com or follow @lauramarris for more of Laura's work. 🦉 Watch Norman Smith's The Snowy Owls of Logan Airport. 🌱 Learn about the Silo City remediation project. 🕊️ Get involved with Cornell Lab's Community Science projects. 🌳 Explore the work of the WNY Land Conservancy 🔬 Read the Science article on the loss of bird abundance. 📖 Check out the children's classic Owl Moon by Jane Yolen.   Show Notes by Kayla Gajewski

In this week's episode, our hosts Jenn Lodi-Smith and Janet McNally welcome Michael Lombardo, the creator of the McGolrick Bird Club in North Brooklyn. Michael shares his journey from a career in the tech industry to becoming a passionate birder and community leader. Michael discusses the creation and growth of the McGoldrick Bird Club, highlighting the importance of weekly bird walks, community engagement, and the power of noticing the natural world around us. Explore more from Michael Lombardo and the McGolrick Bird Club 📸 Follow @mcgolrickbirdclub on Instagram for bird walk updates and moments of wonder from North Brooklyn. 🌐 Visit birding.website for resources, events, and reflections from the McGolrick Bird Club community. 📝 Subscribe to the McGolrick Bird Club Substack for thoughtful essays on birding, awareness, and slowing down in a fast-moving world.   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