Your Bird Story

Owls are back in the news in New York City. This time, two Barn Owls on the Upper West Side. In honor of the city's owls, famous and incognito, we're rerunning "Christine Mott Advocates for Free Birds."

New Yorkers who bird know that a common way to experience birds in the city is seasonal, and in his new book, Bird City, Ryan Goldberg captures the lives of resident and migratory birds across all five boroughs of the city. Ryan shines a light on New Yorkers who come out rain, shine, and snow to witness, protect, and advocate for the birds. He also teaches us about the city’s natural history and how its geography shaped and continues to shape the fauna and flora we share this mostly archipelagic city with. (The Bronx is the exception; it's the only borough attached to the mainland.)The start of each of the four sections, a nod to the four seasons, is beautifully illustrated by Aimee Lusty. Here’s what Goldberg had to say about Aimee: “She captured the drama and wildness of the city and its bird life in her illustrations, and I loved how the urban context was always there in her illustrations, like the rides of Coney Island in the background of winter's sea ducks at Breezy Point or Manhattan's illuminated skyscrapers behind warblers migrating through the Tribute in Light beams.”ResourcesRyan Goldberg’s website: https://ryangoldberg.net/Aimee Lusty on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aimee.lusty/Bird VocalizationsKing Eider male call https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/31729201King Eider calls https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/137307Common Yellowthroat https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/245666251Peregrine Falcon https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/81384371 European Starling https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/151901161Eurasian Owl https://xeno-canto.org/1077911Red-tailed Hawk juvenile calls https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/175635401Piping Plover song https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/64002271Northern Shoveler female calls https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/43124About the podcastYour Bird Story is an initiative of Local Nature Lab. The podcast is hosted by Georgia Silvera Seamans on Lenapehoking, and produced by Pod to the People. Support Our WorkSubscribe, follow, like, or leave a comment. It costs $100 to produce each episode. Donate here.

The American Robin, Turdus migratorius, is a common migratory bird found throughout much of the United States; however, the population in Chicago appears to be decreasing. Is this trend specific to Chicago, or are Robins experiencing declines in other cities across the U.S? Wildlife biologist Emily Williams returns to the podcast to discuss migration patterns and the possible factors contributing to the decline of the American Robin population.ResourcesLearn more about Emily Williams’ American Robin research at https://www.audubon.org/magazine/fall-2020/scientists-are-unraveling-american-robins.Dr. Karina Sanchez’s LabSmithsonian Nestwatch projectBird VocalizationsRobins - alarm call (NY) https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/170498741 Robins - song (NY) https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/151051571Robins - call (NY) https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/213807211Robins - call (juvenile) https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/167221021About the podcastYour Bird Story is an initiative of Local Nature Lab. The podcast is hosted by Georgia Silvera Seamans on Lenapehoking, and produced by Pod to the People. Support Our WorkSubscribe, follow, like, or leave a comment. It costs $100 to produce each episode. Donate here.

What can birding in a different city tell us about ourselves and the culture of perceiving nature in our community? We check in with Loyan Beausoleil about her recent trip to Japan where she observed Warbling White-eye and plentiful Brown-eared Bulbul among blooming cherry trees, listened to the song of the Japanese Bush Warbler who eluded her on Izu Island, and spotted Falcated Ducks when she least expected them, exploring the moat outside the Imperial Palace.Read Loyan's report on Avian Species Richness and Activity at the Naval Cemetery Landscape.Bird VocalizationsChimney Swift calls https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/107413American Kestrel calls https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/226931021Warbling White-eye song https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/6059Brown-eared Bulbul calls https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/170597841Japanese Bush Warbler song https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/214569401Eurasian Sparrowhawk calls https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/387888231 (Germany)Cooper’s Hawk calls https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/231229541Sharp-shinned Hawk calls https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/4153Green-winged Teal https:/ /macaulaylibrary.org/asset/230140701Falcated Duck calls https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/601476851Eurasian Sparrowhawk calls https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/62269311 (Kyrgyzstan)About the podcastYour Bird Story is an initiative of Local Nature Lab. The podcast is hosted by Georgia Silvera Seamans on Lenapehoking, and produced by Pod to the People. Support Our WorkSubscribe, follow, like, or leave a comment. It costs $100 to produce each episode. Donate here.

Alejandro Vinueza, a wildlife biologist and current youth programs manager, has birds in his wild city of New York. He has watched Ruby-throated Hummingbirds nectaring in Fort Tryon Park, heard Red-tailed Hawks screeching on-the-wing while playing basketball at Cabrini Park, and observed Great-horned Owls on Staten Island. Alejandro describes himself as a bird nerd trying to “grow the flock” among his friends and community. He has a unique voice in science communication. His informative videos about bird behavior are always entertaining, never didactic. You’ll laugh while you learn! We highly recommend watching them @wingin_it_with_al (Instagram) and @winginitwithal (TikTok)Bird VocalizationsBlack-throated Blue Warbler https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/120458Northern Cardinal duet https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/54675American Robin https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/148704811Scarlet Tanager https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/31258871Red-tailed Hawk https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/241076151Blue Jay https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/226854181American Woodcock https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/221633191About the podcastYour Bird Story is an initiative of Local Nature Lab. The podcast is hosted by Georgia Silvera Seamans on Lenapehoking, and produced by Pod to the People. Support Our WorkSubscribe, follow, like, leave a comment. It costs $100 to produce each episode. Donate here.