This is Episode 75. It’s all about shrikes—birds in the family Laniidae.These are true songbirds—members of the avian suborder Passeri within the order Passeriformes—even though they act (and sort of look like) tiny falcons or hawks.Shrikes are sit and wait predators. They typically sit upright on an exposed, conspicuous perch and then wait for something tasty to come along. Some small animal, like a Vesper Sparrow, a rodent, lizard, grasshopper, and so on.Shrikes are such cool birds that they have many fans among ornithologists. In fact, there’s a subdiscipline of ornithology called shrikeology. For real. And those who study these fascinating birds are known as shrikeologists.So for today, at least, let’s all be honorary shrikeologists. Let’s get down to the nitty-gritty details of shrike biology. Links of InterestRed-backed Shrike courtship [VIDEO]   ~~ Leave me a review using Podchaser ~~Link to this episode on the Science of Birds website Birds and Beans Coffee - Get yourself some delicious, bird-friendly coffee that preserves habitat for migratory and resident birds in coffee-growing regions.Support the show

The Science of Birds

Shrikes

This episode—which is Number 74—is all about edible bird’s nests and Bird’s Nest Soup.Edible bird nests are a traditional delicacy in east Asia. Especially in China. For centuries, wealthy Chinese people have consumed edible bird nests. Usually in the form of bird’s nest soup.Throughout much of recent history, this dish has been one of the most expensive foods in the world.No wonder people have called edible bird nests the “caviar of the east,” or “white gold.”Perhaps the primary reason people spend ungodly amounts of money on bird’s nest soup is because of its medicinal properties. Well… It’s supposed medicinal properties, anyway.In traditional Chinese medicine, it’s believed that the benefits you can get from eating these nests include: a prolonged life, increased attractiveness, increased libido, brain health, bone strength, no more diabetes, no more cancer, a stronger immune system, more energy, better looking skin, and better circulation.Wow.  So basically, it sounds like an edible bird’s nest is a cure-all—a panacea. That’s pretty impressive! But is it true?And where do these nests come from? What do they look like?In today&apos;s episode, we&apos;ll get into all of that. We’ll talk about which birds make these amazing nests, and how they do it.We’ll also look at the way people harvest edible bird’s nests, the global industry for this product, and some ethical concerns. Links of InterestSalivating for a New Nest [VIDEO]The Swiftlet Tribe, Collocaliini~~ Leave me a review using Podchaser ~~Link to this episode on the Science of Birds website Birds and Beans Coffee - Get yourself some delicious, bird-friendly coffee that preserves habitat for migratory and resident birds in coffee-growing regions.Support the show

Where Does Bird's Nest Soup Come From?

This is Episode 73. It’s all about birds in the avian family Gruidae… the cranes.These tall birds are charismatic and super interesting. It’s going to be fun to do a deep dive into all things crane today.Humans around the world have celebrated cranes for thousands of years, for their graceful beauty and their exuberant courtship dances. Across many cultures, cranes have inspired paintings, songs, dances, legends, martial arts, heavy construction machinery apparently, and the most iconic animal design in the fine art of origami.It’s spring in the Northern Hemisphere right now, and that means that in many parts of the world, cranes are on the move. They’re migrating north. Along the way, they stop to rest and refuel at certain staging areas. Hundreds or thousands of cranes can end up at a single staging area or stopover and this can be a wonderful sight to see for birders and other nature lovers.There are a bunch of crane festivals around this time every year. It’s a rare thing for any kind of bird to get so much attention and adoration like this. Cranes are just that special.So how about we have our own little crane festival today. Let’s get to know these amazing birds. Links of InterestSandhill Cranes and Colts [VIDEO]Crane TrustInternational Crane FoundationWhooping Crane dancing [VIDEO]Common Crane courtship [VIDEO]  ~~ Leave me a review using Podchaser ~~Link to this episode on the Science of Birds website Birds and Beans Coffee - Get yourself some delicious, bird-friendly coffee that preserves habitat for migratory and resident birds in coffee-growing regions.Support the show

Cranes

This episode—which is Number 72—is about what happens to birds, not just in bad weather, but in really bad weather. We’re talking hurricanes, floods, droughts, heat waves, tornadoes, maybe even the occasional sharknado, and so on.How do birds deal with all these natural disasters? We’ll get into that.We&apos;ll be talking mostly about the more immediate effects of storms and other extreme weather on the survival of individual birds and their populations.Birds are tough little buggers. They’re tougher than they might look. Many of them live long lives in the face of continual challenges like predators, aggressive rivals, wild temperature swings, strong wind, and heavy precipitation. But an extreme weather event can often be the ultimate test of survival for a bird. Links of InterestThe Southwest Is Facing an ‘Unprecedented’ Migratory Bird Die-OffWhere Do Birds Go In A Hurricane?  ~~ Leave me a review using Podchaser ~~Link to this episode on the Science of Birds website Birds and Beans Coffee - Get yourself some delicious, bird-friendly coffee that preserves habitat for migratory and resident birds in coffee-growing regions.Support the show

Hurricanes and Heatwaves: How Does Extreme Weather Affect Birds?

This episode—which is Number 71—is about one particular scientific article.  An article that’s near and dear to my heart.This study was published in 2020, in the Scientific Journal of Research and Reviews. You already know the title of the study itself. It’s the same as the title of this podcast episode… "What’s the Deal With Birds?"The study&apos;s author is Doctor Daniel T. Baldassarre. Listen to the episode to find out why  I love this paper...Links of InterestLab Website of Dr. Daniel T. BaldassarrePredatory Publishing websiteChecklist for submitting a manuscript to a journal: Think.Check.Submit~~ Leave me a review using Podchaser ~~Link to this episode on the Science of Birds website Birds and Beans Coffee - Get yourself some delicious, bird-friendly coffee that preserves habitat for migratory and resident birds in coffee-growing regions.Support the show

What's the Deal With Birds?

This episode—which is Number 70—is all about the Great Blue Heron. The scientific name for the Great Blue Heron is Ardea herodias.This species is one of the most familiar large birds in North America. So it was inevitable that I’d make a podcast episode about it.The Great Blue Heron is a beautiful, fascinating, and ecologically important bird.Links of Interest‘Great Heron’ sculpture by artist Dixie Friend GayGreat Blue Heron: Nesting and Mating Behavior [VIDEO]Great Horned Owl attacks Great Blue Heron in Sapsucker Woods [VIDEO] ~~ Leave me a review using Podchaser ~~Link to this episode on the Science of Birds website Birds and Beans Coffee - Get yourself some delicious, bird-friendly coffee that preserves habitat for migratory and resident birds in coffee-growing regions.Support the show

Great Blue Heron

This episode—which is Number 69—is all about the avian skeleton. Bird bones.So this is an episode about some basic anatomy of birds.Bird bones and the avian skeleton are elegant, strong, and rigid.  Let’s put on our x-ray goggles, and peer inside the body of a bird, to see what’s going on with all those beautiful bones...Links of InterestCranial kinesis in the skull of a Hyacinth Macaw [VIDEO]~~ Leave me a review using Podchaser ~~Link to this episode on the Science of Birds websiteBirds and Beans Coffee - Get yourself some delicious, bird-friendly coffee that preserves habitat for migratory and resident birds in coffee-growing regions.Support the show

Bird Bones: The Avian Skeleton

Today’s episode is number 68. It’s all about the family of birds called Bucerotidae. These are the hornbills.Maybe you’ve heard about hornbills and know a few facts about them. Or maybe you’ve never even heard about these birds. Either way, I think you’ll enjoy today’s podcast episode. Hornbills are just so cool!The family Bucerotidae includes several dozen hornbill species. But there’s a second, much smaller avian family that contains birds we also call hornbills. The name of that family is Bucorvidae, the ‘ground-hornbills.’ There are only 2 species of ground-hornbills. I’ll be including them in our conversation today too. Besides, until recently, scientists grouped ground-hornbills into the larger Bucerotidae family. Hornbill are key players in the tropical ecosystems of both Africa and Asia. There are many fascinating things for us to learn about them. Links of InterestHunting the Helmeted Hornbill [VIDEO]Hornbills Pluck Bats Mid-flight [VIDEO]~~ Leave me a review using Podchaser ~~Link to this episode on the Science of Birds website Birds and Beans Coffee - Get yourself some delicious, bird-friendly coffee that preserves habitat for migratory and resident birds in coffee-growing regions.Support the show

Hornbills

This is Episode Number 67. It’s the last episode of 2022, so that means it’s the Annual Review!We’re going to look back at 2022, at some of the most interesting scientific studies of birds that were published this year. Will this be a painstakingly thorough review of everything that scientists learned about birds in 2022? No. Not so much. The studies I’m telling you about today—while they did make it into the newsfeed—are just the ones that I found most exciting. Or at least interesting. I decided they’re worth yapping about.~~ Leave me a review using Podchaser ~~Links of InterestCockatoos are in a "cultural arms race" with Sydney residents and their bins [VIDEO]Slow-motion video of woodpeckers hammering into wood [VIDEO]ReferencesHummingbird plumage color diversity exceeds the known gamut of all other birdsInnovation and geographic spread of a complex foraging culture in an urban parrotWoodpeckers minimize cranial absorption of shocksThe homogenization of avian morphological and phylogenetic diversity under the global extinction crisisCretaceous ornithurine supports a neognathous crown bird ancestorJuvenile bar-tailed godwit "B6" Sets World RecordAvian neurons consume three times less glucose than mammalian neuronsDeterrence of birds with an artificial predator, the RobotFalconHow woodcocks produce the most brilliant white plumage patches among the birdsLink to this episode on the Science of Birds websiteBirds and Beans Coffee - Get yourself some delicious, bird-friendly coffee that preserves habitat for migratory and resident birds in coffee-growing regions.Support the show

Awesome Things We Learned About Birds in 2022

This episode—which is Number 66—is all about the ways you can help birds. How you can make a difference in their conservation.It’s one thing to enjoy learning about birds in an objective, scientific way. They’re fascinating organisms.But does our interest in the biology of birds also come bundled with a care and concern for them? With warm and fuzzy feelings? I’d say heck yes, it does! For most of us, anyway, including yours truly.We want birds out there in the wide world to survive and thrive. For their own intrinsic worth as living beings. But also because of our selfish desire to have them around for us—so we can enjoy them, and take Instagram-worthy photos of them, and write their names down on our lifelists. Links of InterestThe Blue Feet FoundationBring Birds Back podcast~~ Leave me a review using Podchaser ~~Link to this episode on the Science of Birds website Support the show

15 Simple (and Several Complicated) Ways You Can Help Birds

This is Episode 65, and it’s all about waxwings—birds in the family Bombycillidae. The Cedar Waxwing is one species, and there are two others that we’ll talk about.These beautiful, elegant songbirds are loved by people across the Northern Hemisphere.Waxwings are easy on the eyes, for sure, and that’s great. I mean, personally, I think they’re just about the most gorgeous songbirds we have in North America. But their biology is also really interesting. So much of how waxwings live and behave is dictated by what they eat… By their specialized diet. What is that special diet? Is it maybe something like scorpions, psychedelic mushrooms, or the blood of their enemies?  Listen and find out!Links of InterestCedar-Waxwings getting drunk on Holly Berries [VIDEO]Cedar Waxwing Courtship [VIDEO] ~~ Leave me a review using Podchaser ~~Link to this episode on the Science of Birds website Support the show

Waxwings

This episode—which is Number 64—is all about the importance of temperate grasslands as habitat for birds.When we say “temperate grasslands,” we mean those generally occurring in the middle latitudes.Temperate grasslands exist in several parts of the world. Some of them cover vast areas. Here in North America, we have the Great Plains as a “great” example.The steppes of Mongolia and the Pampas of South America are similarly vast temperate grasslands.Many, many bird species around the world depend on such grasslands for food and breeding habitat. Among them are raptors, sparrows, blackbirds, larks, pipits, a bunch of South American species in the ovenbird family, Furnariidae… and the list goes on. But, unfortunately, temperate grasslands are also among the most threatened ecosystems on the planet. Many of the bird species that call them home are, not surprisingly, also in trouble.Today, we’re going to dive into what makes temperate grasslands special, and why they’re so important to birds. I’ll give you several examples of bird species that depend on grassland habitats. And we’ll also talk a bit about grassland conservation. Because you know we can’t get through this without a little gloom and doom.Links of InterestLittle Bustard [VIDEO]Grassland Bird TrustAmerican Prairie ReserveThe North American Grasslands Conservation Act~~ Leave me a review using Podchaser ~~Link to this episode on the Science of Birds websiteSupport the show

Bird Habitat: Temperate Grasslands and Prairies

This episode—which is Number 63—is about the Common Raven, Corvus corax. This species is also known as the Northern Raven.Few bird species in the world are as geographically widespread as the Common Raven. And few are as familiar and iconic. This is a really amazing bird.Ornithologists and other scientists have studied ravens extensively, so we know quite a lot about this species.Today, we’ll look at the basic traits of the Common Raven as well as its behavior, habitats, diet, reproduction, and more.Links of InterestBOOK: Mind of the Raven: Investigations and Adventures with Wolf-Birds [Amazon affiliate link]Two Species of Ravens Nevermore?Crow vs Raven in Size [YouTube video]~~ Leave me a review using Podchaser ~~Link to this episode on the Science of Birds websiteSupport the show

The Common Raven

This episode—which is Number 62—is all about the major geographic divisions among birds across the planet.Why are bowerbirds found only in Australia and on the islands of New Guinea? Why are the birds you see in India so different from those in China? Does North America have any unique, endemic bird families?Questions like these fall within the domain of biogeography. Biogeography is the study of where living things are found and why they’re found there—both in the present and the past. Today, we’ll be sketching out the big picture of what types of birds are found where across the world map.By learning the basics of bird biogeography, you can get a deeper appreciation for the uniqueness of bird communities in different parts of the world. ~~ Leave me a review using Podchaser ~~Links of InterestWhat Are The 7 Realms of Biogeography? [VIDEO]Link to this episode on the Science of Birds websiteSupport the show

Biogeographic Realms and Their Unique Birds

This is Episode 61, and it’s all about Ostriches. These are the birds in the avian family Struthionidae.Ostriches are among the most recognizable and charismatic birds. No living bird is bigger than an ostrich. If you’ve ever seen one up close, you know how impressive these giants can be. They’re amazing.So I’m excited to dig into their biology with you today. You probably know a thing or two about Ostriches already, but let’s see if we can get a deeper understanding of them. We’ll look at their basic traits, their distribution, habitat, diet, and more.~~ Leave me a review using Podchaser ~~Links of InterestCyclists chased by an ostrich [VIDEO]Link to this episode on the Science of Birds websiteSupport the show

Ostriches

The Science of Birds is a lighthearted exploration of bird biology. It's a fun resource for any birder or naturalist who wants to learn more about ornithology. Impress your birding friends at cocktail parties with all of your new bird knowledge! Hosted by Ivan Phillipsen, a passionate naturalist with a PhD in Zoology.

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The Science of Birds

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