1: Top 10 Reasons Why You Should Start Birding

Explicit content warning

05/15/19 • 20 min

Not to give you FOMO, but we're pretty sure that birding is having a moment. It seems like more and more people are picking up their binoculars, heading into their local environment, and ID'ing birds. (No? Just us?) Here are the top 10 reasons (of, like, a billion reasons) why you should join the birding revolution.
We (Sarah and Mo) are city-dwelling millennials and beginner birders. In the past year, we've passively observed birds around our Midwest homes and dedicated time to learning about birds. We are now borderline-qualified to host a podcast about birding.
Whether you're new to birding, curious about birding but not sure where to start, or just love talking about the great outdoors, we hope you'll tune in!
BIRD SH*T WE DISCUSSED:
USEFUL RESOURCES

Merlin Bird ID app (Apple / Android): ID birds in the wild with only 5 visual data points. Believe it.
eBird app (Apple / Android): track your bird lists and share useful data with badass scientists.

BIRDS WE MENTIONED (in order)

House Sparrow
Peregrine Falcon (but let's be real, it could've been a different bird Mo saw)
Northern Cardinal
Great Blue Heron
Canada Goose
Great Egret (Sarah called it a White Heron but we'll let it slide)
Sandhill Crane

BIRDS IN THE NEWS

OTHER COOL SH*T

Fantasy Birding Leagues
Articuno vs. Zapdos vs. Moltres. You tell us at [email protected].
Chris Pratt Appreciation (Podcast?)
Shrek frog balloons
"A lovely room of death!" - Ace Ventura
Point Pelee National Park (We'll be here May 25-27!)

Support the show

Merlin Bird ID app (Apple / Android): ID birds in the wild with only 5 visual data points. Believe it.
eBird app (Apple / Android): track your bird lists and share useful data with badass scientists.

BIRDS WE MENTIONED (in order)

House Sparrow
Peregrine Falcon (but let's be real, it could've been a different bird Mo saw)
Northern Cardinal
Great Blue Heron
Canada Goose
Great Egret (Sarah called it a White Heron but we'll let it slide)
Sandhill Crane

BIRDS IN THE NEWS

OTHER COOL SH*T

Fantasy Birding Leagues
Articuno vs. Zapdos vs. Moltres. You tell us at [email protected].
Chris Pratt Appreciation (Podcast?)
Shrek frog balloons
"A lovely room of death!" - Ace Ventura
Point Pelee National Park (We'll be here May 25-27!)

Support the show

Next Episode

2: How to plan a birding trip (complete with blow-up dolls)

Planning a birding trip requires slightly different logistics than a weekend getaway. Are your binoculars packed? Have you familiarized yourself with birds in the region? Did you pack your blow-up dolls? As Mo and Sarah pack for their upcoming trip to Point Pelee National Park in Ontario, Canada, they share their advice for birding trip preparations.
Plus, we debate whether or not Morgan Freeman will outlive Emperor Penguins in this week's "Birds in the News."
BIRD SHIT WE DISCUSSED
USEFUL RESOURCES
Find a local birding mailing list for your region!
BIRDS WE MENTIONED (in order)
Large-Billed Crow (Jungle Crow)
Eurasian Tree Sparrow
Rock Pigeon
Mandarin Duck
Secretarybird
Emperor Penguin
White-Throated Rail
Warblers (and how to ID them!)
Kinglets
American Robin
BIRDS IN THE NEWS
A brave bird took down the world’s most expensive fighter jet
Bummer news for Antartica’s Emperor Penguins :-(
The bird that went extinct...then came back!
OTHER COOL SH*T
Point Pelee National Park, Ontario
March of the Penguins
Wall-E blubber people
“It’s a (migrant) trap!”
There are SO MANY Kit-Kat flavors in Japan.
Blow-up dolls...but we’re not including a link.