Dirty Bird Podcast

Vengeful owls, sloppy bears, and vultures hungry for human flesh: that's just another day on the job for Gavin, lead animal keeper for Maymont Foundation in Richmond, Virginia. Maymont is a free historic park located in the capitol of Virginia that features rescued and rehabilitated animals. Among these animals are several hawks, owls, and vultures that Gavin helps care for every day. Along with feeding them and administering medicines, Gavin also has meaningful and hilarious encounters everyday with these amazing animals. Join us for some laughs, learning, and a good time all around! Also, special shout out to Mohi!!!

In this episode, Dr. John explores the life history of the Eastern and Spotted Towhee. While common birds in backyards and parks, there’s many interesting facts about them the average birder doesn’t know. Did you know their eye color varies with region? Or that humans and towhees share a microbiome? And what the heck do Towhees have to do with Shakespeare?! Listen to this episode to find out more! Dr. John reads all the research papers so you don’t have to! Learn everything you need to know about these two amazing bird species.
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Learn about: The meaning of their scientific name, their feeding and breeding behaviors, what kind of habitats they prefer, their evolutionary history, causes of predation and disease, and how their population numbers are doing. All facts are supported by research and review of scientific articles.
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Bird calls used in the show are from xeno-canto.org

Intro Eastern Towhee Song by Molly Jacobson

Intro Spotted Towhee Song by Manuel Grosselet

Towhee Saying its name by Caio Brito

Chewink call by John A. Middleton Jr. 2:00

Drink your tea song by Christopher McPherson 17:00

Communication call by Christopher McPherson

Spotted Towhee song by Manuel Grosselet

Spotted Towhee mew by Thomas Magarian

Blue-Grey Catbird mew by Russ Wigh

Combined chewink and song by Christopher McPherson

Tea song with flair by Christopher McPherson

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Intro music by Ricky Pistone and Outro Music by the Sidewalk Slammers
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Cover art used from the Public Domain

Eagles, Gorcrows, and Crebain...oh my! Throughout the works of J.R.R Tolkien, including Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, Fall of Gondolin, The Simarillion, and Beren and Luthien, birds feature prominently. Some, like the Eagle, play a big role while other birds are more obscure. In this podcast episode, three life long friends and LOTR nerds discuss nearly every bird reference made in The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, Return of the Ring, and The Hobbit. They also explore birds throughout Tolkien’s many other works. Using a mixture of books and movie depictions, your dorky hosts have a lot of laughs and raunchy jokes while discussing the feathered folk of Middle Earth and the Undying Lands. Whether you’ve only seen the movies or can fluently speak elvish this episode will keep you smiling and learning. Find out more about the Eagles ancestry and deeds, Ravens relationship with dwarves, bird spies of Sauron, and the majestic swans of Ulmo and their relationship to Galadriel. Also learn a deep cut about Tom Bombadil and Kingfishers, Aragorn’s relationship with birds, and the possible meaning of the black swans.

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Also special shout outs to Podcasts that help pave the way for this episode including The Tolkien Road Podcast, The Prancing Pony Podcast, and The Lord of The Rings Minute Podcast.

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Intro Music By Ricky Pistone and Outro music by the Sidewalk Slammers. Check them out wherever you get your music.

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Cover art “Tuor and the Swans” by Eirwen98 from the Public Domain.

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If you liked this episode, please share, leave a review and subscribe! I really appreciate it

In this 4th of July special, John talks all about America’s bird the Bald Eagle! While majestic appearing, the Bald Eagle has quite the bad reputation amongst those who have observed its habits up close, Benjamin Franklin even called it “very lousy”! But do its redeeming qualities make up for its sometimes nasty nature? Explore these topics as John tells you everything you need to know about the Bald Eagle! Also, the return of Punchy Joe who talks about the Bald Eagle pair that have spent 10 years raising young just off his dock. And a listener message from friend of the show Charlie! Learn about Bald Eagle Biology, their interactions with humans, how it became America's bird, Native american legends, about a Bald Eagle that fought in the civil war, threats to their population, and their evolutionary history. So put in your headphones, light up the BBQ, and press play on this episode!

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Cover art by Jessica Coker! Check out all her work on her Instagram page @jessicacokerartist

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Outro music by the Sidewalk Slammers, check them out wherever you get your music

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All bird sounds are from xeno-canto.org

Bald Eagle Call 1 by: Steve Hampton

Bald Eagle Call 2 by: Davyd Betchkayl

Bald Eagle Call 3 by: Paul Marvin

Osprey Call by: Bruce Lagerquist

Bald Eagle majestic call by: Russ Wigh

Red-Tailed Hawk Call by: Peter Ward and Ken Hall

Bald Eagle Capture call by Paul Marvin

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Civil War music by adeluc4 from freesounds.org

Native American drum by sandyrb from freesounds.org

Bird flap by agentDD from freesounds.org

Landing sound by yoyodaman234 from freesounds.org

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Find dirty bird podcast Tshirts at https://www.teepublic.com/user/dirtybird-podcast

Did you know young frigate birds play like puppies? And that adults croon to each other like Barry White to get in the mood? Learn fun, fast facts about the breeding and feeding of this giant shore bird with Dirty Bird Shorties! Check out full length episodes for even more bird facts
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All Bird Sounds are from xeno-canto.org

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Begging Call by Ricardo José Mitidieri

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Calling and bill snapping by Bobby Wilcox

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Drumming by Leonardo Ordóñez-Delgado

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Fighting sounds by Bobby Wilcox

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Intro music by Ricky Pistone. Check him out wherever you get your music

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Short clip of “Can’t Get Enough of Your Love Babe” by Barry White used