The Science of Birds

2021 is over, yo! So it's time for the Annual Review Episode! We’ll be looking back at some highlights of bird science in the year 2021. What fascinating things did ornithologists and other biologis...

30 Joulu 202137min

This episode is all about birds in the family Hirundinidae. These are the swallows and martins. Other than when they’re nesting, swallows are in the air almost all day long. This aerial lifestyle and...

23 Joulu 202148min

Ecologists and ornithologists have been studying the effects of wildfire on bird populations all over the world. Their research has resulted in many fascinating discoveries about the relationships bet...

7 Joulu 202149min

This is a special episode, and the first of its kind. I answer questions from my listeners. It’s a fun, mixed bag of bird factoids. Who were these lucky people who got to contribute to this episode? T...

16 Marras 202143min

This episode is about the seven bird species in the family Cathartidae: the New World vultures and condors. This group includes species like the Turkey Vulture, Black Vulture, and Andean Condor. Amo...

3 Marras 202151min

Birds, probably more than any other aerial creatures, have amazed and inspired us with the grace and power of their flight. So just how do they do it? In this episode, we'll look at the physics and a...

20 Loka 202136min

This episode is all about penguins. All penguins belong to the family Spheniscidae. Penguins are among the most bizarre and specialized birds in the world. Few other birds represent such a departure ...

29 Syys 202158min

In this episode, we’re going to look at wetlands as habitats for birds. We’ll start with how to recognize—how to define—a wetland ecosystem. Then, we’ll get into why these ecosystems are so important ...

15 Syys 202136min