Birds & Nerds at SXSW 2026 | It All Begins With Birds | Ramona Schindelheim & Dr. Elizabeth Gray

This episode of the Birds & Nerds podcast was recorded live on stage at SXSW 2026 in Austin, featuring Dr. Elizabeth Gray, CEO of the National Audubon Society, and podcast host and journalist Ramona Schindelheim. This conversation explores how birds serve as vital indicators of planetary health, powerful drivers of conservation, and sources of personal wellbeing, creativity, and community. National Audubon Society CEO Dr. Elizabeth Gray explains that birds are often the first species to disappear from degraded habitats and the first to return when areas are restored, making them key signals of environmental change and climate impacts across the Americas.

Also during the live taping at SXSW 2026, host Ramona Schindelheim also explores bird intelligence and social behavior—from cooperative formations in migrating geese to the grudges held by crows—using these behaviors as metaphors for leadership and resilience. They connect birdwatching to mental health, citing research that observing birds increases brain matter in regions related to attention and perception and can lower stress, with universities now testing bird-focused interventions for older adults with cognitive issues.

Other highlights:
🐦 There are more than 96 million birders in the U.S. over the age of 16 and why birding is becoming more popular with people of all ages.
🐦 Efforts by the National Audubon Society to halt and reverse declines in bird populations in the Americas through habitat protection and restoration.
🐦 How individuals can support birds by creating bird‑friendly yards and supporting conservation groups like Audubon.
🐦 Birds inspire music, art, and literature.
🐦 Meet Austin's most famous bird species.

This episode is sure to entertain and inspire! What it here or download it wherever you get your podcasts!

Visit the National Audubon Society website: https://www.audubon.org/

Visit the Birds & Nerds website and subscribe to notifications: https://www.birdsandnerdspodcast.com/

Who am I? I am an award-winning journalist and storyteller curious about everything! Follow me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ramonaschindelheim/

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