Your Bird Story

How do you disrupt the "great forgetting machine" that is colonialism? Biologist and zoologist Dr. Leo Douglas offers this observation among many: "The more we can encourage people to think about this history, it's the more we can bring a broader cross section of society into the conservation fold, and give them a wider variety of reasons why they should be concerned or interested or value the natural world." Dr. Douglas drops many insights in our conversation about the history of the bird-people connection in Jamaica and its roots in the West Africa via the transatlantic slave trade. Please listen and contribute to the discussion in the comments.

Leo Douglas is a Clinical Assistant Professor at Liberal Studies. He received his Ph.D., a Masters of Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Biology, and an Advanced Environmental Policy Certificate from Columbia University. He also holds a Masters of Philosophy degree in Zoology from the University of the West Indies, Jamaica (source). You can follow him on Twitter @ leo_r_douglas.

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Season 3 of Your Bird Story aka CHIRP is made possible with a Voice for Nature Foundation grant.

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Production

Creator and Host: Georgia Silvera Seamans

Producer and Editor: Pod to the People

Bird vocalizations were accessed from the Macaulay Library.

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Our sister program, Washington Square Park Eco Projects, has been conducting a wildlife survey in Washington Square Park since 2016. Tatiana and Ted, neighborhood residents, volunteer to collect survey data. We spoke with them about their experiences walking the survey transect, noticing birds, and observing the park over time.

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Season 3 of Your Bird Story aka CHIRP is made possible with a Voice for Nature Foundation grant.

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Production

Creator and Host: Georgia Silvera Seamans

Producer and Editor: Pod to the People

Bird vocalizations were accessed from the Macaulay Library.

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Environmental artist Julie Peppito talks with us about the origin of her art, her family ties to New York, the materials she uses in her "creature-like sculptures, layered tapestries, large installations, collages, and playground art." Our favorite Peppito piece is "United Birds of America," a site-specific sculpture for the "For the Birds" exhibit at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden in 2022. Julie talks about the making of this birdhouse and the American Robin who visited the sculpture as she was putting on the finishing touches the garden.

Learn about Julie on her website and her Instagram.

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Season 3 of Your Bird Story aka CHIRP is made possible with a Voice for Nature Foundation grant.

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Production

Creator and Host: Georgia Silvera Seamans

Producer and Editor: Pod to the People

Bird vocalizations were accessed from the Macaulay Library.

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Kene'h Oweh is the creator and storyteller of By the Fire. In conversation with Ken, she shared myths and folk tales about birds and bird-like creatures of the Black diaspora. She also spoke about feeding birds during the lockdown in London, and her burgeoning interest in pigeons. Definitely subscribe to By the Fire!

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Season 3 of Your Bird Story aka CHIRP is made possible with a Voice for Nature Foundation grant.

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Production

Creator and Host: Georgia Silvera Seamans

Producer and Editor: Pod to the People

Raptor vocalizations were accessed from the Macaulay Library.

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Like. Review. Subscribe. Share. Thank you!

Monica Yadeun wears many hats. She is a veterinarian, a bird advocate, and an environmental innovator. Her initiative Pollinator Resorts is part of the World Economic Forum. She founded Guardianas de las Aves. In our conversation, Monica talks about her path to veterinary care, doctoral degree in decolonize pedagogy, bird diversity conservation, and favorite birds(s). She tells us that she gets to know birds by spending time in their places. 

Follow Guardianas de las Aves on Instagram @guardianas_de_aves. Learn more about Pollinator Resorts.

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Season 3 of Your Bird Story brings more field recordings to listeners. CHIRP, as we are calling this season, is made possible with a Voice for Nature Foundation grant.

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Production

Creator and Host: Georgia Silvera Seamans

Producer and Editor: Pod to the People

Bird vocalizations were accessed from the Macaulay Library.

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Katie Leung's childhood interest in charismatic megafauna and predatory mammals and fish has evolved to include raptors like the Eastern Screech-Owl and the Osprey. Katie describes her previous work with raptors in New York City. She is effusive about her new job working on the Hudson River, a "beautiful, vast estuary".  I appreciate Katie's willingness to talk about balancing vigilance in light of anti-Asian hate and enjoying and working in the outdoors.

Read about the eagle hacking project in Inwood Hill Park in upper Manhattan. 

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Season 3 of Your Bird Story is devoted to bringing more field recordings to listeners. CHIRP, as we are calling this season, is made possible with a Voice for Nature Foundation grant.

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Production

Creator and Host: Georgia Silvera Seamans

Producer and Editor: Pod to the People

Raptor vocalizations were accessed from the Macaulay Library.

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Share this episode with a friend!

Last month, Your Bird Story x CHIRP spent two weeks with 12 science classes in a Manhattan public middle school. We showed bird specimens, prepared bird specimens, talked about birds and urban ecology, and swapped bird stories. This episode is based on a recording made in one classroom during the preparation of a Yellow-bellied Cuckoo specimen. Our thanks to TSMS. 

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Season 3 of Your Bird Story is devoted to bringing more field recordings to listeners. CHIRP, as we are calling this season, is made possible with a Voice for Nature Foundation grant.

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Production

Creator and Host: Georgia Silvera Seamans

Producer and Editor: Pod to the People

Yellow-bellied Cuckoo vocalizations were accessed from the Macaulay Library. 

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Share this episode with a friend!

UX designer Zoey Liangzhang caught the birding bug in New York City. Among her spark birds was a Red-tailed Hawk that spent time on her fire escape. When she returned to Beijing she immersed herself in the birdwatching community there. In this month's episode, Zoey talks about her birding life in both cities as well as her hopes for the future of birding in Beijing.

Follow Zoey's bird adventures on Instagram. Learn more about the organizations she volunteers with such as Friends of Nature. Zoey recommends watching this Beijing Television show featuring wildlife conservationist Terry Townshend which she describes as "a great video about birding in Beijing." We agree!

https://item.btime.com/22kmnh5i8i6v8heh5kc2f120m5i

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Season 3 of Your Bird Story is devoted to bringing more field  recordings to listeners. CHIRP, as we are calling this season, is made  possible with a Voice for Nature Foundation grant.

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Production

Creator and Host: Georgia Silvera Seamans

Producer and Editor: Pod to the People

Bird vocalizations were accessed from the following sources:

Red-tailed Hawk (juvenile) https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/175635401 Spotted Dove https://ebird.org/species/spodov Eurasian Kestrel https://ebird.org/species/eurkes/ Rufous-bellied Woodpecker https://ebird.org/species/rubwoo1

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How much do you know about the American Robin? Turdus migratorius is the focus of the doctoral research of Emily Williams, an avian ecologist. How big are robin roosts? Are female robins territorial? How flexible is their migration? After all, migratory is in their name. Emily's research, based in Washington DC, is highlighting and revealing much about this underappreciated common bird. Follow Emily on Twitter and on her website.

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Season 3 of Your Bird Story is devoted to bringing more field recordings to listeners. CHIRP as we are calling this season is made possible with a Voice for Nature Foundation grant.

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Production

Creator and Host: Georgia Silvera Seamans

Producer and Editor: Pod to the People

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Share this episode with a friend!

The Your Bird Story team listened through our 2-year archive and selected three of our favorite segments to share with you to close out Season Two. You'll hear about deterring bird-airplane conflicts, Black people in the outdoors are not unicorns, making friends through bird watching, experiencing nature as a child, and the importance of caring for nature. Take a listen.

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Season 2 of Your Bird Story is made possible with a Puffin Foundation grant.

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Production

Creator and Host: Georgia Silvera Seamans

Nature Note Writer: Loyan Beausoleil

Producer and Editor: Pod to the People

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Support the production of this podcast with a gift of any amount.

Large urban centers can be wonderful places to encounter nature. From LA to NYC, Melissa Breyer has experienced urban wildlife, and is keenly aware of threats to wildlife in cities, especially to migratory birds. She works with Project Safeflight to rescue and to collect data about collisions. While changing existing city architecture is a huge task, Melissa reminds us that there are also simple ways to help migratory birds in cities, such as turning off lights at night and keeping cats indoors.

Learn more about Project Safeflight. Follow Melissa on Twitter @MelissaBreyer to see the work she does to help urban birds in NYC.

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Season 2 of Your Bird Story is made possible with a Puffin Foundation grant!

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Production

Bird vocalizations were downloaded from the Macaulay Library at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.

Creator and Host: Georgia Silvera Seamans

Nature Note Writer: Loyan Beausoleil

Producer and Editor: Pod to the People

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Support the production of this podcast with a gift of any amount.

Shimona Quazi, a forester and researcher in Singapore, shares her childhood memories of unstructured and organic discoveries about nature. She recalls exposure to rural birds, caged birds, balcony birds, and family members who went hunting. Through her role as research projects manager, Shimona is knowledgeable about the important role birds play in forest ecosystems. Finally, she points to Singapore's commitment to a green, resilient city.

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Season 2 of Your Bird Story is made possible with a Puffin Foundation grant!

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Production

Bird vocalizations were downloaded from the Macaulay Library at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.

Creator and Host: Georgia Silvera Seamans

Nature Note Writer: Loyan Beausoleil

Producer and Editor: Pod to the People

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Support the production of this podcast with a gift of any amount.

In this episode, Akilah and Alyssa share their approaches to education and ethical birding. They also spotlight the human dimensions of biological diversity. As New Yorkers it's no surprise they praise the city, but it's no exaggeration! NYC provides opportunities for diverse people, plants, and animals to thrive together. Follow Alyssa on Instagram at alizurd and Akilah on Twitter at BirdingQueens.

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Season 2 of Your Bird Story is made possible with a Puffin Foundation grant!

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Production

Bird vocalizations were downloaded from the Macaulay Library at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.

Creator and Host: Georgia Silvera Seamans

Nature Note Writer: Loyan Beausoleil

Producer and Editor: Pod to the People

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Support the production of this podcast with a gift of any amount.

Loyan Beausoleil, the Nature Notes writer for the podcast, joins us to talk about her bird life and the ways in which she has come to know birds and how she shares her knowledge about birds with others.

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Season 2 of Your Bird Story is made possible with a Puffin Foundation grant!

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Production

White-throated Sparrow and Belted Kingfisher vocalizations were downloaded from the Macaulay Library at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. The Andean Cock-of-the-rock sound was downloaded from Xeno-Canto here.

Creator and Host: Georgia Silvera Seamans

Nature Note Writer: Loyan Beausoleil

Producer and Editor: Pod to the People

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Support the production of this podcast with a gift of any amount.

Wambui Ippolito's storytelling is exquisite and vibrant. She takes on us a back-and-forth global journey of land, people, birds, and plants from East Africa to New York City and places in between. Wambui returns again and again to how her perspectives about land are grounded and guided by the deep time connections to her ancestral homeland.

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Season 2 of Your Bird Story is made possible with a Puffin Foundation grant!

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Production

Bird vocalizations in this episode were downloaded from the Macaulay Library at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. The Black Cuckoo sound was recorded by A.R. Gregory and is available in the Sounds Collection at the British Library.

Creator and Host: Georgia Silvera Seamans

Nature Note Writer: Loyan Beausoleil

Producer and Editor: Pod to the People

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Support the production of this podcast with a gift of any amount.

You might know the New Yorker in this episode for her work on our local NPR station. But radio producer Kate Hinds is also a bird watcher. Kate shares her beginnings in the bird world, her family's relationship with birds, and her favorite place to observe birds in NYC. Hint: it's an estuary, a wildlife refuge, and shares a name with a Caribbean island.

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Season 2 of Your Bird Story is made possible with a Puffin Foundation grant!

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Production

Bird vocalizations in this episode were downloaded from the Macaulay Library at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.

Creator and Host: Georgia Silvera Seamans

Nature Note Writer: Loyan Beausoleil

Producer and Editor: Pod to the People

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Support the production of this podcast with a gift of any amount.

In Part Two of the two-part Parent Birders series, we speak with Jen then Bryony about their pre- and post- parenthood birdwatching. We learn about birding in the moment and creating experiences where all members of the family can make connections with birds and the landscape. Both Jen and Bryony call out the work that agencies and institutions must do to make all aspects of birding--from board service to navigating a trail with a stroller--accessible.

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Season 2 of Your Bird Story is made possible with a Puffin Foundation grant!

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Production

Bird vocalizations in this episode were downloaded from the Macaulay Library at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.

Creator and Host: Georgia Silvera Seamans

Nature Note Writer: Loyan Beausoleil

Producer and Editor: Pod to the People

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Support the production of this podcast with a gift of any amount.

Being a parent and watching birds. Can you and how do you do both at the same time? How do you weave birdwatching into the rituals you share with your child? When and where do you make space for solo birding? These and more questions are considered and reflected upon by five parents in a mini-series about parents who bird. In Part 1, Laurel and Ed, a couple with a preschool-aged child, and Stephanie, a parent of two elementary-aged children, share their bird lives before and with children. 

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Season 2 of Your Bird Story is made possible with a Puffin Foundation grant!

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Production

Bird vocalizations in this episode were downloaded from the Macaulay Library at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.

Creator and Host: Georgia Silvera Seamans

Nature Note Writer: Loyan Beausoleil

Producer and Editor: Pod to the People

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Support the production of this podcast with a gift of any amount.

For today's episode, we spoke with Tatyana Soto, a biologist and plant ecologist, about her newfound passion, birding. Tatyana shares her spark moment and spark bird and talks about her patch and the community of birders at this birding hotspot in Indiana. Plants get a mention!! Learn more about Tatyana's research here.

Thank you to Nicole Callihan, poet, for permission to recite her poem, "The Origin of Birds."

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Season 2 of Your Bird Story is made possible with a Puffin Foundation grant!

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Production

Bird vocalizations in this episode were downloaded from the Macaulay Library at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.

Creator and Host: Georgia Silvera Seamans

Nature Note Writer: Loyan Beausoleil

Producer and Editor: Pod to the People

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Support the podcast with a gift of any amount.

What is it about big birds? In this month's episode, we spoke with Dimple and Laura about their encounters with wild turkeys and mute swans, respectively. 

If you've got a "big bird" story to share, record a voice memo and email it to hello@wspecoprojects.org. We will share your tale in a future episode.

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Season 2 of Your Bird Story is made possible with a Puffin Foundation grant!

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Production

Bird vocalizations in this episode were downloaded from the Macaulay Library at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.

Creator and Host: Georgia Silvera Seamans, Director, Washington Square Park Eco Projects

Nature Note Writer: Loyan Beausoleil, Bird Program Manager, Washington Square Park Eco Projects

Producer and Editor: Pod to the People

We are back with Season 2 of Your Bird Story, made possible with a Puffin Foundation grant!

Our guests in this episode, Adam Martinek (Inwood Hill Park Conservancy), Leslie Davol (Street Lab), and Heather Wolf have created ways and places for people in NYC to learn about birds through specifically developed bird programs. You don't have to be an "expert" to create high-quality bird programming. Knowing and loving a space, a desire to collaborate with others, and the drive to create a safe and welcoming community are recipes for wonderful bird education programs.

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We dedicate this episode to a NYC-resident Barred Owl who people called “Barry.” The young owl was recently killed in Central Park when she was struck by a maintenance vehicle. Barry delighted scores of Central Park visitors, beginning in October 2020 when outdoor spaces were the safest places to spend time together. Barry reminds us how special and moving encounters with birds can be. Barry will be missed.

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Production

Bird vocalizations in this episode were downloaded from All About Birds.

Creator and Host: Georgia Silvera Seamans, Director, Washington Square Park Eco Projects

Nature Note Writer: Loyan Beausoleil, Bird Program Manager, Washington Square Park Eco Projects

Producer and Editor: Pod to the People

We are excited to release "Bird Girls" as the Season 1 finale of the Your Bird Story podcast! In this episode, four girls -- Baker, Zoe, Fernanda, and Clara -- enthusiastically share their bird knowledge, how they approach wild birds, their bird lists, and bird watching tips for other girls. Let's celebrate the diversity of bird watchers! Finally, a thank you to Loyan Beausoleil for proposing the idea.

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We will be back in September 2021 with a new season funded by a Puffin Foundation grant.

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Production

Bird vocalizations in this episode were downloaded from All About Birds.

Creator and Host: Georgia Silvera Seamans, Director, Washington Square Park Eco Projects

Nature Note Writer: Loyan Beausoleil, Bird Program Manager, Washington Square Park Eco Projects

Producer and Editor: Pod to the People

You don't need "start up investment" to watch birds. Kate Wong recommends going outside or standing by your window "and see who flies by." Thank you, Kate! And thank you for listening to Your Bird Story and Kate's birdwatching journey.

Production

Woodpecker vocalizations in this episode were downloaded from All About Birds.

Creator and Host: Georgia Silvera Seamans, Director, Washington Square Park Eco Projects

Nature Note Writer: Loyan Beausoleil, Bird Program Manager, Washington Square Park Eco Projects

Producer and Editor: Pod to the People

During the spring migration season of 2020, many more people were home to observe the sudden filling up of greenspaces with birds. Talk about a room with a view. From their bay window, Arindam and Atasi watched many species of migrants and residents using their yard. We appreciate Arindam's and Atasi's generosity with their time and stories.

Production

Ruby-throated hummingbird vocalizations in this episode were downloaded from All About Birds.

Creator and Host: Georgia Silvera Seamans, Director, Washington Square Park Eco Projects

Nature Note Writer: Loyan Beausoleil, Bird Program Manager, Washington Square Park Eco Projects

Producer and Editor: Pod to the People

Birds and trees go together like peanut butter and jelly! We speak with another tree person on today's episode about patch birding. Do you have a patch--a place you go to regularly to watch birds? Michelle Sutton joins us to talk about her patch in the Hudson Valley. We talk about her process to learn about birds, the ethics of birding, bird watching as a well-being practice, and the beauty of her favorite bird.

Tell us about your patch--send an email to hello@wspecoprojects.org.

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Resources mentioned in the episode

Fowl Mouth Podcast Episode 1: An Interview with Jesse Gordon

eBird Essentials

Want a Training Ground for Your Birding Skills? Try Patch Birding

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Production

Black-capped chickadee and common nighthawk vocalizations in this episode were downloaded from All About Birds.

Creator and Host: Georgia Silvera Seamans, Director, Washington Square Park Eco Projects

Nature Note Writer: Loyan Beausoleil, Bird Program Manager, Washington Square Park Eco Projects

Producer and Editor: Pod to the People

You might be familiar with the saying, "you cannot see the forest for the trees." You are so focused on the details (the trees) that you lose sight of the big picture (the forest). In this two-part episode, we speak with Dr. Thomas Easley, a forester, who in community with Black birders and through the practice of birding slowly, came to see the smaller aspects of the forests (the birds) in which he works and the landscapes in which he lives.

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Birds sounds

Cardinal sounds for this episode were downloaded from orangefreesounds.com here and here.

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Podcast team

Creator and Host: Georgia Silvera Seamans, Director, Washington Square Park Eco Projects

Nature Note Writer: Loyan Beausoleil, Bird Program Manager, Washington Square Park Eco Projects

Producer and Editor: Pod to the People

2021 has not begun auspiciously. However, we can take some comfort in the awe that birds bring to our lives. Coincidentally, one of our stories is about the majestic Bald Eagle, which is the national bird of the U.S. Charlie Bates spotted the eagle on a cross country trip. The first story in this episode is from Shawn King about the red-tailed hawk and other birds in the Tompkins Square Park - East River Park neighborhoods of NYC.

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Birds sounds

Red-tailed hawk vocalization from  orangefreesounds.com here.

Bald eagle vocalization from orangefreesounds.com here.

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Podcast team

Creator and Host: Georgia Silvera Seamans, Director, Washington Square Park Eco Projects

Natural History Note Writer: Loyan Beausoleil, Bird Program Manager, Washington Square Park Eco Projects

Producer and Editor: Pod to the People

We miss recording bird stories in the field! In this special episode we share three of our field recordings. First up, John talks about watching a red-tailed hawk capture a rat in Prospect Park, then Shaysha and Olivia recall a hawk in their old neighborhood as well as the decline in bird species in the city, and finally, Jen shares a childhood encounter with young pigeons.

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Birds sounds

Pigeon sounds for this episode were downloaded from orangefreesounds.com here and here.

Red-tailed hawk sounds for this episode were downloaded from orangefreesounds.com here.

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Podcast team

Creator and Host: Georgia Silvera Seamans, Director, Washington Square Park Eco Projects

Nature Note Writer: Loyan Beausoleil, Bird Program Manager, Washington Square Park Eco Projects

Producer and Editor: Pod to the People

People in urban settings have positive relationships with nature including birds. Your Bird Story is an audio archive of the different and many ways in which everyday people interact with wild birds. Here are some of our favorite moments from Season 1, Episodes 1 through 3.

Podcast Team

Creator and Host: Georgia Silvera Seamans, Director, Washington Square Park Eco Projects

Nature Note Writer: Loyan Beausoleil, Bird Program Manager, Washington Square Park Eco Projects

Producer and Editor: Pod to the People

Do you have a spark bird, that is, a species that tuned you into watching and listening to birds? In this month's episode Melissa Yang (the pigeon) and Abra Lee (cardinal & eagle) tell us about their spark birds. Curious about Melissa's research? Read her latest piece titled "By Shattering the Vulture's Nose."

Birds sounds

Pigeon sounds for this episode were downloadeds from orangefreesounds.com here and here. 

Cardinal sounds for this episode were downloaded from orangefreesounds.com here and here.

Podcast team

Creator and Host: Georgia Silvera Seamans, Director, Washington Square Park Eco Projects

Nature Note Writer: Loyan Beausoleil, Bird Program Manager, Washington Square Park Eco Projects

Producer and Editor: Pod to the People

We are back! Listen to stories about the spiritual role the Cardinal plays in the lives of Joan of Long Island and Kelly of Howell, NJ.

Birds sounds

Cardinal sounds for this episode were downloaded from orangefreesounds.com here and here.

Podcast team

Creator and Host: Georgia Silvera Seamans, Director, Washington Square Park Eco Projects

Nature Note Writer: Loyan Beausoleil, Bird Program Manager, Washington Square Park Eco Projects

Producer and Editor: Pod to the People

Tanager is the first episode of podcast and features two stories. The first is about a summer tanager in Washington Square Park told by Tatiana and Ted. The second story is about a scarlet tanager spotted in East River Park and told by Sohaila. 

Birds sounds for this episode were downloaded from xeno-canto.org: scarlet tanger and summer tanager.

Podcast Team

Creator and Host: Georgia Silvera Seamans, Director, Washington Square Park Eco Projects

Nature Note Writer: Loyan Beausoleil, Bird Program Manager, Washington Square Park Eco Projects

Producer and Editor: Pod to the People