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“Thank you for bringing science and community together in a joyful radio show.”

— Colleen, East Walpole, Massachusetts

On our latest show (#1,032 Apr. 6) : an audio postcard from the Front Range of the Colorado Rockies; a guest from Colorado talking about an insecticide threat to birds and bees; and Mike O'Connor's advice on keeping your seed dry. Hear it here.

Hotel tower lit up at night with sign, "L7 HOTELS:

Luxury hotel adds a room upgrade that reduces plastic waste

Luxury hotel L7 in Chicago has found a smart way to prevent upwards of 97,000 plastic bottles from going into the trash: Dedicated filtration systems have been installed in every room to provide clean, drinkable water. (3/31)

Tawny owl on a tree, looking at viewer

Inside a Tawny Owl nest

When we checked on this webcam about 4 PM Eastern, it was 10 PM in Denmark, where this cam is located. An owl was sitting on eggs inside the nestbox. These egg were laid on or before March 31, so we should be on the lookout for a hatch around April 22nd. Happy viewing! (4/2)

Three hands, palm up, each holding plastic pellets

The International Plastic Pellet Count

Here's the info on May 3rd's International Plastic Pellet Count that Ray promised on our most recent show (#1,029 Mar. 16). There's a form for signing up on your own or on behalf of a group. Once you sign up, Environment America will contact you about next steps. Tally-ho! (3/17)

The eastern half of the US seen from above at night.

Lights out

Every spring and fall, billions of birds migrate through the US, mostly under the cover of darkness. This mass movement of birds must contend with a dramatically increasing but still largely unrecognized threat: light pollution. Here’s how we can help. (3/6)

Jacobin Hummingbird on tiny nest built on a leaf

Unusual reversal: A bird that pretends to be a toxic caterpillar

How do hummingbird chicks defend themselves when the parent is away from the nest? Biologists observing White-necked Jacobin Hummingbirds in Panama were surprised to discover that the chicks imitated toxic caterpillars! (4/1)

"Glass ro Garden" logo of plant growing out of bottle

A student-run small business keeps waste from landfills

Glass to Garden is run by high school students in San Diego. Their mission is to “Give Life to Waste” by collecting donated glass bottles headed for the landfill and upcycling them into functional bird feeders. Take your time on their website: In addition to their products, they've got a blog. (4/3)

Bully for Bluebirds

Ray's guest on our most recent show (#1,030 Mar. 23) was Mike Azevedo, Co-Program Director of the California Bluebird Rescue Program. Find out more about the program at cbrp.org. For more bluebird info no matter where you are in North America, check out Sialis.org. (3/24)

Piping Plover running in shallow water

The Ontario Piping Plover Conservation Program

Talkin' Birds Ambassador Sheila Maxwell told us about this special project of Birds Canada….the Ontario Piping Plover Conservation Program. She's been a Nest Monitor for years, and she loves it. Read more about this great project and how to get involved. (3/27)

 

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Bird vocalizations provided by The Macaulay Library at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology 
Website photography by Shawn Carey/Migration Productions.