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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.
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
Our sponsors and partners:
Bird vocalizations provided by The Macaulay Library at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology
Website photography by Shawn Carey/Migration Productions.