Radiolab Weighing Good Intentions
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Aug 15, 2025 A journey to Michigan reveals the beautiful yet complicated world of the endangered Kirtland’s warbler. The fight against invasive cowbirds leads to heartbreaking consequences and raises ethical dilemmas about conservation. A tragic prescribed burn that spirals out of control opens a debate on the value of human life versus the life of a species. Through personal stories, the podcast explores the emotional toll of conservation efforts and the deep connections between people and nature, all while reflecting on loss and legacy.
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Pilgrimage For A Life Bird
- Birders travel across the country to see the Kirtland's warbler as a "life bird."
- Jim Coleman and others reacted emotionally when they finally spotted the tiny, brilliant yellow bird.
Cowbird Parasitism Drove Decline
- Brown-headed cowbirds parasitized warbler nests and drove populations down.
- By 1971 only about 200 male Kirtland's warblers remained, nearly extinct.
Cowbird Killings As Conservation Tool
- Biologists trapped and killed thousands of cowbirds to protect the warbler starting in the 1970s.
- The program removed about 12,000 cowbirds and helped stop the population's decline.