Endless Thread Encore: The Internet's Most Hated Bird
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Sep 5, 2025 Dean Russell, a bird lover and producer from Maine, takes listeners on an eye-opening journey into the world of gulls. While often labeled as pests, he sheds light on their intelligence and the sad reality of declining populations. Humorous anecdotes from birdwatching adventures in Portland reveal the complex bond between locals and these birds. Listeners learn about the impact of avian flu and the necessity of conservation efforts. Russell encourages a shift in perception, urging us to appreciate these misunderstood shoreline companions.
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Rooftop Gull Banding In Portland
- Noah Perlitt climbs rooftop police stations to find and band gull chicks in Portland.
- He and Dean Russell describe rooftop colonies and long-term rooftop nesting behavior.
Ubiquity Masks Population Decline
- Gulls seem ubiquitous online and in cities, yet many species are actually declining.
- This contradiction hides a larger conservation problem that few people notice.
Fieldwork On Appledore Island
- Dean visits Appledore Island to work with a volunteer research crew studying gulls for 20 years.
- He describes nesting gulls everywhere during breeding season and the project's volunteer-driven nature.