Life List: A Birding Podcast

This episode, we’re joined by Brian Sullivan—birder, photographer, and co-leader of one of the most transformative projects in the birding world: eBird. From the earliest red-tailed hawk obsessions to building a global platform used by millions, Brian shares stories that bridge fieldwork, data, and wonder.Highlights include:How eBird grew from a niche experiment to a cornerstone of global ornithologyRed-tailed hawks, pelagics, and what it means to really know a speciesThe evolution of Birds of the World and where bird data is headed nextBalancing tech, fieldwork, and the joy of birdwatchingCome for the redtails and migration maps…stay for the big-picture vision that’s shaping the future of birding.Get more Life list by subscribing to our newsletter and joining our Patreon for bonus content. Talk to us and share your topic ideas at lifelistpodcast.com. Thanks to Kowa Optics for sponsoring our podcast! Want to know more about us? Check out George's company, Hillstar Nature; Alvaro's company, Alvaro's Adventures, and Mollee's company, Nighthawk Agency, to see more about what we're up to.

Alvaro has some juicy stories from the field: did he finally succeed in finding a Saunder's tern, or did a run-in with the law in Qatar foil his attempts yet again? Topics with George and Alvaro include: Birding on a layover in QatarThe most accessible birding locations in the Middle EastA South African springtime tour recapThe adrenaline of safari birding Rocky Mountain oysters and other questionable culinary field experimentsLate-summer birding notes, migration updates, and trip recapsCome for Alvaro's verdict...stay for the tales of wild places!P.S. If you've made it this far in the show notes - thanks! - and from Mollee, sorry that this one is out a few days late! Get more Life list by subscribing to our newsletter and joining our Patreon for bonus content. Talk to us and share your topic ideas at lifelistpodcast.com. Thanks to Kowa Optics for sponsoring our podcast! Want to know more about us? Check out George's company, Hillstar Nature; Alvaro's company, Alvaro's Adventures, and Mollee's company, Nighthawk Agency, to see more about what we're up to.

We’re joined by Bonner Black: Nashville-based singer-songwriter, birder, and all-around force of nature. Highlights of our chat include:Growing up birding in Tennessee and carrying that love on the road as a touring musicianThe parallels between birding, music, and life on the roadHow songwriting and birding both demand patience, attention, and a little obsessionThe ways nature sneaks into Bonner's lyricsCome for behind-the-scenes tales of a professional music artist…stay for shared love of birding!Get more Life list by subscribing to our newsletter and joining our Patreon for bonus content. Talk to us and share your topic ideas at lifelistpodcast.com. Thanks to Kowa Optics for sponsoring our podcast! Want to know more about us? Check out George's company, Hillstar Nature; Alvaro's company, Alvaro's Adventures, and Mollee's company, Nighthawk Agency, to see more about what we're up to.

One of our favorite things to hear from guests is that it's like you're birding with us during our conversations. This time, you actually can! We're each recording from our backyards, during some mid-afternoon, mid-September birdwatching. If you've ever wondered what it would be like to join us on a birdwalk, now's your chance!Get more Life list by subscribing to our newsletter and joining our Patreon for bonus content. Talk to us and share your topic ideas at lifelistpodcast.com. Thanks to Kowa Optics for sponsoring our podcast! Want to know more about us? Check out George's company, Hillstar Nature; Alvaro's company, Alvaro's Adventures, and Mollee's company, Nighthawk Agency, to see more about what we're up to.

We’re talking with Quentin and Owen, the filmmakers and brothers behind Listers: the indie documentary that’s both absurd and profound, and probably the funniest thing ever made about birding.Highlights of our chat include:How a family field guide, a bong, and a road trip turned into a continent-spanning big yearThe van life: Cracker Barrel parking lots, Michelin-star minivan mealsFilming birds and birders like never beforeThe birding culture: from playback ethics to all-nighters to chase birds What it’s like to make the birding movie everyone’s talking aboutCome for the NyQuil-fueled ivory-billed woodpecker quest…stay for the most joyful, profane, and heartfelt celebration of birding we didn’t know we needed!Links: Watch Listers, free on YouTubeBuy the book: Field Guide of All the Birds We Found One Year in the United States by Quentin Reiser and Owen ReiserGet more Life list by subscribing to our newsletter and joining our Patreon for bonus content. Talk to us and share your topic ideas at lifelistpodcast.com. Thanks to Kowa Optics for sponsoring our podcast! Want to know more about us? Check out George's company, Hillstar Nature; Alvaro's company, Alvaro's Adventures, and Mollee's company, Nighthawk Agency, to see more about what we're up to.

The biggest surprise of all might be that George is learning to love summertime at home. We are chatting about birds and critters in our patches and recent travels, plus about books, media, and pizza. By the way, you can learn more about Frontiers in Ornithology at https://frontiersinornithology.com/.Come for the sightings that surprised us lately...stay for a slice of August birding joy!Get more Life list by subscribing to our newsletter and joining our Patreon for bonus content. Talk to us and share your topic ideas at lifelistpodcast.com. Thanks to Kowa Optics for sponsoring our podcast! Want to know more about us? Check out George's company, Hillstar Nature; Alvaro's company, Alvaro's Adventures, and Mollee's company, Nighthawk Agency, to see more about what we're up to.

Get more Life list by subscribing to our newsletter and joining our Patreon for bonus content. Talk to us and share your topic ideas at lifelistpodcast.com. Thanks to Kowa Optics for sponsoring our podcast! Want to know more about us? Check out George's company, Hillstar Nature; Alvaro's company, Alvaro's Adventures, and Mollee's company, Nighthawk Agency, to see more about what we're up to.

This episode is a blast—and full of stuff you'll want to remember! George and Alvaro interview the legendary birder of Cuyahoga County, Ohio, and beyond: Jen Brumfield. They dive into all it takes to be a rarity-finding machine, and then put their advice through a detailed walkthrough of jaeger identification. We always say it...this hour passed by too quickly. Come for the gales and gulls… stay for the unabashed joy of birding!Get more Life list by subscribing to our newsletter and joining our Patreon for bonus content. Talk to us and share your topic ideas at lifelistpodcast.com. Thanks to Kowa Optics for sponsoring our podcast! Want to know more about us? Check out George's company, Hillstar Nature; Alvaro's company, Alvaro's Adventures, and Mollee's company, Nighthawk Agency, to see more about what we're up to.

This is what we do, folks! George and Alvaro are sharing the stories from the field and their yards, discussing scientific and hobbyist news in the birding world, and sharing travel tales. And karaoke dos and don'ts. And a skunk saga that seems to have included. Hang out with us for a spell!Get more Life list by subscribing to our newsletter and joining our Patreon for bonus content. Talk to us and share your topic ideas at lifelistpodcast.com. Thanks to Kowa Optics for sponsoring our podcast! Want to know more about us? Check out George's company, Hillstar Nature; Alvaro's company, Alvaro's Adventures, and Mollee's company, Nighthawk Agency, to see more about what we're up to.

We're all here—Mollee, George, and Alvaro—to catch up on birding and nature stories from home and Alvaro's adventures spanning oceans...and two Great White Norths! Yup, with our usual dose of wildlife weirdness, too. Highlights include:An incredible polar bear sighting alongside Ivory Gulls and (cue Alvaro's scream) Ross's GullsBirding in Svalbard, Norway, and FinlandPelagic reports from the Farallon IslandsSkunks, tomato juice, and what actually helps when your dog gets sprayedYard list joys and surprises—from mulberries to Least BitternsPlus, read about Cory's Least Bittern hereCome for the booby stakeouts and skunk drama…stay for the midnight sun, polar silence, and birding in life’s liminal spaces.Get more Life list by subscribing to our newsletter and joining our Patreon for bonus content. Talk to us and share your topic ideas at lifelistpodcast.com. Thanks to Kowa Optics for sponsoring our podcast! Want to know more about us? Check out George's company, Hillstar Nature; Alvaro's company, Alvaro's Adventures, and Mollee's company, Nighthawk Agency, to see more about what we're up to.