Life List: A Birding Podcast

Covid hit the pod, but didn't keep us down for long. We're back to catch up on spring migration, The Biggest Week in Birding Festival, west coast pelagic research, and a curious towhee behavior. Species mentioned:  Arctic terns, various warblers, Eastern TowheeCheck out: BirdCastBirding Your Best LifeKowa ScopesSend your topic ideas to lifelistpodcast@gmail.comGet 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.

It's all over the news, but is there concrete evidence that the Ivory-billed Woodpecker still exists in the United States? George and Alvaro discuss these magnificent woodpeckers along with updates from Alvaro's tour in Cuba.  Locations mentioned: CubaBook recommendation: Vagrancy in Birds by Alexander Lees and James GilroyUpcoming tours: New Jersey Deep Water Pelagic with Hillstar NatureSouth Africa Birds and Wine with Alvaro's AdventuresSend your topic ideas to lifelistpodcast@gmail.comGet 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.

George recounts his adventures in India, Mollee talks about visiting El Salvador, and Alvaro gets a rare bird in his yard while we're recording! Locations mentioned: India, El Salvador, Costa RicaMovie recommendation: 14 Peaks: Nothing Is ImpossibleSend your topic ideas to lifelistpodcast@gmail.comGet 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.

While George is away in India, Alvaro and Mollee are off on adventures of their own! Highlight bird species: Northern Mockingbird, various New World warblers, Black Swift, Broad-winged Hawk Locations mentioned: Chile, Argentina, El Salvador, Costa Rica, CubaDon’t miss out: on the Broad-winged Hawk Project and Moonlight drives nocturnal vertical flight dynamics in black swifts by Anders Hedenström, Robert A. Sparks, Gabriel Norevik, Colin Woolley, Greg J. Levandoski, and Susanne Åkesson.Send your topic ideas to lifelistpodcast@gmail.comGet 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.

Episode 18 is a special one: our first interview with ornithologist, guide, and artist Dan Lane!Ever wondered what it's like to discover a new bird species...and what to do after discovering it? You won't want to miss this interview where Dan recounts the epic 20-year journey in the discovery of the Inti Tanager.  Cool links: Learn more about Dan on his websiteSend your topic ideas to lifelistpodcast@gmail.comGet 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 start by, what else? comparing pelagic updates from the east and west coasts with a few European bird names thrown in. Did we watch the Super Bowl? Superb owl? Tune in to find out. Measure Alvaro's junk food identification skills before we dive into some *drumroll* bird mysteries our hosts have experienced!Species mentioned: Egyptian Plover; Vermilion Flycatcher; Brujo Flycatcher; and you know, various alcids and gulls and raptorsCool links: Check out this awesome drone footage of Hillstar Nature’s recent pelagicAnd see a sample trip report on eBirdP.S. Pardon the interruption from a very cute and well-meaning golden retriever. Send your topic ideas to lifelistpodcast@gmail.comGet 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.

“In any other scenario, this would be a wickedly, inappropriate, ridiculous idea… but we’re birders.”Thus begins many a birding tale, eh? In this case, we're talking condors. George and Alvaro dive into what makes a rare bird special, subspecies specifics, wild versus released or escaped birds, and more. Highlight bird species: Condors; Steller's Sea Eagle and other Steller species; Tundra Swan; Southern Lapwing; and various other subspeciesHighlight locations: Middle Creek WMA, PA; Hawaii; Cuba; Thailand; ColombiaDon’t miss out: Birding Your Best Life and Hillstar NatureSend your topic ideas to lifelistpodcast@gmail.comGet 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.

Talk about an epic birding adventure! George and Mollee recount their recent travels in Uganda. We deep dive into the things we didn’t expect and what we still can’t stop thinking about. Highlight bird species: Shoebill; a variety of weavers; African Finfoot; Rock Pratincole; plus many mammalsSpecial thanks: To Hannah and Erik of Hannah and Erik Go Birding podcast and Peter Burke of Alvaro's Adventures for their guest appearancesDon’t miss out: Frontiers in Ornithology Symposium; African Birding Expo; Bird Uganda Safaris; International Women Birder's Conference  Send your topic ideas to lifelistpodcast@gmail.comGet 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.

Find out what we almost named Life List and a deep dive into the cultural implications of the question: “Have you seen the eagle?” Then, here’s to a new yard list for George! The guys also discuss elitism in birding... did Ontario Field Ornithologists come up with a solution to the age-old birder paradigm of sharing rare bird sightings? Learn how Goosanders in Europe have the same plumage pattern but a totally different structural shape than Common Mergansers.Warning: We also discuss an unfortunately tasty group of rodents in South America including Shakira the pet Capybara…Highlight bird species: A tale of three eagles species! (of course, there’s a nuance there); Goosander (Common Merganser, definite split, we say!), Pigeon Guillemot (snowi subspecies), Burrowing Owl, Rock Wren, Golden-winged Warbler, Cattle Tyrants And hey! When you’re tired of birds, find some squirrels! After all, they’re mostly diurnal, vocal, and just waiting to have ID codes cracked. Squirrel tours, anyone? Don’t miss out: Ontario Field Ornithologists, Squirrels of the West, and Birding Your Best LifePSA: Give money to conservation and the local bars. Details in the ep. Send your topic ideas to lifelistpodcast@gmail.comGet 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 kick off 2022 with winter duck updates in the form of some mallard-esque species, including Black, Mottled, and Mexican Ducks. We chat about Saw-whets and other owls, plus how the public interacts with them. Plus, have you heard about the collaboration of leading conservation organizations to support expeditions to re-find 10 lost bird species? Leonardo DeCaprio has. We also pay homage to the leaders in the field and fine human beings we lost over the past few weeks.  Highlight bird species: Various ducks; Dovekie; Great Skua; Saw-whet OwlsLocations mentioned: Cuba, New Jersey coastDon’t miss out: on Hillstar Nature's upcoming toursSend your topic ideas to lifelistpodcast@gmail.comGet 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.