Lori Danielson, president of Eastside Audubon Society.
President’s Letter: Podcasts, a Fun Way to Learn More about Birds
By Lori Danielson
For me, podcasts have been a source of both learning and entertainment over the past pandemic year. Through podcasts, I’ve practiced my Spanish listening skills, learned about the science of happiness, heard in-depth analysis of current issues in the news, and gained more knowledge about birds. There are a few great things about podcasts: they’re free, available on an enormous variety of topics, you can listen to them on your own time schedule, and they’re available on the computing device of your choice – whether it’s your iPad, your personal computer, your cellphone, or even your smart speaker like Alexa or Google.
Here are the ones about birds and nature that I’ve really enjoyed and learned from:
BirdNote (www.birdnote.org/shows) - Perhaps you’ve heard BirdNote on the radio. They’re short 2-minute segments about one aspect of a bird or a bird-related issue, usually including the sounds of the bird they’re talking about. Via podcast, you’re no longer tied to the radio station’s schedule! The series is produced in Seattle but covers more than local birds and it has a 15-year history.
Bring Birds Back (www.birdnote.org/listen/podcasts/bring-birds-back) – Host Tenijah Hamilton interviews various experts about the joy of birds and the simple ways in which people can help them in this new series of 30-minute podcasts, also produced by the BirdNote organization.
Threatened (www.birdnote.org/listen/podcasts/threatened) – Our fragile ecosystems are highlighted in this podcast, which is hosted by senior science writer Ari Daniel. The series explores places in North America and the world where birds are calling on us to take action. This series is another offering by BirdNote.
Nature Guys (www.natureguys.org) – Host Bob Staggenborg and several naturalist co-hosts hold engaging conversations on a variety of topics to encourage listeners to connect with the natural world in their own neighborhoods.
For those who haven’t ventured into podcasts before, first decide which computing device you’d like to play it from, whether it’s a PC, cellphone, iPad, etc. Then take a look at the instructions at www.thepodcasthost.com/listening/how-to-listen-to-a-podcast/, which talk about how to find a podcast listening app for your device and how to find a particular series.
I encourage you to give these podcasts a try. You may even find that you’re hooked, like I am!