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“Thank you for bringing science and community together in a joyful radio show.”
— Colleen, East Walpole, Massachusetts
On our latest show (#1,034 Apr. 20): Making our National Parks more beautiful with TrashBlitz ‘25: 5 Gyres’ Nick Kemble explains. Plus, we meet the Goldilocks bird; and Mike O’Connor talks about a favorite topic: egg shells. Hear it here.
Weakened Migratory Bird Treaty Act is a major setback for wildlife conservation
A legal opinion issued by the Department of the Interior concluded that the Migratory Bird Treaty Act does not apply to the incidental, yet predictable and preventable killing of migratory birds. Energy and utility companies will no longer be held liable for bird mortalities from industry hazards such as open oil waste pits, tall communication towers, and powerlines. (4/21)
The Audubon Osprey Boat House cam
From this live camera atop a boat house, you can see Hog Island Audubon Camp. This year, the Boathouse Nest is home to Skiff and Dory, a returning osprey pair. Stay tuned to see if they are successful in raising a brood of fledglings for the second year in a row. (4/23)
Injured King Penguin found on Buenos Aires beach is returned to the ocean
An injured king penguin found on a beach in Argentina has been released back into the wild. The Mundo Marino Foundation rehabilitated the bird for six months. (4/14)
Talkin’ Birds on YouTube
Talkin' Birds has recently started posting episodes on YouTube. We've got over 300 of 'em there -- and counting! We're still audio-only. Ray would say that's because he has "a face for radio." (4/15)
Trashblitz: Cleanups that drive change
Participating in a cleanup has immediate benefits for that specific area, but collecting data can have an ongoing ripple effect by supporting policy measures and solutions. The TrashBlitz app makes it easy to collect data on brands, materials, and items found at cleanup events. Mentioned on our show #1,034 (Apr. 20). (4/22)
Chattanooga just became North America’s first “National Park City”
The designation was awarded by a London-based charity that aims to make cities more like national parks: “greener, healthier and wilder.” This designation acknowledges the city’s abundant green spaces and commitment to environmental stewardship. (4/24)
Can citizen science be trusted?
In a new study published in Citizen Science: Theory and Practice on March 28, UC Davis researchers show that citizen science data from iNaturalist and eBird can reliably capture known seasonal patterns of bird migration in Northern California and Nevada. (4/17)
Ospreys in Rhode Island
Welcome to the Narrow River Osprey cam. You can watch any time, day or night, because infrared light will capture nighttime images. (It doesn't disturb the birds.) When we tuned in about 5:30 Eastern, we saw an adult on the nest against that beautiful background. (4/16)
Our sponsors and partners:
Bird vocalizations provided by The Macaulay Library at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology
Website photography by Shawn Carey/Migration Productions.