An update on the remarkable spread of the Eurasian Collared-Dove; bird essayist Al Batt joins us live from Minnesota; and we pay a visit to the Talkin' Birds Science Corner.
#272: June 20, 2010
We air some opinions about whether cleaning oiled birds makes sense; we feature a bird that may sing before a rain; and in our Let's Ask Mike segment, we visit "Mike's Italian Kitchen."
#271: June 13, 2010
We get a little help from Foghorn Leghorn in our Featured Feathered Friend segment; we get a live pelagic trip report from expert birder David Clapp; and Mike O'Connor commiserates with a listener who's hankering for hummingbirds.
#270: June 6, 2010
We examine the decline, and recovery, and decline again of the Brown Pelican. Also, the "sewing machine" appears as our Mystery Bird; and Mike O'Connor answers a question about Midnight Mockingbird music.
#269: May 30, 2010
We hear from a Minnesota listener whose love for birdwatching may have gotten a little out of hand. We also present a tail-bobbing Mystery Bird and a Featured Feathered Friend with a baseball connection.
#268: May 23, 2010
We learn about the only all-red bird in North America, hear about a newly discovered species, and get an answer from Mike O'Connor to an intriguing question from a listener.
#267: May 16, 2010
We come up with a high-tech solution to a listener's dilemma; we feature a migration superstar; and we tell a little story on David Sibley.
#266: May 9, 2010
The Chuck-Will's-Widow makes the local news; our Featured Feathered Friend makes a blood-curdling cry; and our Mystery Bird stumps all callers.
#265: May 2, 2010
We touch upon some conservation issues, and hear from listeners who've waxed poetic about their spring sightings. And we learn about a bird whose name sounds like an insult.
#264: April 25, 2010
We hear a bird whose song has been described as that of a Robin's...as performed by an opera singer; we learn the easiest way to identify a Fish Crow; and we present a Mystery Bird that thrives on mistletoe.
#263: April 18, 2010
Sean Higgins, the creator of North Carolina's Year of the Birds, joins us by phone from Raleigh; Rynchops niger is our Featured Feathered Friend; and our Mystery Bird swims like a duck but walks like a chicken.
#262: April 11, 2010
We get an update on northbound Hummingbirds; we learn about one of the world's most graceful fliers; and we pay tribute to a great conservationist.
#261: April 4, 2010
We get an exciting radar report on migrating birds; we hear about the early arrival of hummers in the northeast; and we feature a bird that would rather be heard than seen.
#260: March 28, 2010
We learn what's killing albatrosses in the Pacific; Mike O'Connor helps a listener with an owl/bat conflict; and we hear some good news about the California Condor.
#259: March 21, 2010
We try to balance some sad environmental news with some great spring bird sightings and a story about a "meatloaf on a stick."
#258: March 14, 2010
We learn about a slightly misnamed bird that "ain't really green." We also visit the Science Corner to hear about a dinosaur with ginger-colored feathers, and Mike O'Connor explains to a listener why wood isn't always good...for feeder birds.
#257: March 7, 2010
We feature a beautiful—but threatened—falcon; we learn about a "shrink your footprint" fair; and Mike O'Connor explains why bird baths are for people, too.
#256: February 28, 2010
We feature the Seaweed Bird and report some good news about our Mystery Bird species. And Mike O'Connor replies to a listener who wants to know who's been visiting her feeders.
#255: February 21, 2010
Special guest Vern Laux offers his unique perspective on birds, and some signs of spring; Mike O'Connor advises a listener on how to get a close-up view of neighborhood owls; and we bring back a couple of audio souvenirs from our visit to South Texas.
#254: February 14, 2010
We learn about the birds of South Texas and the new Rio Bravo Wildlife Institute on the Rio Grande River.