We welcome the great bird artist Jonathan Alderfer from National Geographic; we get shooed off a farm in Tennessee; and we head way out west to find today's Mystery Bird.
#312: March 27, 2011
We meet the migration champion of the world; we call our Let's Ask Mike segment "Eating Crow...but Not for Lunch"; and Laura Kammermeier regales us about her adventure and TV show in Ecuador.
#311: March 20, 2011
We find out how the Veery, and our Mystery Bird, got their names; Mike O'Connor helps a listener with her "devilish" finches; and we offer three examples of why birds and sports don't mix.
#310: March 13, 2011
We head way down south to find our Mystery Bird; a reddish raptor defends his patriotism; and Mike O'Connor holds forth on "safflower power."
#309: March 6, 2011
An update on Hummingbird spring migration; a feature on the "butterbird"; and a Let's Ask Mike segment we call "Steeling Your Birdhouse to Squelch Your Squirrels."
#308: February 27, 2011
The classic, if crazy, recording by The Trashmen introduces our special guest today—birding guru and author Wayne Petersen. Also on this show, we meet our Featured Feathered Friend in a 1960s coffee house, find our Mystery Bird somewhere down south, and find out whether cat food is good for your cardinals.
#307: February 20, 2011
We talk with Sy Montgomery, author of a wonderful new book called "Birdology." Also, we feature a bird that has a sinking feeling, and we present a Let's Ask Mike segment we call "Is There a Fungus Among Us?"
#425: February 13, 2011
#424: February 6, 2011
Field expert Doug Chickering waxes poetic about his attempts to view a Common Moorhen. Also, we learn some fascinating facts about the Great Kiskadee. And, feeder expert Mike O'Connor offers some tips about eggshells.
#304: January 30, 2011
Neil Young helps us describe today's Featured Feathered Friend; we present a "spicy" Mystery Bird; and Mike O'Connor has some explaining to do to the local constabulary.
#303: January 23, 2011
Co-hosted by Smithsonian Tours' David Clapp as we talk about the Galapagos Islands, winter feeding, birds falling from the sky, and the raptor that was mistaken for an airplane.
#302: January 16, 2011
We feature the cutest bird in the world; we visit the gull family in our Mystery Bird segment; and we serve up some advice on keeping your tabby away from your Troglodytes.
#301: January 9, 2011
We take you to the Boston Harbor Islands and the "Batt Cave" in Minnesota; we learn about the "camp robber"; and Mike O'Connor offers some more good advice about bird feeding.
#300: January 2, 2011
Two great predators from the north, including the one whose image graced the helmet of Attila the Hun. Also, Mike parries something else from the north—a study about the dangers in bird seed.
#299: December 26, 2010
We'll offer a Mystery Bird whose voice must be heard to be believed. We'll also learn the connection between the legendary Captain Cook and today's Featured Feathered Friend. And we call today's Let's Ask Mike segment: "In this case, a creature really was stirring."
#298: December 19, 2010
We feature a bird that doesn't engage in histrionics, despite its name; we present a Mystery Bird that forecasts the weather; and Mike O'Connor weighs in with a segment we call "Whatever gets you through the night."
#297: December 12, 2010
We feature a bird with a red beret and a black goatee; we present a Mystery Bird with a very strange bill; and we offer some advice on buying the right spotting scope.
#296: December 5, 2010
We give a thumbs up to an amazing new iPhone app called BirdsEye. Also, BirdWatcher's Digest editor Bill Thompson III tells us about his new book, and Mike O'Connor gives a thumbs down to "enhanced" suet.
#295: November 28, 2010
We tackle two topics today: the birder/duck hunter conflict and the sun-grown/shade-grown coffee issue. Plus, why a common bird became a Shakespearean tragedy.
#294: November 21, 2010
We'll learn about a popular winter visitor to the lower 48; plus a misnamed Mystery Bird, and more on the war against Passer domesticus.