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.
#253: February 7, 2010
Mass Audubon's John Galluzzo co-hosts and we talk about wintering catbirds, Snowy Owls, Harlequin Ducks, and King Eiders. And Mike O'Connor questions a listener's theory about February-nesting bluebirds.
#252: January 31, 2010
We learn about the bird that nests in the depth of winter; Mike O'Connor talks about vultures and possums; and we almost stump listeners in our Mystery Bird Contest.
#251: January 24, 2010
Doug Chickering joins us today to wax poetic about an unusual recent bird sighting. We bring back the "butcher watchman" as our Featured Feathered Friend, and Mike O'Connor offers some good advice on keeping your bird seed critter-free.
#250: January 17, 2010
We hear about how Oreoscoptes montanus is causing a big stir in Massachusetts. And one of North America's fastest flyers stumps some callers in our Mystery Bird contest.
#249: January 10, 2010
We learn about a Massachusetts birder who was looking for peeps but was arrested as a "Peeping Tom!" We'll also get a distant preview of the "Spring of the Year" through our Featured Feathered Friend.
#248: January 3, 2010
Mike O'Connor gives advice to vacationing backyard birders, and for our Featured Feathered Friend we go up to the lab...to see what's on the slab!
#247: December 27, 2009
We get a live Christmas Bird Count report Mass Audubon's John Galluzzo; we listen to an amazing recording of a gigantic robin roost; and we hear some hawk migration numbers that boggled our minds!
#246: December 20, 2009
We learn the nasty secret of Molothrus ater, while our Mystery Bird takes a long winter's nap.
#245: December 13, 2009
We learn some fascinating facts about a spectacular diver, and a demon driller, and Mike O'Connor talks about the simple device that will bring non-feeder birds to your backyard.
#244: December 6, 2009
Send us an email for a chance to win a Droll Yankees feeder in our Mystery Bird contest. Guests on today's show, from the River Valley Co-op in western Mass., include Mass Audubon's Wayne Petersen.