Birding for Beginners in a Changing World

Summary

Curiosity Weekly: Birding for Beginners in a Changing World

Host: Dr. Samantha Amin
Guest: Karina Newsom (Wildlife Biologist, Birder, Environmental Justice Advocate)
Additional Segment: Teresa Carey interviews Miyoko Chu from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology
Release Date: May 7, 2025

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1. Embracing the World of Birding

In this Mother’s Day-themed episode, Dr. Samantha Amin delves into the captivating realm of birding, highlighting the remarkable qualities of avian mothers and the intricate behaviors that make birding an enriching hobby. With spring migration in full swing, Amin sets the stage for an exploration of how birding can be accessible and enjoyable for everyone, regardless of experience level.

Notable Quote:

"Birds might not be the first thing that come to mind on Mother's Day, but hear me out... Bird mothers really go all out." — Dr. Samantha Amin [00:33]

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2. Interview with Karina Newsom: Getting Started in Birding

Karina Newsom shares her inspiring journey into birding, emphasizing the vast diversity of bird species in the United States and how this diversity can captivate both novice and seasoned birders alike.

Key Highlights:

• Diversity of Birds:
  Newsom points out that the U.S. is home to nearly a thousand bird species, making birdwatching accessible no matter where you live.

  "There are just a ton of birds to see, no matter where in the US you live." — Karina Newsom [03:28]

• Personal Favorites:
  She mentions her affection for blue jays as her favorite birds and describes the skimmer as the coolest bird she has ever seen due to its unique beak adaptations.

  "The skimmer... it's just, like, the coolest set of adaptations." — Karina Newsom [03:37]

• Advice for Beginners:
  Newsom encourages new birders to start by observing the birds in their immediate environment, using tools like the Merlin Bird ID app to identify species effortlessly.

  "Start where you are, and I mean that very, very literally." — Karina Newsom [05:18]

• Lowering Barriers to Birding:
  She emphasizes the importance of making birding inclusive, especially for communities that may feel unwelcome in outdoor spaces.

  "You never know what you're going to find till you get outside." — Dr. Samantha Amin [04:24]

Community Engagement and Representation:

Newsom discusses her role in organizing the first Black Birders Week, highlighting its significance in fostering a sense of belonging and representation within the birding community.

Notable Quote:

"I want birding to look as diverse as the birds that we are watching." — Karina Newsom [12:38]

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3. Teresa Carey Interviews Miyoko Chu: Migration, Climate, and Conservation

In a segment produced by Teresa Carey, Miyoko Chu from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology discusses the complexities of bird migration and the myriad challenges birds face due to environmental changes.

Key Topics:

• Bird Migration and Mortality:
  Chu highlights the staggering number of birds that die each year from window collisions, emphasizing the need for widespread awareness and preventative measures.

  "... birds are hitting glass all year long... up to a billion birds die each year in the US." — Miyoko Chu [16:10]

• Climate Change Impact:
  She explains how shifting climate patterns disrupt migration timing and routes, using the black-throated blue warbler as an example of a species currently able to adapt.

  "There's a lag in how birds are responding... some birds are missing that pulse of food in the spring." — Teresa Carey [20:38]

• Seabirds and Ocean Health:
  The conversation moves to seabirds, discussing how ocean warming and shifting currents affect their food sources and survival rates.

  "Seabirds in general are doing poorly. We're seeing declines of 55 to 95% in some seabird populations." — Teresa Carey [21:08]

• Birds as Ecosystem Indicators:
  Chu underscores the role of birds in signaling broader ecosystem health, referencing historical instances like the decline of raptors leading to the environmental movement sparked by "Silent Spring."

  "Birds are often called the canaries in the coal mine... they're indicators of ecosystem health." — Teresa Carey [22:52]

• International Cooperation in Conservation:
  Addressing the global nature of bird migration, Chu discusses the necessity of cross-border conservation efforts to ensure the protection of migratory routes and habitats.

  "Understanding connectivity is super important for international and national conservation efforts." — Teresa Carey [24:12]

• Technological Advancements:
  The segment concludes with a discussion on innovative tools like BirdCast and the Merlin Bird ID app, which leverage AI and citizen science to enhance bird monitoring and conservation strategies.

  "Merlin lets you identify birds in four different ways... It's made possible by science and millions of birdwatchers." — Teresa Carey [27:37]

Notable Quote:

"The more species people have and can identify, the better they feel. There is such a benefit to just knowing and being aware of this incredible diversity of life." — Karina Newsom [12:38]

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4. Collective Effervescence: The Science Behind Crowd Emotions

In the concluding segment, Dr. Samantha Amin explores the concept of collective effervescence, a phenomenon where individuals in a crowd experience a heightened sense of unity and emotional connection. Drawing from sociological research, Amin explains how shared experiences and synchronized actions contribute to this powerful communal feeling.

Key Concepts:

• Definition of Collective Effervescence:
  An emotional buzz that occurs when a group of people come together for a shared experience, leading to feelings of unity and empowerment.

• Essential Elements:

  1. Shared Attentional Focus: Presence of a focal point, such as a performer or speaker.
  2. Coordination of Movements: Synchrony in actions like dancing or cheering.
  3. Emotional Synchrony: Shared emotional experiences, whether joyful or otherwise.

• Scientific Findings:
  Examples include synchronized heart rates among crowd members during intense communal activities and the spatial organization of crowds influencing collective experiences.

Notable Quote:

"Those feelings of unity and transcendence are part of what makes us feel human." — Dr. Samantha Amin [29:45]

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5. Closing Thoughts

Dr. Samantha Amin wraps up the episode by encouraging listeners to engage with nature, whether through birding or participating in communal activities that foster collective effervescence. She emphasizes the holistic benefits of connecting with both the natural world and fellow humans.

Call to Action:

"Next time you're at a concert, a protest, a church service, or any big group gathering, pay attention to the feelings of the crowd... Those feelings of unity and transcendence are part of what makes us feel human." — Dr. Samantha Amin [29:45]

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Conclusion

"Birding for Beginners in a Changing World" serves as an insightful guide for newcomers to birding, while also addressing the broader environmental challenges facing bird populations today. Through engaging interviews and expert commentary, Dr. Samantha Amin and her guests illuminate the intersection of nature, technology, and community, inviting listeners to explore and protect the avian wonders that enrich our world.

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Credits:
Produced by the team at Wheelhouse DNA
Senior Producer and Editorial Correspondent: Teresa Carey
Producer: Chiara Noni
Audio Engineer: Nick Karisimi
Head of Production: Cassie Berman

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Disclaimer: This summary is intended for informational purposes and reflects the content discussed in the "Birding for Beginners in a Changing World" episode of Curiosity Weekly.

Transcript

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[Dr. Samantha Amin]

Birds might not be the first thing that come to mind on Mother's Day, but hear me out. Some of the most devoted, resourceful and awe inspiring moms in the animal kingdom. They're birds. They build intricate nests. They fly thousands of miles to raise their young. They fiercely protect their chicks. Bird mothers really go all out. So this Mother's Day episode brings two sharp voices into the mix, each with a different take on the wonder of birds. Karina Newsom is a violinist, biologist and birder, and she shares what drew her to birding and how it can open doors for everyone. And Curiosity Senior producer Teresa Carey talks with Miyoko Chu from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology about the great migration happening right now, plus what's at stake as birds make their way across continents. So whether you're a long time birder or just love to see the flutter outside your window or their beautiful singing. Wait, I don't know what bird that is, so let's find out. I'm Dr. Samantha Amin and this is Curiosity Weekly from Discovery. And speaking of flocking collective effervescence, this isn't bird related, but it's that amazing phenomenon when a crowd comes together and suddenly everyone feels deeply connected and part of something bigger than themselves. So birds of a feather, we must stick together. I don't know the words. If you've ever paused to admire a robin pulling a worm from the ground or been startled by the flash of color from a beautiful cardinal flying by, you've already had a taste of the joys of birding. It's a hobby that entertains about 96 million people in the US every year and about several hundred million worldwide. With the spring migration in full swing, there's no better time to jump in. But for many of us, we might not really know where to begin or we may not even feel like we belong in outdoor spaces. So I want to learn how to get started in birding, what to look and listen for, and how birds can bring real joy into our everyday lives. For everyone joining me is Karina Newsom, a wildlife biologist, birder, and fierce advocate for environmental justice and conservation. Welcome, Karina.

[Karina Newsom]

Thank you so much for having me. It's a joy to be here.

[Dr. Samantha Amin]

What is it about birds, do you think, that just makes them so magical and captures everyone's attention?

[Karina Newsom]

I think they're everywhere and somehow at the same time, easy to miss as far as the diversity and the sheer just number of birds that live around people. And so once people realize just how many different kinds of birds they can see fairly easily just where they live, even people get hooked. Because in the US we have, like, over 7, 800, almost, actually a thousand birds that end up migrating or living here in the US Worldwide. And so there are just a ton of birds to see, no matter where in the US you live.

[Dr. Samantha Amin]

Oh, that's so interesting. Do you have a coolest bird that you've ever seen in person or, like, a favorite? Am I allowed to ask that? Is it, like, choosing from children?

[Karina Newsom]

You are allowed to ask that? I would say my favorite. It is very similar to choosing children. My favorite bird is the blue jay because it was what we call the spark bird for me, the bird that got me noticing other native birds. But I would say the coolest bird that I've ever seen would probably be a different. I would give a different answer. The skimmer, which is a bird that lives on coasts. They have these really strange beaks where, like, the bottom part of their beak is longer than the top part, and they fly close to the surface of the water with the bottom part of their bill in the water. It's just, like, the coolest set of, like, adaptations. And, like, just the situation is really bizarre. I cried the first time I saw a skimmer skimming on the ocean surface.

[Dr. Samantha Amin]

You cried?

[Karina Newsom]

I cried. Oh, yes, I cried.

[Dr. Samantha Amin]

That's like, peak outdoor nerd joy.

[Karina Newsom]

Absolutely.

[Dr. Samantha Amin]

I thought you were. Well, you said Blue Jays, and I'm from Toronto and our baseball team's Toronto Blue Jays, so just gonna shout that out.

[Karina Newsom]

I. And I have. I know nothing about baseball, but as soon as I learned. Right. As soon as I learned about the blue jay being the, like, mascot for the team. Huge Toronto fan.

[Dr. Samantha Amin]

We'll make you an honorary Torontonian. How about that?

[Karina Newsom]

Thank you.

[Dr. Samantha Amin]

So I want to talk a bit about birding and how people can get involved and all the great things you do in that space because you organize a lot of birding trips, you encourage people to go explore birds, even just in their city. I love that you always say you never know what you're going to find till you get outside. I've never officially gone birding, like in a serious formal way with binoculars and a hat and all that. So what. What did. I feel like the hat's necessary. What advice do you have for listeners like me who may be new to birding?

[Karina Newsom]

I always say start where you are, and I mean that very, very literally. So if you have a porch or a front step, just sit outside. Or if you already do that, start just paying attention to the birds you hear and see when you're sitting outside. Because I promise you, you're going to hear something, you're going to see something, even if it's a common bird or a species that real hardcore birders would say, oh, that's a, you know, that's a little brown job or whatever they call those things. I love all birds. And so if you can start paying attention where you are, that's a great first step. If you want to kind of jump into it, I would say go to a local park. You don' need binoculars, but there are really cool tools to help people understand what they're seeing. And so Merlin, which is an app created by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, is a bird identification app. You can identify birds by uploading a picture you took. You can also press a little microphone and it will actively listen to your environment and generate the species that it's hearing. It can be multiple species at one time with a picture attached. And so you can in real time have species identification help so that you can get hooked right away and understand the species that are living either on your front porch or near your front porch, near your house or in your local parks. And that is a great way to get started. The other thing I'll say is that one of the beautiful things about birding is that it brings you closer to other people too. And so if you can look up local birding trips because of how popular birding has gotten, it is likely that if you live in a city, for example, or anywhere, birding is happening somewhere in an organized fashion. So look up local birding trips that are happening and see if you can tag along.

[Dr. Samantha Amin]

Okay. Now that you've kind of lowered the bar for what needs to count as an official birding experience. I guess I have done it because I always, especially when I'm at my parents house, we just like sit and have our coffee and look out the window and see all the birds. We don't know what they are ever. But now I'm going to use that app.

[Karina Newsom]

You have absolutely Done it. That is more than enough to pass the threshold of birding.

[Dr. Samantha Amin]

I still want to do it with the binoculars and a hat, but I'm happy that this counts. Um, you. You do this a lot for people. You. You're about lowering barriers to entry with nature, which is. Is what I really admire about your work. And part of that is trust building and community engagement, especially so that people who maybe have felt for valid reason that they're not welcome in the outdoors or that they don't belong can feel more. Feel like their natural right to be a part of that kind of work. Can you tell us a little more about what that looks like in practice, bringing together those groups and why it's so important?

[Karina Newsom]

Yeah, so I really just started in the places that I've lived. So, for example, when I was in college, that was a place to start. Approached my neighbors. So the people who lived literally in my neighborhood, the local church, the local Friends of the Parks park group in Atlanta, in southwest Atlanta, where I live, and I just said, hey, I'm a new neighbor here. I am a wildlife biologist. So they were just excited for what that meant. Not just for the educational opportunity or chance to get outside, but even just local advocacy, et cetera. But yeah, like, they were just thrilled. And honestly, you know, it had to do with the fact that I was a young black woman and it was predominantly black neighborhood, and they just had not met a black biologist before, the people who I. Who I lived with. And so they were really excited to have a black biologist lead outdoor programming for black kids and black neighbors, because they had not had an experience like that, which I can relate to. I had not met another black bird expert or wildlife expert until I was very much an adult. And so I was just grateful to be able to provide that kind of representation and opportunity. And people loved it. Like, I didn't have to convince anybody about how cool birds were. They already, you know, they jumped right in.

[Dr. Samantha Amin]

And you've helped do that at scale because you co organized the first Black Birders Week, which was a really important week to celebrate all of the black birders out there and to raise awareness that you exist and you deserve to exist and safely be in the outdoors. Can you tell us a little more about that movement and what you see, the impact of it now that it's been around, like, five years?

[Karina Newsom]

Yeah, I can't believe it's been that long. But that first Black Birders Week, it was really in response to, like, a threat in the community. Even though the movement was born out of, like, reaction to a threat. It became something so beautiful and just so, as you said, celebratory. And one of the things that I just loved was the connection that it created, not just among the 30 or so of us who were part of organizing that first Black Birders Week, but, like, the network, not just even in the United States, but across the globe, people, Black folks who love birds. Like, we were just seeing each other. You know what I mean? I had never. I didn't even know. I didn't know. I couldn't have imagined how many of us there were. And since then, like, it's just. There have been literally international networks of black birders that have been created. I have my own local, you know, national connections that have been fostered and friendships, lifelong friendships from this. And since then, many of the folks who organized the first Black Birders Week have continued to organize it every year. I'm no longer part of that organizing group, but I am. I participate as a participant in Black Birders Week every year. And it's coming up again, I believe, end of May, so be on the lookout for that. But, yeah, just such a beautiful opportunity for people to get connected with other people who love nature the way they do.

[Dr. Samantha Amin]

It really was an entry point for me because I was never super immersed in wildlife biology. But then when that came up, I remember seeing it in my newsfeed, and then I got to follow all of these wildlife biologists, including you, and learn so much. And it also made me realize, like, wait, birding's actually really cool, and I should probably try it. And now we know. I have kind of.

[Karina Newsom]

Yes, absolutely.

[Dr. Samantha Amin]

It's really cool to see. And it raised a lot of awareness, too. I don't know if you've seen. There had been a lot of discussions about removing the name Audubon from a lot of birding clubs, even though he was kind of someone people look to as a founding birder. But given the problematic nature of his past, trying to rename things and rebrand it to remove birding from that history, do you see that having any impacts in your local groups or organizations?

[Karina Newsom]

So I'll be honest. Unless you know anything about Audubon, it may not trigger anything for you. I think black folks, in my experience, we're used to seeing celebrations and honoring of people who harmed our ancestors everywhere. Right. I didn't know anything about Audubon's past before someone told me. And this was right, actually, before I started working for a local Audubon chapter in Atlanta. And when I found out, though, I was so hurt. It honestly, I felt embarrassed to represent, to wear this name on me. And I should know. And what I'm saying about people not knowing, people should know who these folks are that are being honored on the names of our organizations and naming literal organisms after these people. And we should change that. And so I think that what I always say is that the most urgent need is that our programming, the way we operate, our leadership, needs to reflect the people we serve, the priorities of our communities. That's the highest priority. And we absolutely need to eliminate honoring people who have hurt our communities in the past, hurt our families in the past, our ancestors. And so it just. It's been a lot of learning for me. And at the same time, I try to make sure that people understand this isn't enough to just rename something when it comes to organizations like, we have to be very intentional to make sure that the way we function is aligned with equity and justice.

[Dr. Samantha Amin]

Yeah, thank you for sharing that last quick thing I got to throw in. What's your hope for the future of birding? What do you want it to look like in five or 10 years?

[Karina Newsom]

In five or 10 years, I want birding to look as diverse as the birds that we are watching. I want birding to be a normal thing, to not have the. It has not had great PR for the past several decades. I want, when people think of birding, to not necessarily think of, you know, maybe a white person who's retired, who has the. The big hat. Right. You know what I mean? Who can afford the really expensive equipment, binoculars and scopes. Right. Birding just means I'm outside and I'm appreciating the birds. It's cool to be able to identify the birds in your backyard and where people are just able to have access to the honestly healing that comes with being able to recognize the species that you see. And there was actually a study that said the more species that people have around them when it comes to birds, the more species that are identifiable in a person's environment, they experience increased quality of life, similar to having increased pay. The more species people have and can identify, the better they feel. There is such a benefit to just knowing and being aware of this incredible diversity of life. So people, no matter where you're from, how much money you have, what your identities are, you are able to experience the wellness that comes from loving birds.

[Dr. Samantha Amin]

Thank you so much. That is incredible advice. And I'm going to challenge myself today to go out and look for at least three different types of birds. I'M going to do it on my on my mental health walk today. That's what I'm going to do.

[Karina Newsom]

Thank you so much, Sam.

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[Dr. Samantha Amin]

Every spring, something miraculous happens overhead. Millions of birds, many no bigger than a fist, take off on epic journeys that span continents. They fly thousands of miles from their wintering grounds to their nesting grounds just in time to start building nests and raising babies. And yes, that timing lines up pretty perfectly with Mother's Day. It's one of the most beautiful natural events on the planet. But behind the wonder, there's a tougher story unfolding. Birds are facing mounting threats, from climate shifts that scramble their migration cues, to warming oceans that leave seabirds hungry, to something as ordinary as the windows on our homes. Miyoko Chew, the senior director of communications at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, helps bring the world of birds to life. Curiosity senior producer Teresa Carey chats with her.

[Miyoko Chu]

Hi Miyoko. It's so great to have you here.

[Teresa Carey]

My pleasure.

[Miyoko Chu]

There's so much that I want to dig in today. Migration, climate, seabirds, and the everyday things people can do to help. But I want to start with something that might surprise people. This time of year, a lot of people are watching the spring migration in awe. All the new colors coming into our backyard, all the new birds. But a lot of people might not realize that during that migration, up to a billion birds die and window collisions in the US Every year. And so why is this such a massive issue? And why don't more people know about it?

[Teresa Carey]

When we look at the major sources of mortality for birds, the three biggest ones are, first, habitat loss and degradation. That's by far the biggest challenge for birds. Followed by outdoor cats, which take birds as prey. And then windows is the number three source. And the reason is that, unlike people, when birds see a building and they see a window frame or they see a square that's clear, they're not equating that with a solid surface, they think they can fly through that space and if it has reflections in it, they think they're flying toward trees and sky, unaware that they're about to collide. When you consider all the glass across all our buildings in the country, that's how you get to that staggering number of a billion birds killed by glass each year in the US and you.

[Miyoko Chu]

Also have a new campaign called stopbirdcollisions.org and that's about helping people make their homes and their windows bird safe. Can you tell me a little bit about that and what strategies you might have and what people can be thinking about?

[Teresa Carey]

Absolutely. So turning out lights might help bring fewer birds in close to buildings during migration. But birds are hitting glass all year long, not just during migration. Anytime there's birds around your home, they're in danger of striking that glass. If you make your glass safer, then it's like, instantaneous results. It immediately will stop killing birds. The trick is just like, how to know how to do that. Okay, so there's a key, which is you want to make the glass more visible to birds. You want to give them a clue that it's solid. You know, when you see birds, they can fit through tiny spaces. So they're going to try to fit between the decals that you put on your window. So you have to space them, ideally, no more than 2 inches apart from each other, which is why you sometimes see buildings now that have dots or lines on the outside of the window that are spaced about 2 inches apart.

[Miyoko Chu]

Okay. In terms of bird migration, it's one of nature's great wonders, but it's also very sensitive to environmental change. Birds might be shifting the timing of their migration or the routes that they take. So can you give some examples of how climate change is reshaping these big journeys they take each year?

[Teresa Carey]

Yeah. I'll give you an example. When I was out in a forest called Hubbard Brook in New Hampshire, I was watching biologists as they were studying this little warbler called the black throated blue warbler. And as we were standing there in this forest and they were looking for the nests of this bird, I heard this pitter patter in the leaves above. And it wasn't rain. It was actually what the biologists called frass, which is caterpillar poop. The caterpillar poop was coming down through the leaves, and there was so much of it that it sounded like rain. So when we think about these Neotropical birds coming up north to breed, it's really critical that the timing of this, the hatching of their own young, coincides with the Availability of this food, which comes in a pulse each year. There was a study that used data from ebird citizen scientists where they were able to look at 150 species of migratory birds and their timing. A lot of the birds are still arriving on their breeding grounds closer to the historic average of what they called green up. When the forests are becoming green again after winter, Their timing is more synced with those historic averages than the current conditions. So that signals to us that there can be a lag in how birds are responding. But fortunately, right now, it seems like the black throated blue warblers are able to keep up with these shifts. So far, other studies have found that's not the case and that birds are sometimes missing that pulse of food in the spring.

[Miyoko Chu]

Let's talk about seabirds. I live near the ocean, and so I love seabirds. And oftentimes they get overlooked in conversations about bird conservation. But a lot of them are in serious trouble. There's populations that have dropped dramatically. I think one, one major factor is shifting food availability as the temperatures in the ocean change and the currents shift. So can you tell me a little bit about those changes and how they're playing out and which seabirds maybe are most vulnerable right now?

[Teresa Carey]

Yeah. I want to talk about one story that really brought it home for me, and that is that the National Audubon Society has a live bird cam, and it allows you to see puffins raising their chicks in real time when they're nesting. One year, the viewers of this cam noticed that the chicks in the nests were starving, and they were starving even though the puffin parents were still bringing fish into the nest. So how could that be? They actually were able to observe that the type of fish the parents were bringing was a butterfish that is larger than the typical fish a puffin would bring. It literally would not fit down the throats of these young chicks. And so that was an early signal that something has shifted, because normally they would be going for smaller fish like herring. And so it happened to be during a time when we're seeing ocean warming or ocean heat waves. And there are a lot of factors that can change which fish are available. There's currents, you know, the temperatures may affect what food is available for the fish. And that in turn, goes all the way up to what the birds are experiencing. Seabirds in general, are doing poorly. We're seeing declines of 55 to 95% in some seabird populations.

[Miyoko Chu]

So birds are often called the canaries in the coal mine, not just literally, but in terms of signaling Ecosystem health. How are scientists using birds to understand this big picture of environmental change?

[Teresa Carey]

Decades ago, when many raptors were declining to the point of extinction, including our national bird, the bald eagle, peregrine falcons, it was then that Rachel Carson's book Silent Spring called attention to the fact that pesticides were behind the cause of these declines for birds, that they were also harmful to children and to people. And so that was a case of being able to see what was happening to birds as a warning to environmental health and to people as well. There's also a songbird called the salt marsh sparrow that nests right in the intertidal zone. And when those tides spread become higher, on average, it can actually flood out their nest. And we've seen that and documented it in footage. So again, just another signal that when we see this happening with birds, we know it's also affecting our communities along the coasts.

[Miyoko Chu]

Since the birds migrate across an entire continent, conservation efforts also then have to cross borders. And so what then are some of the biggest challenges or perhaps success stories when it comes to international cooperation or cooperation even across the US to protect migratory birds?

[Teresa Carey]

Yeah, I think right now one of the biggest challenges is understanding what we call connectivity. So there's some really cool studies that use DNA and radio tracking to try to understand where a particular bird and its population ends up in the winter. And that, I think, is providing a lot of hope in terms of connecting the conservation efforts, because let's say we make a lot of effort to save wood thrushes in one part of the country, but they're going to a part of the tropics where we are not making a similar level of effort, then they may decline because of changes on their wintering grounds and vice versa. So really trying to understand that and to be hand in hand with conservation efforts internationally is super important.

[Miyoko Chu]

Let's talk about technology for a minute. You mentioned the tracking that you were doing. There's satellite telemetry, machine learning tools like Merlin Bird id. It feels like bird science is advancing quickly with technology. And so we're learning things now that you wouldn't have been able to 20 years ago or even 10 years ago. What are some of the most exciting ways that you've seen that technology is changing how we understand birds? And how is it helping us to observe birds better but also protect them more effectively?

[Teresa Carey]

Yeah, I'll give you two examples. One ties back to what we were talking about with lights out actions, and that is that we have a technology called BirdCast, which is about forecasting birds, just like the way you might forecast the weather. And our scientists here use radar to detect how many birds are flying at night and when, because we can't see them and the birds are calling very high pitched, short notes at night. We're also using new AI techniques and bioacoustics, or recording these biological sounds and analyzing them to tell us which species are flying over. So now if you go to birdcast.org you can see a live map showing how many birds are going over your county that night. And you can see the forecast for how many birds are expected to come across the country in the next few nights.

[Miyoko Chu]

And you can get a sense of what birds they are too.

[Teresa Carey]

Yes, there's a little dashboard that shows you which ones are most likely. And the reason we know that is because we have a project called eBird that enables bird watchers from around the world to report what they're seeing. So we know that on any given day of the year, which species are most likely to be coming. So when you combine these tech tools, it gives you this completely different view of the phenomenon like migration. And you can do things like tell people, hey, tomorrow's going to be a tremendously big migration night. If you're going to turn out your lights at any night this year, do it tomorrow, please.

[Miyoko Chu]

That's amazing. I'm taking my child to Zion National Park. I'm giving them their first pair of binoculars, and we have a plan to go birding.

[Teresa Carey]

Well, the app that you'll want to take with you is called the Merlin Bird ID app, and that one is also from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. We called it Merlin because we want it to be a magical experience, but it's actually made possible by science and by these millions of birdwatchers that I mentioned who are contributing science. And here's why. Merlin lets you identify birds in four different ways, a few of which are driven by AI technology. And these millions of sightings from birders, we have thousands of recordings from people that we could use to train the AI models to recognize these bird species.

[Miyoko Chu]

And so what you're talking about is citizen science, where average people can contribute to a scientific project or research in some way with these photos or these recordings, it has become a real scientific tool in a scientist toolbox. And so can you tell me a little bit more about how this has changed the way we studied birds? And if there's been maybe any discoveries or insight from this public participation, that's maybe even surprised professional researchers.

[Teresa Carey]

If you imagine we have now close to 2 billion observations from around the world, telling us where birds are, when, how many. For the first time, we've been able to use modeling that combines satellite imagery of habitats, for example, with these data from all these birdwatchers to create what are the most precise maps ever, showing not only where the birds are and when, but also whether their numbers are trending upward or downward. And that is really the start, I think, of being able to have very targeted solutions and investigations on what is causing declines and what can we do about them.

[Miyoko Chu]

Wow. Well, thank you so much for talking with me. I really enjoyed this. I learned a lot.

[Teresa Carey]

Thank you. Yeah, it was really great to chat with you.

[Dr. Samantha Amin]

I want to read a DM that someone sent me recently. It goes, hi, Sam, big fan of the pod and I have a question I'd love to hear you talk about on it. I was at a concert recently and it was amazing. Like, the crowd was so, so good. It just felt really awesome to be there with everyone. I'm wondering if there's any science behind that kind of mob mentality, but in a good way, if that makes sense. Positive mob mentality. Thanks. I love this message. It's such a good question. And by the way, please always feel free to send us questions. You can rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or Spot and include any questions you have for us on the show. But to answer that question, is there a thing like positive mob mentality? The answer is yes. And it's a fascinating thing called collective effervescence. Collective effervescence is this concept from sociology, and it describes that emotional buzz or activation they call it, that happens when you have a big crowd of people coming together for some sort of shared experience. Think of concerts, religious ceremonies, protests, even funerals or workout classes, like a yoga class or soccer. For me, I train Muay Thai and there's this like, very special moment when we're all grunting through push ups but counting at the same time. It's like a good kind of community centered on pain, but in a good way. There's this sense of unity in the crowd, and a lot of the time people feel an intense or joint level of emotion, almost spiritual or transcendent. People feel connected with one another and then that leaves them feeling empowered. A lot of the early research for collective effervescence was rooted in ritual behaviors. And since then, researchers have been trying to theorize what's really required for this phenomenon to happen. There are a few things that a lot of sociologists agree on. First, being a shared attentional focus. Maybe someone on A stage or a podium, perhaps a DJ booth even, or Beyonce. Second, it seems to be important that there's some sort of coordination of movement, gestures or cheering, some kind of synchrony of behaviors. It can be bowing or cheering, even dancing, but something that people are doing that's kind of similar. And then third, the emotional aspect, which is really, really important, some kind of emotional synchrony, whether it's good or bad, doesn't super matter. But that shared experience of some kind of emotion is key to collective effervescence. Some researchers even argue that just the fact of being in a crowd is enough to give you that sense of being where the action is, even if you're not personally part of any specific action. So it seems to be important to be in the same physical space, although there's really not a lot of research on whether you can do this in a digital space too. Those are the big picture concepts for describing collective effervescence. But there are a few studies that really dug into what's going on. Like, what can you measure that makes collective effervescence possible? There was this one paper that looked into crowd movement at a music festival. They did the research at Northern Europe's largest music festival. They went around to people's campsites and asked them all of these questions to try to understand what it was about being at this festival. Being in the crowd really mattered. They found that it really had more to do with the spatial organization of the crowd and where you exactly were in the crowd. And they're actually different experiences depending where you had your tent set up. Another study measured the heart rate dynamics during a firewalking ritual in Spain. This is a ritual where community members carry a loved one on their backs across hot coals. This was really cool because they found that if you were the firewalker or if you were in the crowd watching someone you know walk across the fire, your heart rates had a synced up pattern. The heart rates of spectators would sync up with firewalkers even if they didn't know them. All it took was for them to know someone who happened to be firewalking that day. Meanwhile, people in the crowd who didn't know anyone firewalking that day didn't have that same synchrony. So next time you're at a concert, a protest, a church service, or any big group gathering, pay attention to the feelings of the crowd. Those feelings of unity and transcendence are part of what makes us feel human. Soak it up for Warner Bros. Discovery. Curiosity Weekly is produced by the team at Wheelhouse DNA, the senior producer and editorial correspondent is Teresa Carey. Our producer is Chiara Noni. Our audio engineer is Nick Karisimi. And head of production for for Wheelhouse DNA is Cassie Berman. And I'm Dr. Samantha Yuin. Thanks for listening.

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