Podcast
The Bird Brief
Hosted by Stephanie Jenkins Aslett · EN
A global rundown of newly published avian research and newsworthy bird stories in just 5 minutes.
10episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
S2 E10: Machine Learning Is For The Birds
Feb 21, 202500:09:52Tap to summarizeToday, we are going to talk with Zan Aslett, a remote sensing scientist and geophysicist with deep expertise in analyzing large datasets—like those 18,300 hours of recordings scientists used to uncover why birds call out during their seemingly solitary nighttime migrations. Definitely go back and listen to Episode 9 if you missed it! With Zan’s help, we’re going to break down how machine learning was applied to this enormous dataset and get a few tips on how to use ChatGPT that are truly gamechangers for our everyday lives. Oh, and Zan is rather importantly my husband — but don’t hold that against him.Stories:https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/migrating-birds-sing-to-team-up-with-other-species/ https://www.cell.com/current-biology/abstract/S0960-9822(24)01701-9 Music: The Weeknd from wish by Lundstroem is licensed under a Attribution 4.0 International License. https://freemusicarchive.org/music/lundstroem/songs-i-regard-terrible/the-weeknd-from-wish/ This is Stephanie Jenkins Aslett, thanks for listening. If a particular story piqued your interest, be sure to check out the show notes for more details. If you have a story that you would like to spread the awareness of, I would love to highlight it in my podcast. Just let me know in the comments or send a note to thebirdbrief@gmail.com. Please tune in next time for The Bird Brief - your rundown, or should I say featherdown, of the birds we love.
Transcribe →S2 E9: Why do solitary songbirds call when migrating at night?
Feb 7, 202500:03:59Tap to summarizeWelcome back to the Bird Brief, this is Stephanie Jenkins Aslett, avian ecologist. Today let’s dive into songbird migration and how their seemingly solitary nocturnal travel is more cooperative and social than we thought!Stories:https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/migrating-birds-sing-to-team-up-with-other-species/ https://www.cell.com/current-biology/abstract/S0960-9822(24)01701-9 Bird Sound:Swainson’s Thrush, nocturnal flight call. Paul Driver, XC771098. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/771098.Music: The Weeknd from wish by Lundstroem is licensed under a Attribution 4.0 International License. https://freemusicarchive.org/music/lundstroem/songs-i-regard-terrible/the-weeknd-from-wish/ Keep an eye out for the next episode in two weeks! I will be talking with an expert in the field about a key tool that helps researchers uncover interactions that might be overlooked in enormous, wildly complex datasets (as this nocturnal flight call dataset was). Spoiler alert, it's my geophysicist husband, Zan Aslett, so get ready to laugh about datasets while learning something. This is Stephanie Jenkins Aslett, thanks for listening. If a particular story piqued your interest, be sure to check out the show notes for more details. If you have a story that you would like to spread the awareness of, I would love to highlight it in my podcast. Just let me know in the comments or send a note to thebirdbrief@gmail.com. Please tune in next time for The Bird Brief - your rundown, or should I say featherdown, of the birds we love.
Transcribe →S2 E8: Hummingbird Torpor, Airports as Bird Migration Hubs, and Vulture Doomsday
Jan 24, 202500:05:00Tap to summarizeWelcome back to the Bird Brief, this is Stephanie Jenkins Aslett, avian ecologist. Today let’s dive into what’s driving bird strikes at airports, hummingbirds and their psychic torpor, and black vultures creating literal doomsday for high schoolers. Again I want to give a shout out to my preschool son for asking the hard questions on this episode – Thanks man!Stories:https://www.noaa.gov/news/2024-was-nations-warmest-year-on-record#:~:text=by%20the%20numbers-,2024,NOAA's%20130%2Dyear%20climate%20record. https://biz.chosun.com/en/en-science/2024/12/30/LSH6MUFMCRF7ZI5UBLUVQQ3MPQ/ https://phys.org/news/2025-01-hummingbird-torpor-day-survival-uncertain.html https://www.fauquier.com/news/vulture-problem-fauquier-high-might-try-effigies/article_dca0467a-d3bb-11ef-8217-1f9b73406415.html Bird Sound:*Tundra Bean Goose. Grzegorz Lorek, XC819951. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/819951Black Vulture. Call, grunt, wing noise. Brice de la Croix, XC495189. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/495189.Black Vulture. Call. Paul Marvin, XC451477. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/451477 Calliope Hummingbird. Bruce Lagerquist, XC764433. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/764433.Rufous Hummingbird. Ian Cruickshank, XC183578. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/183578.*Occurs in the immediate vicinity of Muan International Airport. News reports do not include the species involved in the aircraft strike.Music: The Weeknd from wish by Lundstroem is licensed under a Attribution 4.0 International License. https://freemusicarchive.org/music/lundstroem/songs-i-regard-terrible/the-weeknd-from-wish/ This is Stephanie Jenkins Aslett, thanks for listening. If a particular story piqued your interest, be sure to check out the show notes for more details. If you have a story that you would like to spread the awareness of, I would love to highlight it in my podcast. Just let me know in the comments or send a note to thebirdbrief@gmail.com. Please tune in next time for The Bird Brief - your rundown, or should I say featherdown, of the birds we love.
Transcribe →S2 E7: A Bird Police Squads that Fights Drones, and the Oldest Living Bird!
Jan 10, 202500:04:57Tap to summarizeWelcome back to the Bird Brief, this is Stephanie Jenkins Aslett, avian ecologist. We are starting 2025 off right with stories of a raptor police squad in India, the oldest living bird, and how the Bald Eagle just become the US national bird (what?!).Before we get started, I wanted to give a shoutout to my preschool son for absolutely rocking the intro on this episode. Thanks man! Stories:https://indianexpress.com/article/long-reads/telangana-birds-hunt-rogue-drones-garuda-squad-9749501/https://www.cnn.com/2024/12/05/us/74-years-old-wisdom-albatross-laid-egg-intl-hnk/index.html https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2024/12/26/bald-eagle-extinct-official-bird-history/77231324007/ Bird Sound:*Black Kite. Marc Anderson, XC585971. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/585971.*Bonelli's Eagle. Peter Boesman, XC781530. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/781530.Layan albatross. Alán Palacios, XC730154. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/730154. Bald eagle. Anthony Gliozzo, XC698517. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/698517.*I do not know if the Garuda squad contains either Black Kites or Bonelli’s Eagles. Officials purposefully did not release the specific species within their squad. Although the Black Kite and Bonelli’s Eagle do occur in India, my use of their calls are simply for human interest in the story. Music: The Weeknd from wish by Lundstroem is licensed under a Attribution 4.0 International License. https://freemusicarchive.org/music/lundstroem/songs-i-regard-terrible/the-weeknd-from-wish/ This is Stephanie Jenkins Aslett, thanks for listening. If a particular story piqued your interest, be sure to check out the show notes for more details. If you have a story that you would like to spread the awareness of, I would love to highlight it in my podcast. Just let me know in the comments or send a note to thebirdbrief@gmail.com. Please tune in next time for The Bird Brief - your rundown, or should I say featherdown, of the birds we love.
Transcribe →S2 E6: Wildlife Research and the Birds Aren't Real Conspiracy
Dec 13, 202400:02:34Tap to summarizeWelcome back to the Bird Brief, this is Stephanie Jenkins Aslett, avian ecologist. This Pre-Christmas edition is about a viral conspiracy, wildlife research, and the wild crossover between satire and science. Let’s get started. Stories:https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2024/11/12/dead-birds-drones-new-mexico-tech-research/76197212007/ https://dot.alaska.gov/faiiap/meet-aurora.shtml Bird Sound:Rock Pigeon (Columba livia); Recorded by Paul Marvin/Macaulay Library; Dec 2017; ML108565061.Ring-necked Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus); Recorded by Dominic Garcia-Hall/Macaulay Library; Jan 2018; ML81397411.Mallard. Martin Billard, XC881155. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/881155.Music: The Weeknd from wish by Lundstroem is licensed under a Attribution 4.0 International License. https://freemusicarchive.org/music/lundstroem/songs-i-regard-terrible/the-weeknd-from-wish/ This is Stephanie Jenkins Aslett, thanks for listening. If a particular story piqued your interest, be sure to check out the show notes for more details. If you have a story that you would like to spread the awareness of, I would love to highlight it in my podcast. Just let me know in the comments or send a note to thebirdbrief@gmail.com. Please tune in next time for The Bird Brief - your rundown, or should I say featherdown, of the birds we love.
Transcribe →S2 E5: The penguin who went from the Antarctic to the Outback...and Back.
Nov 29, 202400:02:23Tap to summarizeHappy Thanksgiving and welcome back to Season 2, Episode 5 of The Bird Brief! This is Stephanie Jenkins Aslett, avian ecologist giving you the rundown on the most recent happenings in birds, both in popular news and published research throughout the world. This Thanksgiving edition will be super brief, just one story about Gus, the emperor penguin that made it to outback…and back. Let’s get started.Stories:https://apnews.com/article/australia-emperor-penguin-released-84319f95da162330da3265232c1fcfc1https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/emperor-penguin-found-australia-tourist-beach-malnourished-denmark-rcna179726 Bird Sound:Emperor Penguin · Aptenodytes forsteri recorded by steve, XC877994. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/877994. Music: The Weeknd from wish by Lundstroem is licensed under a Attribution 4.0 International License. https://freemusicarchive.org/music/lundstroem/songs-i-regard-terrible/the-weeknd-from-wish/ This is Stephanie Jenkins Aslett, thanks for listening. If a particular story piqued your interest, be sure to check out the show notes for more details. If you have a story that you would like to spread the awareness of, I would love to highlight it in my podcast. Just let me know in the comments or send a note to thebirdbrief@gmail.com. Please tune in next time for The Bird Brief - your rundown, or should I say featherdown, of the birds we love.
Transcribe →S2 E4: Australia Fights the Flu, Conservation Wins, and Lockdown Habits That Were For The Birds
Nov 15, 202400:04:30Tap to summarizeWelcome back to Episode 4 of The Bird Brief, this is Stephanie Jenkins Aslett, avian ecologist giving you the rundown on the most recent happenings in birds, both in popular news and published research throughout the world. Stories:https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/australia-commits-64-mln-protect-against-looming-bird-flu-threat-2024-10-13/ AND https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2024/sep/17/deadly-avian-flu-strain-could-enter-australia-via-thieving-migratory-birds-scientists-warn https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0287116https://www.newscientist.com/article/2451606-france-slashed-bird-flu-outbreaks-by-vaccinating-ducks/ https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cn4y42y5wn4o https://www.thecooldown.com/outdoors/birds-climate-change-behavior-north-america/ https://phys.org/news/2024-10-microplastic-free-carrier-pesticides-potential.html Bird Sound:Hen Harrier (Circus cyaneus). Stanislas Wroza, XC670733. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/670733. American robin. Molly Jacobson, XC467818. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/467818 .Christmas Frigatebird. Frank Lambert, XC68337. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/68337.Abbotts Booby. Craig Robertson, XC583373. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/583373.Bar-tailed godwit. Paul Kelly, XC933298. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/933298.Bar-tailed godwit. Thomas Bergman, XC915090. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/915090. Music: The Weeknd from wish by Lundstroem is licensed under a Attribution 4.0 International License. https://freemusicarchive.org/music/lundstroem/songs-i-regard-terrible/the-weeknd-from-wish/ This is Stephanie Jenkins Aslett, thanks for listening. If a particular story piqued your interest, be sure to check out the show notes for more details. If you have a story that you would like to spread the awareness of, I would love to highlight it in my podcast. Just let me know in the comments or send a note to thebirdbrief@gmail.com. Please tune in next time for The Bird Brief - your rundown, or should I say featherdown, of the birds we love.
Transcribe →S2 E3: The Oldest Known Birds, Migration Myths, Neonicotinoids, and a Murder Mystery
Nov 1, 202400:04:54Tap to summarizeWelcome back to The Bird Brief, this is Stephanie Jenkins Aslett, avian ecologist giving you the rundown on the most recent happenings in birds, both in popular news and published research throughout the world. This episode falls in that spooky time of year, so in that vein - we are going to unearth the oldest known birds, talk about migration myths, even say the word neonicotinoid, and end with a murder mystery at 10,000 feet. Let's get started. Stories:https://dnyuz.com/2024/10/23/a-feathered-murder-mystery-at-10000-feet/ AND https://www.nytimes.com/2024/10/23/science/birds-migration-10000-feet-predator.html https://www.reuters.com/science/oldest-known-birds-prey-lived-alongside-t-rex-north-america-2024-10-09/ https://phys.org/news/2024-10-neonicotinoids-birds-fronts.html AND https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/ele.14534 https://www.newsweek.com/why-do-birds-migrate-scientists-debunk-long-held-assumption-1972752 https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/science/bulgarian-father-and-son-row-across-arctic-ocean-for-endangered-species/article68654727.ece Bird Sound:Black-bellied Plover (Pluvialis squatarola); Recorded by Gerrit Vyn/Macaulay Library; Jul 2007; ML138238.Peregrine Falcon (Tundra) (Falco peregrinus calidus/tundrius); Recorded by Michael Andersen/Macaulay Library; Jun 2007; ML136378.Alain Verneau, XC938588. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/938588.Mallard. Martin Billard, XC881155. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/881155.Common Blackbird. Elias A. Ryberg, XC917122. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/917122.Music: The Weeknd from wish by Lundstroem is licensed under a Attribution 4.0 International License. https://freemusicarchive.org/music/lundstroem/songs-i-regard-terrible/the-weeknd-from-wish/ This is Stephanie Jenkins Aslett, thanks for listening. If a particular story piqued your interest, be sure to check out the show notes for more details. If you have a story that you would like to spread the awareness of, I would love to highlight it in my podcast. Just let me know in the comments or send a note to thebirdbrief@gmail.com. Please tune in next time for The Bird Brief - your rundown, or should I say featherdown, of the birds we love.
Transcribe →S2 E2: Bilingual Birds, Kittiwakes That Love 3D Prints of Themselves, and The Most Dangerous Chicks In The World Have Hatched!
Oct 18, 202400:03:39Tap to summarizeWelcome to The Bird Brief, this is Stephanie Jenkins Aslett, avian ecologist giving you the rundown on the most recent happenings in birds, both in popular news and published research throughout the world. Today, we’ll explore everything from bilingual parrots to chicks of the most dangerous birds in existence to increasing nesting occupancy using 3D printing. Let’s get started!Stories: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/czdpe7n7l50o https://www.sciencealert.com/something-strange-is-happening-to-the-calls-of-amazon-parrots and https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rspb.2024.0659 https://www.voxelmatters.com/3d-printing-encourages-bird-repopulation-in-suffolk/https://phys.org/news/2024-09-pirate-birds-seabirds-regurgitate-fish.html#google_vignette and https://conbio.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/conl.13052 Bird Sound:Southern Cassowary. Marc Anderson, XC132934. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/132934.Yellow-naped Amazon.Albert Lastukhin, XC371393. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/371393.Black-legged Kittiwake. Paul Lynch, XC930790. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/930790.Great Frigatebird. Paul Lynch, XC930790. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/930790. Chilean Skua. Bernabe Lopez-Lanus, XC45193. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/45193. Music: The Weeknd from wish by Lundstroem is licensed under a Attribution 4.0 International License. https://freemusicarchive.org/music/lundstroem/songs-i-regard-terrible/the-weeknd-from-wish/ This is Stephanie Jenkins Aslett, thanks for listening. If a particular story piqued your interest, be sure to check out the show notes for more details. If you have a story that you would like to spread the awareness of, I would love to highlight it in my podcast. Just let me know in the comments or send a note to thebirdbrief@gmail.com. Please tune in next time for The Bird Brief - your rundown, or should I say featherdown, of the birds we love.
Transcribe →S2 E1: Tropical Cyclones, Drug Trafficking, Superbugs, and How Birds Can See Wind Turbines Better!
Oct 3, 202400:04:45Tap to summarizeWelcome back to a new season of the The Bird Brief! This is Stephanie Jenkins Aslett, avian ecologist, giving you the rundown on the most recent happenings in birds, both in popular news and published research throughout the world. Today we have cover everything from birds that crave tropical cyclones to the effects of drug trafficking on birds and how birds can see wind turbines better. Let's get started. Stories:https://phys.org/news/2024-06-cocaine-trafficking-threatens-critical-bird.html and https://www.nature.com/articles/s41893-024-01365-z https://www.discoverwildlife.com/animal-facts/desertas-petrels-chase-hurricanes and https://www.cell.com/current-biology/fulltext/S0960-9822(24)00806-6?_returnURL=https%3A%2F%2Flinkinghub.elsevier.com%2Fretrieve%2Fpii%2FS0960982224008066%3Fshowall%3Dtrue https://www.theguardian.com/environment/article/2024/aug/13/urban-birds-are-teeming-with-antibiotic-resistant-bacteria-study-findshttps://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/environment/oregon-researchers-painting-wind-turbine-blades-to-cut-bird-deaths/ Bird Sound:Golden-winged Warbler. Todd Wilson, XC103849. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/103849.Golden-cheeked Warbler. Phoenix Birder, XC573860. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/573860.Philadelphia Vireo. Andrew Spencer, XC189441. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/189441.Desertas Petrel. Ben Metzger, XC508037. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/508037. Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0American Crow. Thomas Magarian, XC524205. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/524205.Mallard. Martin Billard, XC881155. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/881155.Swainson’s Hawk. Richard E. Webster, XC626069. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/626069.White-tailed Eagle. Karl-Birger Strann, XC401923. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/401923.Music: The Weeknd from wish by Lundstroem is licensed under a Attribution 4.0 International License. https://freemusicarchive.org/music/lundstroem/songs-i-regard-terrible/the-weeknd-from-wish/ This is Stephanie Jenkins Aslett, thanks for listening. If a particular story piqued your interest, be sure to check out the show notes for more details. If you have a story that you would like to spread the awareness of, I would love to highlight it in my podcast. Just let me know in the comments or send a note to thebirdbrief@gmail.com. Please tune in next time for The Bird Brief - your rundown, or should I say featherdown, of the birds we love.
Transcribe →