Podcast
The Science of Birds
Hosted by Ivan Phillipsen · EN
The Science of Birds is a lighthearted exploration of bird biology. It's a fun resource for any birder or naturalist who wants to learn more about ornithology. Impress your birding friends at cocktail parties with all of your new bird knowledge! Hosted by Ivan Phillipsen, a professional birding guide and passionate naturalist with a PhD in Zoology.
23episodes
Episodes
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Herring Gulls
Dec 400:48:03Tap to summarize👕 Bird Merch — Get yourself some bird shirts!~~~In this episode—which is number 126—Ivan Phillipsen heads to the seashore to explore the iconic Herring Gulls whose calls define the soundscape of coasts across North America and Europe. Listeners meet not just one but two species: the American Herring Gull and the European Herring Gull, nearly identical in appearance but with a surprisingly twisty evolutionary backstory.Ivan breaks down what makes these gulls such compelling birds: their “menacing” expressions, complex vocal repertoire, opportunistic diets (including bags of Doritos), and clever foraging tricks like dropping clams from the air and tap-dancing for earthworms. He also looks at how these gulls live and raise their young—forming long-term pair bonds, nesting in dense gulleries, and fiercely defending their territories in ways that some unlucky humans have experienced up close.Once persecuted, then booming, and now declining in some regions, these birds tell a story that’s far more complicated than being “just seagulls.”Links of InterestA Herring Gull “foot pattering” on grass [VIDEO]Link to this episode on the Science of Birds websiteBirding Tours with Wild LatitudesCheck out our line-up of awesome tours in 2027! Support the show
Transcribe →Random Bird Thursday: A Species with an Executioner’s Axe for a Face
Nov 2800:15:01Tap to summarizeIn each Random Bird Thursday (RBT) episode, the goal is to highlight a bird species that probably isn't going to get featured in a full-length podcast episode. These are birds we might overlook, even though they certainly deserve some appreciation and attention. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~⚠️ SPOILER ALERT!The featured species in this episode is the White-thighed Hornbill (Bycanistes albotibialis)White-thighed Hornbill sounds (Xeno Canto recording XC617118)Support the show
Transcribe →Wetlands as Bird Habitat
Sep 15, 2021Tap to summarizeIn this episode, we’re going to look at wetlands as habitats for birds.We’ll start with how to recognize—how to define—a wetland ecosystem. Then, we’ll get into why these ecosystems are so important to birds. How do birds use wetlands as habitat? Next, I’ll highlight a few examples of bird species that depend on wetlands. Then we’ll talk about the conservation issues surrounding wetlands, and how their loss is affecting birds.~~ Leave me a review using Podchaser ~~Links of InterestWetlands InternationalWhere Are The World’s Wetlands? [Map]Support the show
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