The American Birding Podcast

February is the shortest month, but thankfully our end of the month roundtable discussion is long on fun and insight. This month's This Month in Birding brings together Jason Hall, Mikko Jimenez, and Sarah Swanson to discuss birds and plants, whether birds can be illegal immigrants, and our favorite avian romantic gestures. Plus, in a TMIB first, Mikko brings his own science to the discussion. 
Links to articles discussed in this episode:
Ancient bird routes mapped via plant diversity
Can a bird be an illegal immigrant? How the White Australia era influenced attitudes to the bulbul
Noise pollution is affecting birds' reproduction, stress levels and more: The good news is we can fix it
Migratory bird stopover patterns linked to urbanization and social landscapes
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This episode brought to you by All4Birding

One of the most iconic and beloved birds of the North American west is the Clark's Nutcracker, the highlight of anyone's trip to the high country. It will come as no surprise to anyone that the bird's relationship to the ecosystem goes beyond begging for trail mix from hikers, a fascinating symbiosis that was recently the topic of Glacier National Park's Headwaters podcast, whose host, Peri Sasnett, joins us to talk nutcrackers and conservation.
This interview previously ran in August 2022. 
Also, Nate is keynoting at the Black Belt Birding Festival this summer!
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In 2023, ABA Area birders welcomed Chihuahuan Meadowlark to the official ABA Checklist, and subsequently to many life lists. Previously considered a distinct subspecies of Eastern Meadowlark, the split was the result of work done by Dr. Johanna Beam while she was an undergraduate researcher. Informed by her background as a birder, Johanna used museum specimens, audio recordings, and genetic tools to inform the eventual split. She joins host Nate Swick to talk about how it's done, and what other potential new species might be out there. 
Also, the ABA announced our 2026 Community Weekend schedule. We hope to see you out there!
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Birding editor Ted Floyd returns for another episode of random birds. This time around, the random number generator wants passerines, and Ted and host Nate Swick must oblige. We cover the ABA's Bird of the Year for 2026, and a number of other grassland species. 
Also, the ABA Checklist Committee's recent update suggests a new direction for the ABA Checklist, at least partially. 
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This episode brought to you by All4Birding

It's the first This Month in Birding panel of the new year, and Nate welcomes a crew of birders featuring Mollee Brown, Frank Izaguirre, and Jordan Rutter to discuss predation of penguins, evolving junco bills, and weird bird stuff in our houses. Plus, is pishing an ethical birding practice?
Links to items discussed in this episode:
Penguins Become Prey for the Pumas of Patagonia 
Without campus leftovers to pick through, the beaks of this bird changed shape during the pandemic
Bias in density estimates from avian point-count surveys: Prospects for post-hoc corrections using calibration data
Woman's viral "bird theory" about white people has everyone checking their homes
Subscribe to the podcast at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts and please leave a rating or a review if you are so inclined! We appreciate it!
This episode brought to you by All4Birding