Birds on Birds

Fast as F*ck: The Peregrine Falcon

Hannah Gamble + Cleo Wells — Wed, 29 Jul 2026 07:00:00 -0600

Not just fast but THE fastest animal on earth... other than some this one mite... Join Hannah + Cleo this week as they talk through Jeffrey Lendrum's most trafficked bird, an legend among icons, the peregrine falcon.

Music by fknsyd

Peregrine Falcon chat starts at 19:00

Sources
https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species/perfal/cur/introduction

https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Peregrine_Falcon/overview

https://www.birdsoutsidemywindow.org/peregrine-faqs/peregrines-mating-how-its-done/

https://www.chesapeakebay.net/news/blog/diving-into-love-at-200-miles-per-hour

https://peregrinefund.org/history-peregrine-falcon

https://www.audubon.org/magazine/why-are-peregrine-falcon-numbers-falling-united-states-again

National Geographic — “Falcons up close”: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/article/paid-content-falcons-up-close

Avian Hybrids (WordPress) — Falconiformes: https://avianhybrids.wordpress.com/falconiformes/

The Nature Conservancy: https://www.nature.org/en-us/about-us/where-we-work/united-states/indiana/stories-in-indiana/peregrine-falcons/

JSTOR Daily — “The Case of the Thinning Eggshells”: https://daily.jstor.org/the-case-of-the-thinning-eggshells/

NY State Museum eggshell lab handout: https://nysm.nysed.gov/sites/default/files/bird_hall_education_guide_eggshell_lab_student_a.pdf

War History Online: https://www.warhistoryonline.com/world-war-ii/mi5-falcons.html

World War Supply blog: https://www.worldwarsupply.com/2024/01/falcons-in-the-skies-training-raptors-to-intercept-carrier-pigeons-during-wwii/

HistoryNet — “Birds of War”: https://historynet.com/birds-of-war/

Pigeons of War blog: https://pigeons-of-war.com/2022/09/13/how-to-sabotage-military-pigeons-a-primer/

The Devil of History blog: https://devilofhistory.wordpress.com/2012/05/28/the-first-fighting-falcons/

Bad Eggs, First Crack: Jeffrey Lendrum

Hannah Gamble + Cleo Wells — Wed, 22 Jul 2026 07:00:00 -0600

Episode 16: Bad Eggs, First Crack: Jeffrey Lendrum

A former Rhodesian ornithology nerd gets caught in an airport shower with fourteen peregrine falcon eggs strapped to his chest. This week we cover one of the biggest cases in the history of oology. Hannah & Cleo discuss Joshua Hammer's The Falcon Thief, from helicopter raids on remote cliffs to eggs incubated in socks.

Music by fknsyd

16:26 Bad Eggs discussion starts

Sources

Outside Online - “On the Trail of the World’s Most Daring Egg Smuggler” (Joshua Hammer): https://www.outsideonline.com/2378786/egg-thief-jeffrey-lendrum-falcon
CBC Radio: https://www.cbc.ca/radio/thecurrent/the-current-for-january-23-2019-1.4988386
National Wildlife Crime Unit (UK): https://nwcu.police.uk/news/nwcu-police-press-releases/four-and-a-half-years-imprisonment-for-international-falcon-smuggler
The National (UAE): https://www.thenationalnews.com/world/europe/notorious-wildlife-thief-loses-bid-for-freedom-1.1037071
Matrix Chambers : https://www.matrixlaw.co.uk/news/jeffrey-lendrum-will-not-be-extradited-to-brazil/
War on Wildlife blog: https://waronwildlife.co.uk/2020/06/22/egg-thief-jeffrey-lendrum-denied-early-release/
Live Science: https://www.livescience.com/falcon-egg-thief.html
Mongabay video feature (2026): https://news.mongabay.com/video/2026/02/the-man-who-risked-everything-to-steal-bird-eggs/.
Wikipedia - Oology: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oology
Ornithology.com - Oology overview (Colin Watson, Gregory Wheal): https://ornithology.com/oology-the-study-of-bird-eggs/.
American Ornithological Society - “An Egg Is Always an Adventure”: https://americanornithology.org/an-egg-is-always-an-adventureoscar-wilde/.
Revlox - Daniel Lingham case: https://www.revlox.com/crime/the-case-of-daniel-lingham-britains-repeat-bird-egg-collector-who-amassed-nearly-3000-illegal-specimens/.
Bird Watcher’s General Store - “The Evil Hobby of Egg Collecting”: https://www.birdwatchersgeneralstore.com/the-evil-hobby-of-egg-collecting-banned-since-1918/.
Book: The Falcon Thief by Joshua Hammer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5QYMRLBYRuc
https://www.rarebirdalert.co.uk/v2/Content/Prolific_wildlife_criminal_jailed_for_rare_bird_eggs_smuggling_attempt.aspx?s_id=288823488
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-11002924

Bird-ish Book Club: Birding With Benefits

Hannah Gamble + Cleo Wells — Wed, 15 Jul 2026 07:00:00 -0600

Birds + BoBs - we have officially entered the book-o-sphere. Join Hannah + Cleo this week as they talk through the first installment of Bird-ish Book Club: Birding With Benefits and BONUS: The travesty that is the Hallmark movie adaptation. We talk signature scents, biceps, adult hide and seek...? and also, BIRDS!

Music by Fknsyd

Sources:
Book - Birding With Benefits by Sarah T. Dubb
Movie - Adventures in Love and Birding
Random google searches about Hallmark™

BoB IRL: What Bird Vocalizations Can Teach Us

Hannah Gamble + Cleo Wells — Wed, 08 Jul 2026 07:00:00 -0600

Hannah and Cleo attended a talk by Dr. Lauryn Benedict of the University of Northern Colorado, and they have thoughts. This episode covers what bird vocalizations actually communicate whether it's territorial aggression or pair bonding. They cover Benedict's research on California Towhees, Rock Wrens, Canyon Wrens, and even your pet parrots. Along the way, they get into the long-overlooked reality that female birds sing too, and what it means that ornithology took this long to notice. Plus: do parrots know your name, or are they just saying it?

Music by fknsyd

39:45 Bird Vocalizations discussion starts

Sources:
https://www.unco.edu/employee-directory/lauryn-benedict/

https://www.youtube.com/@BirdbrainQA

https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species/rocwre/cur/sounds

http://femalebirdsong.org/

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w3ct80hh

https://www.audubon.org/news/when-women-run-bird-world

Sugar Fueled Chaos: The Ruby Throated Hummingbird

Hannah Gamble + Cleo Wells — Wed, 01 Jul 2026 07:00:00 -0600

Hannah and Cleo are finally tackling one of the hummers: the gorgeous, chaotic, and unbelievably tiny Ruby-throated Hummingbird! Join us as we explore the incredible adaptations that make these birds so freakin' cool. From their unique flying ability, insane heart rates and surprisingly fierce territorial behavior, this episode is pure sugar fueled chaos... just as god intended.

Music by fknsyd

19:22 Ruby Throated Hummingbird discussion starts

Sources:

"You do not have to be good," said Mary Oliver

Hannah Gamble + Cleo Wells — Wed, 24 Jun 2026 07:00:00 -0600

She won the Pulitzer. She spent forty years loving a woman named Molly. She wrote more poems about birds than almost anything else. Hannah + Cleo celebrate Pride Month with Mary Oliver. A quiet queer icon, nature's poet, and the writer who convinced a generation that paying attention is a radical act.

32:10 Mary Oliver conversation starts

Music by fknsyd

Please listen to this

Sources

Primary Sources:

Oliver, Mary. New and Selected Poems, Volume One. Beacon Press, 1992.
Oliver, Mary. New and Selected Poems, Volume Two. Beacon Press, 2005.
Oliver, Mary. Why I Wake Early. Beacon Press, 2004.
Oliver, Mary. Blue Horses. Penguin Press, 2014.
Oliver, Mary. Upstream: Selected Essays. Penguin Press, 2016.
Oliver, Mary. Our World (photographs by Molly Malone Cook). Beacon Press, 2007.
Oliver, Mary. Felicity: Poems. Penguin Press, 2015. (Recommended acquisition for love story section)

Academic:

Cardenas, Elijah. "'A Poem Should Always Have Birds in It': Birds in Mary Oliver's Poetry." The Macksey Journal, Vol. 3, Article 64, Johns Hopkins University, 2022.
Keegan, Bridget. "The wisdom of the owls: gender, nature and spirituality in the poetry of Mary Oliver." Journal of Religion and Society, Supplement Series, Vol. 5, 2009.
Burton-Christie, Douglas. "Nature, Spirit, and Imagination in the Poetry of Mary Oliver." CrossCurrents, Vol. 46, No. 1, Spring 1996.
Murphy, Patrick D. "Pollywogs and Polylogues: Material Spirituality in the Writings of Mary Oliver." ANQ, Vol. 33, No. 4, 2020.
Davis, Todd. "The Earth as God's Body: Incarnation as Communion in the Poetry of Mary Oliver." Christianity & Literature, Vol. 58, No. 4, 2009.
Ullyatt, Gisela. "'The Only Chance to Love This World': Buddhist Mindfulness in Mary Oliver's Poetry." Journal of Literary Studies, Vol. 27, No. 2, 2011.
Bonds, D.S. "The Language of Nature in the Poetry of Mary Oliver." Women's Studies, Vol. 21, No. 1, 1992.

Biographical / Journalism:

"Mary Oliver: Nature Poet." New Jersey Conservation Foundation. njconservation.org, April 2019.
"Mary Oliver, Acclaimed Lesbian Poet, Dies at 83." The Advocate, January 18, 2019.
"Mary Oliver, Pulitzer Prize-Winning Lesbian Poet, Is Dead at 83." Autostraddle, January 2019.
McDonald, Lexi. "Re-reading Mary Oliver as an Adult Lesbian: A Review of Felicity." Lesbrary, November 2025.
"Felicity by Mary Oliver." Lambda Literary Review, April 2016.
Thibodeau, Amy. "Big-Hearted Poems: A Review of Felicity." Medium, December 2015.
"Mary Oliver on Love and Its Necessary Wildness." The Marginalian, October 2015.
"Mary Oliver's World with Molly Malone Cook." Music and Musings, December 2020.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division: "Mary Oliver Papers Newly Available." blogs.loc.gov, June 2024.
"Mary Oliver: 10 Quotes from the Pulitzer-Winning Lesbian Poet." PinkNews, June 2019.
"On the Overlooked Eroticism of Mary Oliver." Literary Hub, March 2019.
"Epitaph to a Photographer." The Gay & Lesbian Review, 2008.
Poetry Foundation biography: poetryfoundation.org/poets/mary-oliver
Academy of American Poets biography: poets.org/poet/mary-oliver
Library of Congress exhibit: "Mary Oliver: Poet of the Natural World," 2025.

Documentary:

Mary Oliver: Saved by the Beauty of the World. PBS American Masters, Season 40, Episode 5. Premiere: August 25, 2026. pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/mary-oliver-documentary/37967/

A Flamboyance: American Flamingos

Hannah Gamble + Cleo Wells — Wed, 17 Jun 2026 07:00:00 -0600

A true Pride Parade, an LGBTQIA+ episode, and even the star of our podcast cover art: The iconic American Flamingo! Hannah + Cleo continue their Pride Month celebration by diving into the world of this hot pink bird. Join us as we explore the colorful history and science of American flamingos in this fabulously flamboyant episode.

Music by fknsyd

19:30 American flamingos discussion starts

Sources:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SEgACdOetEc&t=457s

https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species/grefla2/cur/introduction?login

https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/American_Flamingo/overview

https://ielc.libguides.com/sdzg/factsheets/americanflamingo/characteristics

https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Phoenicopterus_ruber/

https://krdo.com/news/2024/08/21/same-sex-flamingo-pair-successfully-hatches-an-egg-together-at-a-uk-zoo/?utm_source=chatgpt.com

https://nypost.com/2024/08/21/science/same-sex-flamingo-pair-hatch-chick-the-parents-are-doing-a-great-job/?utm_source=chatgpt.com

https://www.southhams-today.co.uk/news/same-sex-flamingo-couple-successfully-hatch-a-chick-712705?utm_source=chatgpt.com

https://people.com/same-sex-chilean-flamingo-couple-hatch-and-care-for-chick-8696536?utm_source=chatgpt.com

https://www.cnn.com/2024/08/21/science/same-sex-flamingos-hatch-egg

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0376635719303377#:~:text=Bothmale-male and female,irrespective of enclosure size differences).

https://bi.org/en/resource/bi-and-pretty-in-pink-bisexuality-in-flamingos/

https://otterlieffe.com/queer-flamingos/

Documentary: Queer Planet

https://nationalzoo.si.edu/animals/news/why-are-flamingos-pink-and-other-flamingo-facts

https://www.artsy.net/article/artsy-editorial-one-mans-pink-plastic-flamingo-landed-lawns

Lesbian Seabirds: The Laysan Albatross

Hannah Gamble + Cleo Wells — Wed, 10 Jun 2026 07:00:00 -0600

They mate for life, they dance for years to get there, and at least thirty percent of them are female-female pairs. Hannah + Cleo celebrate Pride Month with the Laysan albatross! The seabird that quietly dismantled assumptions about pair bonding, raising chicks together, and currently adapting to survive in our inhospitable oceans. Lindsay Young's 2008 discovery at Kaena Point changed the game.

28:48 Albatross conversation starts

Music by fknsyd

Sources

All About Birds / Cornell Lab of Ornithology — Laysan Albatross

Discover Wildlife (Lucy Cooke) — "Hawaii's Lesbian Albatrosses"

National Geographic (Carl Zimmer) — "Same-Sex Mothers: Letting Albatrosses Be Albatrosses" / Young & VanderWerf, Proceedings of the Royal Society, 2013

Wikipedia — Albatross (metaphor), Laysan Albatross, The Rime of the Ancient Mariner

Audubon Society — field guide, courtship, Wisdom

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service — Midway Atoll NWR, Wisdom updates

Earth Sky — Wisdom 2025–2026 season

Oceana — conservation profile

Taylor Swift — The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology (2024)

Samuel Taylor Coleridge — The Rime of the Ancient Mariner (1798)

Seafood watch “app”

Ecobricking Info

BoB IRL: Bird Banding

Hannah Gamble + Cleo Wells — Wed, 03 Jun 2026 07:00:00 -0600

A century of science packed into a single feather. Hannah + Cleo visit a 20-year-old banding station at Chatfield State Park, where four organizations, a lot of whisper nets, and one very informed bird bander are quietly building the data that keeps birds alive. From Hans Christian Mortensen's aluminum rings to hemisphere-spanning genomic maps, it turns out the oldest trick in ornithology is still the backbone of everything.

26:58 Bird Banding conversation starts

Sources

Bird Conservancy of the Rockies — Bird Banding: https://www.birdconservancy.org/what-we-do/education/bird-banding/

Denver Audubon — Bird Banding: https://www.denveraudubon.org/bird-banding

Audubon Rockies — Bird Banding Start to Finish: https://www.audubon.org/rockies/news/bird-banding-start-finish

USGS — Why We Band Birds: https://www.usgs.gov/labs/bird-banding-laboratory/science/why-we-band-birds

USGS — How to obtain a federal bird banding permit: https://www.usgs.gov/faqs/how-do-i-obtain-a-federal-bird-banding-permit

Bird Genoscape Project: https://www.birdgenoscape.org

Bird Genoscape Project - How To Make A Genoscape: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_NmCI6z9vYM

Audubon Bird Migration Explorer: https://explorer.audubon.org

Motus Wildlife Tracking System: https://motus.org

U.S. Fish & Wildlife — Motus Stations: https://www.fws.gov/story/2023-05/motus-stations

NA Banding Network — Training resources: https://nabanding.net/passerines/training/

History of bird banding: https://www.raptorresource.org/2020/06/10/banding-birds-a-brief-history/

USGS Bird Banding Lab — Banding records: https://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/BBL/Bander_Portal/login/howmany.php

EURING Databank (Europe): https://euring.org/data-and-codes/euring-databank

SAFRING (Africa): https://safring.ringing.africa/

Flight Paths by Rebecca Heisman

She Walks on Water: The Jacana

Hannah Gamble + Cleo Wells — Wed, 27 May 2026 07:00:00 -0600

She walks on water, runs the territory, and leaves dad holding the babies. Hannah + Cleo dive into the Jacana: the Jesus bird of the wetlands who breaks every rule nature supposedly wrote and somehow ended up tied to the oldest conservation treaty in history. And honestly? She's just getting started.

18:18 Jacana conversation starts

Sources:

Wikipedia: Jacanidae
Wikipedia: Northern Jacana
Wikipedia: Ramsar Convention
Wikipedia: Wetland
Wikipedia: Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust
San Diego Zoo Animals & Plants: Jacana
https://ebird.org/species/norjac
Animal Diversity Web: Jacanidae
A-Z Animals: Jacana
https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species/jacani1/cur/introduction
https://earthsky.org/earth/jacana-birds-long-toes-walk-on-lily-pads/
https://www.birdnote.org/podcasts/birdnote-daily/jacana-aka-lily-trotter
Dimensions.com: Northern Jacana
https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/lucy-cooke-2/bitch/9781541674912/
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-026-70480-6
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service — Ramsar Convention on Wetlands
UNESCO — Convention on Wetlands of International Importance
Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust — Why the Ramsar Convention Matters More Than Ever
Hoosier Environmental Council — The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands
Kayhan Life — Obituary: Eskandar Firouz
https://www.ramsar.org/
Colorado Wetland Information Center (CWIC)

Stinky, Clumsy, Claws...? The Hoatzin

Hannah Gamble + Cleo Wells — Wed, 20 May 2026 07:00:00 -0600

The stink bird! Hannah + Cleo finally get out of North America and take on the Hoatzin. The smelly punk rock pheasant of South America that may or may not be a pheasant... Tune in to hear about this and MUCH more.

20:10 Hoatzin conversation starts

Sources:

https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species/hoatzi1/cur/introduction

https://www.ourbreathingplanet.com/hoatzin/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=1602607328&gbraid=0AAAAADL0VgAHYIovTdN6qkMJD-vfUiOze&gclid=Cj0KCQjw77bPBhC_ARIsAGAjjV-InO0SQfBrTnO_1vbmGGnlkZuEW_C9f9E8RNPesjLD2jA435JksfwaAqGSEALw_wcB

https://critter.science/the-unusual-and-stinky-hoatzin/

https://academy.allaboutbirds.org/common-tern-chicks/#:~:text=In%20order%20to%20stay%20warm,down%20feathers%20natal%20down%20nesting

https://www.livescience.com/animals/birds/hoatzin-the-strange-stinkbird-born-with-clawed-wings-that-appears-to-be-an-evolutionary-orphan

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0HytWfqWYUQ&t=88s

https://a-z-animals.com/articles/meet-the-hoatzin-the-smelly-bird-with-claws-on-its-wings/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crop_(anatomy)

Heated Rivalry of the Wetlands: Marsh Wren vs Red-Winged Blackbird

Hannah Gamble + Cleo Wells — Wed, 13 May 2026 07:00:00 -0600

Two birds. One marsh. Centuries of hate. Hannah + Cleo break down the red-winged blackbird, the marsh wren, and their extremely heated rivalry while drawing comparisons to Heated Rivalry™️.

19:30 Heated Rivalry Gets Hot

Audubon Society. "Red-Winged Blackbird." Audubon Field Guide. audubon.org

Audubon Society. "10 Fun Facts About the Red-Winged Blackbird." Audubon Magazine. audubon.org

Audubon Society. "Marsh Wren." Audubon Field Guide. audubon.org

Cornell Lab of Ornithology. "Red-Winged Blackbird." All About Birds. allaboutbirds.org

Cornell Lab of Ornithology. "Marsh Wren." All About Birds. allaboutbirds.org

Smithsonian's National Zoo. "Red-Winged Blackbird." nationalzoo.si.edu

Wikipedia contributors. "Red-Winged Blackbird." Wikipedia. wikipedia.org

Wikipedia contributors. "Marsh Wren." Wikipedia. wikipedia.org

Picman, J. (1988). "Aggression by red-winged blackbirds towards marsh wrens." Canadian Journal of Zoology, 61(8), 1591–1595. springer.com

Springer Nature. "Antipredator role of clumped nesting by marsh-nesting red-winged blackbirds." Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology. springer.com

Bill Lishman AKA Father Goose

Hannah Gamble + Cleo Wells — Wed, 06 May 2026 07:00:00 -0600

BoB takes on their first conservationist! Join Hannah + Cleo this week for a semi-unexpected part 2 of Canada Geese and Fly Away Home as they deep dive into the man the movie is based on, the magical and wonderful Bill Lishman.

20:20 Discussion Bill Lishman Begins

Remembering artist Bill Lishman, the man who flew with Canadian geese | CBC Radio

https://www.cabinetmagazine.org/issues/11/harris_lishman.php

https://thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/bill-lishman

https://airandspace.si.edu/stories/editorial/operation-migration

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_bOoDDro3Pw

https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20231130-the-scientists-flying-with-rare-birds

https://www.fws.gov/press-release/2025-06/2025-wintering-whooping-crane-count#:~:text=The%20latest%20survey%20results%20from,for%20the%202024%2D2025%20season.

https://thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/women-and-education

https://www.gg.ca/en/honours/canadian-honours/meritorious-service-decorations-civil-division

https://www.divebombindustries.com/blogs/news/how-fast-can-geese-fly-facts-about-their-speed-and-endurance?srsltid=AfmBOoq4lBv_UdEOg0-yGfNQ8xgbwG7Fghvm_zfrXuimUZZuLBuV_gwt

https://williamlishmanartist.com/underground-architecture/

Feathered Flick! Fly Away Home: Canada Goose

Hannah Gamble + Cleo Wells — Wed, 29 Apr 2026 07:00:00 -0600

BoB recaps our first Feathered Flick! Join Hannah + Cleo as they talk about the 90's classic Fly Away Home. Where they learn alongside Anna Paquin and Jeff Daniels all about ultralight aircraft flying, family dynamics, Canada(kinda...), and Canada geese.

10:40 Movie discussion begins

Sources:
http://audubon.org/magazine/10-fun-facts-about-canada-goose

https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/migratory-bird-conservation/managing-conflicts/frequently-asked-questions.html

https://arctic.noaa.gov/report-card/report-card-2022/arctic-geese-of-north-america/

https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Canada_Goose/maps-range

https://gogeesego.com/how-far-geese-winter/

https://birdfact.com/articles/what-is-a-group-of-geese-called

https://www.iflscience.com/fact-check-do-geese-have-teeth-heres-what-geese-teeth-really-are-62640

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0116329/

Birds on Birds Goes Wild: Sandhill Cranes

Hannah Gamble + Cleo Wells — Wed, 22 Apr 2026 07:00:00 -0600

BoB goes on their first birding adventure! Join Hannah + Cleo as they talk about their harrowing journey to Colorado's tiny potato town, Monte Vista to see the Sandhill crane migration.

21:09 Crane Festival Conversation Starts

Sources:
savingcranes.org
https://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/profiles/birds/cranes/sandhill-crane/

https://suncoastsearchlight.org/fact-brief-hunt-eat-sandhill-cranes-florida/
Dr. Diana Boon, DVM Avian Anatomy Lecture
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kWMmyVu1ueY Avian Respiratory System
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PW6d93GBtEE Avian Wings
https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Sandhill_Crane/overview
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zl-wAqplQAo&t=6998s Listers Documentary

Enemies to Lovers: The Black Billed Magpie

Hannah Gamble + Cleo Wells — Wed, 15 Apr 2026 07:00:00 -0600

Decidedly NOT a mocking bird, the black billed magpie! A beautiful and misunderstood North American bird. Often known for its mischief (see what I did there) and iridescence. Join us as we explore the true nature of the black billed magpie.

Timestamps:
4:10 - 10:20 Birds 101 Audubon Class Recap
25:45 Magpie Discussion Begins

Sources:

Cornell Lab of Ornithology. All About Birds: Black-billed Magpie (Pica hudsonia).

Audubon Society. Black-billed Magpie Field Guide.

eBird. Species Profile: Black-billed Magpie.

White House Historical Association. Painting of President Thomas Jefferson and His Magpie.

Observational and peer-reviewed research on corvid mobbing behavior and social intelligence

Documented accounts of corvid mourning and death-response behavior

Cultural references to magpies in folklore ("One for Sorrow")

Pop culture commentary on Ben Affleck and the "Sadfleck" phenomenon (The New Yorker and related media)

Welcome to Birds on Birds!

Hannah Gamble + Cleo Wells — Wed, 08 Apr 2026 07:00:00 -0600

Welcome to Birds on Birds! Our ornithological odyssey, our bird watching, bird brained, storytelling, all-out learning adventure podcast! Stick around while we swan dive into all things bird, from the feathered freaks themselves to the movies that star them, it's all on the table here at Birds on Birds.

Mystery! What bird lives on Cleo's patio: American Robin

Hannah Gamble + Cleo Wells — Wed, 08 Apr 2026 07:00:00 -0600

Cleo just moved into their new apartment only to discover a strange sound coming from their patio at 4 am... Who could it be but the darling American Robin. Known and loved. Join us as Cleo unravels the mystery using the scientific method and we tell you what we learn about this American icon.
Sources for this episode:
https://avianreport.com/backyard-feeder-birds-in-colorado-guide/#backyard-feeder-birds-in-colorado

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ke0aLA_3bM4

https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/American_Robin/id?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=700423892&gbraid=0AAAAADzNbpwnCMDr6rkS7glOH2sDeG9RL&gclid=Cj0KCQiAx8PKBhD1ARIsAKsmGbfK13ZzOpLnUb4oSnzaSmvemNarijnvERKF3A4XdWarlMWT5KIKbUQaAu5EEALw_wcB

https://abcbirds.org/birds/american-robin/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=713124682&gbraid=0AAAAADdd1mXo23QiRMXamLso9dS6AnIdH&gclid=CjwKCAiA4KfLBhB0EiwAUY7GAS8CJ1aLLtmecicVJ_tUexfbBztiD6FIPtPYGXucbFLG77LMROvSLxoCdUwQAvD_BwE

https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/American_Robin/overview

https://www.audubon.org/magazine/10-fun-facts-about-american-robin