Life List: A Birding Podcast
Birdy. Proudly nerdy. Not-so-subtly obsessive. Delve into all things birding and birding culture with George Armistead, Alvaro Jaramillo, and Mollee Brown. Join us for light-hearted conversations on birds, conservation, travel, and more. We’re here for the “life” in our life lists!
Fall birding, raptor migration, and birders chasing trees
We're fans of fall, migration, learning about weather patterns, and trees. Today, we're catching up and geeking out about all of it. Plus, Mollee recaps her recent birding tour in Costa Rica, and Alvaro talks about finding a Townsend's Solitaire near his home in Ontario.
-----
Check out our upcoming tours
Birds & Wine: Chile with Argentina: March 6-22, 2027 Costa Rica: A Birder’s Paradise: March 7 - 15, 2027 Thailand: Apr 4 - 18, 2027Colorado Grouse: Apr 1 - Apr 11, 2027Texas Hill Country: April 23 - 28, 2...Realities of coastal bird conservation, beachgoers, and declining species with Kashi Davis
Kashi Davis, principal zoologist and conservation biologist with New Jersey DEP Fish and Wildlife, joins us to talk about the realities of managing endangered coastal birds in New Jersey. She breaks down what happened in the 2026 breeding season for piping plovers, least terns, American oystercatchers, black skimmers, and black rails, and explains how storms, habitat change, and human recreation shape so much of the work. We also discuss the public-facing side of conservation, from beach management plans and volunteer outreach to the challenge of asking beachgoers to share crowded shorelines with nesting birds. Along the way, the conversation gets...
Cornell and safety in birding, steppe habitats of the world, birding Portugal, and "discovering" new species
Hey folks, first off, we're covering a heavy topic today as we reflect on safety in nature in light of recent news and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology's role in taking a stance on it.
Other topics we cover include:
Why birding in Portugal is just gosh-darn funSteppe habitats of the worldHow the word "discovering" might be overused in new speciesPlus, check out our tours!
Birds Georgia is collaborating with Hillstar Nature in IndiaAlvaro's Adventures has upcoming tours in India, birds and wine features, and soon a newly scheduled to...Rare birds, late summer pelagics, and weird wildlife encounters
George and Alvaro catch up on current birding conditions, starting with an unusually warm West Coast pelagic season and the bird shifts that seem to be following it. They also swap stories about viral bird media, misidentification noise online, and a run of memorable wildlife encounters, from otters and beavers to coyotes and yard scat.
Get more Life List by subscribing to our newsletter and joining our Patreon for bonus content. Talk to us and share your topic ideas at lifelistpodcast.com.
Top US destinations for breeding birds: Maine and Montana with Joshua Covill
First things first: Listen to this entire episode by subscribing to our Life List Patreon!
Here's a piece of our newest bonus content—just listen to the first minute of this podcast episode to hear about what you get.
You can view Josh's upcoming tours here, and Mollee's upcoming tours here.
Get more Life List by subscribing to our newsletter and joining our Patreon for bonus content. Talk to us and share your topic ideas at lifelistpodcast.com.
It’s bird taxonomy season! Splits and lumps with Marshall Iliff
We're back with a perennial favorite episode: Digging into some of the most noteworthy changes in species with this year's AviList taxonomy update! Listen in to hear what's changing and get a preview of how your life list might grow as a result. Thanks, Marshall Iliff, for joining us once again for this episode!
You can learn about AviList here and keep an eye on these taxonomic changes to become official online!
Get more Life List by subscribing to our newsletter and joining our Patreon
Galapagos in an El Niño year, Colombia birding, and snorkeling for birders
We're catching up on tales from the field as we return home between birding tours.
Donate to #BirdersTogether to support Colombians in the aftermath of the recent earthquake:
https://vaki.co/vaki/birders-together
Get more Life List by subscribing to our newsletter and joining our Patreon for bonus content. Talk to us and share your topic ideas at lifelistpodcast.com.
Thanks to Kowa Optics for sponsoring our podcast! Want to know more about us? Check ou...
Pollinators for birds: Tips and traps with Doug Tallamy
We're excited to be joined by Douglas Tallamy, author of many bestsellers including Bringing Nature Home and Nature's Best Hope, and the founder of Homegrown National Park. We chat about why pollinators are important for birds, the components crucial to food webs, and tons of tips and advice on how you can make your backyard (or patio, or any outdoor space!) into a part of the Homegrown National Park.
Learn more:
Homegrown National Park Homegrown National Park's biodiversity mapDoug's booksMt. Cuba Center (as mentioned in the episode!)Get more Life List by sub...
Advanced birding: How to study birds you've already identified
George and Alvaro are catching up on their recent birding, and new things they've discovered along the way. We hope this inspires you to take a closer look (or listen) at common birds around you — even if you've already identified them!
Get more Life List by subscribing to our newsletter and joining our Patreon for bonus content. Talk to us and share your topic ideas at lifelistpodcast.com.
Thanks to Kowa Optics for sponsoring our podcast! Want to know more about us...
What bird conservation successes can teach us with Scott Weidensaul
As is the case with many beautiful things in this world, some of the biggest successes in conservation result from the toughest challenges that birds and wildlife face. Pulitzer-prize finalist Scott Weidensaul is with us today to share stories he's gathered from near and far to share a message of hope for conservation.
Get more Life List by subscribing to our newsletter and joining our Patreon for bonus content. Talk to us and share your topic ideas at lifelistpodcast.com.
Thanks to...
Interpreting migration data, cataloging our backyards, and El Niño predictions
Mollee, Alvaro, and George are catching up in a classic hangout episode. Join us in conversations about why we call this podcast Life List, the birds and other wildlife in our home patches, and a preview of what might come from El Niño in future months now that it's officially been declared.
Get more Life List by subscribing to our newsletter and joining our Patreon for bonus content. Talk to us and share your topic ideas at lifelistpodcast.com.
Thanks to...
How we became bird guides: Alex Harper interviews George, Mollee, and Alvaro
This week, we’re turning the tables. Instead of interviewing a guest, Alex Harper takes over hosting duties and puts the Life List Podcast hosts in the hot seats to chat about how they became professional birding guides, what they do and don't like about their profession, and what their jobs are like.
P.S. Thanks to our friends of the pod in this episode's cover photo - Jeff, Angela, and Surya!
Get more Life List by subscribing to our newsletter and joining our Patreon for bon...
Our biggest spring migration birding surprises
Birds - crabs - fish - mammals...oh my! Spring birding gets us out there and finding all sorts of things. Alvaro, Mollee, and George are catching up on stories from their time in the field and their backyards throughout May.
Get more Life List by subscribing to our newsletter and joining our Patreon for bonus content. Talk to us and share your topic ideas at lifelistpodcast.com.
Thanks to Kowa Optics for sponsoring our podcast! Want to know more about us...
The expanding science of avian perception with Ed Yong
If you've read anything by Ed Yong, you know that he tackles the challenge of explaining some of the most difficult-to-grasp concepts in the animal world in ways that humans can (nearly) imagine. In this episode, we're chatting with Ed — Pulitzer Prize–winning science writer and bestselling author — about migration, animal senses, and seeing the world differently through nature.
Get more Life List by subscribing to our newsletter and joining our Patreon for bonus content. Talk to us and share your topic ideas at lifelistpodcast.com. ...
Birding the Eastern Himalayas, a backyard Long-eared Owl, and safari adventures with Jason Hall
Jason Hall is back on the podcast to talk about mid-April spring migration, backyard adventures, and time on the other side of the world in Arunachal Pradesh and Assam, India.
Get more Life List by subscribing to our newsletter and joining our Patreon for bonus content. Talk to us and share your topic ideas at lifelistpodcast.com.
Thanks to Kowa Optics for sponsoring our podcast! Want to know more about us? Check out George's company, Hillstar Nature; Alvaro's company, Alvaro's Adventures, an...
An evolutionary biology perspective on pair bonding - in birds and humans - with Bryony Angell and Wenfei Tong
Another classic Life List episode: a recipe of biological and ecological facts, rabbit holes, and a healthy dose of talk about life! Bryony Angell wrote The Migratory Suitor for a recent issue of BWD magazine, and she joined us along with Wenfei Tong, an evolutionary biologist, to discuss how pair bonding in birds could relate to that in humans. This is a fun one!
Helpful links:
Read The Migratory Suitor here as a free PDF downloadWenfei's main book that we referenced throughout the episode is Bird Love: The Family L...Middle East birding, missiles, and Mollee's long way home
Mollee sat down with Alvaro to recount her visit to the UAE that was cut short when the US/Iran war broke out. From here, she talks about the journey to get out of the Middle East that ended up involving travel to three countries, closed airspace and canceled flights, a missed birding tour, and experiences missiles being intercepted overhead...plus exploration of dramatic wadis, the pyramids, and Ramadan across three unique cultures.
Get more Life List by subscribing to our newsletter and joining our Patreon for bonus c...
Tour mishaps, life bird tales, and combining concerts and birding with Bonner Black
Bonner Black is back! If you need a little quality hang with your birding friends, we've got you covered.
A few links:
Check out all of Bonner's music and more on her websitePlus, don't miss Beasts of Birdin on YouTube And thanks to Lars Lachmann via Xeno-Canto for the Great Bustard recording!Get more Life List by subscribing to our newsletter and joining our Patreon for bonus content. Talk to us and share your topic ideas at life...
Ship-assisted birds, South American travel, and watching winter shift
George and Alvaro are chatting about recent birds in their backyards, ABA rarities, sparrow speciation, recent South American travels, and more!
At the end of this episode, Alvaro cites a new paper about genetic expression with wheatears as the example species. Start here to dive into this research: https://www.the-scientist.com/variation-at-a-single-gene-controls-songbird-plumage-73606
Get more Life List by subscribing to our newsletter and joining our Patreon for bonus content. Talk to us and share your topic ideas at lifelistpodcast.com.
Why visible migration matters: migration counts and seawatch tales with Allison Vilag
Allison has worked coast to (Great Lakes) coast for years, and today, we're chatting about tales from the field and lessons learned from endless days of visible migration experiences.
Come for the high counts...stay for the simple joys of watching the world go by!
Get more Life List by subscribing to our newsletter and joining our Patreon for bonus content. Talk to us and share your topic ideas at lifelistpodcast.com.
Thanks to Kowa Optics for sponsoring our po...
Winter birding, subsistence hunting, and a backyard bird feeding debate
New this episode: Check out our chapters in Apple Podcasts to preview our conversation!
The gang's all here to chat about winter birding, from backyard feeders to chilly pelagics, plus the consumption of atypical food sources (to us Americans, at least), great places for your first Neotropical birding trip, and a sweet tooth distraction.
Come for the look back on recently extinct birds...stay for the cold- and warm-weather travel inspo!
Get more Life List by subscribing to our newsletter and j...
Blending science, art, and humor to celebrate nature with Rosemary Mosco
We are delighted to be joined by Rosemary Mosco, acclaimed science writer and naturalist, to chat about obscure bird facts, a love of pigeons, and yes, whale poop.
Check out all of Rosemary's comics, books, workshops, talks, and everything she's up to on her website.
Come for the science-driven whimsy...stay for the joy we can all gleam from nature.
Get more Life List by subscribing to our newsletter and joining our Patreon for bonus content. Talk to us and sha...
Our favorite birding experiences of 2025
It's our first-ever year end special! We recount our favorite birds, moments, wildlife, and even sounds of the year. And we get a little sidetracked with other tidbits, as we do. Because this is Life List!
From George, Alvaro, and Mollee: Thanks for being here and listening along with us. We're so happy to continue producing this podcast and sharing our love of birds with all of you. Happy New Year!
Get more Life List by subscribing to our newsletter and joining our Patreon for bonus c...
How birds shape our lives and landscapes with Stephen Moss
This episode, we're joined by Stephen Moss, who shares his delightful insights into why birds around the world and in our backyards are equally important to us.
Check out Stephen's website here and all of his books here.
Come for the spark birds (and to hear it's okay if you don't remember every bird on your life list!)…stay for the reminder of why birds matter everywhere.
Get more Life List by subscribing to our newsletter and joining our Patreon for...
Hawkwatch experiences and birding parallel landscapes with Joshua Covill
This episode, we’re joined by Joshua Covill: birding guide, hawkwatcher, and all-around mountain wanderer. Josh is sharing stories from Montana's Jewel Basin and beyond, plus a conversation about parallel ecosystems around the world.
Come for the dreams of Mongolia's vastness…stay for the feeling of watching migration from the top of the world!
Get more Life List by subscribing to our newsletter and joining our Patreon for bonus content. Talk to us and share your topic ideas at lifelistpodcast.com.
<...
Bird taxonomy season! Deep-diving splits, lumps, and our life lists
We're birders, talking about birding! George, Alvaro, and Mollee pulled up their personalized taxonomy updates from eBird (get an overview, all the data, and your personalized report) to chat about their life list updates and what else has changed around the globe.
Come for the nuts and bolts, stay for the taxonomic camaraderie!
Get more Life List by subscribing to our newsletter and joining our Patreon for bonus content. Talk to us and share your topic ideas at
Inside eBird: The world’s biggest birding project with Brian Sullivan
This episode, we’re joined by Brian Sullivan—birder, photographer, and co-leader of one of the most transformative projects in the birding world: eBird. From the earliest red-tailed hawk obsessions to building a global platform used by millions, Brian shares stories that bridge fieldwork, data, and wonder.
Highlights include:
How eBird grew from a niche experiment to a cornerstone of global ornithologyRed-tailed hawks, pelagics, and what it means to really know a speciesThe evolution of Birds of the World and where bird data is headed nextBalancing tech, fieldwork, and the joy of birdwatchingCome...
Almost arrested: Birding in Qatar and South African springtime adventures
Alvaro has some juicy stories from the field: did he finally succeed in finding a Saunder's tern, or did a run-in with the law in Qatar foil his attempts yet again?
Topics with George and Alvaro include:
Birding on a layover in QatarThe most accessible birding locations in the Middle EastA South African springtime tour recapThe adrenaline of safari birding Rocky Mountain oysters and other questionable culinary field experimentsLate-summer birding notes, migration updates, and trip recapsCome for Alvaro's verdict...stay for the tales of wild places!
P.S. If you've made it thi...
Traveling as a birder and musician with Bonner Black
We’re joined by Bonner Black: Nashville-based singer-songwriter, birder, and all-around force of nature.
Highlights of our chat include:
Growing up birding in Tennessee and carrying that love on the road as a touring musicianThe parallels between birding, music, and life on the roadHow songwriting and birding both demand patience, attention, and a little obsessionThe ways nature sneaks into Bonner's lyricsCome for behind-the-scenes tales of a professional music artist…stay for shared love of birding!
Get more Life List by subscribing to our newsletter and joini...
Birding with us: our backyard birdwatching conversations
One of our favorite things to hear from guests is that it's like you're birding with us during our conversations. This time, you actually can!
We're each recording from our backyards, during some mid-afternoon, mid-September birdwatching. If you've ever wondered what it would be like to join us on a birdwalk, now's your chance!
Get more Life List by subscribing to our newsletter and joining our Patreon for bonus content. Talk to us and share your topic ideas at lifelistpodcast.com.
LISTERS: Inside the extreme birdwatching documentary with Owen and Quentin Reiser
We’re talking with Quentin and Owen, the filmmakers and brothers behind Listers: the indie documentary that’s both absurd and profound, and probably the funniest thing ever made about birding.
Highlights of our chat include:
How a family field guide, a bong, and a road trip turned into a continent-spanning big yearThe van life: Cracker Barrel parking lots, Michelin-star minivan mealsFilming birds and birders like never beforeThe birding culture: from playback ethics to all-nighters to chase birds What it’s like to make the birding movie everyone’s talking aboutCome for the NyQuil-fueled ivory-bil...
Late summer birding: movements, migration, and surprises
The biggest surprise of all might be that George is learning to love summertime at home. We are chatting about birds and critters in our patches and recent travels, plus about books, media, and pizza.
By the way, you can learn more about Frontiers in Ornithology at https://frontiersinornithology.com/.
Come for the sightings that surprised us lately...stay for a slice of August birding joy!
Get more Life List by subscribing to our newsletter and joining our Patreon for bonus content. Talk to u...
Finding rare Alaskan birds and more wildlife encounters with Alex Harper and Phil Chaon
Get more Life List by subscribing to our newsletter and joining our Patreon for bonus content. Talk to us and share your topic ideas at lifelistpodcast.com.
Thanks to Kowa Optics for sponsoring our podcast! Want to know more about us? Check out George's company, Hillstar Nature; Alvaro's company, Alvaro's Adventures, and Mollee's company, Nighthawk Agency, to see more about what we're up to.
How to find rare birds with Jen Brumfield
This episode is a blast—and full of stuff you'll want to remember! George and Alvaro interview the legendary birder of Cuyahoga County, Ohio, and beyond: Jen Brumfield. They dive into all it takes to be a rarity-finding machine, and then put their advice through a detailed walkthrough of jaeger identification. We always say it...this hour passed by too quickly.
Come for the gales and gulls… stay for the unabashed joy of birding!
Get more Life List by subscribing to our newsletter and joining our Patreon fo...
Bird chases, misses, and surprises...and what birders can't let go of
This is what we do, folks! George and Alvaro are sharing the stories from the field and their yards, discussing scientific and hobbyist news in the birding world, and sharing travel tales. And karaoke dos and don'ts. And a skunk saga that seems to have included. Hang out with us for a spell!
Get more Life List by subscribing to our newsletter and joining our Patreon for bonus content. Talk to us and share your topic ideas at lifelistpodcast.com.
Thanks t...
Svalbard dreams and birds you wait a lifetime for
We're all here—Mollee, George, and Alvaro—to catch up on birding and nature stories from home and Alvaro's adventures spanning oceans...and two Great White Norths! Yup, with our usual dose of wildlife weirdness, too.
Highlights include:
An incredible polar bear sighting alongside Ivory Gulls and (cue Alvaro's scream) Ross's GullsBirding in Svalbard, Norway, and FinlandPelagic reports from the Farallon IslandsSkunks, tomato juice, and what actually helps when your dog gets sprayedYard list joys and surprises—from mulberries to Least BitternsPlus, read about Cory's Least Bittern hereCome for the booby stakeouts and sku...
AviList: the new Global Avian Checklist and its effects on bird taxonomy with Marshall Iliff and Frank Rheindt
You like splits and lumps? Thinking about the intricacies of global taxonomy? Oh boy, are you in for a treat!
George and Alvaro sat down with Marshall Iliff and Frank Rheindt, two members of the AviList Core Team, to take a deep dive into what’s just been released: AviList, the Global Avian Checklist!
Learn how the process got started, what’s happened in the years it’s been in the making, and how decisions were made bird-by-bird. Plus, hear how the four existing global checklists—including IOC, eBird/Clements, and Birdlife—will align with Avilist (spo...
Global conservation and the Birdfair that started a movement with Tim Appleton
This episode, we're catching up with Tim Appleton: co-founder of Global Birdfair and lifelong conservationist...and who possibly has the UK's best yard list.
Highlights of our chat include:
How one idea became the world’s largest nature tourism and bird conservation gathering—and what makes it unique125 species and counting from Tim's Rutland cottage overlooking a reservoir he helped design How Tim helped reintroduce breeding ospreys to England The goals of Global Birding and Global Bird WeekendsConservation results from Borneo to the Falklands, murals to migration corridors, and saving seabirds from longlinesLinks:
Glob...Deep-diving wild India: backyard leopards & a king-cobra's hiss with Surya Ramachandran
We caught up with our friend Surya Ramachandran: Indian naturalist, author, big-cat tracker, and awesome guy.
Highlights of our chat include:
Home patch leopards: Surya’s Nilgiri backyard hosts a multigenerational family of both black and rosetted leopards that he's watched closely for yearsSnow-leopard obsession: why eight straight winters in Ladakh still haven’t dulled the thrill of the ghost of the HimalayasKing-cobra lore: nest-building serpents, roadside rescues, and the eerie pressure-cooker hiss they can emitHimalayan lowland magic: the diversity of Assam’s Kaziranga–Manas–Nameri cir...Weird science and birding through life changes
Our travels have recently taken us across Costa Rica, Cuba, Argentina, Chile, and Tanzania — so it's high time for a catch-up! In this episode, George, Alvaro, and Mollee swap stories from the field, from color-changing marlins to Galápagos rail rediscoveries to grizzly bear rewilding efforts.
We also talk about how birds pick up dozens of local names (hello, timberdoodle!) and how birding stays with you even during major life changes. Yep, one of us is making an international move.
Come for the octopus escapes and marlin flash mobs, stay for a conversation about how bird...
