BirdNote Daily
Escape the daily grind and immerse yourself in the natural world. Rich in imagery, sound, and information, BirdNote inspires you to notice the world around you.
Your Support Makes All the Difference
Today is the last day of our on-air pledge drive. BirdNote is an independent nonprofit that relies on financial support from listeners like you. Recurring donors ensure that there is a steady source of funding to keep making sound-rich stories that inspire, entertain and educate about the remarkable lives of birds and the natural world. This week, we are asking you to support the show by making a donation now.
More info and transcript at BirdNote.org.
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Making BirdNote
BirdNote Daily is a two-minute show that takes a lot more than two minutes to create. Each episode weaves together an informative script, lively narration, immersive sound design, and our catchy theme song. BirdNote Daily is not just about one element, it’s many things working together that makes it great. The same is true for BirdNote funding, which makes the show possible. It’s not about what any one person does, it’s all of us giving what we can to support BirdNote’s mission. This week, we are asking you to keep BirdNote on the air by making a...
We Are Stronger Together
Birds do lots of things together, including hunting, nesting and raising young. This week, we’re asking BirdNote listeners to come together and support the show by making a donation now.
More info and transcript at BirdNote.org.
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A Steady And Reliable Resource
Whether you’re planting natives or filling your feeders every day, your backyard birds know they can rely on you for a meal. And we’re relying on recurring donors to support BirdNote’s future. This week, we are asking you to join our flock by making a donation now.
More info and transcript at BirdNote.org.
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Join Our Flock
Songbirds in winter flocks benefit from having other birds nearby. They can recognize warning signals from other species and follow them to sources of food. We think of BirdNote’s audience as our flock, and we’re much stronger together than as individuals. BirdNote is an independent nonprofit organization that relies on support from listeners like you. This week, we are asking you to keep us flying strong by making a donation now.
More info and transcript at BirdNote.org.
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Are Birds Nests Reused?
Let’s talk about nests. Every spring, robins build their cup-shaped nests using grass and mud. Orioles weave a hanging sack. It’s hard work, and yet once the chicks fledge, the structures probably won’t be reused. But bigger birds, such as herons, hawks, and eagles, often reuse a nest for many years. Europe’s migratory White Storks — like those pictured here — get the award for best reuse. One nest site, still used in 1930 and likely seeing many repairs, dated back to 1549. That’s a continuous series of stork pairs nesting in one spot for 381 years!
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Playful Keas
Keas are large alpine parrots from New Zealand. Intelligent and social, they have olive-green plumage, a red rump, and a long, curved beak. Keas produce a distinct warbling call, a “play call,” that sounds — and functions — much like a human’s contagious laughter. Scientists made recordings of captive Keas making warbling calls, then played them for wild Keas. They began playing harder and even engaged birds that hadn’t been playing. Hearing it seemed to put them in a playful mood, even when they were alone.
More info and transcript at BirdNote.org.
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Letter to an Olive-sided Flycatcher
In this episode, ornithologist J. Drew Lanham reads a letter he has written to an Olive-sided Flycatcher, a beloved bird that he pleads with to visit the dead pine tree on the edge of his home by a mountain lake.
More info and transcript at BirdNote.org.
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Arctic Dispatch: Sandpipers Sing at Teshekpuk Lake
In the summer of 2026, conservation photographer Gerrit Vyn visited a remote wilderness called the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska. He spent much of June at Teshekpuk Lake, just 6 miles south of the Arctic Ocean. The vast wetlands in this region are critical for millions of birds that come from around the world to breed every year. In this episode, Gerrit shares the sights and sounds of three standout shorebirds: Dunlins, Semipalmated Sandpipers, and Pectoral Sandpipers.
More info and transcript at BirdNote.org.
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Wilson’s Warbler near Summer’s End
By early August, the rich yellow of the feathers of the Wilson's Warbler seems to flash in every forest thicket. Despite predators and weather, many pairs of adults have raised four young, which now flit about on their own. The young males hatched this spring learned their father's songs this summer. Next spring, they, too, will sing those songs. By buying shade-grown coffee, you can help preserve the wintering grounds of this bird and many others.
Listen to this show in Spanish here.
More info and transcript at BirdNote.org.
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Migration: Long, Short, and In-Between
In September, this Arctic Tern flies from Alaska all the way to Antarctica. Rufous Hummingbirds follow pathways of mountain wildflowers, from as far north as Alaska south to Mexico. Ruby-crowned Kinglets, migrate attitudinally from the mountains to the lowlands. Each of these birds migrates, but on a very different course. All make the most of food and breeding opportunities that change with the seasons.
More info and transcript at BirdNote.org.
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Arctic Dispatch: Long-tailed Ducks at Teshekpuk Lake
In the summer of 2026, conservation photographer Gerrit Vyn visited a remote wilderness called the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska. He spent much of June at Teshekpuk Lake, just 6 miles south of the Arctic Ocean. The vast wetlands in this region are critical for millions of birds that come from around the world to breed every year. In this episode, Gerrit shares the sights and sounds of this vibrant landscape, including shorebirds, songbirds, waterfowl, and more.
More info and transcript at BirdNote.org.
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Jaegers Give Chase in September
A tern or gull plunges headfirst into the water, then bounces aloft grasping a small fish in its bill. But before the bird can swallow its catch, a Parasitic Jaeger swoops in. The jaeger nips the bird's wing, and it drops its hard-won fish. The pirate catches the fish in mid-air and gulps it down. The jaeger, which is German for hunter, is built for sprinting speed and predatory feats.
More info and transcript at BirdNote.org.
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Truffle-Hunting Birds
With their excellent sense of smell, pigs are renowned for sniffing out truffles, a fungus that grows underground and is prized for its taste. But it turns out that some bird species can also find their way to a truffle treat. Researchers working in the Patagonia region of Chile had noticed truffles with little beak-sized bite marks, and even watched a bird eat a truffle. They found truffle DNA in the birds’ droppings, suggesting that truffles are a staple of the birds’ diet. Some of the fungi species eaten by the Patagonian birds look like berries that grow locally, whic...
Birding 101: Birding Without Leaving Home
You don’t need fancy binoculars or lavish trips abroad to look for birds. In fact, you don’t even have to leave home — you can enjoy the birds out the window every day. And you don’t actually have to physically go anywhere to find birds. You can use a smartphone or computer to go birding. There are several websites where you can view live feeds of nests. Or you can even have your own bird feeder camera to give you a close-up view of the birds at your feeder.
More info and transcript at BirdNote.org.
...Spark Bird: Em De Blas and the Vermilion Flycatcher
Em De Blas has years of experience leading bird outings with Chicago BIPOC Birders, the Chicago Ornithological Society, and the Urban Birding Festival. But their birding journey first started when Em was 19 years old and visiting family near San Luis Potosí in Mexico. In this episode, Em shares how a Vermilion Flycatcher sparked their passion for watching and listening to birds in nature.
More info and transcript at BirdNote.org.
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Hearing Birdsong Can Help Decrease Anxiety
Many people would tell you that hearing birdsong puts them in a good mood. Recently, scientists have tried to put numbers to this effect that many of us have noticed. One study found that people who spent a few minutes immersed in the sounds of birds had lower levels of paranoia and anxiety than those who only listened to traffic noise.
This episode is brought to you by Teton Science Schools, specializing in outdoor learning experiences and education in Grand Teton National Park.
More info and transcript at BirdNote.org.
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Nighttime Flights of Songbirds
Some cloudless night in September, when the air is clear, you may see birds flying across the yellow face of the moon! September is peak migration time for millions of songbirds heading south from North America to more tropical latitudes. Nocturnal migrants of the same species, such as orioles, warblers, sparrows, and tanagers, call as they fly, enabling flock-mates to stick together. Many of these flight calls are distinctive, enabling those with an excellent ear to identify them as they pass.
Listen to this show in Spanish here.
More info and transcript at BirdNote.org.<...
BirdNoir: Who’s Soaring Overhead?
In this episode of BirdNoir, Private Eye Michael Stein helps a lakefront resident get to know the avian neighbor that’s been flying by each day.
More info and transcript at BirdNote.org.
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The Crafty Carolina Wren
Though half the size of a robin, the Carolina Wren has a powerful singing voice that seems to come from a much bigger bird. Many people remember their song with the phrase, “teakettle-teakettle-teakettle!” When these secretive birds venture into the open, look for their cocked tail, bright white eyebrows, tan breasts, and golden-brown backs. One reason these wrens thrive in cityscapes is their ability to build a nest in creative places: everything from an old boot to a window flower box to an engine block are potential places to raise their brood.
More info and transcript at Bird...
Lyrebirds Shift the Earth
Beavers are well known as ecosystem engineers in North America. In Australia, lyrebirds play a big role in shaping their environment when they use their toes to dig in the ground for food. A single lyrebird can shift 11 dump truck loads of soil and leaves — each year! That’s thought to be more than any other digging animal. Lyrebirds are best known for their spot-on imitations of other birds’ songs and calls.
This episode is sponsored by Kris Tsujikawa and her son Nicola, who say: let's build stronger communities by helping our neighbors.
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Nictitating Membranes — Nature's Goggles
For most birds, keen eyesight is critical for survival. But many birds lead lives that can be very hard on the eyes — like flying at breakneck speed, racing for cover into a dense thicket, or diving under water to capture prey. Imagine how the chips fly as this Pileated Woodpecker chisels a cavity. Fortunately, birds have evolved a structure for protecting their eyes. Beneath the outer eyelids lies an extra eyelid, called the nictitating membrane. It helps keep the eye moist and clean while guarding it from wind, dust, and hazards.
More info and transcript at BirdNote.or...
Share The Shore With Birds
Nothing says summer like a day at the beach. Whether you’re lounging by a lake or enjoying a seaside vacation, listen to this episode to learn five things you can do to share the shore with birds.
BirdNote is supported by Jim and Birte Falconer of Seattle, Washington — and generous listeners around the world.
More info and transcript at BirdNote.org.
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Stowaway Birds
When they migrate, tiny songbirds that spend most of their lives on land fly hundreds of miles over the ocean at a stretch – and they get tired. Research suggests that birds migrating over busy shipping routes in the Mediterranean Sea may use the decks of sea vessels as places to catch their breath when the weather turns bad.
More info and transcript at BirdNote.org.
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Spark Bird: Jay Inslee and the Western Meadowlark
Former Washington Governor Jay Inslee has been around birds his entire life. But he says it wasn’t until his early 30s that a bird really caught his attention. In this episode, Inslee shares how the Western Meadowlark’s melodic song bolstered his connection to the natural world.
More info and transcript at BirdNote.org.
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Why Do Dippers Dip?
Why does the American Dipper dip? One possibility is that the dipper's repetitive bobbing, against a background of turbulent water, helps conceal the bird's image from predators. A second theory asserts that dipping helps the bird spot prey beneath the surface of the water. But this theory about why dippers dip holds the most promise: Dipping may be a mode of visual communication between these birds in their noisy environment.
This episode is brought to you by Teton Science Schools, specializing in outdoor learning experiences and education in Grand Teton National Park.
More info and t...
Puffling Patrol
Just off the southern coast of Iceland, the Westman Islands are home to many of the country’s several million Atlantic Puffins. When puffin hatchlings, known as pufflings, get confused by the lights of the city, volunteers of all ages search for wayward pufflings on the street and bring them in for health checks. After the puffins get the green light, the volunteers release them along cliffs and beaches.
More info and transcript at BirdNote.org.
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...Clair de Loon
August 22 is the birthday of renowned French composer, Claude Debussy. Born in 1862, Debussy is known for his impressionistic sonic portraits, like La Mer, about the sea. But one of his best known works is an earlier piano piece, Clair de Lune. The song is quiet and haunting. Which got us thinking: what if we paired it with the most haunting birdsong — the song of loons? Enjoy Clair de Loon.
Download the song here.
Created for BirdNote by Breakmaster Cylinder.
More info and transcript at BirdNote.org.
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The Lark Bunting’s Eye-Catching Display
Lark Buntings are migratory sparrows that live in grasslands from south central Canada to the northern plateaus of Mexico. For most of the year, the buntings are brown, white and streaky. They spend the winter traveling in large, nomadic flocks in search of seeds and insects. But as spring approaches, the males become a velvety black with a contrasting patch of bright white feathers on each wing. This bold breeding plumage accentuates the elaborate flight displays that males perform to attract mates and fend off rivals.
More info and transcript at BirdNote.org.
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Why Birds Move Jay Inslee to Fight Climate Change
Former Washington Governor Jay Inslee made the fight against climate change a major priority during his three terms in office. In this episode, Inslee explains how his love of birds helped motivate those efforts.
More info and transcript at BirdNote.org.
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Setting the Thermostat with Birds in Mind
If you’ve already done things around the home with birds in mind, consider one more action that might be less obvious. Turning the thermostat down a degree or two in the colder months and up a degree in the warmer months might seem more about personal preference or energy bills than birds. But climate change is a grave threat to birds, putting two-thirds of North American bird species at risk of extinction. So anything that decreases carbon emissions is a step towards a better future for birds — not to mention people.
More info and transcript at Bird...
My Grandmother’s Ornithology, and Mine
In this episode, poet and ornithologist J. Drew Lanham shares how his grandmother’s personal names for the birds helped shape his own relationships with birds. Names such as “redbirds” for Northern Cardinals, “rain crows” for Yellow-billed Cuckoos, and “cat owls” for Great Horned Owls help him feel personally connected to these species. Through developing one’s own ornithology and personal names for birds, he says, anyone can strengthen their bond with birds.
More info and transcript at BirdNote.org.
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Whose Nest is This Anyways?
Osprey are birds of prey with a wingspan more than 5 feet across. These large raptors construct huge stick nests that get up to 6 feet wide and 12 feet tall! While the Ospreys only occupy the upper portions of this structure, other birds have been observed taking up residence in the nooks and crannies below. This unexpected living arrangement is a classic example of protective nesting. Nesting birds – be they songbirds or raptors – must always be on the alert for egg-eating predators. But with pescatarians in the penthouse suite, the nests’ smaller tenants get 24-hour security without ending up on the menu t...
Bonaparte's Gull Chorus-line
Small, tern-like Bonaparte's Gulls often form a chorus-line at the water's edge. Side by side, in half an inch of water, they stomp their feet as fast as they can. Under this pummeling, a smorgasbord of shrimp is stirred up for the gulls to harvest. Is this a learned behavior, or were these gulls born knowing how to forage cooperatively? Who knows? But it's hard to imagine a more nutritional dance routine!
More info and transcript at BirdNote.org.
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Migrations: You're Going the Wrong Way!
During migration, some birds change orientation and travel almost the same distance — but in the opposite direction — as the rest of their species. The phenomenon is called misorientation. First-year birds are particularly susceptible. Many vagrant birds never find their way back on course, but some do, getting more comfortable with the route each year.
More info and transcript at BirdNote.org.
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How Birds Drink
How do birds drink? A robin takes a mouthful of water and then tips its head way back to send the water down its gullet. Pigeons are among the few birds that can suck in water with their heads down. Swallows and swifts skim a beakful of water on the wing. Gulls, like the Western Gull, can even drink salt water. If you have a birdbath, be sure to keep it clean. The birds' health is at stake.
More info and transcript at BirdNote.org.
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Black-throated Sparrow Sings in the Desert
Sparrows are iconic desert denizens of the southwestern U.S. and northern Mexico. They thrive in open arid habitats, with evenly spaced shrubs, trees, and cacti. Historically, these native ecosystems were naturally maintained with frequent, low-intensity fires. But decades of drought and fire suppression have set the stage for hotter, more destructive blazes. We can protect Black-throated Sparrows and their vibrant habitats by preventing overgrazing on rangelands, combating the spread of invasive plants, and restoring a sustainable fire regime to the landscape.
More info and transcript at BirdNote.org.
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Piper’s Sandpipers
In this special kids edition of BirdNote Daily, Piper Bayard shares her love of sandpipers.
More info and transcript at BirdNote.org.
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Learning More About Birds by Sketching Them
Many people take an interest in birds as they get older. But others start very early, like one young BirdNote listener named Ben Bradmon. He has been learning how to identify birds by their calls. His favorite is the Tufted Titmouse. He has also begun deepening his knowledge of birds by sketching them, letting him focus on details of the birds’ appearance and their habitats.
More info and transcript at BirdNote.org.
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The Black-and-White Warbler
Black-and-white Warblers are tiny songbirds that breed in North America’s deciduous forests and winter as far south as Colombia. They feast on insects gleaned from leaves or plucked from cracks in tree bark. You’ll often find them clinging to tree trunks or the undersides of thick branches — acting more like a nuthatch than a warbler. Like many songbirds, Black-and-white Warblers migrate at night — using the stars to navigate. Unfortunately, nocturnal light pollution can disrupt their sense of direction or cause them to collide with buildings. You can help Black-and-white Warblers by turning off outdoor lights and shading your win...
