Threatened
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Stories about the enduring connections between birds, people and landscapes.
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Feb 7, 2023
An Unusual Place to Eat and Rest
In Puerto Rico, there is an area of saline lagoons, salt flats and mangrove swamps where humans have extracted salt for over 500 years. We often describe the effects of human activity on the environment as negative. But the migratory birds that eat and rest in one of the most visited places by locals and tourists probably see things differently.
More info and transcript at BirdNote.org.
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Jan 31, 2023
The Scientific Name Doesn’t Do It Justice
Birds have their common English name and a name in the languages of all the places they might fly through. And then they have their Latin name, which is their taxonomic name, the one scientists use. In this episode, we learn about a decades-long effort in Puerto Rico to change San Pedrito's scientific name, why it matters and the journeys of two people seeking to make it happen.
More info and transcript at BirdNote.org.
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Jan 24, 2023
Protecting a Bird and Ourselves
How do you organize a group of people to protect a bird from powerful forces? The Julián Chiví, or Black-whiskered Vireo, reveals a story of a community banding together to save a species, its environment, and ultimately, the people themselves. The organizers in Puerto Rico decided to go beyond just presenting alarming facts—and their strategy worked.
More info and transcript at BirdNote.org.
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Jan 17, 2023
The Puerto Rican Parrot Comeback
In the season premiere, we travel to Puerto Rico to meet a bird that has survived deforestation, hurricanes and the exotic pet trade. The Puerto Rican parrot saw its numbers drop to almost zero at one point. But today, its population is growing and stabilizing. To achieve this, the people involved had to make some difficult tradeoffs.
More info and transcript at BirdNote.org.
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Aug 9, 2022
Hawai’i: Hope for the ‘Ua‘u
We end our season with a little seabird that’s making a comeback. The Hawaiian Petrel, or ‘Ua’u, was once written off as going or gone from the islands. But after recent discoveries of remnant colonies, we see how some human intervention with the right tools can make a huge difference for birds and protect a population on the brink.
_Some brief swearing at 6:22_
More info and transcript at BirdNote.org.
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Aug 2, 2022
Hawai’i: Saving the ʻAlalā
Hawai‘i has its own species of crow, the clever and charismatic ʻAlalā. But the species hasn’t been able to survive in its shrinking native habitat. The only reason the ʻAlalā still exists is because of captive breeding programs. Reintroducing them to the wild is fraught with challenges, but it’s needed for the continuation of the species _and _for the health of the forest itself.
More info and transcript at BirdNote.org.
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Jul 26, 2022
Hawai’i: Rewriting the Story of Extinction
In 1823, a young princess was presented with an incredible gift, and a choice: protect the Native Hawaiian way of life, or embrace the teachings of newcomers. Today, the gift resides in a museum, and its story tells of tragedy and hope, the duality of life, and maybe a different understanding of our current extinction crisis.
More info and transcript at BirdNote.org.
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Jul 19, 2022
Hawai’i: The Mosquito Problem
How do you fight a disease carried by mosquitoes as climate change helps them spread? Avian malaria could wipe out whole species of birds, and people are going to great lengths to stop it. There’s hope on the horizon. Scientists believe they have a way to wipe out the mosquitos first. But will it come in time for the honeycreepers?
More info and transcript at BirdNote.org.
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Jul 12, 2022
Hawai’i: Protecting Palila
In the season premiere, we travel to Hawai‘i to meet a unique group of birds called honeycreepers. Over 55 species of honeycreepers once existed, but over half of them have gone extinct. One of them, the Palila, is still holding on. What do we need to do to protect it?
More info and transcript at BirdNote.org.
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Jun 28, 2022
Threatened Season 3 Trailer
Threatened returns with Season 3 on Tuesday, July 12th. These five new episodes explore the unique ecology and conservation of the Hawaiian Islands. Of the 44 endemic bird species in Hawai‘i, 33 are endangered. The good news: people are helping these birds fight for survival. Take a deep dive with host Ari Daniel to see how humans are answering the call to protect the birds of Hawai‘i, and how the lives of these birds are connected with the lives of the Hawaiian people.
More info and transcript at BirdNote.org.
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Oct 19, 2021
The Future of Bird Migration with Scott Weidensaul
Today’s episode was produced by Ari Daniel, Allison Wilson, Mark Bramhill, Conor Gearin, and Sam Johnson. Fact checking by Conor Gearin, mixing by John Kessler. Original theme music by Ian Coss.
Special thanks to Willistown Conservation Trust.
Additional Resources:
A World on the Wing: The Global Odyssey of Migratory Birds | Book by Scott Weidensaul
Motus Wildlife Tracking System: Explore GPS-Tracked Bird Migration Routes
One Way to Save Birds: Pay Farmers to Flood Their Land | KQED
A boon for birds: Once overlooked, China’s mudflats gain protections | Mongabay
A Phenomenal Discovery, Bringing A Glimmer Of Hope To A Declining Species Of Bird | Manomet
A bird’s eye view of quantum entanglement | NOVA
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Aug 31, 2021
Plantation Ecology
In the final episode of this season Host Ari Daniel tours the marsh at the Nemours Wildlife Foundation with Dr. Drew Lanham, cultural and conservation ornithologist at Clemson University. They bring us a story of time travel. Of touching a place through old hands and seeing it through new eyes. Of honoring a people for the incredible work they did— and sharing how that work continues today, and is reflected in the birds that call this place home.
Related Resources:
* ACE Basin - The Nature Conservancy
* Low Country Legacy - National Geographic
* Nemours Wildlife Foundation
* African Passages, Lowcountry Adaptations - Lowcountry Digital History Initiative | College of Charleston
* Lowcountry Land Trust
* Harriet Tubman’s Great Raid
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Aug 24, 2021
Block Island, Bird Central
Every spring, millions of birds travel the Atlantic Flyway, one of four major North-South routes for migratory birds in the Americas. Along the way, they need to stop for food, water, and rest— and Block Island, Rhode Island, provides. In this episode, producer Ben James takes us to this special place where we meet master bird bander Kim Gaffett. She is the latest in a long line of women citizen scientists whose work on Block Island has instilled a powerful culture of bird study and conservation, stretching back over a hundred years.
Related Resources:
50 Years of Bird Banding - _Block Island Times_
Thirsty Birds “Burn the Engine” in Flight - _NPR_
Block Island - The Nature Conservancy in Rhode Island
Block Island Conservancy
The Bird Lady of Block Island, Miss Elizabeth Dickens - BlockIsland.com
Flying Transformers: Birds Gear Up for Migration
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Aug 17, 2021
Vultures in Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe is home to six species of vultures, five of which are critically endangered and at risk of extinction. At Victoria Falls, researchers and wildlife rehabilitators are working to increase populations, and advocates in the cities of Bulawayo and Harare educate farmers and traditional healers on the importance of these birds to healthy ecosystems. Producer ish Mafundikwa takes us on a road trip around the country to explore the issues affecting these often misunderstood and maligned birds.
Related Resources:
BirdLife Zimbabwe
Vulture Conservation - Victoria Falls Wildlife Trust
Saving Africa’s Vultures - BirdLife International
Judge the Vulture Ambassador - Victoria Falls Wildlife Trust
The Race to Save Africa’s Vultures - BBC Earth
Video - Saving Africa’s Vultures in 2020 - BirdLife International
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Aug 10, 2021
Puffins: Cute to Catalyst
At Bempton Cliffs, on the Yorkshire Coast on the east side of the UK, about 3,000 charismatic little seabirds nest. The puffin is a sparkbird for producer Paul Drury-Bradey and many others that come to see them in the summer months. But these awkward flyers with colorful bills can spark more than just an interest in birds and birding. Conservationists hope they can also spark interest in addressing climate change, reducing and cleaning up plastic waste, and other human-caused challenges that threaten their existence.
Related Resources:
Video - A Day in the Life of RSPB Bempton Cliffs Reserve | RSPB
Bempton Cliffs Nature Reserve
Atlantic Puffin - More at All About Birds
Counting Puffins - Bempton Cliffs - The RSPB Community
Atlantic Puffin Conservation in the UK - Joint Nature Conservation Committee
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Aug 3, 2021
Ospreys and Environmental Restoration
Butte, Montana, used to be home to some of the most productive copper mines in the country. About a quarter of the world’s supply came from the area and it’s now the site of a massive effort to restore the degraded ecosystem. But, the local birds aren’t just victims of the pollution; they can actually tell us if things are getting better as all the pollution gets cleaned up. Birds here offer portraits of what’s happening on a larger ecosystem scale—especially Ospreys, which are at the top of the food chain and depend on waterways that are now contaminated with heavy metals. Producer Nick Mott travels along this polluted area to peer into the lives of these birds to see what they reveal.
Related Resources:
Watch the Hellgate Ospreys Nest Cam livestream
Learn about the Montana Osprey Project
More about Ospreys at All About Birds
"Old Mines Still Plague Montana’s Clark Fork" - _High Country News_
"Lasers, Drones, and Air Cannons: Inside the Effort to Save Migrating Waterfowl…
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Jul 27, 2021
Swallow-tailed Kites in the Black Belt
In the Black Belt region of Alabama, we go on a birding tour and learn about the Swallow-tailed Kite. The Swallow-tailed Kite’s range in this region decreased rapidly over the past one hundred years, primarily due to habitat loss from agriculture, urban development, and logging. Now protected by the State of Alabama, we visit a family farm where the kites are frequently seen and learn how the ensuing curiosity about the birds has brought new opportunities. Producer Jay Avery brings us this story of a threatened bird, an historically excluded human community, and how they are helping each other.
Related Resources:
Visit the website for Connecting with Birds and Nature Tours
Learn about the Black Belt in Alabama Audubon
See how the Avian Research and Conservation Institute tracks Swallow-tailed Kites
Get an overview of Swallow-tailed Kites on All About Birds
Sustainability Ag-vocate: Christopher Joe of Joe's
Learn about Christopher Joe of Joe's Black Angus Farm and Connecting with Bi…
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Jul 20, 2021
Red-Cockaded Woodpeckers and The Endangered Species Act
Georgia’s longleaf pine forests are home to many endangered species, including the Red-cockaded Woodpecker. This resilient and unusual little bird is making a comeback from the brink of extinction thanks to an unexpected partner and recovery efforts set in motion by the Endangered Species Act. But complicated rule changes and bureaucracy have put the protected status, and in turn the birds themselves, in jeopardy. This story comes to us from Producer Claire Reynolds.
Learn about the Fort Benning Military Installation on Audubon.org
Check out the Red-cockaded Woodpecker on All About Birds
See what USFWS says about Red-cockaded Woodpecker recovery
Read "Longleaf Pine Forests: A Southern Treasure" on Nature.org
Learn about Pinus palustris (Longleaf Pines)
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Jul 13, 2021
The Siberian Crane: From Taiwan to Tundra
In the first episode of this new season of _Threatened,_ we go on a life-changing journey with Sunny Tseng, a PhD student at the University of Northern British Columbia and a researcher at the Endemic Species Research Institute in Taiwan, where she’s based. The story starts in 2014 with a Siberian Crane that got blown off course, ending up in Taiwan. It’s a bird that usually migrates from the Siberian tundra — an ecosystem that’s currently undergoing a dramatic transformation as our climate changes — to southeast China. The appearance of a Siberian Crane in Taiwan was unexpected, and it set off a chain of events that put Sunny on the path that led her to where she is today.
Related Resources:
"Eco-Celebrity Crane Inspires Wetland Protection in Taiwan" in _Smithsonian Magazine_
"Lost Siberian Crane Wins Taiwan’s Heart While Improving Its Food Supply" in _Atlas Obscura_
"Lost cranes find sanctuary in Taiwan, Japan" in _The Japan Times_
"Rare Visit to Taiwan by Siberian Cran…
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Jul 1, 2021
Season 2 Coming July 13
We're traveling the world to hear stories about birds and people who care about them.
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May 14, 2021
Introducing: The Bring Birds Back Podcast
Like many birders, host Tenijah Hamilton discovered her love of birds during the pandemic. Now she invites listeners to join her in appreciating the beauty and mystery of the birds all around us and taking action on their behalf. As Tenijah speaks with bird experts from all walks of life, she and the listener learn, together, how to bring birds back.
Follow the show in your podcast app and stay tuned for our first episode on May 19th.
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Dec 15, 2020
Protecting Biodiversity in the Boreal Forest
In the season finale we visit Thaidene Nëné, a huge swath of land in the Boreal Forest, and learn how the Łutsël K’é Dene First Nation and the Canadian government came together to protect an area that’s vital for birds, indigenous people, and the health of the entire planet.
The Boreal Forest is one of the most important bird habitats in the Western Hemisphere. Billions of birds nest and hatch their eggs here. It is also the ancestral home of the Łutsël K’é Dene First Nation, who’ve spent decades trying to preserve the land on their terms. Their solution could well provide a blueprint for sustainable conservation around the world.
There's more to the story!
* Learn more about the Thaidene Nëné Indigenous Protected and Conserved Area
* Meet the birds of Boreal Forest
* "How to Find Comfort in Watching for Boreal Birds" - advice from Jeff Wells
For the full transcript and more visit BirdNote.org.
Special thanks to Emily Blake, Emily Cousins, and Janna Graham…
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Dec 8, 2020
Watching Over Western Sandpipers
We visit the Fraser Estuary, where fresh water meets the salty Pacific Ocean in British Columbia, Canada. Scientists are confirming what locals and birders have long known -- these mudflats are a unique and important pitstop for Western Sandpipers during their epic migration.
The Pacific Flyway is a migratory route for at least a billion birds. For many, like the Western Sandpiper, it’s an epic journey twice a year. Each spring they fly from wintering grounds in South America all the way to the Arctic where they breed in the summer. They then fly back down in the fall. Our understanding of what fuels that journey is changing, and a port expansion could jeopardize an important food source.
There's more to the story!
* Learn more about the Fraser River Estuary
* Check out the shorebird conservation partnership
* Learn why First Nations oppose the Delta terminal expansion
For the full transcript and more visit BirdNote.org
BirdNote is an independent nonprofit media production…
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Dec 1, 2020
Curlews, Sparrows, and the Ecological Trap
In Idaho, native grasslands were once a rich mosaic of plant life that supported a diverse cohort of birds. But as European settlers moved west, they converted those rich grasslands into farms. Today, very little native grassland habitat remains in the Intermountain West. In this episode of Threatened, producer Monica Gokey takes us on a quest to search for Long-billed Curlews, find a patch of restored habitat containing a bounty of grassland birds, and speak with the people working to protect and expand what’s left of this unique habitat.
There's more to the story!
* Check out Intermountain Bird Observatory
* Learn more about the Nimiipuu people
* Read about efforts to preserve Palouse Prairie
For the full transcript and more visit BirdNote.org
BirdNote is an independent nonprofit media production company. Your dollars make it possible to create sound-rich shows that connect you to the joys of birds and nature. Support BirdNote’s conservation mission, and get more of the…
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Nov 24, 2020
A Riot of Nesting Seabirds
In the series premier, we head to a summer home for seabirds — a place where kittiwakes, murres, auklets, and puffins gather by the thousands. Gerrit Vyn, a conservation media producer, describes the scene as "a cauldron of raucous bird sound." Scientists and Aleut locals share how the birds are faring in a changing climate, and we explore importance of seabirds in island traditions.
Full transcript available at BirdNote.org.
Additional Resources:
* Get involved in seabird conservation
* Learn more about the Aleut people in Alaska
* Check out the Seabird Youth Network
* Visit the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge
* Get to know Gerrit Vyn and his commitment to conservation
BirdNote is an independent nonprofit media production company. Your dollars make it possible to create sound-rich shows that connect you to the joys of birds and nature. Support BirdNote’s conservation mission, and get more of the content you love, by subscribing to BirdNote+ at https://birdno…
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Oct 29, 2020
Threatened Trailer
A new podcast from BirdNote about the enduring connections between birds, people and landscapes. Join host Ari Daniel for an escape to the natural world — and a glimpse into the lives of the people working to protect it.
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