J. Drew Lanham is a poet and ornithologist whose work intertwines his lived experience as a Black man in the American south and his love of wilderness. Both have taught him that joy is a source of strength. On Bring Birds Back, Drew describes how he finds radical joy in spending time with…

Duck hunting may sound like a forbidden sport for most bird lovers but did you know that some of the most dedicated bird conservationists - in the world - are also devout hunters? In this episode of Bring Birds Back, our host Dr. Deja Perkins speaks with Jerad Henson from Ducks Unlimited –…

Chicago has been in the spotlight quite a lot as of late, but one of its most remarkable attributes can be seen in the night sky: nocturnal bird migration. In this episode, our host Deja Perkins speaks with J’orge Garcia of the Windy City Bird Lab about how he’s integrating technology and…

In this season 8 premiere of Bring Birds Back, host Deja Perkins returns with legislative strategist from the American Bird Conservancy, Hardy Kern. Hardy shares the history of the Endangered Species Act, how the legendary law is being challenged by the current administration, and what we…

The season 8 premiere of Bring Birds Back starts Wednesday, December 3rd! With our returning host, Dr. Deja Perkins, we’re deep diving into policy, tech, and protections for birds. From the Endangered Species Act to nocturnal migration, and even hunting – we explore various different forms…

Humans and songbirds are among a small group of animals that can learn to imitate the sounds we hear. It’s an ability called vocal learning that makes language possible. Scientists who study human speech often start with birds that share our vocal learning skills, says neurobiologist Erich…

Corvids, like crows and jays, are known for caching seeds instead of eating them immediately. Sometimes, those seeds take root before the birds return. Mario Pesendorfer, a forest and behavioral ecologist at BOKU in Vienna, says that’s what happened on Santa Cruz Island in southern…

Ornithologist, poet and MacArthur Fellow, Dr. J. Drew Lanham, speaks with host Billy Almon in our season 7 finale! The two begin by talking about Drew’s humble beginnings and southern influence from his grandmother’s teachings, and how he became a self-taught birder. Later, they discuss…

For the majority of the year, most birds stay under 500 feet. During migration, many species fly at 2,000 to 5,000 feet or above, using prevailing winds to assist them. And some birds go even higher! In 1973, a Rüppell’s Griffon set the world record by soaring to 37,000 feet.

What’s a climate crisis without acknowledgement of an emergency? In conversation with guests Dr. Rose Abramoff and Dr. Mustafa Santiago Ali, host Anika Hazra discusses the ever-evolving battle for a healthy world from the front lines to legislation. Rose, a climate scientist turned…