Join BirdNote tomorrow, November 30th!
Illustrator David Sibley and actor H. Jon Benjamin will face off in the bird illustration battle of the century during BirdNote's Year-end Celebration and Auction!
How well do you know BirdNote? In honor of our 18th Birthday month, we've compiled a list of 18 intriguing BirdNote facts so you can get to know us better!
1. The first BirdNote Daily episode aired on February 21, 2005.
BirdNote's first episode was about the Bald Eagle, which made it's debut on KPLU 88.5 FM, which is now KNKX in Seattle/Tacoma.
2. The inspiration for BirdNote came from a classic science radio program.
The idea for BirdNote was inspired by StarDate, a daily guide to the night sky and breaking astronomical news from The University of Texas at Austin McDonald Observatory.
3. In addition to BirdNote Daily, we produce a number of popular longform podcast series.
If you enjoy BirdNote Daily, you'll love BirdNote's longform podcast series -- check out Bring Birds Back, Threatened, BirdNote Presentsand Sound Escapes.
4. BirdNote episodes are available in Spanish!
We invite Spanish-language bird enthusiasts and listeners to enjoy BirdNote Daily and other programs in Spanish. They're also a great way for anyone wanting to learn a new language to practice their Spanish! Listen to BirdNote en Español here.
5. BirdNote Daily airs on radio stations across North America.
Since first airing on KPLU (now KNKX) in Washington State in 2005, BirdNote Daily has expanded exponentially and now airs on more than 250 radio stations throughout the United States and Canada, reaching about 5 million listeners every day.
6. BirdNote’s shows are available anywhere you get your podcasts.
In addition to listening over the airwaves, BirdNote fans can tune in on podcast listening services like Apple Podcasts and Spotify anytime you want to listen. You can also tell your smart speaker to play BirdNote! Every year, more than 750,000 people globally listen to BirdNote Daily, Bring Birds Back, Threatened and other programs produced by BirdNote.
7. There’s a small but mighty team behind all the great content that BirdNote produces.
Meet the talented BirdNote team here! There are also a number of contractors and volunteers who contribute to BirdNote's programs and key happenings. All staff work remotely, which reduces our environmental impact and contributes to our goal of being an environmentally-friendly organization.
8. BirdNote is lead by a team of nine Board of Directors.
You can get to know BirdNote's dedicated Board of Directors here!
9. BirdNote's mission is to inspire people to care about the natural world and take steps to protect it.
BirdNote's stories spark a connection to the natural world. By telling vivid, sound-rich stories about birds and the challenges they face, listeners become champions for conservation and stewards of places important to birds and people. To read more about our mission and vision, visit this page.
10. BirdNote’s shows are available for free for everyone.
BirdNote does not charge anyone to access, use or broadcast our programs. We're able to offer our programs free of charge thanks to generous donors to contribute to BirdNote.
11. We're committed to Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility
BirdNote is committed to living up to our values and contributing to greater equity in our fields. We want our stories to be compelling, accurate, inclusive, and accessible to all. Read our full commitment to centering inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility.
12. BirdNote's theme music was produced by a Grammy Award-winning musician.
Musician Nancy Rumbel produced BirdNote's iconic theme music especially for BirdNote. To learn more about our theme music, visit this page.
13. The Macaulay Library of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology provides most of the bird sounds heard in BirdNote programs.
BirdNote's programs are vibrant and sound-rich, and we're able to include a variety of bird sounds in our programs thanks largely to the Macaulay Library. For more on the world’s premier scientific archive of natural history audio, video and photographs, visit this page.
14. BirdNote's shows are fact-checked by a team of experts.
You can rely on BirdNote's shows to be scientifically accurate. BirdNote's Science Advisory Council provides expert guidance to staff to ensure our producers are working with the best available science and our stories are up to date and accurate.
15. BirdNote's archive of photos come from generous photographers.
BirdNote sources photos you see on social media, our newsletter and on our website from photographers who kindly donate their stunning bird and nature photography to us. Check out our 2023 Birds of BirdNote Wall Calendar for a display of beautiful bird photos!
16. You can connect with BirdNote on Social Media!
Want more BirdNote? Follow us on Facebook or Instagram for the most up-to-date BirdNote news! You can also connect with us on YouTube, TikTok and LinkedIn.
17. You can get BirdNote straight to your inbox.
Sign up for BirdNote's weekly newsletter and stay updated on BirdNote news and events, get a preview of each week's BirdNote Daily episodes, and enjoy the beautiful bird photos all in one place.
18. We are listener-funded.
BirdNote is a non-profit, independent media production organization, and we rely on the generosity of donors to keep producing the shows you love. To make a donation to BirdNote, please visit this page.
Song Sparrow © Becky Matsubara