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!
© Emily Poole
Twenty years ago today, the first BirdNote Daily episode aired on the public radio station now known as KNKX - 88.5 FM Tacoma/Seattle. Since then, through thousands of sound-rich stories about the lives of birds, BirdNote has inspired people to care about the natural world and take steps to protect it. You can join us in celebrating 20 years of stories by revisiting your favorite episodes, sharing BirdNote with a friend, or by telling us how BirdNote has inspired you to make a difference for birds by clicking here.
BirdNote is made possible by listener support. You can make a donation here to help ensure BirdNote storytelling is around for another 20 years. And for a limited time, you can snag 20th Anniversary BirdNote merchandise at the BirdNote shop!
Now and forever, this is BirdNote.
BirdNote®
BirdNote Celebrates 20 years
Written by Mark Bramhill
This is BirdNote.
20 years ago today, we broadcast those words for the first time.
This is BirdNote.
Since then, that phrase has been said by 60 narrators…
This is BirdNoteThis is BirdNoteThis is BirdNoteThis is BirdNoteThis is BirdNote...
On well over 300 radio stations in 49 states and four countries…
This is BirdNoteThis is BirdNoteThis is BirdNoteThis is BirdNoteThis is BirdNote...
And also, for the past three years, en Español:
Esto es BirdNote. Esto es BirdNote. Esto es BirdNote.
For a total of more than seven thousand times…
THIS IS BIRDNOTE [many versions played at once]
Or, at least something close to those words…
This is… Goat Note?!
This is BirdNot!
This is BirdNoir
Sometimes saying the phrase quick and chipper:
This is BirdNoteThis is BirdNote...
Occasionally, more somber and serious:
This is BirdNoteThis is BirdNote...
And other times, drawn out, savoring these words that have welcomed you to every show:
This is BirdNoteThis is BirdNote...
It’s been a joy and an honor to brighten your days with stories about birds for the past 20 years. I’m Michael Stein. And this, now and forever, is BirdNote.
This is BirdNoteThis is BirdNoteThis is BirdNoteThis is BirdNoteThis is BirdNote[fading out with theme]
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Senior Producer: Mark Bramhill
Producer: Sam Johnson
Managing Editor: Jazzi Johnson
Content Director: Jonese Franklin
BirdNote’s theme was composed and played by Nancy Rumbel and John Kessler.
© 2025 BirdNote February 2025
Narrator: Michael Stein
ID# 20thAnniversary-01-2025-02-21 20thAnniversary-01
Michael Stein
Narrator