The Birdy Bunch Podcast

Happy Earth Day, Nature Lovers! This week, CJ is joined by Edward Warden from Chicago Ornithological Society and Emily Kenny from Forrest Preserve District of Will County to talk about the City Nature Challenge! Throughout this upcoming weekend Friday April 26 - Monday April 29, participants from over 350 cities across the globe will be competing to upload observations to iNaturalist!  Make sure to get outside this upcoming weekend and participate! If you're local to the Chicagoland Region, check out Chicago Wilderness Alliance's webpage to find a local event: https://www.chicagowilderness.org/page/CityNatureChallenge    More episodes of The Birdy Bunch Podcast will be coming soon!    For more information, visit our website: www.TheBirdyBunchPodcast.com Or follow us on Instagram: @TheBirdyBunchPodcast   Thank you to our Patrons for supporting Season 4 of The Birdy Bunch Podcast; visit www.Patreon.com/TheBirdyBunchPodcast to sign up.

Guess what, Nature Lovers? The Birdy Bunch Podcast is back! This week, CJ is joined by their dear friend and incredible colleague, Henry Adams! Henry is the Wildlife Management Coordinator with the Urban Wildlife Center at Lincoln Park Zoo and joins The Birdy Bunch Podcast to discuss Wildlife Disease Ecology! From birds in the Everglades to amphibians in Costa Rica, Henry has some fun stories to share! In addition, Henry and CJ chat about the Black-crowned Night Heron in this episode's Creature Feature! Make sure to give this episode a listen! If you enjoy this episode and want more from The Birdy Bunch Podcast, make sure to give us a review! More episodes of The Birdy Bunch Podcast will be coming soon!    For more information, visit our website: www.TheBirdyBunchPodcast.com Or follow us on Instagram: @TheBirdyBunchPodcast   Thank you to our Patrons for supporting Season 4 of The Birdy Bunch Podcast; visit www.Patreon.com/TheBirdyBunchPodcast to sign up.   Season 4 of The Birdy Bunch Podcast is hosted, edited, and produced by CJ Greco. Special thank you to Sarah Dunlap - for designing our logo, and Conner Wittman - for producing our music.    The mission of The Birdy Bunch Podcast is to inspire an inclusive community for conservation by using education to promote fascination.

Are you outdoorsy or outsidesy, Nature Lovers? In this episode of The Birdy Bunch Podcast, CJ chatted with Dr. Brian Peterson, host of the podcast All Bodies Outside! They discuss what it means to spend time in the outdoors, access to green spaces, and all things conservation podcasts! They also talk about some of Brian's work in understanding human-made noises in national parks! In addition, CJ and Brian feature the charismatic largest squirrel - the marmot! For more information about All Bodies Outside, you can follow the podcast on Instagram, Facebook, or Threads(?!) @AllBodiesOutside or visit the website www.allbodiesoutside.com.  Take the time to get outside today, Nature Lovers!!     Season 4 of The Birdy Bunch Podcast will be posted on the first and the final Mondays of each month! Thanks for listening, nature lovers!   For more information, visit our website: www.TheBirdyBunchPodcast.com Or follow us on Instagram: @TheBirdyBunchPodcast   Thank you to our Patrons for supporting Season 4 of The Birdy Bunch Podcast; visit www.Patreon.com/TheBirdyBunchPodcast to sign up. Season 4 of The Birdy Bunch Podcast is hosted, edited, and produced by CJ Greco. Special thank you to Sarah Dunlap - for designing our logo, and Conner Wittman - for producing our music.    The mission of The Birdy Bunch Podcast is to inspire an inclusive community for conservation by using education to promote fascination.

July is Disability Pride Month! For this episode of The Birdy Bunch Podcast, CJ is joined by good friend Freya McGregor, owner and founder of Access Birding. Freya and CJ are talking all about access and inclusion in the outdoors, as well as Disability Pride! In addition, we feature the Magnolia Warbler, a small migratory bird that shared an almost magical moment with CJ and Freya! For more information about Freya, visit her website: www.FreyaMcGregor.com or follow her on social media @the.ot.birder . Also, make sure to visit www.AccessBirding.com and follow @Access.Birding on social media for more information about Access Birding!   Season 4 of The Birdy Bunch Podcast will be posted on the first and the final Mondays of each month! Thanks for listening, nature lovers!   For more information, visit our website: www.TheBirdyBunchPodcast.com Or follow us on Instagram: @TheBirdyBunchPodcast   Thank you to our Patrons for supporting Season 4 of The Birdy Bunch Podcast; visit www.Patreon.com/TheBirdyBunchPodcast to sign up. Season 4 of The Birdy Bunch Podcast is hosted, edited, and produced by CJ Greco. Special thank you to Sarah Dunlap - for designing our logo, and Conner Wittman - for producing our music.    The mission of The Birdy Bunch Podcast is to inspire an inclusive community for conservation by using education to promote fascination.

Pride month may be over, but  The Birdy Bunch Podcast is back!! On our kick-off to Season 4, we're taking another look at one of our favorite topics - Queer Ecology! CJ is joined by Dani Abboud (they/them) and Jenna John (she/her), who spoke at the Wild Things Conference about Queer Ecology back in February 2023. In addition to thinking about how we can reframe conservation through a new lens, we also discuss the May edition of the Parks Stewardship Forum, and feature our first creature of season four - the lesbian lizard! Thanks again to Dani and Jenna for guesting on this special queer episode!   Season 4 of The Birdy Bunch Podcast will be posted on the first and the final Mondays of each month! Thanks for listening, nature lovers!   For more information, visit our website: www.TheBirdyBunchPodcast.com   Thank you to our Patrons for supporting Season 4 of The Birdy Bunch Podcast; visit www.Patreon.com/TheBirdyBunchPodcast to sign up. The Birdy Bunch Podcast was created by Matt Valiga & CJ Greco. Season 4 is hosted, edited, and produced by CJ Greco. Thank you to Matt Valiga and Brittany Busleta-Lewandowski for their contributions on previous seasons.    Special thank you to Sarah Dunlap - for designing our logo, and Conner Wittman - for producing our music.    The mission of The Birdy Bunch Podcast is to inspire an inclusive community for conservation by using education to promote fascination.

Smashing! It's our final episode of 2022 and we sure are thankful for all of your support, Nature Lovers! In this fun filled 2022 finale, we have Bob Dolgan join us to talk about his incredible series of documentary films as well as all things birding and media! In addition, CJ features the one of the many birdy stars of Bob's film “The Magic Stump”, and Brittany shares a current event with us about a new species of sunbird! Make sure to use the code “THANKYOU22” for 15% off everything in our merch store! And with that, we'll catch ya next year!   Timestamps: 00:00 - Intro        08:45 - Creature Feature             18:45 - Current Events             24:58 - Media in Conservation with Bob Dolgan  01:02:46 - Outro   For more information about The Birdy Bunch Podcast, visit TheBirdyBunchPodcast.com.  Special thank you to Sarah Dunlap - for designing our logo and Conner Wittman - for producing our music. 

For The Birdy Bunch loved the nature lovers, that we gave you this episode! Don't sleep on this on, listeners! Instead give it a download to learn all about how animals spend their winters! In addition, Matt features a blue creature known for going fast and CJ talks about a current event involving yetis?! Torpor, hibernation, brumation, oh my! Join us for a fun episode as we start to prepare for our own winter naps!! It's an episode of The Birdy Bunch you won't want to miss, so tell your friends if they listen they will not be bored, but instead have an everlasting good time.   Timestamps: 00:00 - Intro        04:07 - Creature Feature             12:52 - Current Events             19:09 - Hi-bear-nation! You'll never believe how these animals spend their winters! Not clickbait!  33:42 - Outro   For more information about The Birdy Bunch Podcast, visit TheBirdyBunchPodcast.com.  Special thank you to Sarah Dunlap - for designing our logo and Conner Wittman - for producing our music. 

Let'sa Go! We're back in the Spooky habit this week, Nature Lovers! It's time for Spooky Creatures III for our final Episode of this year's Spooky Bunch! But don't you worry, even though The Spooky Bunch Poscast is creeping away for the year, it will be back again in 2023, and we'll be back to our regularly scheduled programming in just afew weeks. In addition to our Spooky Creatures, Matt features a horrific invertebrate as our creature feature and Brittany tells the tale of new found Cane Toads in New South Wales. It's the final episode of The Spooky Bunch and it's certainly got some twists and turns you'll get shivers from! Ya-hoo!   Make sure to use the code “SPOOKY2022' for 15% off our merch store!!! Only for the rest of this month!   Timestamps: 00:00 - Spook Intro        06:57 - Spooky Creature Feature             13:58 - Spooky Current Events             20:24 - Spooky Creatures III    47:17 - Spooky Outro   For more information about The Birdy Bunch Podcast, visit TheBirdyBunchPodcast.com.  Special thank you to Sarah Dunlap - for designing our logo and Conner Wittman - for producing our music.

Disaster is here, and we have the lowdown! This week on The Spooky Bunch Podcast, we talk with Debbie Clemens from Orangutan Outreach to talk about deforestation and palm oil! The palm oil industry is greatly impacting some amazing creatures of southeast Asia, including today's creature feature, one GREAT ape! In addition, Matt tells us about a new bird discovered in southern Chile, and Brittany asks the Bunch about their Halloween costumes! Only one more episode of The Spooky Bunch left, so share this spooky episode with a friend! For more information about Orangutan Outreach, visit redapes.org.    Make sure to use the code ‘SPOOKY2022' for 15% off our merch store, now until the end of the spooky season!   Timestamps: 00:00 - Spook Intro        07:26 - Spooky Creature Feature             10:45 - Spooky Current Events    16:11 - Deforestation and Palm Oil with Debbie Clemens    45:30 - Spooky Outro   For more information about The Birdy Bunch Podcast, visit TheBirdyBunchPodcast.com.  Special thank you to Sarah Dunlap - for designing our logo and Conner Wittman - for producing our music.

Welcome back you listeners—you like stories at all? Well we've got a lot for you today! Come join us around the campfire for a SPECIAL mid-October episode, where we discuss some of our craziest spooky stories! If you're frightened, fear not: we also have some scary good jokes as well. Help us celebrate this month, and make sure to share your crazy stories with us as well! And stay safe, spooky lovers—there's no telling what terrors await you this month.    Make sure to use the code ‘SPOOKY2022' for 15% off our merch store, now until the end of the spooky season!   Timestamps: 00:00 - Spook Intro        05:37 - Spooky Creature Feature             14:31 - Scary Stories around the Campfire    45:15 - Spooky Outro   For more information about The Birdy Bunch Podcast, visit TheBirdyBunchPodcast.com.  Special thank you to Sarah Dunlap - for designing our logo and Conner Wittman - for producing our music.

Timestamps: 00:00 - Spook Intro        03:49 - Spooky Creature Feature             10:12 - Spooky Current Events             19:47 - Spooky Sounds to Hear in the Dark    37:09 - Spooky Outro   For more information about The Birdy Bunch Podcast, visit TheBirdyBunchPodcast.com.  Special thank you to Sarah Dunlap - for designing our logo and Conner Wittman - for producing our music. 

Tis the season for frights! Welcome back to the Spooky Bunch Podcast—the Birdy Bunch can't come to the phone right now, but they'll be back after October. In the meantime, check out our first Spooky Episode with a special guest: Brittany's husband, Adam Lewandowski! We'll be tiering cryptids today, as well as discussing our first spooky creature feature: one so spooky it might be dead! If you're looking to celebrate with us make sure to use our merch code SPOOKY2022 for a slick discount. And make sure to hide under the covers to protect yourself!   Timestamps: 00:00 - Spook Intro        06:46 - Spooky Creature Feature             15:06 - Spooky Current Events             19:12 - Cryptids III; a Tier List with Adam Lewandowski    01:19:41 - Spooky Outro   For more information about The Birdy Bunch Podcast, visit TheBirdyBunchPodcast.com.  Special thank you to Sarah Dunlap - for designing our logo and Conner Wittman - for producing our music.

Put on your headphones and say congratulations, it's the 100th episode of The Birdy Bunch Podcast! Join Brittany, CJ, and Matt as they reminisce on their favorite episodes and listen to messages from former guests and collaborators! We also have a cheeky LITTLE* creature feature that wood fit right in with the celebration!    Thank you so much for all of your incredible support over the past 100 episodes! We could not have hit this milestone without you! Please share The Birdy Bunch witb your friends and family to continue the celebration! Tag us on social media with your favorite TBB moments  @TheBirdyBunchPodcast !   For more information about The Birdy Bunch Podcast, visit TheBirdyBunchPodcast.com.  Special thank you to Sarah Dunlap - for designing our logo and Conner Wittman - for producing our music.  *Stick around to the end of the episode for a bonus funny clip cut from our recording!

What even is a symbiotic relationship? Well, nature lovers, we talk all about them this week on The Birdy Bunch Podcast! Brittany shares some peculiar pairs of animals and we have a good tie ranking them! In addition, Matt creatures a features that his anemone and CJ shares a current event that even Thor is raving about! Give this super fun episode a listen!   Timestamps: 00:00 - Intro        03:00 - Creature Feature             08:33 - Current Events                   19:57 - Symbiotic Relationships; a Tier List   46:49 - Outro   For more information about The Birdy Bunch Podcast, visit TheBirdyBunchPodcast.com.  Special thank you to Sarah Dunlap - for designing our logo and Conner Wittman - for producing our music.

They're coming…they're coming…theyre HEREEEEE!!! In case you missed our first episode on Invasive Species, we decided to take another stab at discussing the impacts of invasive species across the world. This time, though, we're not just telling stories, so make sure to tune in and hear our thoughtful discussion! In addition, we also feature the spotted lanternfly, as well as highlight a message of concern regarding the monarch butterfly. Nonetheless, this one you certainly won't want to miss, so make sure to check out “Invasive Species II: Electric Boogaloo!”   Timestamps: 00:00 - Intro        04:56 - Creature Feature             10:41 - Current Events                   16:32 - Invasive Species II   01:03:05 - Outro   For more information about The Birdy Bunch Podcast, visit TheBirdyBunchPodcast.com.  Special thank you to Sarah Dunlap - for designing our logo and Conner Wittman - for producing our music.

Guess what, Nature Lovers? It's tie for another episode of The Birdy Bunch Podcast! This week we're talking about some of the fascinating national animals from all over the globe! In addition, Matt features a creature that truly symbolizes this ‘great' nation' and Brittany shares a current event all about community action and White Rhinos!  Red Tailed Hawk Audio by Paul Marvin.   This episode of The Birdy Bunch Podcast is brought to you by our Patreon! Visit patreon.com/thebirdybunchpodcast to sign up today!   Timestamps: 00:00 - Intro        03:05 - Creature Feature             13:18 - Current Events             17:01 - QOTD           22:33 - National Animals, a Tier List   56:14 - Outro   For more information about The Birdy Bunch Podcast, visit TheBirdyBunchPodcast.com.  Special thank you to Sarah Dunlap - for designing our logo and Conner Wittman - for producing our music.   

Hey there, Nature Lovers! On today's episode of the Birdy Bunch Podcast, Matt, CJ, and Brittany talk about all things enrichment with our two guests Emily Cain and Nick Naitove, the cofounders of WildThink. In addition Matt shares a current event all about the endangered Hyacinth Macaw and CJ surprises us with their creature feature the Japanese Macaque. It is an utterly enriching episode that you don't want to miss! Additionally, don't forget to check out their website www.WildThink.org to learn more about WildThink, and follow The Birdy Bunch Podcast on social media @thebirdybunchpocast for more updates!   Timestamps: 00:00 - Intro        04:43 - Creature Feature             14:47 - Current Events             23:07 - WildThink with Emily Cain and Nick Naitove    51:58 - Outro   For more information about The Birdy Bunch Podcast, visit TheBirdyBunchPodcast.com.  Special thank you to Sarah Dunlap - for designing our logo and Conner Wittman - for producing our music. 

Howdy there nature lovers—today, we bring you another exciting round table discussion with the pod! Join us all as we discuss some current events regarding environmental policy, as well as what we think the roles of law and politics should play within conservation work. In addition, Brittany features a very successfully recovered creature, and CJ tells us all about a very topical current event! This is one you won't want to miss folks—so tune into this discussion!   Timestamps: 00:00 - Intro        04:52 - Creature Feature             12:04 - Current Events             17:58 - Environmental Policy    57:35 - Outro   For more information about The Birdy Bunch Podcast, visit TheBirdyBunchPodcast.com.  Special thank you to Sarah Dunlap - for designing our logo and Conner Wittman - for producing our music. 

Hope you had a good #PRIDE, nature lovers! This week CJ is on the street live from Chicago Pride Fest!! They're interviewing people all about their experience in nature!! It's a wonderful episode and something completely new for The Birdy Bunch Podcast. In addition, Brittany is out sick, Matt shares a current event about cetaeans and CJ features the asexual lesbian lizard! Thank you all for celebrating #PRIDE with us!! We will be back for your regularly scheduled Birdy Bunch content on July 11th!! Before then however, make sure to check out this latest installment in The Birdy Bunch #Pride, and use code PRIDE for 15% off all our merch before the end of the month!   Timestamps: 00:00 - Intro        03:57 - Creature Feature             12:15 - Current Events             17:59 - CJ on the Street - Live from Pride    35:12 - Outro   For more information about The Birdy Bunch Podcast, visit TheBirdyBunchPodcast.com.  Special thank you to Sarah Dunlap - for designing our logo and Conner Wittman - for producing our music.

Happy Pride, nature lovers! We're continuing with our Birdy Bunch #Pride festivities with a revisiting to one of our favorite topics—queer ecology—that we touched upon in season 1! CJ hosts a round table discussion with all of us about what queer ecology is, and it's importance. In addition, we have a special guest current event: Judy Pollock of Chicago Audubon! Judy brings us some awesome current data surrounding birds in Chicago. If you thought that wasn't enough, we also feature the mantis shrimp! Make sure to check out this latest installment in the Birdy Bunch #Pride, and use code PRIDE for 15% off all our merch!   Timestamps: 00:00 - Intro        03:07 - Creature Feature             09:55 - Current Events             25:46 - Queer Ecology II    01:05:05 - Outro   For more information about The Birdy Bunch Podcast, visit TheBirdyBunchPodcast.com.  Special thank you to Sarah Dunlap - for designing our logo and Conner Wittman - for producing our music. 

#PRIDE continues this week, nature lovers! And this week we're joined by co-founder of Out In Nature, Forrest Cortes. Out In Nature hosts a range of events focused on providing a safe space for queer people to connect and experience nature and the outdoors. In addition, CJ shares a current event about evolution speeding up, and Matt features a bird that is a work of art.  Don't forget to use the code “PRIDE” for 15% you order in our merch store!!   Timestamps: 00:00 - Intro        03:18 - Creature Feature             08:19 - Current Events             13:55 - Out in Nature     47:20 - Outro   For more information about The Birdy Bunch Podcast, visit TheBirdyBunchPodcast.com.  Special thank you to Sarah Dunlap - for designing our logo and Conner Wittman - for producing our music. 

Season 3 starting off with #PRIDE!! Get ready for a full month of Pride related Birdy Bunch content, Nature Lovers!! In this first episode of Pride Month, we discuss some examples of animals breaking away from sexuality and gender norms. In addition, Matt shares a positive outlook in an update on Monty and Rose - the Montrose Beach Piping Plovers, and Brittany features a creature that is most definitely not a bird. This episode really kicks off the season strong, be sure to give it a listen! Don't forget to use the code “PRIDE” for 15% you order in our merch store!!   Timestamps: 00:00 - Intro        03:44 - Creature Feature             11:09 - Current Events             19:47 - Gender & Sexuality Expression in Nature II    50:18 - Outro   For more information about The Birdy Bunch Podcast, visit TheBirdyBunchPodcast.com.  Special thank you to Sarah Dunlap - for designing our logo and Conner Wittman - for producing our music.   

Season 3 has arrived, Nature Lovers!!! Get ready for an amazing Season full of exciting episodes, fascinating guests, and even more fun Birdy Bunch Content. Give this Introductory Episode a listen if you're new to the Bunch or just want to learn more about us as individuals and what our plans are for this new season! We are so thankful for all of your support, and couldn't be here without you!    For more information about The Birdy Bunch Podcast, visit TheBirdyBunchPodcast.com.  Special thank you to Sarah Dunlap - for designing our logo and Conner Wittman - for producing our music.

That's a wrap, nature lovers!! This episode marks the end of Season 2!!! But no worries, nature lovers; The Birdy Bunch will be back for Season 3 (and #PRIDE!!) on June 6th!! This week though, we have a super fun episode! We are joined by Gabe Kahsen, co-founder of the Psittacine Welfare Institute. Gabe shares all about his vast knowledge of animal welfare - in captivity and in the wild! - and we all talk about some of our favorite birds! In addition, Matt says an unfortunately out-of-date update on Chicago Piping Plovers, and CJ features a creature who is all about that GANG GANG! For more information about the work that Gabe does and to learn all about parrot welfare, check out the website for Psittacine Welfare Institute at www.psittacine.org!   Please remember to visit our merch store from our website, www.thebirdybunchpodcast.com, and use the discount code “season2” for 15% off everything in we have available!! See you again on June 16th, nature lovers!!    Timestamps: 00:00 - Intro        05:27 - Creature Feature             13:44 - Current Events             23:54 - Psittacine Welfare Institute & World Parrot Day with Gabe Kahsen    01:00:47 - Outro   Thank you to Sarah Dunlap - for designing our logo and Conner Wittman - for producing our music. Visit thebirdybunchpodcast.com for more information.

Pack your bags, Nature Lovers! This week we are taking a virtual trip to learn all about another wild city, Atlanta! This next installment in our Wild City series features the City in The Forest from the great state of Georgia - Atlanta - as well as a wonderful guest and supporter of the podcast, Gabe Andrle! In addition, Brittany features the bird that is on the logo for Georgia Audubon, and Matt shares a current event all about glowing zebrafish and scientific publishing discourse?! It's a super fun episode you don't want to miss! You can find more information about our guest Gabe Andrle on his social media @NatureWithGabe, and more information about us here @TheBirdyBunchPodcast.   Timestamps: 00:00 - Intro        04:38 - Creature Feature             10:50 - Current Events             22:49 - Wild Atlanta! with Gabe Andrle    53:15 - Outro   Thank you to Sarah Dunlap - for designing our logo and Conner Wittman - for producing our music. Visit thebirdybunchpodcast.com for more information.

Guess what, Nature Lovers? It's time for a new episode of The Birdy Bunch Podcast! This week, Matt, Brittany, and CJ rank some of the most unique - and disgusting - animal defense mechanisms! This episode gets a little crazy so we hope you enjoy it! In addition, Matt shares all about his friend Ed for our Creature Feature, and Australian CJ briefly joins us to discuss some Platypus conservation! It's a super fun episode you don't want to miss! For more information about the podcast, follow us on social media @TheBirdyBunchPodcast .   Timestamps: 00:00 - Intro        02:33 - Creature Feature             10:02 - Current Events             12:57 - Animal Defense Mechanisms    34:54 - Outro     

Happy April, Nature Lovers! The Birdy Bunch Podcast is back this week with another superb episode! This week we are talking with Jordan Rutter and Gabriel Foley, two of the cofounders of Bird Names For Birds! Bird Names For Birds is a cause whose goal is to raise awareness for the concern about eponymous and honorific common bird names. In addition, Brittany features the Jack Pine - or Kirtland's - Warbler, Matt shares a current event all about the ban of ivory trading in the UK, and CJ asks the Bunch about their most memorable prank experiences. For more information about Bird Names for Birds, please visit their website at www.birdnamesforbirds.wordpress.com or follow them on social media!   Just as a reminder this episode of The Birdy Bunch Podcast is brought to you by our Patreon. Visit our website www.thebirdybunchpodcast.com or www.patreon.com/thebirdybunchpodcast. Thank you for your support, Patrons!   Timestamps: 00:00 - Intro        04:03 - Creature Feature             09:44 - Current Events             14:00 - QOTD      19:22 - Bird Names For Birds with Jordan Rutter and Gabriel Foley    52:08 - Outro      

Howdy folks…we mean, hey there nature lovers! On today's episode of The Birdy Bunch Podcast we're going back in time to an era so affectionately called the “ Wild Wild West” by Will Smith. Why, you ask? To discuss the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly! In addition, CJ features the fastest gunslinger in the west, Brittany tells us about some pesticides that are not exactly treating some of our insects well, and Matt inquires about everybody's theme song. So giddy up, pard'ner—you shan't be missin' this one!   Just as a reminder this episode of The Birdy Bunch Podcast is brought to you by our Patreon visit our website www.thebirdybunchpodcast.com or www.patreon.com/thebirdybunchpodcast. Thank you for your support, Patrons!   Timestamps: 00:00 - Intro        04:50 - Creature Feature             09:20 - Current Events             16:05 - QOTD      20:20 - The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly    49:18 - Outro         Thank you to Sarah Dunlap - for designing our logo and Conner Wittman - for producing our music. Visit thebirdybunchpodcast.com for more information.

We got the creative conservation juices flowing this week with a brand new episode of The Birdy Bunch Podcast! This week, Brittany, CJ, and Matt are joined by good friend of the podcast Maggie Warren! Maggie is a conservation educator and wildlife artist in the Chicago-area! In addition, Matt shares a current event all about anteaters, and Brittany features a beautifully brilliant Broad-Billed bird! It's an artsy episode you don't want to miss! Ovenbird audio is by Christopher McPherson.   Just as a reminder this episode of The Birdy Bunch Podcast is brought to you by our Patreon visit our website www.thebirdybunchpodcast.com or www.patreon.com/thebirdybunchpodcast. Thank you for your support Patrons!   Timestamps: 00:00 - Intro        02:20 - Creature Feature             05:42 - Current Events             12:21 - QOTD      17:30 - Conservation Art with Maggie Warren    45:43 - Outro         Thank you to Sarah Dunlap - for designing our logo and Conner Wittman - for producing our music. Visit thebirdybunchpodcast.com for more information.

Save the bees (especially native ones)!! Today, we're talking about the Bell Bowl Prairie, and how a little swatch of land could cause so much chaos! In addition to our round table about land management and endangered species in crisis, CJ features a friendly little fella known as the rusty-patched bumblebee and Brittany tells us about a pretty ‘crappy' civilian science initiative! If you'd like to learn more about Bell Bowl Prairie or how to save it, make sure to visit www.savebellbowlprairie.org, and if you're an Illinois resident make sure to reach out to your State representative. Let's save the Bell Bowl Prairie! Timestamps: 00:00 - Intro        03:37 - Creature Feature             09:50 - Current Events             19:37 - Saving the Bell Bowl Prairie  59:43 - Outro         Thank you to Sarah Dunlap - for designing our logo and Conner Wittman - for producing our music. Visit thebirdybunchpodcast.com for more information.  

Happy Early Valentine's Day, Nature Lovers! We love all of you amazing support! We recently hit 10,000 downloads and are thankful for all of your love! This week on The Birdy Bunch Podcast, we're ranking some of our favorite - and least favorite! - displays of animal courting and ‘love'! In addition, Matt features his favorite pair of Boobies and CJ shars a current event about some of our cephalopod and crustacean friends getting recognized as sentient beings! It's a super fun episode you don't want to miss! Follow us on Instagram and Facebook @TheBirdyBunchPodcast for more updates on new episodes!! Timestamps: 00:00 - Intro        05:14 - Creature Feature             10:24 - Current Events             14:22 - Animal "Love"; a Tier List 49:42 - Outro       Thank you to Sarah Dunlap - for designing our logo and Conner Wittman - for producing our music. Visit thebirdybunchpodcast.com for more information.

How do you shop, Nature Lovers? With conservation on your mind we hope! This week on The Birdy Bunch Podcast, we talk everything green consumerism and how to be the most conservation-minded when spending your money! In addition, CJ features nature's garbagemen for the Creature Feature and Matt shares some exciting plans for our local Chicago aquarium! It's a super fun episode you don't want to miss! Follow us on Instagram and Facebook @TheBirdyBunchPodcast for more updates on new episodes!!   Timestamps: 00:00 - Intro        03:07 - Creature Feature             06:37 - Current Events             12:32 - Conservation Consumerism 41:53 - Outro         Thank you to Sarah Dunlap - for designing our logo and Conner Wittman - for producing our music. Visit thebirdybunchpodcast.com for more information.

Welcome back, nature lovers, to the first episode of 2022! Help us ring in Twenty-Twenty-Tuna with this special recap episode! Did you live under a rock this past year? Wait until the turn of the calendar? Hunker down to avoid any 2021-related conflicts? Well, we're here for you to fill you in on all the conservation you might have missed! Join us as we highlight some of the major conservation events of the past year. In addition to this synopsis, CJ also has a creature feature of mythical proportions, and Brittany rings in the new year with a special birth! If you missed last year, you certainly won't want to miss this! Just as a reminder, episodes are now bi-weekly so we will see you in two weeks!!   Timestamps: 00:00 - Intro        04:38 - Creature Feature             09:50 - Current Events             14:02 - 2021 - Conservation Recap! 45:40 - Outro         Thank you to Sarah Dunlap - for designing our logo and Conner Wittman - for producing our music. Visit thebirdybunchpodcast.com for more information.

Happy Holiday's Nature Lovers! Thank you so much for all your support during 2021! This week, we're ranking some of the cutest and strangest animals who give gifts! In addition, Matt tells where you can get sustainable holiday gifts, Brittany expresses her disgust for balls of protein-rich saliva, and CJ features their favorite creature! Such a fun episode to wrap up the year! We will be back with new episodes of The Birdy Bunch Podcast on January 10, 2022! Starting then, we will be releasing biweekly episodes! Be sure to follow us on social media @TheBirdyBunchPodcast for more updates on our return in 2022! Catch ya next year, nature lovers!   Timestamps: 00:00 - Intro        03:32 - Creature Feature             011:23 - Current Events             20:24 - The Gifts of Wildlife  53:33 - Outro         Thank you to Sarah Dunlap - for designing our logo, Elliot Heye - for being our Writing and Production Assistant, and Conner Wittman - for producing our music. Visit thebirdybunchpodcast.com for more information.

Oh, let us help you there! It looks like you spilled…the tea, that is! This week, we have a bit of tea time with the Birdy Bunch Podcast, and share the spiciest drama that the outdoor world has to offer! From bugs to birds and everything in between, there's a lot of piping hot tea to warm you this cold winter. In addition, Matt features the manatee (haha), Brittany tells us about some sea turtles, and Matt and CJ both outline some Chicago birding news. So strap right in folks, because the drama is just about to begin!   Timestamps: 00:00 - Intro        05:18 - Creature Feature             07:48 - Current Events             17:46 - Tea Time with The Birdy Bunch  44:30- Outro         Thank you to Sarah Dunlap - for designing our logo, Elliot Heye - for being our Writing and Production Assistant, and Conner Wittman - for producing our music. Visit thebirdybunchpodcast.com for more information.  

Howdy Nature Lovers! Get ready for this brand new episode of The Birdy Bunch Podcast! This week, Matt, CJ, and Brittany chat with Sarah Feliciano and Matthew Owens about their business Zoo Enrichment Lab, as well as all the positives enrichment can have in an animal's life when under human care! In addition, Matt shares about Amazonian Manatee numbers, CJ shares tiger news from Mother Russia, and Brittany features one of North America's most infamous aquatic mammals. It's a wildly surprising episode you don't want to miss! Make sure to visit www.zooenrichmentlab.com to learn more about Zoo Enrichment Lab, and follow The Birdy Bunch Podcast on social media @TheBirdyBunchPodcast for more updates!    Timestamps: 00:00 - Intro        03:55 - Creature Feature             06:25 - Current Events      16:58 - Zoo Enrichment Lab with Sarah Feliciano and Matthew Owens      46:56 - Outro       50:43 - Matt Rejoins the Call      Thank you to Sarah Dunlap - for designing our logo, Elliot Heye - for being our Writing and Production Assistant, and Conner Wittman - for producing our music. Visit www.thebirdybunchpodcast.com for more information.

New episode of The Birdy Bunch Podcast, I choose you! This week Matt, Brittany, and CJ discuss all of our favorite animals in fictional media and their real-life animal counterparts. In addition, Matt tells us about some new protections for waters surrounding the Galapagos, Brittany updates on new regulations protecting Spotted Owls, and CJ features the Electric Mouse Pokemon, Pikachu - wait, that doesn't sound right? Make sure to follow us on social media at @TheBirdyBunchPodcast for more updates!   Timestamps: 00:00 - Intro        02:15 - Creature Feature             08:47 - Current Events             23:28 - Animals in Fiction 01:03:36 - Outro         Thank you to Sarah Dunlap - for designing our logo, Elliot Heye - for being our Writing and Production Assistant, and Conner Wittman - for producing our music. Visit thebirdybunchpodcast.com for more information.

What's on your FYP today, nature lovers? Looks like a new episode of The Birdy Bunch Podcast! This week we attempt to tackle all things about conservation in media - social and otherwise. In addition, CJ lets us know that lemurs think everything is a drum, Matt updates us on the New Zealand Bird(?) of the Year, and Brittany features the Amur Leopard! It's a fun filled conversation you definitely do not want to miss! Follow us on out social media for updates @TheBirdyBunchPodcast   Timestamps: 00:00 - Intro        06:41 - Creature Feature             08:28 - Current Events             21:31 - Media and Conservation 56:57- Outro         Thank you to Sarah Dunlap - for designing our logo, Elliot Heye - for being our Writing and Production Assistant, and Conner Wittman - for producing our music. Visit thebirdybunchpodcast.com for more information.

In this week's episode of The Birdy Bunch Podcast, we take you on an audio field trip to The Big Apple! Join The Bunch in the next of our ‘Wild' Series as we discuss some of the infamous conservation stories happening all over the city that never sleeps, New York, New York with guest Thomas Hynes! Tom is the author of Wild City: A Brief History of New York in 40 Animals, make sure to check it out! In addition, CJ updates us on the tale of the Columbian Cocaine Hippos, Brittany shares some news about baby gorillas in the DRC, and Matt features an ancient sewer reptile! It's an episode you don't want to miss!! Follow us on social media @TheBirdyBunchPodcast for updates on the podcast! Timestamps: 00:00 - Intro        02:49 - Creature Feature              5:39 - Current Events      14:46 - Wild NYC with Thomas Hynes 46:13 - Outro       Thank you to Sarah Dunlap - for designing our logo, Elliot Heye - for being our Writing and Production Assistant, and Conner Wittman - for producing our music. Visit www.thebirdybunchpodcast.com for more information.

Ahoy! This week, The Birdy Bunch Podcast tackles the e-fish-ancy of aquaculture and seafood sustainability with guest Ryan McHugh! Ryan shares some of his experience from working in fisheries and the aquaculture industry. In addition, Matt tells us how to brew a cleaner beer, Brittany shares some fun news about jaguars' rare social interactions, and CJ spares no expense for the Creature Feature! It's a fun episode you won't want to miss! Follow us on social media @TheBirdyBunchPodcast for more information!    Timestamps: 00:00 - Intro        03:07 - Creature Feature             07:09 - Current Events      18:17 - Aquaculture and Sustainable Seafood with Ryan McHugh       47:40 - Outro         Thank you to Sarah Dunlap - for designing our logo, Elliot Heye - for being our Writing and Production Assistant, and Conner Wittman - for producing our music. Visit www.thebirdybunchpodcast.com for more information.

The Spooky Bunch might be gone, but this week we're discussing a topic that CJ finds terrifying! This week, The Birdy Bunch Podcast discusses everything about Convergent Evolution. In addition, CJ discusses a bat bridge in Kentucky, Matt shares some informative conservation videos, and Brittany features a creature that convergently evolved to a hedgehog. Make sure to follow us on social media at @TheBirdyBunchPodcast for more updates!   Timestamps: 00:00 - Intro        02:22 - Creature Feature             04:09 - Current Events      18:08 - Convergent Evolution       42:08 - Outro         Thank you to Sarah Dunlap - for designing our logo, Elliot Heye - for being our Writing and Production Assistant, and Conner Wittman - for producing our music. Visit www.thebirdybunchpodcast.com for more information.

They're back, and spookier than ever!! To conclude this year's Spooky Festivities, the Birdy Bunch is throwing it back to last year, and bringing y'all Spooky Animals II. In addition, Matt features the koala bear (or does he), CJ tells us about the domestication of the scariest bird EVER, and Brittany talks about some innovative documentary recording. Join us for this final October installment, but beware-you may just want to listen to this one with the lights on.Thank you to Rosenda Manuel Fraga for the American Barn Owl audio. Make sure to use the code ‘SPOOKY' at our merch store to get 15% off your order, code expires October 31st!   Timestamps: 00:00 - Intro        03:51 - Creature Feature             08:33 - Current Events      20:17 - Animal Sounds      48:37 - Outro         Thank you to Sarah Dunlap - for designing our logo, Elliot Heye - for being our Writing and Production Assistant, and Conner Wittman - for producing our music. Visit www.thebirdybunchpodcast.com for more information.

Grab your shark repellant and don your Halloween costume for this week's fun-ear-cinating episode of The Spooky Bunch Podcast! We had such a blast this week talking all things animals wearing their homemade and nature-inspired costumes! In addition, Brittany shares about a batty current event that happened in Illinois a few weeks back, Matt continues to be the podcast's very own Moth *space* Man, and CJ features a creature who can only be spotted on a dark knight. It's a super fun episode you surely don't want to miss! Make sure to visit out merch store and use the code ‘SPOOKY' for 15% off your entire order!   Timestamps: 00:00 - Intro        05:22 - Creature Feature             10:46 - Current Events      21:48 - Animals in Costumes     42:00 - Outro         Thank you to Sarah Dunlap - for designing our logo, Elliot Heye - for being our Writing and Production Assistant, and Conner Wittman - for producing our music. Visit www.thebirdybunchpodcast.com for more information.

A very special and spooky episode of The Birdy Bunch Podcast; we talk all things about the importance of dead things with guest Emily Graslie!! We had such a lovely conversation with her about museums, ecosystems, and some local birding! In addition, CJ tells us about a group of young people who discovered a giant penguin fossil, Matt shares about some conservation updates revolving around the Mauritius Kestral, and Brittany features ‘a literal dragon' in our Creature Feature segment! It is a wildly fun episode you don't want to miss! Follow us on Instagram @thebirdybunchpodcast for more updates! Also make sure to check out all the amazing projects that Emily shared, including ‘Art Lab!!' and ‘Prehistoric Road Trip!!' at  Emily's website, www.emilygraslie.com.   Timestamps: 00:00 - Intro        04:02 - Creature Feature             07:16 - Current Events      21:29 - The Importance of Dead Things with Emily Graslie      45:38 - Outro         Thank you to Sarah Dunlap - for designing our logo, Elliot Heye - for being our Writing and Production Assistant, and Conner Wittman - for producing our music. Visit www.thebirdybunchpodcast.com for more information.

The Spooky Bunch has finally arrived!!! Get ready for a whole month filled to the cauldron's brim with fears, frights, and fascination! For the first episode of The Spooky Bunch, Matt brings all of us nature lovers around the campfire for some folktales and storytelling; that's right folks, get your s'mores ready! In addition, CJ shares an Aussie update on some unfortunate conservation legislation, Brittany brightens things up with a community coming together for condors, and Matt guides us all on a Snipe hunt for our featured creature! Such a fun start to the Spooky Bunch! Just as a reminder, we are running a discount code at our Mech Store; use the code “SPOOKY” for 15% off your order! Special Thanks to Lance A.M. Benner for the Common Loon Audio. For more spooky updates, follow us on Instagram @thebirdybunchpodcast!   Timestamps: 00:00 - Intro        05:19 - Spooky Creature Feature             08:16 - Spooky Current Events      23:01 - Around The Campfire!      49:10 - Outro         Thank you to Sarah Dunlap - for designing our logo, Elliot Heye - for being our Writing and Production Assistant, and Conner Wittman - for producing our music. Visit www.thebirdybunchpodcast.com for more information.

“Conservation, Education, Fascination” is usually what we say here at The Birdy Bunch, but we also stand for something else: Inclusion! This week we chat with Virgina Rose and Freya McGregor of Birdability to #BirdabilityWeek and all things inclusion in nature! In addition, Matt shares some spooky stories about moths, CJ mentions the idea of bringing mammoths back from extinction, and Brittany features a creature who is birdy while also sporting some sweet sneakers on their face. We had a fun time with this episode, and know you'll have a fun time listening! Make sure to check out our merch store and use the code ‘SPOOKY' fore 15% off your entire order!   Timestamps: 00:00 - Intro        03:16 - Creature Feature             05:33 - Current Events      21:29 - #BirdabilityWeek with Virginia Rose and Freya McGregor      41:15 - Outro         Thank you to Sarah Dunlap - for designing our logo, Elliot Heye - for being our Writing and Production Assistant, and Conner Wittman - for producing our music. Visit www.thebirdybunchpodcast.com for more information.

What is Sound? Why do we Speak? Can you make a Blue Whale Sing please? These are the questions that keep us at The Birdy Bunch up at night. This week, we will be discussing anything and everything animal sounds! From the loudest animals to human speech! In addition, Matt tells us about some Duck Stamp changes, Brittany shares about anthropomorphized squirrels, we have Jack Cross share a guest current event about the tragic dolphin incident in the Faroe Islands a few weeks back, and CJ features an animal who we only know to say ‘Ring-ding-ding-ding-dingeringeding'. Sounds like a blast, right?! Thank you to Rosenda Manuel Fraga and Niels Poul Dreyer for the American Barn Owl and Peaquet's Parrot audio, respectfully.   Timestamps: 00:00 - Intro        03:37 - Creature Feature             08:33 - Current Events      22:42 - Animal Sounds      37:40 - Outro         Thank you to Sarah Dunlap - for designing our logo, Elliot Heye - for being our Writing and Production Assistant, and Conner Wittman - for producing our music. Visit www.thebirdybunchpodcast.com for more information.

We love our pet companions, but some animals definitely shouldn't be in our homes where they can't get proper care!! This episode we tell the tales of some exotic pets gone wrong! In addition, CJ shares news about the Tasmanian Tiger, Matt swoops in with some Tree Swallow updates, and Brittany features one catty exotic animal. It's one wild episode! For more information about this episode, follow us on social media @thebirdybunchpodcast!! Timestamps: 00:00 - Intro        03:23 - Creature Feature             07:04 - Current Events      18:30 - Exotic Pets      52:04 - Outro         Thank you to Sarah Dunlap - for designing our logo, Elliot Heye - for being our Writing and Production Assistant, and Conner Wittman - for producing our music. Visit www.thebirdybunchpodcast.com for more information.

Earth is a planet of extremes. Extreme places, and extreme animals. But some animals are more extreme than others. Join The Birdy Bunch as we share some of our favorites of the most unusual and the most extraordinary. This week's episode is an homage to one of our favorite old AAnimal Planet shows, “The Most Extreme”. In addition, CJ shares about a predatory tortoise, Brittany gives an update on vaccines for animals, and Matt features the Bar Tailed Godwit and their extreme migration! Make sure to give it a listen!   Timestamps: 00:00 - Intro        05:28 - Creature Feature             07:21 - Current Events      23:35 - The Most Extreme      41:59 - Outro         Thank you to Sarah Dunlap - for designing our logo, Elliot Heye - for being our Writing and Production Assistant, and Conner Wittman - for producing our music. Visit www.thebirdybunchpodcast.com for more information.

What even is biomimicry? Matt is back this week and he sure doesn't know! Give this week's episode of The Birdy Bunch Podcast we talk all about animals mimicking each other!! In addition, Brittany shares about a war happening between birds, Matt gets really sad about Cha-Cha, and CJ features a friend of Jack. Big thank you to our sponsor, Rainforest Café. Special Thank you to Timothy Marquardt for the Red-Tailed Hawk audio. Make sure to buy the “I'm Plovin' It” Design which is a fundraiser for the “Monty & Rose 2” Documentary by Bob Dolgan!   Timestamps: 00:00 - Intro        02:48 - Creature Feature             09:38 - Current Events      20:15 - Biomimicry (the other one)      44:23 - Outro         Thank you to Sarah Dunlap - for designing our logo, Elliot Heye - for being our Writing and Production Assistant, and Conner Wittman - for producing our music. Visit www.thebirdybunchpodcast.com for more information.

Animals live in all types of environments, but how are they adapted to live in such wild places? Well this week on The Birdy Bunch Podcast we talk all about it! Matt is out this week moving back to school, so our good friend Jack Cross joins CJ and Brittany! In addition, CJ tells about some hyena archeologists, Jack updates on the genome sequencing of a Brazilian viper, and Brittany features her first ever creature! It's a fun episode you won't want to miss!   Timestamps: 00:00 - Intro        03:17 - Creature Feature             05:47 - Current Events      13:54 - Animal Environmental Adaptations      34:52 - Outro         Thank you to Sarah Dunlap - for designing our logo, Elliot Heye - for being our Writing and Production Assistant, and Conner Wittman - for producing our music. Visit www.thebirdybunchpodcast.com for more information.