The Bird Joy Podcast

Dexter Patterson and Jason Hall
  • 5.0 (55)
  • EDUCATION
  • UPDATED WEEKLY
The Bird Joy Podcast

Welcome to the Bird Joy Podcast! Hosted by Dexter "The Wisco Birder"  Patterson and Jason "The Birding Beardsman" Hall. This podcast is for all the homies across the globe, a spot where we can celebrate birds together. Are you ready for some Bird Joy? Let's Go!

  1. Field Inclusive Superheroes with Lauren D. Pharr and Dr. Murry Burgess

    5 DAYS AGO

    Field Inclusive Superheroes with Lauren D. Pharr and Dr. Murry Burgess

    We have some excellence for ya'll on this episode! Our two guests today are Dr. Murry Burgess [https://www.mlburgess.org/]and Lauren D. Pharr [https://lpharr.com/], the founders of Field Inclusive Inc. [https://www.fieldinclusive.org/] In this episode, we get into the need for an organization like Field Inclusive when it comes to helping marginalized field researchers, including those who are out in our forests, swamps, ponds, oceans, and deserts studying birds! This covers everything from field training to safety training and even equitable financial compensation. You can learn more about this in the upcoming Field Inclusive Week 2025 [https://www.fieldinclusive.org/field-inclusive-week-2025/]. Additionally, we cover some of the research that has impacted birds across the spectrum. From the key research by Lauren on the Red-cockaded Woodpecker, [https://lpharr.com/rcws/]which was recently delisted [https://www.fws.gov/press-release/2024-10/downlisting-red-cockaded-woodpecker-endangered-threatened] from endangered to threatened by USFWS to the key research by Dr. Burgess on light pollution on the lives of songbirds [https://www.proquest.com/openview/ac7a428d92e5eb8b882980242fbbcceb/1?pq-origsite=gscholar&cbl=18750&diss=y]. We do not forget to discuss the colorful and magical book Sparrow Loves Birds [https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/murry-burgess/sparrow-loves-birds/9780316307222/], authored by Dr. Burgess and illustrated by Tamisha Anthony. We discuss the impetus for the books and why it's such a comprehensive onramp for kids to explore their communities. Join us this week for incredible joy and inspiration with these two heroes of ornithology. Be sure to follow our podcast on Instagram at @thebirdjoypod [https://www.instagram.com/THEBIRDJOYPOD] and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Please share this with a friend and help us spread a little Bird Joy.  BIPOC Birding Club of Wisconsin [https://www.bipocbirdingclub.org/] In Color Birding Club [https://www.incolorbirding.org/]

    51 min
  2. Gull Joy with Amar Ayyash

    NOV 29

    Gull Joy with Amar Ayyash

    It's finally here! The long-awaited Gull Joy episode. This week, Dexter and Jason converse with one of North America's most well-known gull experts, Amar Ayyash [https://www.illinoisbirds.org/amar-ayyash-a-birder-you-should-know/]. We sit down with Amar and discuss how he went from making French fry-infused eye contact with gulls as a kid to being the author of a sensational new gull text, "The Gull Guide: North America [https://press.princeton.edu/books/paperback/9780691195896/the-gull-guide?srsltid=AfmBOop6iFlkjaK_bcdN_nwIf7r7xhYDG2iCX3TiJGQRpPq7z-8eHiUJ]." We dive into how to find joy in the pursuit of gulling. This includes visiting Cape May to see an Ivory Gull [https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/breaking/rarely-seen-ivory-gull-draws-birders-to-cape-may-county/article_7ab0ca68-e29d-11de-8968-001cc4c002e0.html], hanging in landfills [https://www.audubon.org/news/birdist-rule-44-learn-love-landfills-and-sewage-treatment-plants], and enjoying a nice Gull Frolic [https://www.illinoisbirds.org/event/23rd-annual-ios-gull-frolic-2025/] every winter. Amar makes it clear that gulling can be for everyone. He shares his experiences with beginners and advanced birders alike. You can feel the gull joy emanating from every moment of this episode. If you are looking for a fun and inclusive discussion on how to get started, look no further. Be sure to check out the North American Gulls [https://www.facebook.com/share/g/14ZXJM1hn3/?mibextid=adzO7l]Facebook page and anythinglarus.com [http://www.anythinglarus.com/] for the community you seek! Be sure to follow our podcast on Instagram at @thebirdjoypod [https://www.instagram.com/THEBIRDJOYPOD] and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. BIPOC Birding Club of Wisconsin [https://www.bipocbirdingclub.org/] In Color Birding Club [https://www.incolorbirding.org/]

    41 min
  3. The Joy of Bird Migration with Mariah Hryniewich and Luis Eduardo Gles

    NOV 22

    The Joy of Bird Migration with Mariah Hryniewich and Luis Eduardo Gles

    On this week's episode, Dexter and Jason sit down with two fun and amazing folks, Luis Gles and Mariah Hryniewich of Woodstars Nature Tours. Mariah and Luis speak to us from the Rio Grande Valley in Texas about manning the Florida Keys Hawkwatch [https://floridakeyshawkwatch.com/] and experiencing the greatest Peregrine Falcon migrations [https://floridakeyshawkwatch.com/2013/10/26/another-record-peregrine-falcon-count/] on record. The Hawkwatch also boasts incredible numbers of Swallow-tailed and Mississippi Kites [https://floridakeyshawkwatch.com/2021/08/05/kites-at-last/], Bahama Swallows, and tons of warbler flight. If that extreme heat, humidity, and mosquitoes weren't enough, Luis and Mariah now spend the spring and summer months in the Bering Sea on St. Paul Island [https://ebird.org/hotspot/L261146], AK, leading bird tours and doing surveys. You never know what can show up on the island. This year, they got folks on a Smew and a Garganey, Song Thrush, and Little Bunting [https://www.facebook.com/share/p/14xyyr45f4/?mibextid=adzO7l].  They discuss biting on the island and how it differs from the Hawkwatch. You will hear about more different bird species in this episode than in any other episode. Have those Google fingers ready to explore and enjoy!! Be sure to follow our podcast on Instagram at @thebirdjoypod [https://www.instagram.com/THEBIRDJOYPOD] and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. BIPOC Birding Club of Wisconsin [https://www.bipocbirdingclub.org/] In Color Birding Club [https://www.incolorbirding.org/]

    49 min
  4. The Study of Birders with Jordan Rowley

    NOV 15

    The Study of Birders with Jordan Rowley

    Dexter and Jason sit down with Jordan Rowley on this week's episode. Jordan is a PhD student at Utah State University [https://chass.usu.edu/sociology/directory/graduate-students/jordan-rowley], where he focuses on the social science surrounding birders and birdwatchers. It's like birding… but of people! The research is fascinating as it breaks down some of the demographics of birders and where they fall on different social scales. We research and discuss why things would break down that way. Dexter and Jason get a crash course on multi-species justice. We also discuss adventures and misadventures surrounding McGillivray's Warblers [https://ebird.org/species/macwar] and Mountain Bluebirds [https://ebird.org/species/moublu]. We get into the fantastic YouTube channel Bright Eyed Birding [https://www.youtube.com/@brighteyedbirding] and discuss how it helps create a welcoming and inclusive community. Jordan puts us onto what he sees as the opportunity for a better birding community in his area and has us dreaming about Pink Robins [https://ebird.org/species/pinrob1] and Montezuma Quail [https://ebird.org/species/monqua]! Join us this week as we have a convo with Jordan and spread some of that Bird Joy!! Be sure to follow our podcast on Instagram at @thebirdjoypod [https://www.instagram.com/THEBIRDJOYPOD] and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. BIPOC Birding Club of Wisconsin [https://www.bipocbirdingclub.org/] In Color Birding Club [https://www.incolorbirding.org/]

    43 min
  5. Birding & Science Communication with Isaiah "Ike" Scott

    NOV 8

    Birding & Science Communication with Isaiah "Ike" Scott

    Extraordinary episode ahead! This week, we speak with Isaiah "Ike" Scott, a senior at Cornell University, specifically focusing on studying ornithology at the Cornell Lab or Ornithology [https://merlin.allaboutbirds.org/?utm_source=adgrant&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=merlin&utm_content=merlinbirdguide&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiA57G5BhDUARIsACgCYnzY_peayH9AHlsmq0lI5NUqI5WT5yNNvgmmdRzopob6hc_ZFGKQVNgaAvsMEALw_wcB]. Ike talks to us about what it's like to study birds and how we followed this particular path in his education, including his teaching under Dr. Irby Lovett [https://ecologyandevolution.cornell.edu/irby-j-lovette]. Ike is also a bird artist and can express some beautiful aspects of his birding. Check it out at Ikes Bird Art [https://www.instagram.com/ikesbirdart/]. We touch on what it's like to be a student birder seeing his first Golden Eagle and how those experiences play a role in developing as a practical science communicator. It's essential to get more folks from various communities involved in birding. That comes through in Ike's social media, educational pursuits, and advice to other budding Black science communicators! We journey to the future, Snoop Dogg album in hand, and figure out where Ike is going! Join us as we spend some time sharing the always welcome Bird Joy!! Be sure to follow our podcast on Instagram at @thebirdjoypod [https://www.instagram.com/THEBIRDJOYPOD] and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. BIPOC Birding Club of Wisconsin [https://www.bipocbirdingclub.org/] In Color Birding Club [https://www.incolorbirding.org/]

    47 min
  6. A Conversation with Christian Cooper

    NOV 1

    A Conversation with Christian Cooper

    Join Dexter and Jason on this fantastic episode where we welcome our FIRST-ever guest on the podcast! In this episode, we are so excited to chat with best-selling author Christian Cooper about all things birding and bird joy! We cover experiences from his books, "Better Living Through Birding, Notes from a Black Man in the Natural World." [https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/671722/better-living-through-birding-by-christian-cooper/], and his amazing Emmy-winning TV show, Extraordinary Birder with Christian Cooper [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt28102657/]. How does Christian find his "bird joy"? How does he feel about the movement of many new Black and brown birders in the community to create new space? We get into all things the experience of being a birder today, some of our grounding experiences with each other on Little St. Simon's island in Georgia, how we contextualize our own birding journeys, blushing from unsolicited compliments from folks in rainbow unicorn shirts, and even the decision by the AOS to change all eponymous bird names. Christian gave a fantastic talk at the formerly San Diego Audubon (now San Diego Bird Alliance), which covered all 12 points of opposition [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9uK1-vFqry0]to #BirdNamesForBirds. We also are so honored to discuss Christian's new book, "The Urban Owls, How Flaco and Friends Made the City Their Home [https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/christian-cooper/the-urban-owls/9780316583572/?lens=little-brown-books-for-young-readers]" which releases on Feb 18th. Take a listen and enjoy this special conversation with Christian Cooper! Be sure to follow our podcast on Instagram at @thebirdjoypod [https://www.instagram.com/THEBIRDJOYPOD] and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. BIPOC Birding Club of Wisconsin [https://www.bipocbirdingclub.org/] In Color Birding Club [https://www.incolorbirding.org/]

    50 min
  7. Welcome to Season 2 of the Bird Joy Podcast

    OCT 25

    Welcome to Season 2 of the Bird Joy Podcast

    We are back!!! It's been too long homies. We have missed you! On this episode, Jason and Dexter get back in the saddle and catch up on what's been going on in the bird world. This includes visiting the International Crane Foundation [https://savingcranes.org/] with the homies to see birds like the endangered Whooping Crane [https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Whooping_Crane/overview] and the incredibly beautiful Blue Crane [https://savingcranes.org/learn/species-field-guide/blue-crane/]. It also included doing some conservation work with Bird Safe Philly and advocating for bird safe windows/glass. Most notably however is the discussion on how homies in Philly and Madison got to witness this seasons SWIFTNADO [https://www.instagram.com/greenphilly.news/reel/DAHllh3JOtm/] action! So much joy and wonder watching Chimney Swifts [https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Chimney_Swift/overview] go "nite-nite" for the evening while preparing to migrate south for the winter. Dexter and Jason wrap up by discussing some upcoming trips with their bird clubs and the migrants they are still looking forward to this fall including Golden Eagles [https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Golden_Eagle/id] and sparrows. They discuss their excitement on the number of guests for next season including a special guest for Episode 2! Be sure to follow our podcast on Instagram at @thebirdjoypod [https://www.instagram.com/THEBIRDJOYPOD] and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. BIPOC Birding Club of Wisconsin [https://www.bipocbirdingclub.org/] In Color Birding Club [https://www.incolorbirding.org/]

    38 min
  8. Season 1 Wrap Up

    JUL 12

    Season 1 Wrap Up

    Wow. We started in "Fake Spring" and took you through birding etiquette, safety, diversity/inclusion, and budgeting. We are here in mid-summer, excited to celebrate the bird joy we created and shared! We look forward to continuing that and bringing you new and fresh voices from around the birding world. We are all "nerding out" through our bird joy, and it's so beautiful. Sometimes, we focus so much on the technical aspects of birding that we miss sharing the joy involved in the process. Although Dexter and Jason love talking birds and bird joy, they only provide two perspectives. There are so many other voices we'd like to highlight and hear from along this journey. We want to discuss fun things like best bird songs, fall migration (crazy fall warbler ID [https://swibirds.org/blog/2020/9/6/a-beginners-guide-to-fall-warblers])  winter birding (weird duck season [https://myfwc.com/hunting/waterfowl/hunt-guide/duck-id/]), and GULLS! Are there other pathways to bird joy that we have not discussed yet? Our host, Jason, is diving into field journaling and bird sketching. Can we interpret nature like our homie and creator of our podcast representations, Casey Girard [https://www.instagram.com/caseygirard/]? Can we get good at nature photography like our homie Anwar Abdul-Qawi [https://www.instagram.com/_anwaraq/]?  We are taking a break to get the next season going, but we aren't going anywhere! We will continue to share items on our Instagram profile [https://www.instagram.com/thebirdjoypod/]. Be good and bird safely! Be sure to follow our podcast on Instagram at @thebirdjoypod [https://www.instagram.com/THEBIRDJOYPOD] and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. BIPOC Birding Club of Wisconsin [https://www.bipocbirdingclub.org/] In Color Birding Club [https://www.incolorbirding.org/]

    40 min
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5
out of 5
55 Ratings

About

Welcome to the Bird Joy Podcast! Hosted by Dexter "The Wisco Birder"  Patterson and Jason "The Birding Beardsman" Hall. This podcast is for all the homies across the globe, a spot where we can celebrate birds together. Are you ready for some Bird Joy? Let's Go!

Information

  • Creator
    Dexter Patterson and Jason Hall
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    19
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Show Website
    The Bird Joy Podcast

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