13 episodes

New father, Ian Carlsen, shares short stories and anecdotes from the fields of birding and parenthood.

The Bird Dad Podcast Ian Carlsen

    • Science
    • 4.9 • 36 Ratings

New father, Ian Carlsen, shares short stories and anecdotes from the fields of birding and parenthood.

    Episode 13: Hello From the Staircase

    Episode 13: Hello From the Staircase

    In this episode we get a little update on the growing complexities of fatherhood, and hear a cool skulky bird.
    Y'know, Bird Dad stuff. 
    Species in focus: 
    Black-billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus erythropthalmus)
    Written, recorded, and produced by Ian Carlsen.
    Music by Doubletone. 

    • 9 min
    Episode 12: Spring in Detail

    Episode 12: Spring in Detail

    In this mini episode we take notice of the finer points of spring's arrival, and turn our gaze towards a bright object in the morning sky.
    Species in focus: 
    American Woodcock (Scolopax minor)
    Written, recorded, and produced by Ian Carlsen.
    Music by Doubletone. 

    • 7 min
    Episode 11: Memory of a Hummingbird

    Episode 11: Memory of a Hummingbird

    In this episode we feed some ducks in the park and find ourselves remembering an unexpected life bird, an Anna's Hummingbird one cold January morning in Portland, Oregon.
    The documentary I mention is available to watch at: http://www.ymefilm.com
    For a limited time use the code: "birddad" to receive 50% off the screening price.
     
    Species in focus: 
    Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)Anna's Hummingbird (Calypte anna) 
    Written, recorded, and produced by Ian Carlsen.Music by Doubletone. 

    • 15 min
    Episode 10: First of the Year

    Episode 10: First of the Year

    In this episode we travel around York County, Maine with three friends, Doug Hitchcox, Nick Lund, and Michael Tucker to celebrate as many "First of Year" sightings as we can in one morning. Including a vagrant Rock Wren, and an elusive Northern Shrike.
    Species in focus: 
    Herring Gull (Larus argentatus smithsonianus)Black Scoter (Melanitta americana)Harlequin Duck (Histrionicus histrionicus) Northern Shrike (Lanius borealis) Common Redpoll (Acanthis flammea)Rock Wren (Salpinctes obsoletus) 
    Written, recorded, and produced by Ian Carlsen.Music by Doubletone. 

    • 15 min
    Episode 9: Florida Lake

    Episode 9: Florida Lake

    In this episode we take a walk around Florida Lake Park in Freeport, Maine to listen to the birdsongs of spring migration and reminisce about former ‘life bird.’ We also witness the surprisingly ferocious social interactions of nesting Tree Swallows. 
    Species in focus: 
    Great Crested Flycatcher (Myiarchus crinitus)Ovenbird (Seiurus aurocapilla) Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata) Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor) 
    Written, recorded, and produced by Ian Carlsen.Music by Doubletone. 

    • 12 min
    Episode 8: Among Forgotten Things

    Episode 8: Among Forgotten Things

    In this episode we are hanging around in an old garage to listen in on a fledgeling Carolina Wren and it's parent, as the little one prepares to leave it's strange nest for the world outside. 
    Species in focus: Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus) 
    Written, recorded, and produced by: Ian Carlsen Music by: Doubletone 

    • 11 min

Customer Reviews

4.9 out of 5
36 Ratings

36 Ratings

Gil meza ,

Welcome back

2 years too long. Welcome back

Gil

Mickey A 13 ,

Missing an old friend

The long awaited hiatus is over with a beautiful episode that spoke to a part of fatherhood I hadn’t really expressed to myself yet. To hear it’s harder than ever to bird, and that you’ve also had some of the most incredible experiences of your life in the meantime, has been exactly my experience. My kids are 2.5 and 6 months now. Keep making the pods, Ian!!!

DLVoyeur ,

Exactly what i needed

What a perfect gift during this terrible lonely time! As an introvert and birder myself Bird Dad’s narration is a gentle beacon reminding me it’s not weird that half my friends are osprey. Now i can hear his narration on my own birding adventures and when I see a species I don’t recognize I think, “i bet Bird Dad would know!”

Bird Dad, the true heir to Bob Ross.

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