The Science of Birds

From a hotel in Vietnam, Ivan tells the tale of how he created a career centered on birds and birding.
 

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This is Episode 105. It’s all about a small group of birds called mergansers. These are diving ducks known for their skill at catching fish. They have long, slender bills with serrated edges, earning them the nickname "sawbills." 

Maybe you’re familiar with these birds. Maybe you’re already a big fan. Or maybe you didn’t know they existed until just now. Either way, our goal today is to learn a lot more about Common Mergansers and their close relatives. 

There are five species that we call mergansers. And there’s another species in this group that’s called the Smew. The Smew is sort of an honorary merganser. 

The six species we’re looking at today are divided among 3 genera. 

Of all the ducks in the world, mergansers are the species that depend the most on fish. So not surprisingly, they’re excellent divers and swimmers. 
 

Links of Interest

Merganser Duckling Swimming at High Speed [VIDEO]Red-breasted Merganser Courtship Display [VIDEO]Hooded Merganser Courtship Display [VIDEO]Hooded Merganser Chicks Jumping Out of Nest [VIDEO]Red-breasted and Common Mergansers herding fish [VIDEO] 

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This episode—which is Number 104—is all about rocky shores and sandy beaches as bird habitat. These environments offer birds very different resources and challenges. We explore the geology behind these habitats—how high-energy waves shape rocky cliffs and headlands, while the deposition of sediment builds up sandy beaches. Alongside this, we discuss the dynamic interaction between birds and their coastal homes, and how species like gulls, shorebirds, and seabirds have adapted to thrive in these unique settings.

The episode highlights the incredible diversity of bird species found along coastlines worldwide. From puffins nesting on rocky sea cliffs to plovers skittering across sandy beaches, coastal birds have developed specialized feeding and breeding behaviors to survive in their often harsh environments. We also examine how tides and wave energy shape the coastal ecosystem and offer rich feeding opportunities for birds during migration and in their non-breeding seasons.

Finally, we touch on the many challenges coastal birds face from human activity—habitat destruction, disturbance, pollution, and climate change—all of which threaten these delicate ecosystems. But amidst the challenges, coastal environments remain awe-inspiring places for birdwatching, providing opportunities to witness some of the most dramatic bird spectacles on Earth.
 

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In this episode—which is Number 103—we enter the fascinating world of parrots, focusing on species in the family Psittacidae, which includes New World parrots and some African species. We look at key parrot traits like their zygodactyl feet, strong beaks, plumage, and vocalizations.

We'll also learn about the remarkable intelligence and social behaviors of parrots, their diversity, and their evolutionary history, tracing their origins back to Gondwana and their eventual spread to South America and Africa.

Finally, we look at what psittacid parrots eat and how they breed.

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In this episode—which is Number 102—we dive into the fascinating world of the Common Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis), a small but mighty bird known for its striking blue and orange plumage and remarkable fish-hunting skills. We'll look at this species' behavior, from its iconic plunges into water to catch prey, to how it breeds, including courtship rituals, nest-building, and the challenges of raising chicks.

Learn about the kingfisher's diet and foraging strategies, including how it deals with challenges like refraction at the water’s surface to accurately target its prey. Additionally, I touch on the habitat and global distribution of the Common Kingfisher.

This episode offers a fun exploration of one of the most beloved birds in Eurasia. Tune in to learn more about the "Prince of Piscivory."

Links of Interest

Kingfisher Diving in Slow Motion [VIDEO]Kingfisher Coughing up a Pellet [VIDEO]Two male kingfishers fighting [VIDEO]Kingfisher family in the nest cavity [VIDEO]

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This is Episode 101. Today, we trace the origins of feathers back millions of years, exploring how they evolved from simple filaments to the complex structures we see in modern birds. We delve into the discovery of feathered dinosaurs like Archaeopteryx and the numerous fossil finds in northeastern China during the 1990s. These discoveries revealed that many non-avian dinosaurs sported feathers of various types and complexities, indicating that feathers were not unique to birds but were a common feature among many dinosaur lineages. 

The evolutionary journey of feathers showcases their initial roles in insulation, display, and possibly tactile sensation, long before they were adapted for flight.

Join me as we walk through the Five-Stage Model of feather evolution, which parallels feather development in modern birds. This episode is a deep dive into the intricate and mesmerizing story of how feathers came to be.

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Welcome to the 100th episode of The Science of Birds Podcast! I'm thrilled to celebrate this milestone with you. In this special episode, I reflect on the journey of creating this podcast, sharing some insights and gratitude for all of you, my listeners.

I also highlight three of my favorite bird species: the vibrant Green Jay, the Torrent Duck, and Egyptian Vulture.

Looking ahead, I'm excited to share my plans for the future of The Science of Birds. Thank you for being part of this journey, and here's to many more episodes to come!

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In this episode—which is Number 99—we dive into the fascinating world of cormorants and shags, members of the avian family Phalacrocoracidae. These sleek, hook-billed birds are known for their distinctive silhouettes, often seen drying their wings on seaside cliffs or wetland trees. Cormorants and shags have a long history of varied human interactions, from being vilified and hunted to being revered and even trained to catch fish.

These birds are exceptional divers, utilizing their streamlined bodies and webbed feet to hunt underwater. Their feathers are less waterproof than those of other aquatic birds, which aids in diving but necessitates their iconic wing-drying behavior. Cormorants can be found across the world, thriving in diverse habitats from coastal cliffs to freshwater lakes.

They face significant conservation challenges. Human persecution and disturbances, habitat destruction, and climate change threaten several species, some of which are critically endangered.

Links of Interest

Brandt's Cormorants [VIDEO]

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This episode—which is Number 98—delves into the fascinating world of the avian brain. Despite the long-standing misconception that "bird brain" equates to being unintelligent, recent scientific research reveals that birds possess remarkably sophisticated brains, rivaling the intelligence of primates and even humans in some respects. By tracing the evolutionary paths of both mammals and birds from a common ancestor, I explain how birds have developed unique brain structures that enable complex thought processes, decision-making, and problem-solving.

We'll explore the anatomical intricacies of a bird's brain, breaking down its basic architecture into the forebrain, midbrain, and hindbrain. I highlight the critical role of structures like the hyperpallium and the dorsal ventricular ridge in enabling advanced cognitive abilities. Additionally, the discussion touches on brain plasticity, neuron density, and the specific regions involved in vocalization and memory.

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This is Episode 97. It’s all about bluebirds: the three North American species in the genus Sialia: The Eastern Bluebird, Western Bluebird, and Mountain Bluebird.

For centuries, these beloved birds have been celebrated in paintings, poems, songs, and Disney cartoons.

The Eastern Bluebird is the state bird of Missouri and New York, while the Mountain Bluebird is the state bird of Idaho and Nevada.

And, apparently, the Mountain Bluebird was the inspiration for the original Twitter logo.

But bluebirds aren’t just cultural icons. They’ve also become valuable study subjects for scientists in the fields of ornithology and general biology. Research on these little birds has led to insights about the way the natural world works—from evolution, to ecology, behavior, diseases, and genetics.

Links of Interest

North American Bluebird Society

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