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PODCAST

Birds of a Feather Talk Together

John Bates, Shannon Hackett, RJ Pole, Amanda Marquart

Join John Bates and Shannon Hackett, two seasoned bird experts, as they soar through the fascinating world of birds in this must-listen podcast for bird lovers of all levels! Whether you"re an experienced birder or just starting to explore the wonders of the avian world, Birds of a Feather Talk Together has something for everyone.With exclusive access to one of the largest bird collections in the United States, John and Shannon are joined by amateur birders RJ Pole and Amanda Marquart for in-depth

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All Episodes

58:01

96: Black-capped Chickadee - Cute Bird with a Mighty...

Birds of a Feather Talk Together ·

2025/06/02

In this episode of Birds of a Feather Talk Together, we dive deep into the fascinating world of the Black-capped Chickadee—one of North America's most beloved birds. Discover the secrets behind the chickadee's distinctive “chick-a-dee-dee-dee” call, its remarkable memory, and how this tiny bird survives harsh winters with clever food-storing habits. Join us as we explore the Black-capped Chickadee’s habitat, behavior, and role in backyard birdwatching and forest ecosystems. Whether you're a s...

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35:45

95: Ruby-throated Hummingbird Revisited

Birds of a Feather Talk Together ·

2025/05/26

In this episode of Birds of a Feather Podcast, we revisit one of our favorite past episodes all about the ruby-throated hummingbird—a truly fascinating and fast-flying species known for its shimmering feathers and incredible migration. Join hosts John Bates and Shannon Hackett, along with RJ Pole and Amanda Marquart, as we dive back into the world of this unique hummingbird and explore what makes it such a standout in the bird world. We also answer a listener mailbag question about mallard du...

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40:53

94: Blackpoll Warbler Revisited - Epic Migration and...

Birds of a Feather Talk Together ·

2025/05/19

This week, we're revisiting a listener favorite all about Blackpoll Warblers—tiny birds with an absolutely epic migration. Whether you're new to warblers or already a seasoned birder, this episode is packed with fascinating facts and fresh insights. John and Shannon dive into what makes the Blackpoll Warbler’s journey so mind-blowing, and John gives us a broader look at warblers in general—including the time he spotted over 20 species in a single day! It’s a fun, informative episode that’s su...

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51:48

93: Great Potoo, we also talk Prothonotary Warbler...

Birds of a Feather Talk Together ·

2025/05/12

This week, we dive into the weird and wonderful world of the Great Potoo—a mysterious nocturnal bird with haunting eyes and an even stranger call. Ever wondered why robin eggs are blue? We’ve got the answer! Plus, we spotlight one of North America’s most stunning songbirds: the Prothonotary Warbler, known for its brilliant yellow plumage and swampy haunts. If you're a bird lover, nature nerd, or just curious about the strangest birds on Earth, this episode is packed with fun facts, surprising...

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63:39

92: Wood Ducks: Nesting Behavior, Baby Ducklings & a...

Birds of a Feather Talk Together ·

2025/05/05

In this nature-packed episode, we dive into the fascinating world of Wood Ducks—one of the most beautiful and iconic duck species in North America. Learn about their striking plumage, unique nesting habits, and the incredible moment when day-old ducklings leap from tree cavities to join their mother on the ground. We also share a recent encounter with a Barred Owl family, and answer a listener’s mailbag question about owl chicks spotted at Walt Disney World. Hosted by married ornithologists J...

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31:18

91: How NSF Budget Cuts Are Threatening U.S. Science...

Birds of a Feather Talk Together ·

2025/05/05

In this timely and urgent episode, we explore the devastating impact of recent budget cuts and defunding of the National Science Foundation (NSF) on the U.S. scientific community. Originally planning to discuss Wood Ducks, our conversation quickly shifted to the broader crisis facing science in America today. Join married ornithologists John and Shannon as they share firsthand insights into how these funding cuts are affecting scientific research, biodiversity studies, and the future of envir...

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48:40

90: American Dipper - Bird that Walks Under Water

Birds of a Feather Talk Together ·

2025/04/28

This week we are talking about one of the coolest birds in North America: The American Dipper. This is a smaller nondescript bird that has learned and adapted how find food in some of the roughest river water imaginable. It can fly through waterfalls, withstand rushing currents, and to the eye just looks like a little gray songbird. John and Shannon both have a ton of experience with them, so it’s a lot of fun to hear about these amazing birds. As always, its our hosts and married coupl...

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33:23

88: Spotted Towhee - Bright Red Eyes!

Birds of a Feather Talk Together ·

2025/04/14

This week we talk about the Spotted Towhee. RJ and Amanda saw them on their trip to Sedona, and thought it would be a fun bird to learn more about. Hosted by John Bates, Shannon Hackett, RJ Pole, and Amanda Marquart. Please send us your questions for us to answer as well! You can send them to podcast.birdsofafeather@gmail.com Make sure to follow us on Instagram, Blue Sky Social, YouTube and tik tok as well!!

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46:07

89: Red-Ruffed Fruitcrow

Birds of a Feather Talk Together ·

2025/04/14

If you listened to our series on the Feather Thief, or read the book, you are familiar with the Red-ruffed fruitcrow. It was also called the Indian crow in the book. We wanted to follow up the series to talk more in depth about one of the birds that was mentioned so much, and it was pretty fascinating to learn more about this bird that actually has not been researched much. As always, its our hosts and married couple John Bates and Shannon Hackett who are curators of birds at the Field Museum...

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56:56

87: Gambel's Quail - Sedona, topknots, and who was...

Birds of a Feather Talk Together ·

2025/04/07

In this exciting episode of Birds of a Feather Talk Together, we dive into the fascinating world of the Gambel's Quail – a stunning bird spotted by RJ and Amanda during their recent trip to Sedona, Arizona. With John’s Arizona roots, this bird-focused adventure made for the perfect topic, and trust us, it’s one you won’t want to miss! But that's not all – we also answer an intriguing listener question about owl pellets discovered at a flower farm in Illinois. Tune in for a mix of birdwatching...

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24:01

86: Hoatzin Revisited with Jacob Drucker - You've...

Birds of a Feather Talk Together ·

2025/03/31

In this episode of Birds of a Feather Talk Together, we dive deep into the world of the Hoatzin, one of the most unique and mysterious birds on the planet! With claws on their wings as chicks, these fascinating creatures might even offer a glimpse into the distant past of dinosaurs. Join our expert panel, including John Bates, Shannon Hackett, RJ Pole, Amanda Marquart, and special guest Jacob Drucker, as we explore the Hoatzin’s strange biology, incredible behaviors, and its surprising c...

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25:01

85: Purple Martins Revisited - Migrating to the U.S....

Birds of a Feather Talk Together ·

2025/03/24

In this exciting episode of Birds of a Feather Talk Together, hosts John Bates, Shannon Hackett, RJ Pole, and Amanda Marquart dive into the fascinating world of the Purple Martin. Learn how these remarkable birds depend on man-made structures for nesting, particularly in the Eastern U.S., and why they’re so unique. In the second half, we tackle a mailbag question about a Grackle causing trouble by killing other birds in suburban areas. Is this behavior typical? This episode is packed with cru...

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27:48

84: Mourning Dove

Birds of a Feather Talk Together ·

2025/03/17

If you've listened to our other episodes, you know Shannon's stance on Mourning Doves. See if we can convince her otherwise in our episode on Mourning Doves. Hosted by John Bates, Shannon Hackett, RJ Pole, and Amanda Marquart. Please send us your questions for us to answer as well! You can send them to podcast.birdsofafeather@gmail.com Make sure to follow us on Instagram, Blue Sky Social, YouTube and tik tok as well!!

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32:38

83: Harlequin Duck - Fascinating Waterfowl with...

Birds of a Feather Talk Together ·

2025/03/10

Harlequin Ducks are a captivating species of small, compact waterfowl known for their distinctive appearance. These beautiful ducks feature a large, rounded head, a small bill, and a steep forehead. Their striking plumage showcases a stunning slate blue color, accented with white stripes and chestnut sides. The head is especially eye-catching with a white crescent marking in front of the eye and chestnut highlights on the brow. In this week's episode of the Birds of a Feather Talk Together po...

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82:36

82: Kirk Wallace Johnson Interview - Author of The...

Birds of a Feather Talk Together ·

2025/03/03

In today’s episode, we’re joined by Kirk Wallace Johnson, the author of The Feather Thief: Beauty, Obsession, and the Natural History Heist of the Century. This gripping true-crime tale takes us into the world of rare bird feathers and the relentless pursuit of a bizarre criminal and the feathers that he stole from The Natural History Museum in Tring. Kirk's meticulous research and storytelling uncover an astonishing story of a thief, the priceless items he stole, and the obsession that led t...

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35:27

81: The Feather Thief Part 6: Obsession, A Possible...

Birds of a Feather Talk Together ·

2025/02/24

This week we close out with our final thoughts on the Feather Thief, as well as talk about the importance of museums and their collections. It’s our last episode before we talk to the author Kirk Wallace Johnson, so get ready for next week. This week we talk a little bit about obsession in general, and how it is human nature to become obsessed, whether it was Alfred Russel Wallace, or even Edwin Rist. It’s important to channel that obsession into something positive because it can go dar...

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50:05

80: The Feather Thief Part 5: The Crime, The...

Birds of a Feather Talk Together ·

2025/02/17

Welcome back to Part 5 of our exploration of the book The Feather Thief. We discuss the horrific act that’s still causing ripples in the world of museums. We’ll also take a closer look at the role museum collections play in science—a subject misunderstood by some fly-tiers in the book. We also talk about how museum specimens drive scientific progress. We’ll also touch on some of the oddball research requests museums have received over the years, including one inquiry about the Ivory-Billed Wo...

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37:07

79: The Feather Thief Part 4: The Argus Pheasant and...

Birds of a Feather Talk Together ·

2025/02/10

Our adventure through the pages of the book The Feather Thief continues! We’re thrilled to have Jason Weckstein join us again. Jason is an enthusiastic fly fisherman and fly-tier, and also an amazing ornithologist. He joined us last week, and is back with even more laughs, stories, and an extraordinary depth of insight into the quirky worlds of both fly tying and bird watching. We dive into one of the birds mentioned in the book: the Argus Pheasant. Shannon has some captivating info about the...

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45:25

78: The Feather Thief Part 3: Fly-tying with guest...

Birds of a Feather Talk Together ·

2025/02/03

We are doing a mini-series on The Feather Thief by Kirk Wallace Johnson. This week we have a very special guest, Jason Weckstein, join us for a conversation about the intricacies of fly-tying. Jason is not only an avid fly fisherman and fly tier but also a passionate ornithologist. Jason is an Associate Curator of Ornithology at the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University and Associate Professor in the Department of Biodiversity, Earth, and Environmental Science, Drexel University.&n...

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33:36

77: The Feather Thief Part 2: Walter Rothschild,...

Birds of a Feather Talk Together ·

2025/01/27

Part two of our Feather Thief mini-series! This week we cover chapters on Walter Rothschild’s infamous museum, the fashion madness known as "feather fever," which drove people to decimate millions of rare and exotic birds. Then we’ll explore the aftermath—how a group of determined women, appalled by the devastation, sparked a movement to protect birds, culminating in the founding of the Audubon Society. We are doing a mini-series that will break down parts of the book, and to sum i...

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