Bird Facts

In this episode Kristen surprises Maeve with an episode about Maeve's favorite bird, the Eastern Screech Owl. They learned so many interesting facts about this cute, tiny, and effective predatory bird. The Eastern Screech Owl is native to the eastern portion of the United States, nests in holes in trees, and is so well camouflaged that you may have seen one and did not even know! We will be taking a break for some of winter and will return sometime in the spring. In the meantime, please continue to write in with your stories and requests. We love you all! Eastern Screech Owl Come learn with us about the Common Raven. Research for today’s episode came from the following sources: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Eastern_Screech-Owl/lifehistory https://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/eastern-screech-owl https://www.hawkmountain.org/raptors/eastern-screech-owl Additional Resources: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gi5ry3AZje8 Video from Auburn University Raptor Center - get up close with two individuals one of each color Eastern Screech owls hanging out in trees https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=snmhUoTSsP0 Fast Facts about Eastern Screech Owls - Brookfield Zoo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yDBwVJloiRU Follow us on Instagram: @birdfactspod Email us: birdfactspod@gmail.com Twitter: @birdfactspod Thanks for listening, and happy birding!

Come join our hosts as they speak with special guest Dr. Eric D. Mortensen, professor of religious studies at Guilford College. Eric tells Kristen and Maeve about his experiences working with ravens and studying their languages and use in augury in Tibet. Here is list a of the materials that Eric recommended to listeners: Bernd Heinrich has several books that include or are about ravens https://www.bowdoin.edu/profiles/faculty/bheinric/index.html https://www.goodreads.com/author/list/3350977.Bernd_Heinrich John M. Marzluff, In the Company of Crows and Ravens https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/593177 Candace Savage, Bird Brains https://shop.cnha.org/products/bird-brains-the-intelligence-of-crows-ravens-magpies-and-jays Kimberley Christine Patton, Religion of the Gods https://global.oup.com/academic/product/religion-of-the-gods-9780195091069?cc=us&lang=en& Thank you listeners for your patience around our technical issue and the late release of this episode. Join us next time for a discussion about bird rescue organizations in Wisconsin. Follow us on Instagram: @birdfactspod Email us: birdfactspod@gmail.com Twitter: @birdfactspod Thanks for listening, and happy birding!

In this special episode we celebrate our 1 year anniversary covering everyone's favorite bird, Big Bird, from the kid's television program Sesame Street. Kristen and Maeve are joined by special guest Sarah (she/they) who is on Maeve's other podcast, Mystics and Mulder. Kristen tells Sarah and Maeve all there is to know about Big Bird's species, bigus canarius, as well as fun facts about Big Bird and a little about the history of Sesame Street. They also learn about Carol Spinney, who provided the voice of Big Bird as well as the puppetry for most of the history of Sesame Street. All photos that Kristen showed Sarah and Maeve will be available on our Instagram account, which is linked below. If you are interested in connecting with Sarah, follow them on medi.okra. Please also check out Mystics and Mulder, a fantastic podcast that Sarah and Maeve do together that addresses the link between faith and popular culture. Kristen has even been on one episode! You can find Mystics and Mulder on many streaming services. Research for today’s episode came from the following sources: -Borgenicht, David. (1998). Sesame Street Unpaved: Scripts, Stories, Secrets, and Songs. Children's Television Workshop. -Davis, Michael. (2008). Street Gang: The Complete History of Sesame Street. Penguin Books. -Itzkoff, D. (2018, October 17). Original Big Bird, Caroll Spinney, Leaves ‘Sesame Street’ After Nearly 50 Years. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/17/arts/television/sesame-street-big-bird.html -LaMattina, D., & Walker, C. N. (Directors). (2014). I Am Big Bird: The Caroll Spinney Story [film]. Tribeca Film. -Muppet Wiki. (n.d.) Big Bird. Fandom. https://muppet.fandom.com/wiki/Big_Bird -Sesame Street Unpaved -Throughline. (2022, August 3). Getting to Sesame Street [audio podcast episode]. In Throughline. npr. https://www.npr.org/2023/07/31/1191069674/getting-to-sesame-street-2022 Additional Resources: -Big Bird deals with Mr. Hooper's death https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gxlj4Tk83xQ -Big Bird on SNL, Weekend Update https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7dv3tLVxng0 Follow us on Instagram: @birdfactspod Email us: birdfactspod@gmail.com Twitter: @birdfactspod Thanks for listening, and happy birding!

In our latest episode, and the funniest one to date, Maeve tells Kristen about the first three episodes of Extraordinary Birder, a new show hosted by the intrepid birder, Christian Cooper! The show is available for your streaming pleasure on Hulu and Disney. Cooper travels to Puerto Rico, New Nork City, and Hawaii, encountering numerous bird species and other exciting adventures along the way. Come learn with Kristen about some very unique birds, environmental issues, and so much more about the wondrous world of birding!! Follow us on Instagram: @birdfactspod Email us: birdfactspod@gmail.com Thanks for listening, and happy birding!