About this episode

Bill and Steve explore the fascinating world of feather mites with expert Dr. Alix Matthews.

In this episode, Bill and Steve dive into a tiny, bustling world - a world that’s hiding on the feathers of the birds we see every day. They're joined by Dr. Alix Matthews, postdoctoral research associate in the Department of Biological Sciences at the University at Buffalo, and she reveals the strange lives of feather mites — how these barely-visible hitchhikers feed and get around and whether or not they’re helping or hurting their avian hosts. This episode was recorded on September 4, 2025 at Walton Woods in Amherst, NY.

People in this episode

Hosts: Bill, Steve

Guest: Dr. Alix Matthews

Topics covered

• feather mites
• bird biology
• ecology
• microorganisms
• animal behavior

Keywords

• feather mites
• birds
• ecology
• animal hosts
• microbiology

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Department of Biological Sciences at the University at Buffalo

Places: Walton Woods in Amherst, NY

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