Birds of a Feather Talk Together

Learn about the Green Heron, one of the only birds known to use tools to hunt, and how it uses bait to catch fish. This birding and birdwatching podcast explores heron behavior, wetland habitats, and surprising bird intelligence for beginners and experts alike. 
We also share a really special moment—RJ and Amanda came across a Green Heron nest and got to see a group of baby herons up close, which led to some fun conversation about nesting behavior, habitat, and what makes these birds so unique.
If you’re into birding, birdwatching, backyard wildlife, or just love learning about surprising animal behavior, this is a super fun episode you won’t want to miss.
As always, it’s married ornithologists and Field Museum curators John Bates and Shannon Hackett, alongside RJ and Amanda learning right along with you.
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Learn about Long-Eared Owls, one of the most fascinating owl species in birding, and why they gather in massive communal roosts. This birdwatching podcast breaks down owl behavior, migration, and ecology for beginners and experts alike. This week on Birds of a Feather Talk Together, we’re diving into one of the most mysterious and underrated owls out there—the Long-eared Owl. Known for its secretive behavior and incredible camouflage, this owl is a true master of staying hidden… until you know where to look.
John brings an amazing story from Serbia, where hundreds of Long-eared Owls gather to roost together in one place—an absolutely mind-blowing sight for birders and nature lovers alike. If you’ve ever wondered where to find owls or how they behave in the wild, this episode is packed with fascinating insights.
We’re also continuing our March Madness-style Round Robin Bird Tournament, featuring votes and hilarious commentary from Nick Mason’s LSU students, along with our own picks. Who’s advancing? Who’s getting knocked out? You’ll have to listen to find out.
As always, the show is hosted by married Field Museum ornithologists and Curators of Birds John Bates and Shannon Hackett, alongside bird enthusiasts RJ and Amanda Pole, blending expert knowledge with beginner curiosity to make birding fun and accessible for everyone.
If you love owls, birdwatching, ornithology, wildlife behavior, and fun science-driven conversations, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.
🎧 Listen now and discover why the Long-eared Owl might become your new favorite bird.
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A rare Spectacled Eider showed up far outside its Arctic range—and birders took notice. Learn about eiders, migration patterns, and rare bird sightings in this birding podcast episode. A rare Spectacled Eider sighting in the Netherlands—far outside its normal Arctic range—sparked this week’s episode of Birds of a Feather Talk Together.
In this episode, we explore all four living species of eiders—from the iconic Common Eider to the stunning King and Spectacled Eiders. Along the way, we break down what makes these Arctic ducks so unique, from their extreme cold-weather adaptations to their fascinating breeding behavior.
We’re also kicking off our March Madness-style bird bracket tournament, and we have a special surprise in our bracket challenge!
If you love birding, rare bird sightings, ornithology, and fun, science-driven conversations, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.
As always it's married couple and ornithologists John Bates and Shannon Hackett and new-ish birders RJ and Amanda Pole. 
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This week on Birds of a Feather Talk Together, we’re joined by Dr. Nick Mason, Assistant Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences and Curator of Birds at the Museum of Natural Science at LSU, for an in-depth and engaging conversation all about the fascinating Horned Lark.
Widely regarded as one of the world’s leading experts on Horned Larks, Nick brings incredible insight into this unique grassland bird—from its behavior and evolution to what makes it so special among North American birds. With strong ties to hosts John Bates and Shannon Hackett through LSU, this episode is filled with great stories, shared history, and plenty of laughs along the way.
Perfect timing, too—the Horned Lark has just been named the ABA Bird of the Year, making this a must-listen for birders and nature lovers alike.
If you’re into birding, ornithology, migration, and bird conservation, this episode dives deep into one of the most overlooked yet remarkable birds in North America.
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Can birdwatching actually improve brain health or slow aging? We explore the science, what research says, and how observing birds may benefit cognition and mental wellness. We came across a recent article suggesting that birdwatching might actually help slow the aging process, and naturally we had to dig into it. As it turns out, tracking down the original scientific paper isn’t exactly easy, which led us into a fun exploration of what the research actually says—and what it might mean.
Along the way, the conversation took a really personal turn as Shannon shared her experience with her cochlear implant and what it’s been like to relearn how to hear the world again—from identifying bird calls to rediscovering music like the Talking Heads. 
It sparked a fascinating discussion about how our brains process sound, observation, and learning—something that birding constantly challenges us to do.
So this episode is a mix of science, personal stories, and a lot of curiosity about how birding shapes the way our brains work. It’s thoughtful, a little nerdy, and still very much the kind of conversation our bird-loving crowd will enjoy.
Hosted by Field Museum ornithologists John Bates and Shannon Hackett and birding enthusiasts RJ Pole and Amanda Pole. 
Here are links to our social and YouTube pages, give us a follow:
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Instagram
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BlueSky