Episode 47: The complex web of factors that influence bird migration with Yaara Aharon-Rotman
Bird Podcast with Shoba Narayan
Release Date: 07/23/2022
Episode 75: Gynandomorphism in birds with Dr. Hamish Spencer
Bird Podcast with Shoba Narayan
The sex of a bird – whether it is male or female – is one of the most critical aspects of its biology. Males and females often behave differently, especially during the breeding season, and in many species, they have strikingly different plumages. This episode features Dr. Hamish Spencer, an evolutionary biologist at the University of Otago in southern New Zealand. Hamish was recently in Colombia, where he was shown a that violated these rules. Colombian ornithologist John Murillo had discovered a very unusual Green Honeycreeper (Chlorophanes spiza) on his farm near Manizales in Colombia...
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Episode 74: A pigeon’s nest at home and its ripple effects
Bird Podcast with Shoba Narayan
When a pigeon comes into the house. This is a controversial episode. In fact, I am pretty sure nobody in the nature groups that I am part of will approve of this. In fact, they may even condemn this episode. Because you see, it is about pigeons, which birders call flying pests. But here’s what happened and so, if you listen or watch this episode, advance apologies. About six months ago, a rock pigeon made a nest in my mother-in-law's balcony. This episode is about the ripple effects after that. One day, I returned after a long trip and visited my mother-in-law...
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Episode 73: Birds and Shola Forests with Dr. V.V. Robin
Bird Podcast with Shoba Narayan
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Special Episode: How did you get into birding
Bird Podcast with Shoba Narayan
Here is a special episode about how different Bangalore birding experts got into birding.
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Episode 72: Birding in Mauritius
Bird Podcast with Shoba Narayan
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Episode 71: The biodiverse splendour of Bhutan
Bird Podcast with Shoba Narayan
This episode is about Bhutan: carbon-negative, Buddhist and a pioneer in sustainable tourism. This tiny country, about the size of Switzerland contains species. In comparison, neighbouring India— nearly ten times the size— has just 1200 species. Here we talk to Namgay Tshering a freelance birding guide about the birds of Bhutan. Specifically he mentions the Beautiful Nuthatch, the Blyth’s tragopan, the Himalayan Monal and others. He talks about how Eastern and Southern Bhutan are a haven for birdwatchers, perhaps because the main cities of Paro, Thimphu and Punakha are...
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Episode 70: Toucanets and hummingbirds in Costa Rica
Bird Podcast with Shoba Narayan
In this episode, we talk to a resident naturalist about the motmots, hummingbirds and toucanets that you can see in Costa Rica.
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Episode 69: The Resplendent Quetzal of Costa Rica
Bird Podcast with Shoba Narayan
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Episode 68: Delhi birds with Sudhir Vyas
Bird Podcast with Shoba Narayan
Delhi and its neighbourhoods, with its variety of habitats and landscapes, is remarkable for the wealth and diversity of its avifauna. It is a true haven for bird lovers, home to an astonishing array of over 470 captivating bird species. Get ready for an enchanting adventure with Sudhir Vyas's delightful book, "The Birds of the Delhi Area," which is the ultimate guide to unlocking the secrets of these feathered wonders! This book has been edited by Anita Mani under Indian Pitta- India's first imprint dedicated to birds. With over 50 years of bird watching experience, Sudhir Vyas, a former...
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Episode 67: The three-wattled bell-bird, Monteverde, Costa Rica
Bird Podcast with Shoba Narayan
This is the first of three episodes about the bird life in Costa Rica. This one focuses on the and the episode is set in the . Listen to the bellbird on Youtube here. Thanks to these photographers for their images Thanks to Michael Brooks for this video of the bird calling Featured image from Wikimedia Commons :
info_outlineWhere she talks about how multiple nations and habitats need to cooperate to help these champion migrants.
In this episode, Dr. Yaara Aharon-Rotman speaks about long distance migration, mainly among shorebirds but also passerines. We have explored migratory shorebirds before in Episode 43. Here, Dr. Rotman talks about how national borders don’t apply to migrating birds and how we all need to cooperate to help them along.
Originally from Israel, Yaara has completed her PhD in Deakin University, Australia where she studied long distance migratory shorebirds. Inspired by the long migration of her studied species, she than joined research labs in Israel (to work on migratory passerines), China (where she worked on a vulnerable Asian habitat for migratory geese) and Australia, her current home where she study torpor in local and migratory species as a postdoctoral fellow at the University of New England. Her main interest focuses on how animals, mainly migratory species, respond to challenges, and specifically, their physiological adaptation to global changes. If she is not looking for birds in the field or analysing data in her office, you can find her in one of the National Parks around Armidale with her family, or at the boxing ring!