Bring Birds Back | BirdNote

Like many birders, host Tenijah Hamilton discovered her love of birds during the pandemic. Now she invites listeners to join her in appreciating the beauty and mystery of the birds all around us and taking action on their behalf. As Tenijah speaks with bird enthusiasts from many different backgrounds, identities, and communities, listeners learn with her how to bring birds back.

The Bring Birds Back podcast artwork featuring an illustration of host Tenijah Hamilton with three birds flying overhead.

Season Three Trailer

October 5, 2022

Bring Birds Back returns for a third season! In this exciting new chapter, host Tenijah Hamilton explores the many different ways people of all backgrounds are looking out for birds – from online to on Capitol Hill. Follow Tenijah's journey as she continues to explore her relationship with…

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A graphic with the Bring Birds Back artwork on the right side, a photo of Ashley C. Ford in the top-left corner, and a photo of Tracy Clayton in the bottom-left corner.

Bird Heroes

July 6, 2022

Tenijah has been on a birding journey since she was drawn into bird watching at the start of the pandemic — and now, she’s inspiring new birders with Bring Birds Back. For our season finale, Tenijah talks to two of the heroes who inspired her: Tracy Clayton and Ashley C. Ford. They’re…

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A graphic with the Bring Birds Back artwork on the right side, a group photo of Tenijah with a birding group in the top-left corner, and a photo of Freya McGregor in the bottom-left corner.

Birding is for Every Body

June 29, 2022

People with disabilities often face barriers to birding. These can be infrastructural and cultural. The organization Birdability is addressing those barriers by raising awareness, crowdsourcing information on what trails and birding spots are already accessible (or what other locations…

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How to Be a More Ethical Birder

June 22, 2022

Since her bird journey began, Tenijah’s been learning how to be a better birder —but not just with new birding skills. There’s also the important lesson of how to be an “ethical birder” or treating the birds with respect. Tenijah talks to writer Martha Harbison about “the rules” of birding…

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Finding Your Flock

June 15, 2022

If we want as many people caring for birds as possible, we need people to not only become interested, but to have mentorship and community available for them. Tenijah speaks with Jeana Fucello and Kasia Chmielinski from the Feminist Bird Club, a birding group centered around being an…

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The Past, Present, and Future of Purple Martins

June 8, 2022

Purple Martins and people have a long history. Native Americans started a practice of providing homes for the birds, which was copied by European colonizers. But those colonizers released invasive species and cleared habitats to the point that the species is entirely reliant on man-made…

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What's in a Name?

June 1, 2022

Names have power. In North America, more than 100 species of birds have eponymous names, many honoring white colonizers. The “Bird Names for Birds” movement to change these names, or “verbal statues,” can be traced to Ph.D candidate Robert Driver’s 2018 proposal about the Thick-billed…

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Lights Out

May 25, 2022

Migratory birds use starlight to find their way on their long journeys — which makes light pollution a serious threat. Drawn off course by bright, artificial lighting, birds can wind up fatally colliding with windows or wasting precious time and energy that they need to survive. “Lights…

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