The Curious Bird

Composting: How We Return to our Place in the Cycle of Life

Did you know that from our very own home, there is a simple way to make a HUGE difference for the planet? In this episode of The Curious Bird, Denver Audubon Communications Manager and host, Dori Edwards, speaks with Noah Kaplan- the Executive Director of Compost Colorado. They dive into not only the basics of what compost is, but explore how compost itself is the basis of a healthy and flourishing Earth. It is the foundation of thriving ecosystems and nourished communities, human and beyond. AND, it is a highly accessible act of advocacy! During this conversation, Dori and Noah vulnerably discuss the dissonance of living within systems that often extricate us from the cycle of life, while sharing the emotional, spiritual, and empowering experience of reengaging with nature. They reflect on how a relationship with soil is a way of participating once again in the world's organic rhythms and processes. Overall, this episode is an enthusiastic assertion that we CAN and DO make a difference! If you need a space to be reminded that you are a conduit of benevolent influence, join us for this conversation where you'll also learn about resources and the actions you can take to become a loving steward of this place we so luckily call home.

Banding Together For Birds: What Birds Mean to a Woman Who has Banded 30,000 of Them

Have you always wanted to know about the Bird Banding process and just how important it is for conservation? Well, you're in luck! In this episode of The Curious Bird, Denver Audubon Communications Manager, Dori Edwards, sits down with Meredith McBurney- the Banding & Volunteer Coordinator for Bird Conservancy of the Rockies. If you're in the local Birding community, you may have met Meredith or heard her described as a "rockstar" or "so cool." Well, she absolutely is and, whether or not you're local, this episode is a joyous journey to learning about her two decades spent banding over 30,000 Birds. Meredith made her decision to make conserving birds and their habitats her second career in 1997 when she held a warbler in the hand for the first time while volunteering for Earthwatch in Monteverde, Costa Rica. Returning to Colorado, she took Hugh and Urling Kingery’s beginning birder class, obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Zoology from Colorado State University, and has now worked for the Bird Conservancy since 2004. In this conversation, Dori and Meredith dive deep into the Bird Banding process all while gushing about how Birds and animals are true glimmers in life. They discuss what it's like to be a facilitator of awe-filled experiences, how we as humans can be conduits of this in our every day lives, and the importance of having the courage to follow your passion.

Birds as our Teachers: Avian Ambassadors for a Better Planet

Every Bird, just like us, has a unique personality, story, and set of needs and who better to dive into these fascinating stories with than Devin Jaffe- the founder of Nature's Educators! Nature's Educators is a long-time collaborator of the Denver Audubon and is the largest wildlife education outreach program in Colorado, giving an average of 1300 presentations annually all over the nation. Their mission is "to inspire individuals to understand, respect, and conserve wildlife through educational programming and experiences." And inspire they do. After visiting their gorgeous facilities, where imprinted and non-releasable birds are given the best possible quality of life, Communications Manager Dori Edwards sits down to talk with Devin and Zelda ( the Red-fronted Macaw that spent the whole conversation on Devin's shoulder) to chat about what it's like to live a life devoted to Birds. In this episode, Devin shares her heart, her passion, and dives into the dedication required to establish trust and build relationships across species. She gushes not only about her many companions and their one-of-a-kind traits, such as Tater Tot the American Kestrel, but about how deeply impactful Avian Ambassadors are to children, families, and communities. Dori and Devin, too, reflect on the importance of education, personal connection, and relatability in conservation, and what we can do to be better stewards of our wild kin's wellbeing. They examine the need to rewrite narratives, to divest from the idea that humans are the pinnacle of intelligence, and to remember that making a difference for one life is a giant win for all!

Recycling, Laughing, Imagining- The Many Access Points to Being a Conservationist

In this episode of The Curious Bird, we bring to you a thought-provoking, eye-opening, mind-expanding conversation that asks you to show up with curiosity and a willingness to see things differently. Communications Manager Dori Edwards speaks with Rosie Briggs of Eco-cycle -- A mission-driven, nonprofit social enterprise spreading Zero Waste solutions in Boulder County and beyond. If you have always wondered why recycling is important and if it truly makes a difference (teaser: it does), this episode dives into not just the impact of recycling, but how this simple action is an entry point to a greater effort of collective change. Dori and Rosie descend into the often unknown layers of consumerism, while exploring the possibilities of being responsible consumers and earthly stewards. But, they don't stop there. They talk possibility itself and how imagination, laughter, engagement with the natural world, and shifting the narrative bubble we live in are, at their core, revolutionary acts. This conversation is an adventure and if you need to giggle as much as you need to hear that you're not alone and that these difficult times are not your fault, we welcome you to this discussion where we marvel at the miracle of what is and work to believe the miracle that could be if only we come together.

Migratory Magic: How a Relationship with the Sky Can Change Your Life

Cultivating a relationship with the vast sky can be a catalyst for both connection and conservation. It's a cosmic collaboration that inspires hope, possibility, and celebration. In this episode, Denver Audubon Communications Manager, Dori Edwards, talks with Emma Riley of Dinosaur Ridge Hawk Watch, a project of Denver Field Ornithologists (DFO). DFO works with Hawk Migration Association (HMA), a non-profit organization, to count migrating hawks, eagles, falcons and other raptors [https://dinosaurridgehawkwatch.org/Content/Raptors.aspx] each spring. Emma is a Raptor Biologist from Fort Collins, Colorado who has worked HawkWatch seasons around the country, including spending the last four as the Project Lead and Lead Counter at Dinosaur Ridge. During their conversation, Dori and Emma discuss birds of prey, why they are essential to the environment, and how community-science efforts are vital for their wellbeing. They also explore how birds can be our teachers, wonder as a form of conservation, the importance of volunteerism, the necessity of rest, and why divesting from shame is critical to be a conduit of change. While this year's HawkWatch season is over, we hope this episode excites you to join HawkWatch in the Spring of 2026 and encourages you to look up!