Blinded by the Light: How to Save a Billion Birds

Blinded by the Light: How to Save a Billion Birds

Lured by the glow and lost in the glare of artificial lights, migrating birds are losing their way. This is how we bring back the dark. Blinded by the glare of our human-lit world, our migrating birds are losing their way. From city skylines to suburban and even rural backyards, we explore the science of sky glow with Whitney Grover, Director of Conservation at Golden Gate Bird Alliance [https://goldengatebirdalliance.org/staff_and_board/whitney-grover/], to find the immediate actions we can take at home to restore the night sky. Together, we look at why low-rise buildings like houses are such a critical piece of the puzzle—and a primary source of the staggering losses we see each year. We also navigate the outdoor cat dilemma, exploring what it looks like to prioritize bird survival in our own backyards. Simple Actions to Restore the Night Sky * Turn Off Outdoor Lights: Keep non-essential lights off after dark during peak migration. If you don’t need it, shut it off, or close your curtains. * Use Shielded Fixtures: Ensure outdoor bulbs point downward and are covered from above to prevent “sky glow.” Check here to find out more. [https://darksky.org/resources/guides-and-how-tos/lighting-principles/] * Switch to Warm Bulbs: Choose warm-toned lighting or warm LEDs [https://darksky.org/resources/guides-and-how-tos/lighting-principles/] (3000K or lower) to reduce the blue light that most disorients birds. * Treat Reflective Glass: Use screens on windows or add decals to help birds see the barrier instead of the reflection. Find amazing options here. [https://abcbirds.org/products/] * Fuel for the Flight: Native shrubs, trees and flowers host the protein-rich insects like caterpillars that migrating birds depend on. Think of your garden as a critical rest stop on a thousand-mile flight, and it will attract and help feed birds all year long. Look here on the Golden Gate Bird Alliance website [https://goldengatebirdalliance.org/backyard-bird-habitat/] for how to start in the Bay Area. Safe Skies, Safe Ground * Keep Cats Indoors: Protecting the night sky is only half the battle. By keeping cats in—or using a secure catio—you create a sanctuary for the travelers passing through your neighborhood. Every bird saved from a window strike needs a safe perimeter to recover. Keeping cats indoors [https://goldengatebirdalliance.org/catsindoors/] during peak migration weeks is an essential act of stewardship. Links: Golden Gate Bird Alliance Lights Out for Birds project and resources [https://goldengatebirdalliance.org/lightsoutforbirds/] American Bird Conservancy’s resources for window decals, paint, and more [https://abcbirds.org/products/] Preventing Glass Collisions [https://abcbirds.org/solutions/preventing-collisions/] Dark Sky resources [https://darksky.org/] Birdcast live bird migration maps [https://birdcast.org/migration-tools/] Specific actions you can take as a renter to help with light pollution [https://darksky.org/resources/guides-and-how-tos/what-renters-can-do-about-light-pollution/] Whitney’s piece on “That Night Feeling” [https://goldengatebirdalliance.org/blog-posts/that-night-feeling/] The “What Type of Birder Are You" personality chart [https://getyourbirdon.substack.com/p/what-type-of-birder-are-you] Thanks to Charles Barbieri for master technical editing and singing voice Recorded on Coast Miwok Land [https://native-land.ca/]in Northern California This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit getyourbirdon.substack.com [https://getyourbirdon.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

Birding at Gunpoint & Sky Ballet- Fred Werner

From a close call at a hotel to the choreography of swallows—an avian excursion with an inspired educator who brings wild bird impressions to TikTok. Ever met a birder so obsessed they missed a robbery while they were held at gunpoint? Meet Fred Werner- ornithologist, inspired science teacher, and master goofball of Costa Rican bird impressions. In this episode, Fred joins me to discuss a life lived at the intersection of rigorous science and avian immersion. We explore the “sky ballet” of swallows, the hilarity of his bird-mimicry videos, and the expansive vision that comes from paying attention to the layers of the natural world. And find out why I’ve nicknamed him the “Steve Martin of Birds.” In this episode: Fred’s TikTok bird shorts [https://www.tiktok.com/@mr.frederick.werner] What Type of Birder Are You? Personality Chart [https://getyourbirdon.substack.com/p/what-type-of-birder-are-you] Check out all the birds here: Barn Swallow [https://ebird.org/species/barswa] California Quail [https://ebird.org/species/calqua] Osprey [https://ebird.org/species/osprey] Montezuma Oropendola [https://ebird.org/species/monoro1] Spectacled Owl [https://ebird.org/species/speowl1] Hoatzin [https://ebird.org/species/hoatzi1] Common Potoo [https://ebird.org/species/compot1] Lesson’s Motmot [https://ebird.org/species/bucmot2] Great Potoo [https://ebird.org/species/grepot1] Red Billed Pigeon [https://ebird.org/species/rebpig1] Black Faced Antthrush [https://ebird.org/species/blfant1] Screaming Piha [https://ebird.org/species/scrpih1] Ferruginous Pygmy Owl [https://ebird.org/species/fepowl] Special thanks to eBird and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology for their amazing database and species resources & Charles Barbieri for superb audio editing Recorded on Coast Miwok Land [https://native-land.ca/]in Northern California This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit getyourbirdon.substack.com [https://getyourbirdon.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

What Type of Birder Are You?

We're birding from the inside out. Explore the geography of your inner experience, and recognize your unique lens. We’ll look at the personal rhythms and habits that shift how we perceive the birds. It’s an invitation to learn birding from the inside out, and recognize your birding style. To help put words to those experiences, I’ve mapped out the different ways we tend to naturally align with the birds. The chart below is a visual companion to that exploration, acting as a compass for the different energies we bring to the landscape. It’s a tool for recognizing where you’re currently rooted, and identifying the paths that might offer a bit of fresh balance the next time you step outside. Check out the chart below, and see what resonates for you: Are you the Recorder? The Connector? The Ally? And which types make you want to grow in that direction? Beginning birder? You’ll find yourself here too. Just step outside and observe yourself while you’re on the trail. Tell me what you think in the comments! I can’t wait to hear what your type is and how you use the chart. Which Type Are You? Did one of these archetypes resonate with you more than the others? Maybe you’re an “Observer” with a “Tracker” streak? I’d love to hear your thoughts on where you land, and how it changes the way you look at the birds in your life. Leave a comment below and let’s discuss! Coming Up Next Don’t miss our next episode, where I sit down with Fred Werner [https://www.youtube.com/@frederickwerner250/shorts]. [https://www.youtube.com/@frederickwerner250/shorts] We’ll explore his journey as an ornithologist and teacher, and he’ll entertain us with some of the most bizarre and beautiful bird calls you can imagine. Connect with the Show If you enjoyed this episode, the best way to support this independent project is to: * Subscribe to the podcast on your favorite platform. * Share this episode with a friend who loves (or is curious about) the natural world. * Leave a review—it truly helps other bird-curious folks find us! Until next time, get your bird on! Keep your eyes to the sky, Jess This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit getyourbirdon.substack.com [https://getyourbirdon.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

One Track Beak

Follow the trail of a mystery bird that turned a quiet hike into an all-consuming search. And- What is 'blurding'? A playful and obsessive look at what happens when nature grabs you and won’t let go. On this journey, we find ourselves caught between two very different characters: the vibrant, high-canopy Western Tanager and the rhythmic and secretive Red-breasted Sapsucker. One thrives on a flash of color; the other leaves a trail on bark you have to read like a map. We’ll dive into their habitats and the clues that define them—exploring the playful curiosity and process of piecing together the stories hidden in the canopy. Can you guess who was tucked in the treetop? And what exactly is “blurding”? Find out in episode 1. Links: Danielle Brigida’s original blog post on [https://medium.com/@starfocus/the-beauty-of-blurry-birding-770699f5456c]Blurding, [https://medium.com/@starfocus/the-beauty-of-blurry-birding-770699f5456c] and her blurd photography [https://medium.com/@starfocus/the-beauty-of-blurry-birding-770699f5456c] “You have to really [https://natural-history-journal.blogspot.com/2018/06/birds-of-sierra-western-tanager.html]want [https://natural-history-journal.blogspot.com/2018/06/birds-of-sierra-western-tanager.html] to see a Western Tanager…” and excellent photos of that beak [https://natural-history-journal.blogspot.com/2018/06/birds-of-sierra-western-tanager.html] Special thanks to the birds and the recordists at xeno-canto.org [https://xeno-canto.org/] for the following field recordings: Western Tanager, recorded by Thomas Magarian, Creative Commons NC Red-breasted Sapsucker, recorded by Sunny Tseng, Creative Commons NC Red-breasted Sapsucker, recorded by Frank Lambert, Creative Commons NC Red-breasted Sapsucker, recorded by Bobby Wilcox, Creative Commons NC And thanks to: Charles Barbieri Fred Werner The Crossley ID Guide by Richard Crossley [https://crossleybooks.com/]- our favorite Experienced and recorded on Coast Miwok Land [https://native-land.ca/]in Northern California. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit getyourbirdon.substack.com [https://getyourbirdon.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

Get Your Bird On

For the bird-curious: join us as we explore the wild, with everyday experiences and stories that shape our love for birds. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit getyourbirdon.substack.com [https://getyourbirdon.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]