Cacaw! This week we’re taking a deep dive into the world of birds and birdwatching. I mean, birds are so cool – they can fly, lay eggs, and sing beautiful sounds. While the fall migration south has begun, there is still a thrilling mix of species to see. For regular birding updates, check out CAI’s monthly Bird News and the Weekly Bird Report. Get out your binoculars!
Yours in media,
Elizabeth He, Visual Communications Editor
This is a web edition of GBH's The Deep Dive, a weekly newsletter bringing you the best GBH has to offer.
Birdwatching for Beginners
NATURE: Introduction to Birding
Interested in birding? Learn all about birding from the co-founder of Black
Birding Is Booming with Young and Old Alike
Birding is a subculture with its own rules, ethics, and obsessions. And right now, it is one of the fastest-growing communities in America.
Windows to the Wild: “Birding with Ray Brown”
Birding enthusiast Ray Brown joins a group of his friends at Boston’s Public Garden to go birding – right in the middle of the city.
For Blind and Low-Vision Nature Lovers, Birding Is “By Ear”
A New England group joined a national bird count to spread the joy of birding and make it more accessible to everyone.
NOVA: How to Make Birdwatching More Inclusive
New York City Audubon’s Christian Cooper shares stories of his early days as a birdwatcher, and offers suggestions on how to get involved in birding and make it more accessible in your community.
Fall in Love with Birds
Audubon
Celebrate naturalist and 19th century painter John James Audubon. His paintings come to life with dazzling footage of the living birds he immortalized.
Amy Tan Turns Her Literary Gaze on the World of Birds
She’s a novelist turned naturalist. New York Times best-selling author Amy Tan shared her private drawings and musings in her book, The Backyard Bird Chronicles.
Bird Tales
Follow the story of people who, in unique ways, share a love for birds. Explore and celebrate New England’s native species.
We Asked a First Grader to Interview His Hero: A Bird Scientist
NPR asked an aspiring conservation scientist in Philadelphia to interview an adult who is living his dream career of studying birds.
CAI: Strange Bird Names
What are the weirdest bird species names? Read to find out.
Birds on MASTERPIECE’s All Creatures Great and Small
Take a look at the moments that showcase Tristan’s “special rapport” with birds over the years.
Recipe of the Week
Pumpkin Seed Rolls
Let’s lean into a favorite food of beautiful birds — seeds! Make these quick and easy homemade rolls.
Fun Facts About Birds
* Why are birds different colors? There are thousands of species of birds and with great numbers come great biodiversity.
* Go beyond the binoculars and enjoy a conversation with ornithologist David Allen Sibley, author and illustrator of the Sibley Guides birding books.
* Millions of audio recordings of hundreds of bird species have revealed that artificial light is making the birds wake up earlierand go to bed later.
* Ever hear a rhythmic clatter coming from your basement? Read to find out why some woodpeckers are major metal heads.
* Millions of migrating birds pass through our yards, but some don’t make it out alive. What exactly poses a deadly threat to them?
Off Topic
1. Watch Governor Maura Healey on her monthly “Ask the Governor” segment on Boston Public Radio. What’s happening in the Commonwealth?
2. In the just released Season Four of “The Big Dig” podcast, “Mitt & Ted, a healthcare story,” follow the origin story of healthcare reform that would become the blueprint for the Affordable Care Act.
3. Why does Mona Lisa’s smile seem to vanish? NOVA has an answer.
