Nate and Evan sit down with Sparky Stensaas, founder and director of Friends of Sax Zim Bog, to talk about the upcoming Tiny Bird Art Auction.

The auction starts Thursday, January 25th and ends Sunday, January 28th.

The auction can be found at https://saxzim.org/events/2023-tiny-bird-art/

Thank you for supporting the Friends of Sax Zim Bog

Today Evan and Nate sit down a go birding with Andrew Farnsworth. Andrew Farnsworth is currently a Senior Research Associate in the Center for Avian Population Studies at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Andrew began birding at age 5 and quickly developed his long-standing fascinations with bird migration. His current research efforts advance the use and application of rapidly expanding technologies to study bird movements across scales including weather surveillance radar, audio and video recording and monitoring tools, citizen science datasets, and machine learning techniques. Andrew received his BS in Natural Resources from Cornell, MS in Zoology from Clemson University, and PhD in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from Cornell University. He lives in New York, NY with his wife Patricia and two daughters Aja and Elle.

We  begin by discussing birds we are seeing as well as highlights from the Piatt County CBC.

In our attempt to help out the AOC, we throw out new names for Swainson's Warbler.

A majority of this show is spent discussing BirdCast. Andrew has been with BirdCast since the beginning. We discuss its origins, functionality, accuracy and future. Additionally we chat about citizen science datasets, dangers, and responsibility.

https://birdcast.info/

This week with sit down with Colin Dobson to discuss birds, birdings and his new book Field Guide to Hotspots and Birds in Illinois

An avid Illinois birder, Colin has seen over 385 species of birds over the past decade in IL. He has earned 6 Illinois Big Years. Colin recently authored a book about hotspots and birds in Illinois, Field Guide to Hotspots and Birds in Illinois and also co-authored a book about birding in Illinois, A Guide to Finding Birds Along the Illinois River Flyway. He is an experienced bird photographer and has a rare gift for spotting and identifying birds. He recently graduated from the University of Illinois and is now a Master’s Student at Arkansas State University.

Colin has gained significant experience in the past few years by leading other birders on trips to spots throughout Illinois and traveling all over the United States. Those who have participated would unanimously agree that Colin has the knowledge, preparation, and personality to make any trip an engaging and pleasurable experience.

Colin is now offering to share his unique skills and knowledge with others through private guided group and or individual tours to help others see and enjoy all the birds Illinois and beyond has to offer!

We begin the show discussing birds we are seeing and long eared owls. We also throw out ID tips and new name possibilities for the Baird's Sandpiper.

Colin can talk for hours about birds, but we focus today on his record breaking Big Days in 2023 and his new book. We also talk about upcoming tours he will be leading with his birding company Scissortail Adventures.

Colins new book can be found here:
https://www.amazon.com/Field-Guide-Hotspots-Birds-Illinois-ebook/dp/B0C8DHMMWB

Information on the tours Colin will be leading can be found here:
http://www.scissortailadventures.com/