The California Condor is one of the rarest birds in North America, and its remarkable comeback from the brink of extinction is one of the greatest wildlife conservation stories ever told.

In this episode of Birds of a Feather Talk Together, we're revisiting our fascinating conversation with zoologist Christian Flores about the California Condor, the largest land bird in North America. With a wingspan approaching 10 feet, these incredible birds once soared across vast stretches of the continent before habitat loss, lead poisoning, and other human-caused threats pushed them to the edge of extinction.

By 1987, less than 30 California Condors remained in the world, prompting an extraordinary conservation effort to capture the remaining wild birds and establish a captive breeding program. Christian joins us to explore the difficult decisions that saved the species, the challenges of reintroducing condors into the wild, and the ongoing efforts to protect their future.

We also dive into the fascinating world of vultures and scavengers, exploring their essential role in healthy ecosystems, their unique adaptations, and why these often misunderstood birds deserve our admiration.

Join hosts Dr. John Bates and Dr. Shannon Hackett, ornithologists at Chicago's Field Museum, alongside RJ Pole and Amanda Pole, for an engaging conversation about bird conservation, endangered species, evolution, and the incredible resilience of the California Condor.

Whether you're an experienced birder, a backyard birdwatcher, or simply curious about wildlife and nature, this episode offers an inspiring look at what it takes to bring a species back from the brink.

Birds of a Feather Talk Together is a birding and ornithology podcast exploring the fascinating world of birds through expert insights, scientific discoveries, conservation stories, and lively conversations.

Subscribe for more episodes about birds, birdwatching, wildlife conservation, and the natural world.

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This week on Birds of a Feather Talk Together, we’re exploring the Eurasian Oystercatcher (Haematopus ostralegus)—a striking black-and-white shorebird with a bright orange-red bill found across Europe, including the coasts of Northern Ireland.

There’s a family connection behind this week’s bird choice: John and Shannon’s son recently moved to Northern Ireland, so Shannon wanted to feature a bird he might actually encounter there. The Eurasian Oystercatcher turned out to be the perfect choice.

We dive into the fascinating biology, behavior, diet, habitat, and adaptations of the Eurasian Oystercatcher, including some of the traits that set it apart from other oystercatcher species. We also compare oystercatchers from around the world, including the American Oystercatcher, and explore how different species have adapted to their environments.

Along the way, Dr. John Bates and Dr. Shannon Hackett of Chicago’s Field Museum share their ornithological expertise, while RJ and Amanda ask the questions that send the conversation in unexpected directions.

This episode was recorded in person as we experimented with a new four-microphone setup ahead of our live recording at the Chicago Urban Birding Festival, so you may notice that it sounds a little different from a typical episode. But having all four hosts sitting around the same table made for a fun, conversational discussion about one of Europe’s most recognizable shorebirds.

If you’re interested in Eurasian Oystercatchers, shorebirds, bird behavior, bird evolution, European birds, birding in Northern Ireland, or the differences between Eurasian and American Oystercatchers, this episode is for you.

Birds of a Feather Talk Together is a birding and ornithology podcast featuring Field Museum scientists Dr. John Bates and Dr. Shannon Hackett alongside bird enthusiasts RJ Pole and Amanda Pole. Each episode explores the science, behavior, evolution, conservation, and stories behind birds from around the world.

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For the first time ever, Birds of a Feather Talk Together is recording in front of a live audience!

We had an incredible time at the Chicago Urban Birding Festival, a celebration of birds, birding, conservation, and the amazing wildlife that can be found right here in the city. Dr. John Bates and Dr. Shannon Hackett of the Field Museum join RJ and Amanda for a special live episode filled with bird stories, science, laughs, and questions from the audience.

One of our favorite things about Birds of a Feather is the community that has grown around the podcast, so getting to sit in a room full of people who love birds as much as we do was pretty special.

Whether you're an experienced birder, a backyard birdwatcher, or just beginning to discover the world of birds, come hang out with us for our first-ever live recording!

Birds of a Feather Talk Together is a birding and birdwatching podcast featuring Field Museum ornithologists Dr. John Bates and Dr. Shannon Hackett alongside birders RJ and Amanda. Each episode explores bird behavior, evolution, migration, conservation, ornithology, and the incredible lives of birds.

Here are links to our social and YouTube pages, give us a follow:

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Instagram

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BlueSky