In this episode of The Spark Bird Podcast, we talk with Laura Marris, Visiting Assistant Professor in the English department at the University at Buffalo. Laura shares how birding with her dad as a child shaped the way she sees the world. And we discuss her book The Age of Loneliness, reflecting on the decline in bird abundance, the role of community science, and what it means to truly notice the living world around us. This conversation is about more than birdwatching; it’s about presence, memory, and the quiet ways nature holds us through change.

*During the episode, Jenn mentioned a word she couldn’t recall at the time, it’s the Romanian word “dor,” which captures a deep sense of longing or missing something you love.*

Resources & Links from This Episode

📖 Learn more about Laura’s upcoming book The Age of Loneliness from Graywolf Press.

📚 Order your copy on Bookshop or listen to the audiobook on Libro.fm.

🌐 Visit lauramarris.com or follow @lauramarris for more of Laura’s work.

🦉 Watch Norman Smith’s The Snowy Owls of Logan Airport.

🌱 Learn about the Silo City remediation project.

🕊️ Get involved with Cornell Lab’s Community Science projects.

🌳 Explore the work of the WNY Land Conservancy

🔬 Read the Science article on the loss of bird abundance.

📖 Check out the children’s classic Owl Moon by Jane Yolen.

Show Notes by Kayla Gajewski

In this week's episode, our hosts Jenn Lodi-Smith and Janet McNally welcome Michael Lombardo, the creator of the McGolrick Bird Club in North Brooklyn. Michael shares his journey from a career in the tech industry to becoming a passionate birder and community leader. Michael discusses the creation and growth of the McGoldrick Bird Club, highlighting the importance of weekly bird walks, community engagement, and the power of noticing the natural world around us.

Explore more from Michael Lombardo and the McGolrick Bird Club

📸 Follow @mcgolrickbirdclub on Instagram for bird walk updates and moments of wonder from North Brooklyn.

🌐 Visit birding.website for resources, events, and reflections from the McGolrick Bird Club community.

📝 Subscribe to the McGolrick Bird Club Substack for thoughtful essays on birding, awareness, and slowing down in a fast-moving world.

Show Notes by Kayla Gajewski

In this episode, hosts Jenn Lodi-Smith and Janet McNally speak with Chris Allieri, founder and executive director of NYC Plover Project, which he launched in 2021 after recognizing a gap in conservation efforts right in his own city. During the height of the pandemic, when New York City’s plover nesting grounds were especially vulnerable, Chris stepped up, not just to protect the birds, but to build a stronger culture of conservation in the city. His story is one of grassroots action, intergenerational learning, and a call to all of us to take part in protecting what’s wild and at risk right in our own backyards.

Photo Credit: Benjamin Forbes

Resources & Links from This Episode

🌐 Visit nycploverproject.org to learn about the mission, meet the volunteers, and find out how to get involved.

📸 Follow @nycploverproject on Instagram for updates from the beaches and behind-the-scenes conservation work.

🕊️ Log your bird sightings on eBird, a powerful tool for community science and bird tracking.

📱 Download Merlin Bird ID to help identify birds by sight or sound while you’re out exploring the world.

Show Notes by Kayla Gajewski