On this weeks episode of The Spark Bird Podcast, our hosts Jenn Lodi-Smith and Janet McNally are joined by bestselling author Amy Tan to share the connections between writing and watching birds, the importance of curiosity over expertise, and how "you only need one bird to save all the birds."

Resources & Links from This Episode

📖 Learn more about Amy's illustrated book The Backyard Bird Chronicles and order a copy from her website.

🌐 Explore Amy's books, artwork, and upcoming projects on her website.

📸 See photos and sketches from Amy's latest birding adventures, nature journaling, and recent travels on her Instagram page @amytanwriter.

📱 Stay up to date with Amy's latest birding adventures, artwork, and nature journaling on her Facebook page.

Show Notes by Kayla Gajewski

Nicole Jackson joined our hosts, Jenn Lodi-Smith and Janet McNally, on this episode of The Spark Bird Podcast. Nicole is an environmental educator, nature enthusiast, and birder! Throughout this episode she speaks on the constant effect nature has had on her from childhood all the way up into her adult years, reflecting on experiences of exploring little escapes in her environment to find peace and open up to the world around her. She is very involved in various programs throughout the community and those can be found below.

Links and Resources from This Episode:

🐦Follow Nicole Jackson on Instagram @blkngrnbeauty.

🦆Visit the website for Black Birders Week to learn more about the program that supports Black STEM Professionals and inspires new audiences to engage in nature.

🌲Follow Black In National Parks Week to learn about Black experiences in all the national parks in the U.S.

📖Check out the article Nicole mentions called "What is Nature-Defecit Disorder?" by Richard Louv.

Show Notes by Adam Kozman

In this episode of The Spark Bird Podcast, our hosts Jenn Lodi-Smith and Janet McNally sit down with artist, nature journaler, and conservation volunteer Joe Feliciano. Joe shares the spark bird moments that shaped his love of birds, reflects on how art and nature have become deeply connected throughout his life, and discusses how volunteering helped him find community and purpose.

Links & Resources from This Episode

🎨 Follow Joe Feliciano on Instagram @thehorsepuppy to explore his joyful wildlife illustration and behind-the-scenes sketches.

🐦 Learn about Chicago Bird Collision Monitors, a volunteer organization working to rescue and protect migratory birds and reduce bird-building collisions throughout Chicago.

🌿 Learn more information and visit The Urban Birding Festival in Chicago, an annual celebration of birds, community, and conservation.

Show Notes by Kayla Gajewski