Think you know blackbirds? This episode will change the way you see them. Andrea Gress and co-host Jody Allair discuss the underrated beauty and behaviour of blackbirds with experts Peter Burke and Alvaro Jaramillo. They highlight the diverse species within the Icteridae family, including Red-winged Blackbirds, Meadowlarks, and Orioles. They explore population trends, cultural perceptions, and the challenges of tracking species like the Rusty Blackbird. You won't want to miss the incredible stories from the pair who literally wrote the book on blackbirds!


Help migratory birds simply by drinking Bird-friendly Certified Coffee. When you order from birdsandbeans.ca/warblers, Birds and Beans donates to this podcast. Thanks!

Peter Burke: Peter is a Senior Ecologist with GEI Consultants Canada, living in Kearney Ontario, near Algonquin Park. He is involved with overseeing forestry and restoration joint ventures to improve landscape health and function across Ontario’s landscape. He serves on the Steering Committee for the conservation of Kirtland's Warbler and helps to guide recovery of the Canadian breeding population of that species. He also is an illustrator, with his work can be seen in field guides such as National Geographic's Birds of North America, Birds of Peru, Birds of northern Central America, and Birds of Cuba. He also contributed to a field guide to Dragonflies and Damselflies of Algonquin Park and surroundings.

Alvaro Jaramillo: Alvaro has been a birder just a tad less than Peter, starting at 11 years old in Toronto. His local patch was “The Spit,” now Thommy Thompson Park. He studied Ecology and Evolution, first at Guelph University, then University of Toronto where he researched Argentine cowbirds for his MSc. After a short stint in Vancouver, he moved to California where he lived for decades, operating Alvaro’s Adventures an international birding tour company, and pelagic birding operator. He recently moved back to Ontario, to wonderful Prince Edward County. Peter and Alvaro worked together on the Birds of Chile, and New World Blackbirds: The Icterids. Alvaro also wrote the ABA Field Guide to California. And he is one of the co-hosts of the Life List Birding Podcast.

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Migration is one of the most remarkable phenomena in the animal kingdom. What if the human body made the same trip?

Athletes Timm Döbert and Leanna Carriere join us to discuss their up-coming expedition, “Wings of Survival”, where they’ll bike from Alaska to Patagonia, following the route of the Whimbrel. This duo is using athletics to draw attention to nature and conservation. They tell us about their recent ride across Canada’s grasslands, how they’ve been linking Key Biodiversity Areas, and how they see birds as an essential part of the story.

Learn more about the ride at wingsofsurvival.com or support through their GoFundMe.

Timm Döbert holds a PhD in Global Change Ecology from the University of Western Australia. He studies the human footprint on natural ecosystems, motivated by a drive to safeguard wild spaces and wildlife. Timm is an member of the International Union for Conservation of Nature, the Commission on Education and Communication, and the World Commission on Protected Areas. He holds fellowships in the Royal Canadian Geographical Society, the Scientific Exploration Society and the World Explorers Collective. He is an Explorers Club member, an ambassador for the Athlete Media Group and Wilderness International, and a Global Sustainable Sport partner.

Leanna Carriere is an endurance athlete, personal trainer and entrepreneur. For nearly a decade, she competed internationally in women’s pole vault and is recognised as Canada’s first female decathlete. She has completed several Ironman events, the Mt. Everest Marathon and the Patagonman Xtreme triathlon. She is the co-founder of Edmonton-based chocolate company 7 Summits Snacks. As a motivational speaker, she advocates for the deep connection between human and planetary health. She loves exploring the outdoors with her 6-year-old daughter Adalynn.

Andrea Gress (she/her) secretly thinks Piping Plovers are better than all the other birds...studied Renewable Resource Management at the University of Saskatchewan. She pivoted towards birds, after an internship in South Africa. Upon returning, she worked with Piping Plovers in Saskatchewan, and then as the Ontario Piping Plover Coordinator. Years of sharing her love of plovers with beach goers has turned into a full time communications role with Birds Canada.

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Black Swifts are also playfully known as Cloud Swifts, a suitable nickname for one of Canada's most impressive and mysterious birds. Join us above the clouds with researcher and mountain enthusiast, Rémi Torrenta, as he shares Black Swift season updates. He describes meeting Black Swifts at the top of a mountain, shares mind boggling facts about the species, and uplifting stories from a successful season of nest monitoring.

For an immersive episode on Black Swift research listen to The Wake-up Call: Black Swift, or watch Of Waterfalls and Wings – Surveying for the Mysterious Black Swift.

Help migratory birds simply by drinking Bird-friendly Certified Coffee. When you order from birdsandbeans.ca/warblers Birds and Beans donates to this podcast. Thanks!

Rémi Torrenta has always had a passion for wildlife and birds. He obtained a MSc in Ecology in the south of France, and then a PhD at Université de Moncton, NB. After 8 years of work experience with forest birds in eastern Canada, he has been the BC Projects Coordinator for Birds Canada since 2021. Remi delivers Citizen Science programs, as well as various Species at Risk research and monitoring projects, and outreach and education programs in western Canada.

Andrea Gress (she/her) secretly thinks Piping Plovers are better than all the other birds...studied Renewable Resource Management at the University of Saskatchewan. She pivoted towards birds, after an internship in South Africa. Upon returning, she worked with Piping Plovers in Saskatchewan, and then as the Ontario Piping Plover Coordinator. Years of sharing her love of plovers with beach goers has turned into a full time communications role with Birds Canada.

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The Chestnut-collared Longspur is an icon of the Prairies – an aerial acrobatist, singing and dancing in the sky. Jody Allair shares his love for this longspur, helping us understand why this charming species should be on everyone’s life list. As he describes his road trip to seek out the Chestnut-collared Longspur earlier this spring, Jody offers helpful advice on how to find a rare bird – this advice can be applied anywhere, to find any species. And with all Wake-up Call episodes, we’ll also learn about threats and challenges, and how you can help the Chestnut-collared Longspur.

We touched very briefly on how purchasing grass-fed beef can help grassland species. For more depth on this topic, listen to our episode Grasslands, Birds and Beef.

If you live in the Prairies, try seeking out local organizations that are doing work to help grasslands, such as the Nature Conservancy of Canada and Nature Saskatchewan.

In Saskatchewan you can report Chestnut-collared Longspur sightings to 1-800-667-HOOT or outreach@naturesask.ca

When you order from birdsandbeans.ca/warblers Birds and Beans donates to this podcast, plus you support bird-friendly coffee farms which provide essential habitat, simply by drinking a cup of coffee.

Jody Allair is an avid birder and naturalist who enjoys sharing his enthusiasm for the natural world. He is the Director of Communications at Birds Canada and has written numerous articles on birds, birding and connecting with nature. You can find him on Bluesky and Instagram at @JodyAllair.

Andrea Gress (she/her) secretly thinks Piping Plovers are better than all the other birds...studied Renewable Resource Management at the University of Saskatchewan. She pivoted towards birds, after an internship in South Africa. Upon returning, she worked with Piping Plovers in Saskatchewan, and then as the Ontario Piping Plover Coordinator. Years of sharing her love of plovers with beach goers has turned into a full time communications role with Birds Canada.

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Taking good photos of birds isn't just about the gear - knowing bird behaviours and habitats is equally as important.

Professional wildlife photographer, Liron Gertsman, joins us to offer helpful pointers for folks looking to take their bird photography to the next level. He also shares the stories behind some of his most iconic photos, important notes on how to practice ethical bird photography, and tips for following a similar career path in combining photography with a love of birds.

Donate today to get your copy of the 2026 Birds Canada Calendar! Visit birdscanada.org/warblerspodcast and click Donate.

Any donation helps support bird conservation in Canada.

Additional links:

See Liron's photography, join one of his tours, or buy prints here: linktr.ee/liron_gertsman

Ethical Owl Photography tips from Birds Canada

Ethical Field Practices from the North American Nature Photography Association

Liron Gertsman is an award-winning naturalist and professional wildlife photographer whose work has appeared in Canadian Geographic, Audubon, Sierra Magazine, The Smithsonian Institution, London’s Natural History Museum, and more. Liron combines his photographic artistry with his biology background from the University of British Columbia to create eye-catching images and unique photography workshops around his home in western Canada and worldwide.

Andrea Gress (she/her) secretly thinks Piping Plovers are better than all the other birds...studied Renewable Resource Management at the University of Saskatchewan. She pivoted towards birds, after an internship in South Africa. Upon returning, she worked with Piping Plovers in Saskatchewan, and then as the Ontario Piping Plover Coordinator. Years of sharing her love of plovers with beach goers has turned into a full time communications role with Birds Canada.

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Join us on a road trip to Skookumchuck Prairie to seek out the Long-billed Curlew. Our editor Kris Cu takes the reigns, leading us through the grassy valleys of Southeastern British Columbia. Kris is joined by David Bradley of Birds Canada, and Dianne Cooper, the caretaker of the Skookumchuck Prairie Key Biodiversity Area. Through their eyes, we learn about the Long-billed Curlew - threats, challenges, conservation efforts - while also learning more about KBAs and how they offer essential habitat for species at risk.

When you order from birdsandbeans.ca/warblers Birds and Beans donates to this podcast, plus you support bird-friendly coffee farms which provide essential habitat, simply by drinking a cup of coffee.

Learn more:

The Long-billed Curlew Project

KBA Canada

The migratory shorebird study

David Bradley is the Conservation Scientist & Director for Birds Canada in British Columbia. He completed his Ph.D in New Zealand on the ecology and conservation of an endangered endemic bird, the North Island Kokako. His postdoc, at the Birds Canada head office in Ontario and the University of Guelph, focused on migration and breeding phenology in Tree Swallows. He is currently involved in an invasive mammalian predator study in Haida Gwaii, and a Long-billed Curlew migration tracking study in the Kootenay Mountains.

Dianne Cooper has been the volunteer caretaker for Skookumchuck Prairie KBA for 8 years. She is very involved in the local birding community, being the eBird editor for the region and a compiler for the Christmas Bird Count.

Andrea Gress (she/her) secretly thinks Piping Plovers are better than all the other birds...studied Renewable Resource Management at the University of Saskatchewan. She pivoted towards birds, after an internship in South Africa. Upon returning, she worked with Piping Plovers in Saskatchewan, and then as the Ontario Piping Plover Coordinator. Years of sharing her love of plovers with beach goers has turned into a full time communications role with Birds Canada.

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While working with Piping Plovers in June of 2022, Andrea Gress and the rest of the plover team, observed a same-sex pairing between two well known plovers. It was a first for the species.

But was it really?

In today's episode, Andrea shares a brief history of how queerness in nature was viewed by the scientific community, and how these perspectives have evolved. To explore this further, we also re-share an episode originally aired in 2022: Piping Plovers - A Love Story.

As promised, here are some additional resources to explore:

Watch:

Animal Pride: Nature's Coming Our Story, the Nature of Things

Listen:

A Field Guide to Gay Animals by Canadaland

The Seagulls by Radiolab

Read:

Same-sex partnerships in birds: a review of the current literature and a call for more data by Gillies and Siddiqi-Davies 2025

Same-sex sexual behaviour among mammals is widely observed, yet seldomly reported: Evidence from an online expert survey by Anderson et al 2024

Andrea Gress (she/her) secretly thinks Piping Plovers are better than all the other birds...studied Renewable Resource Management at the University of Saskatchewan. She pivoted towards birds, after an internship in South Africa. Upon returning, she worked with Piping Plovers in Saskatchewan, and then as the Ontario Piping Plover Coordinator. Years of sharing her love of plovers with beach goers has turned into a full time communications role with Birds Canada.

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Discover the fascinating world of the White-throated Sparrow: birds with two colour morphs, a unique mating system, and songs that spread like the latest Taylor Swift release. Professors Ken Otter and Scott Ramsay reveal the surprising complexity behind these seemingly ordinary birds.

When you order from birdsandbeans.ca/warblers Birds and Beans donates to this podcast, plus you support bird-friendly coffee farms which provide essential habitat, simply by drinking a cup of coffee.

Scott Ramsay is a Biology professor at Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, ON, where he has been studying White-throated Sparrows since 2001. Since joining the faculty at Laurier, his research has included studies of the White-throated Sparrow populations in Algonquin Park, and Prince George BC in collaboration with Ken Otter.

Ken Otter is a professor at the University of Northern British Columbia. Ken and his team were behind much of the song research for White-throated Sparrows. His primary interest is in how forest birds respond to anthropogenic disturbance.

Andrea Gress (she/her) secretly thinks Piping Plovers are better than all the other birds...studied Renewable Resource Management at the University of Saskatchewan. She pivoted towards birds, after an internship in South Africa. Upon returning, she worked with Piping Plovers in Saskatchewan, and then as the Ontario Piping Plover Coordinator. Years of sharing her love of plovers with beach goers has turned into a full time communications role with Birds Canada.

Support the show