Fall migration has fascinated me for a long time… but this year has been different for me. It’s the first time I’ve been able to be in Oaxaca, Mexico for the full seasonal progression, from the first spotted sandpipers (Actitis macularis) and Louisiana waterthrushes (Parkesia motacilla) through the waves of migrating shorebirds, rare surprises like an off-course swallow-tailed kite (Elanoides forficatus)—and who knows what else is still to come. This month’s podcast is all about the wonder of fall migration, from a special place at the mouth of a river on the Pacific coast of Oaxaca. I’m thrilled that I was able to collaborate with Nick Bayly, Director of Migratory Ecology for the Colombian nonprofit SELVA (https://www.selva.org.co/), to showcase the amazing research of his international team into migratory ecology, stopover sites, and all of the mysteries that remain about these amazing journeys, especially south of the US border.

I invite you to listen to this month’s podcast and immerse yourself in a hemisphere of birds in motion!!!

I depend on your support to continue doing this work. Please share these podcasts, leave a rating, and, if you’re able, join my community of Patreon supporters: https://www.patreon.com/wildwithnature. Thank you!!!

You can find the written, illustrated version of this story here: https://wildwithnature.com/2026/10/01/fall-migration-neotropics-oaxaca-coast/.

Llevo mucho tiempo fascinado por la migración otoñal de las aves… pero este año ha sido diferente para mí. Es la primera vez que he podido estar en Oaxaca, México a través de la temporada completa de la migración, desde los primeros playeros alzacolita (Actitis macularis) y chipes arroyeros (Parkesia motacilla) hasta las olas de aves playeras migratorias, sorpresas raras como un milano tijereta (Elanoides forficatus) fuera de su ruta esperada—y quién sabe qué más todavía está por aparecer. El podcast de este mes se trata del asombro de la migración otoñal, desde un lugarcito especial en la desembocadura de un río por la costa Pacífico de Oaxaca. Me encanta haber podido colaborar en este podcast con Nick Bayly, Director de la Ecología de la Migración para la organización colombiana SELVA (https://www.selva.org.co/). Destacamos las investigaciones muy interesantes de su equipo internacional en la ecología de la migración, los sitios de parada y todos los misterios que permanecen sobre estos viajes increíbles, sobre todo al sur de la frontera de Estados Unidos.

Te invito a escuchar el podcast de este mes y entrar en el mundo de un hemisferio de aves en movimiento!!!

Como siempre, dependo de tu apoyo para seguir con este proyecto. Favor de compartir estos podcasts, dejarme un rating y (si puedes) unirme a mi comunidad de patrocinadores en Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/wildwithnature. Muchísimas gracias!!!

Puedes encontrar la versión escrita con la historia aquí, con muchas fotos del campo: https://wildwithnature.com/2026/10/01/migracion-otonal-en-el-neotropico-oaxaca/.

As climate change makes life harsher, I’m thinking a lot about what I can do, together with my local plants and animals, to respond. Here, that looks like planting a lot of different things, annuals and especially perennials, edible leaves, tubers, and seeds. I hope that lots of different plants will mean more resilience. If a drought wipes out the corn, there's still a good chance that the papaya, nopales, and passionfruit will survive.

Adapting to climate change looks like keeping the soil covered and protected, chopping down weeds as compost and mulch, sharing seeds and plants with family, friends, and neighbors. Even if our crops fail, hopefully someone else's will make it through. It looks like planting not just food but also habitat for the animals that have no escape from the wild weather.

And sometimes, after pouring months of sweat and love and aspirations into this earth, I have no choice but to step away for a week and a half in a drought, and hope. The less help these plants need from me, the better-equipped we'll be for the unknown of the months ahead.

I depend on the support of you, my listeners, to continue doing this work. Please share these podcasts, leave a rating, and, if you’re able, support me through Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/wildwithnature. Thank you!!!

You can find the written, illustrated version of this story here: https://wildwithnature.com/2026/09/01/a-cup-of-water-in-the-drought/