Surveys show that Americans don't really know about or appreciate our grasslands. Grasslands are some of our most overlooked, but they need our help and attention. Wenfei Tong from Cornell Lab of Ornithology and Maggie Hanna with Bird Conservancy of the Rockies tell us all about grasslands and birds.

Adventure begins at: 7:00

Show notes

Naturalist Journeys Go Birding with Hannah and Erik
Tufted Puffin Walks
Rio Grande Valley Bird Festival
Birding The Border
America’s Grasslands Coalition
Cornell - Grasslands Ecosystem Guide
Bird Conservancy of the Rockies - Central Grasslands Roadmap Initiative

Intro Bird Call: Western Meadowlark (Recorded Oregon, May 2019)
Outro Bird Call: Vesper Sparrow (Recorded Washington, June 2025)

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IG: @Hannahgoesbirding and @Erikgoesbirding
Facebook: @HannahandErikGoBirding
Email us at HannahandErikGoBirding@gmail.com
Website: http://www.gobirdingpodcast.com
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Spring migration is a great time to visit the Rio Grande Valley. Warblers, vireos, orioles, and more move through the Gulf Coast on their way to breeding habitats further north. The Spring Chirp birding festival is the perfect opportunity to see migrating birds, eat good food, and enjoy the Rio Grande Valley.

Adventure begins at: 6:55

Show notes
Naturalist Journeys Go Birding with Hannah and Erik
Tufted Puffin Walks
Rio Grande Valley Bird Festival
Birding The Border
Spring Chirp
Nana’s Taqueria
Valley Nature Center

eBird Trip Report

Birds/Animals mentioned
Prothonotary Warbler
Swallow-tailed Kite

Intro Bird Call: Cactus Wren (Recorded Cameron, TX, April 2026)
Outro Bird Call: Great Kiskadee (Recorded Hidalgo, TX, April 2026)

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Connect with us at...

IG: @Hannahgoesbirding and @Erikgoesbirding
Facebook: @HannahandErikGoBirding
Email us at HannahandErikGoBirding@gmail.com
Website: http://www.gobirdingpodcast.com
Venmo: @hannahanderikgobirding

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Pelagic boat trips are always an adventure. There is so much variability with weather, ocean conditions, and, of course, birds. We have never done a pelagic in the spring, so we thought we would give it a chance and chase after our most hoped-for bird, Parakeet Auklet.

Adventure begins at: 13:30

Show notes

Naturalist Journeys Go Birding with Hannah and Erik
Tufted Puffin Walks
eBird Big Day; GoBirdingTeam
Rio Grande Valley Bird Festival
Birding The Border
Tu Hand Creations
Westport Pelagic

eBird Trip Report

Birds/Animals mentioned:
Short-tailed Albatross
Manx Shearwater

Intro Bird Call: Pink-footed Shearwater (Recorded Washington, July 2020)
Outro Bird Call: Pink-footed Shearwater (Recorded Washington, July 2020)

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Connect with us at...

IG: @Hannahgoesbirding and @Erikgoesbirding
Facebook: @HannahandErikGoBirding
Email us at HannahandErikGoBirding@gmail.com
Website: http://www.gobirdingpodcast.com
Venmo: @hannahanderikgobirding

Get a discount at Buteo Books using code: BIRDNERDBOOKCLUB

Dr. Steve Brusatte is a palentologist, author, consultant, professor, and much more - he wears so many hats! But communicating science is at the center to all he does. He joined us to talk about his latest work, The Story of Birds, a fascinating book exploring the history of birds from their dinosaur origins.

Start of interview: 10:20

Show Notes

Naturalist Journeys Go Birding with Hannah and Erik
Tufted Puffin Walks
eBird Big Day; GoBirdingTeam
The Story of Birds by Dr. Steve Brusatte
Tu Hands Creations
Rio Grande Valley Birding Festival
Birding the Border

Intro Bird Call: Yellow-crowned Gonolek (recorded Senegal, December 2023)
Outro Bird Call: Plain Chachalaca (recorded Texas, April 2025)

Didn’t explain bird calls in recording, but Yellow-crowned Gonolek to me makes me think of what an ancient Mesozoic bird song might sound like and the outro of a Plain Chachalaca is of one of the birds that seems to be most raptor like, living in packs, extremely curious, kind of awkward, etc.

Support the show

Connect with us at...

IG: @Hannahgoesbirding and @Erikgoesbirding
Facebook: @HannahandErikGoBirding
Email us at HannahandErikGoBirding@gmail.com
Website: http://www.gobirdingpodcast.com
Venmo: @hannahanderikgobirding

Get a discount at Buteo Books using code: BIRDNERDBOOKCLUB

Our last adventure in Japan was to fly into the Kagoshima airport on the southern island of Kyushu and bird between there and Izumi. We were searching for wintering cranes at the Izumi Crane Observation Center, ducks and forest birds at the Kogawa dam, and then finished up our trip at the Kagoshima Prefectural Forest. What a way to end an exciting trip!

Adventure begins at: 8:00

Show notes

Naturalist Journeys Go Birding with Hannah and Erik
Tufted Puffin Walks
eBird Big Day; GoBirdingTeam
Koko Stay Izumi
Izumi Crane Observation Center
Koji Tagi Japan Bird Guide

eBird Trip Report

Intro Bird Call: Varied Tit (Recorded Japan, February 2026)
Outro Bird Call: Green Pheasant (Recorded Japan, February 2026)

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Connect with us at...

IG: @Hannahgoesbirding and @Erikgoesbirding
Facebook: @HannahandErikGoBirding
Email us at HannahandErikGoBirding@gmail.com
Website: http://www.gobirdingpodcast.com
Venmo: @hannahanderikgobirding

Get a discount at Buteo Books using code: BIRDNERDBOOKCLUB

Hokkaido has a lot of really neat birds and one-in-a-lifetime experiences. The Steller's Sea-Eagles and Blakiston's Fish-Owls what attracted us to go on the trip, but amazing places, good food, and other wildlife made it even better!

Adventure begins at: 10:20

Show notes

Naturalist Journeys Go Birding with Hannah and Erik
Seicomart
Hotel Live Max in Shiretoko
Shiretoko Nature Cruise
Yoroushi Hotspring Lodge

eBird Trip Report

Birds/Animals mentioned

Blakiston’s Fish-Owl
Steller’s Sea-Eagle

Intro Bird Call: Large-billed Crow (Recorded Hokkaido Japan, February 2026)
Outro Bird Call: Steller’s Sea-Eagle (Recorded at sea near Japan, February 2026)

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Connect with us at...

IG: @Hannahgoesbirding and @Erikgoesbirding
Facebook: @HannahandErikGoBirding
Email us at HannahandErikGoBirding@gmail.com
Website: http://www.gobirdingpodcast.com
Venmo: @hannahanderikgobirding

Get a discount at Buteo Books using code: BIRDNERDBOOKCLUB

In our first few days in Japan, we did a bit of sightseeing in Tokyo, including the Sensō-ji Temple and a few days in Tokyo Disney...just a tiny bit of birding there! We also chatted a bit about traveling around Tokyo and some tips for folks who haven't been there before.

Then we headed to Hokkaido to get the real birding adventure started! Cranes, seabirds, ducks, and owls...and freezing cold temperatures. There is so much to see!

Adventure begins at: 10:51
Tokyo and Disney: 14:00
Hokkaido adventures: 33:45

Show notes

Spring Chirp
Naturalist Journeys Go Birding with Hannah and Erik
Stephen Fry and the Kakapo
Seicomart, the Hokkaido local convience store
Senso-Ji Temple
Tokyo Disney
Tsurui-Ito Red-crowned Crane Sanctuary
Koji Tagi

eBird Trip Report

Birds/Animals mentioned

Red-crowned Crane
Long-tailed Tit
Dusky Thrush
Azure-winged Magpie

Intro Bird Call: Red-crowned Crane (Recorded: Hokaido Japan, February 2026)
Outro Bird Call: Brown-eared Bulbul (Recorded: Hokkaido Japan, February 2026)

Support the show

Connect with us at...

IG: @Hannahgoesbirding and @Erikgoesbirding
Facebook: @HannahandErikGoBirding
Email us at HannahandErikGoBirding@gmail.com
Website: http://www.gobirdingpodcast.com
Venmo: @hannahanderikgobirding

Get a discount at Buteo Books using code: BIRDNERDBOOKCLUB

Alt title: Elephant Seals, Wine Tasting, and Owls, oh my!

On our day off from the Morro Bay Birding Festival, we decided to check out a few birding spots, like Atascadero Lake and Wolff Vineyard. We also searched for a couple of owls and then found some cool birds off-the-beaten path!

Adventure begins at: 11:25

Show notes

Spring Chirp
Naturalist Journeys Go Birding with Hannah and Erik
Morro Bay Birding Festival
Article about Exotic Gardens
Wolff Vineyards

eBird Trip Report

Birds/Animals mentioned

Elephant Seals

Intro Bird Call: California Scrub Jay (Recorded Oregon, 2021)
Outro Bird Call: Great Horned Owl (Recorded Cannon Beach OR, 2025)

Support the show

Connect with us at...

IG: @Hannahgoesbirding and @Erikgoesbirding
Facebook: @HannahandErikGoBirding
Email us at HannahandErikGoBirding@gmail.com
Website: http://www.gobirdingpodcast.com
Venmo: @hannahanderikgobirding

Get a discount at Buteo Books using code: BIRDNERDBOOKCLUB