Life List: A Birding Podcast

What bird conservation successes can teach us with Scott Weidensaul 05.07.2026 1Std. 18Min.

As is the case with many beautiful things in this world, some of the biggest successes in conservation result from the toughest challenges that birds and wildlife face. Pulitzer-prize finalist Scott Weidensaul is with us today to share stories he's gathered from near and far to share a message of hope for conservation. Get more Life list by subscribing to our newsletter and joining our Patreon for bonus content. Talk to us and share your topic ideas at lifelistpodcast.com. Thank...

Interpreting migration data, cataloging our backyards, and El Niño predictions 22.06.2026 1Std. 8Min.

Mollee, Alvaro, and George are catching up in a classic hangout episode. Join us in conversations about why we call this podcast Life List, the birds and other wildlife in our home patches, and a preview of what might come from El Niño in future months now that it's officially been declared. Get more Life list by subscribing to our newsletter and joining our Patreon for bonus content. Talk to us and share your topic ideas at lifelistpodcast.com. Thanks to Kowa Optics for sponsor...

How we became bird guides: Alex Harper interviews George, Mollee, and Alvaro 06.06.2026 1Std. 4Min.

This week, we’re turning the tables. Instead of interviewing a guest, Alex Harper takes over hosting duties and puts the Life List Podcast hosts in the hot seats to chat about how they became professional birding guides, what they do and don't like about their profession, and what their jobs are like. P.S. Thanks to our friends of the pod in this episode's cover photo - Jeff, Angela, and Surya! Get more Life list by subscribing to our newsletter and joining our Patreon for bonus content...

Our biggest spring migration birding surprises 23.05.2026 1Std. 7Min.

Birds - crabs - fish - mammals...oh my! Spring birding gets us out there and finding all sorts of things. Alvaro, Mollee, and George are catching up on stories from their time in the field and their backyards throughout May. Get more Life list by subscribing to our newsletter and joining our Patreon for bonus content. Talk to us and share your topic ideas at lifelistpodcast.com. Thanks to Kowa Optics for sponsoring our podcast! Want to know more about us? Check out George's comp...

The expanding science of avian perception with Ed Yong 11.05.2026 1Std. 17Min.

If you've read anything by Ed Yong, you know that he tackles the challenge of explaining some of the most difficult-to-grasp concepts in the animal world in ways that humans can (nearly) imagine. In this episode, we're chatting with Ed — Pulitzer Prize–winning science writer and bestselling author — about migration, animal senses, and seeing the world differently through nature. Get more Life list by subscribing to our newsletter and joining our Patreon for bonus content. Talk to us and...

Birding the Eastern Himalayas, a backyard Long-eared Owl, and safari adventures with Jason Hall 25.04.2026 1Std. 7Min.

Jason Hall is back on the podcast to talk about mid-April spring migration, backyard adventures, and time on the other side of the world in Arunachal Pradesh and Assam, India. Get more Life list by subscribing to our newsletter and joining our Patreon for bonus content. Talk to us and share your topic ideas at lifelistpodcast.com. Thanks to Kowa Optics for sponsoring our podcast! Want to know more about us? Check out George's company, Hillstar Nature; Alvaro's company, Alvaro's ...

An evolutionary biology perspective on pair bonding - in birds and humans - with Bryony Angell and Wenfei Tong 11.04.2026 1Std. 7Min.

Another classic Life List episode: a recipe of biological and ecological facts, rabbit holes, and a healthy dose of talk about life! Bryony Angell wrote The Migratory Suitor for a recent issue of BWD magazine, and she joined us along with Wenfei Tong, an evolutionary biologist, to discuss how pair bonding in birds could relate to that in humans. This is a fun one! Helpful links: Read The Migratory Suitor here as a free PDF downloadWenfei's main book that we referenced throughout the epi...

Middle East birding, missiles, and Mollee's long way home 02.04.2026 1Std. 30Min.

Mollee sat down with Alvaro to recount her visit to the UAE that was cut short when the US/Iran war broke out. From here, she talks about the journey to get out of the Middle East that ended up involving travel to three countries, closed airspace and canceled flights, a missed birding tour, and experiences missiles being intercepted overhead...plus exploration of dramatic wadis, the pyramids, and Ramadan across three unique cultures. Get more Life list by subscribing to our newsletter a...

Tour mishaps, life bird tales, and combining concerts and birding with Bonner Black 17.03.2026 1Std. 8Min.

Bonner Black is back! If you need a little quality hang with your birding friends, we've got you covered. A few links: Check out all of Bonner's music and more on her websitePlus, don't miss Beasts of Birdin on YouTube And thanks to Lars Lachmann via Xeno-Canto for the Great Bustard recording! Get more Life list by subscribing to our newsletter and joining our Patreon for bonus content. Talk to us and share your topic ideas at lifelistpodcast.com. Thanks to Kowa ...

Ship-assisted birds, South American travel, and watching winter shift 21.02.2026 1Std. 2Min.

George and Alvaro are chatting about recent birds in their backyards, ABA rarities, sparrow speciation, recent South American travels, and more! At the end of this episode, Alvaro cites a new paper about genetic expression with wheatears as the example species. Start here to dive into this research: https://www.the-scientist.com/variation-at-a-single-gene-controls-songbird-plumage-73606 Get more Life list by subscribing to our newsletter and joining our Patreon for bonus content. Talk to us a...

Why visible migration matters: migration counts and seawatch tales with Allison Vilag 07.02.2026 1Std. 6Min.

Allison has worked coast to (Great Lakes) coast for years, and today, we're chatting about tales from the field and lessons learned from endless days of visible migration experiences. Come for the high counts...stay for the simple joys of watching the world go by! Get more Life list by subscribing to our newsletter and joining our Patreon for bonus content. Talk to us and share your topic ideas at lifelistpodcast.com. Thanks to Kowa Optics for sponsoring our podcast! Want to kno...

Winter birding, subsistence hunting, and a backyard bird feeding debate 24.01.2026 1Std. 13Min.

New this episode: Check out our chapters in Apple Podcasts to preview our conversation! The gang's all here to chat about winter birding, from backyard feeders to chilly pelagics, plus the consumption of atypical food sources (to us Americans, at least), great places for your first Neotropical birding trip, and a sweet tooth distraction. Come for the look back on recently extinct birds...stay for the cold- and warm-weather travel inspo! Get more Life list by subscribing to our newslet...

Blending science, art, and humor to celebrate nature with Rosemary Mosco 11.01.2026 56Min.

We are delighted to be joined by Rosemary Mosco, acclaimed science writer and naturalist, to chat about obscure bird facts, a love of pigeons, and yes, whale poop. Check out all of Rosemary's comics, books, workshops, talks, and everything she's up to on her website. Come for the science-driven whimsy...stay for the joy we can all gleam from nature. Get more Life list by subscribing to our newsletter and joining our Patreon for bonus content. Talk to us and share your topic ...

Our favorite birding experiences of 2025 31.12.2025 1Std. 16Min.

It's our first-ever year end special! We recount our favorite birds, moments, wildlife, and even sounds of the year. And we get a little sidetracked with other tidbits, as we do. Because this is Life List! From George, Alvaro, and Mollee: Thanks for being here and listening along with us. We're so happy to continue producing this podcast and sharing our love of birds with all of you. Happy New Year! Get more Life list by subscribing to our newsletter and joining our Patreon for bonus co...

How birds shape our lives and landscapes with Stephen Moss 16.12.2025 1Std. 14Min.

This episode, we're joined by Stephen Moss, who shares his delightful insights into why birds around the world and in our backyards are equally important to us. Check out Stephen's website here and all of his books here. Come for the spark birds (and to hear it's okay if you don't remember every bird on your life list!)…stay for the reminder of why birds matter everywhere. Get more Life list by subscribing to our newsletter and joining our Patreon for bonus content. Talk to us and...

Hawkwatch experiences and birding parallel landscapes with Joshua Covill 01.12.2025 1Std. 2Min.

This episode, we’re joined by Joshua Covill: birding guide, hawkwatcher, and all-around mountain wanderer. Josh is sharing stories from Montana's Jewel Basin and beyond, plus a conversation about parallel ecosystems around the world. Come for the dreams of Mongolia's vastness…stay for the feeling of watching migration from the top of the world! Get more Life list by subscribing to our newsletter and joining our Patreon for bonus content. Talk to us and share your topic ideas at lifelistpodcas...

Bird taxonomy season! Deep-diving splits, lumps, and our life lists 19.11.2025 1Std.

We're birders, talking about birding! George, Alvaro, and Mollee pulled up their personalized taxonomy updates from eBird (get an overview, all the data, and your personalized report) to chat about their life list updates and what else has changed around the globe. Come for the nuts and bolts, stay for the taxonomic camaraderie! Get more Life list by subscribing to our newsletter and joining our Patreon for bonus content. Talk to us and share your topic ideas at lifelistpodcast.com.&nbs...

Inside eBird: The world’s biggest birding project with Brian Sullivan 01.11.2025 1Std. 3Min.

This episode, we’re joined by Brian Sullivan—birder, photographer, and co-leader of one of the most transformative projects in the birding world: eBird. From the earliest red-tailed hawk obsessions to building a global platform used by millions, Brian shares stories that bridge fieldwork, data, and wonder. Highlights include: How eBird grew from a niche experiment to a cornerstone of global ornithologyRed-tailed hawks, pelagics, and what it means to really know a speciesThe evolution of Birds...

Almost arrested: Birding in Qatar and South African springtime adventures 20.10.2025 1Std. 6Min.

Alvaro has some juicy stories from the field: did he finally succeed in finding a Saunder's tern, or did a run-in with the law in Qatar foil his attempts yet again? Topics with George and Alvaro include: Birding on a layover in QatarThe most accessible birding locations in the Middle EastA South African springtime tour recapThe adrenaline of safari birding Rocky Mountain oysters and other questionable culinary field experimentsLate-summer birding notes, migration updates, and...

Traveling as a birder and musician with Bonner Black 04.10.2025 58Min.

We’re joined by Bonner Black: Nashville-based singer-songwriter, birder, and all-around force of nature. Highlights of our chat include: Growing up birding in Tennessee and carrying that love on the road as a touring musicianThe parallels between birding, music, and life on the roadHow songwriting and birding both demand patience, attention, and a little obsessionThe ways nature sneaks into Bonner's lyricsCome for behind-the-scenes tales of a professional music artist…stay for shared lo...