23: Birds That Had a Freakin' Great 2019

Before we dive too deep into 2020, let's reflect on 2019. Some big things happened in the bird world last year. Scientists identified the remains of a 15-pound, 3-foot-tall parrot named Squawkzilla. US cities adopted bird-friendly laws. We've lost 1 in 4 birds since the 1970s (hey, we didn't say it was all good news). Plus, meet 5 bird species that had an AWESOME year.Here's our birdy recap of 2019!BIRD SHIT WE DISCUSSEDUSEFUL RESOURCESChicago Bird Collision Monitors…we love this (and similar) organizations!New York City Audubon, American Bird Conservancy, and the American Institute of Architects helped pass bird-friendly building laws in NYC!Have you played Untitled Goose Game?BIRDS WE MENTION (in order)Blue-gray GnatcatcherAmerican WoodcockGouldian FinchHouse SparrowAmerican RobinEuropean StarlingLong-tailed DuckBuffleheadHouse FinchDark-eyed JuncoNorthern CardinalRock PigeonPiping PloverKirtland’s WarblerInterior Least TernHoiho (Yellow-Eyed Penguin)Tricolored BlackbirdBIRDS IN THE NEWSBirds’ bodies are getting smaller and their wings are getting larger.NYC and Austin’s airport are making the world safer for birds!2019 BIRD NEWS WRAP-UPChanges to the Migratory Bird Act are effed up and make things bad for birds.Using eDNA to detect endangered species = COOLThe worst news about birds came out in 2019. We’re still sad about it. Birding is good for your mental health!Squawkzilla? Squawkzilla. Half-male, half-female Northern Cardinal can’t sing but can lay eggs. Whoa!Support the show