The Rio Grande Valley Birding Festival is always a fun time!  We went to a few new places, got a lifer, and enjoyed the valley specialty birds.

Adventure begins at: 13:27 

Show notes 

Morro Bay Birding Festival
Spring Chirp
Quill and Finch journals  Discount Code: HannahandErik
"New 'remarkably tame' tinamou species discovered in Amazon mountains may already be at risk of extinction"
Sandhills Brewery
Spanky’s Burgers
Rancho Lomitas
Christmas Bird Count 

eBird Trip Report 

Birds/Animals mentioned 

Tropical Parula
Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl 

Intro Bird Call: Great-tailed Grackle (Recorded Hidalgo, Texas April, 2025)
Outro Bird Call: Plain Chachalaca (Recorded Hidalgo, Texas November 2025) 

Support the show

Connect with us at...

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

Get a discount at Buteo Books using code: BIRDNERDBOOKCLUB

It's finally here - our episode about seeing the Kagus in New Caledonia.  There is so much to see there including tons of amazing birds, unique plant life, and wonderful people.  Add New Caledonia to your travel list! 

Adventure begins at: 16:50 

Show notes
Morro Bay Birding Festival
Spring Chirp
eBird Taxonomic update finalizes
Quill and Finch journals  Discount Code: HannahandErik
New Caledonia Bird Guide Isabelle 
Giant Fern Tree National Park
Blue River Provincial Park
Kagu Mortality Event Article 

eBird Trip Report 

Birds/Animals mentioned
Kagu
Cloven-feathered Dove 

Intro Bird Call: New Caledonian Whistler (Recorded: New Caledonia October, 2025)
Outro Bird Call: Cloven-feathered Dove (Recorded: New Caledonia October, 2025) 

Support the show

Connect with us at...

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

Get a discount at Buteo Books using code: BIRDNERDBOOKCLUB

Ouvea is part of the Loyalty Islands, just off the coast of New Caledonia.  It's the only place in the world to see an Ouvea Parakeet and is a total off-the-beaten-path, once-in-a-lifetime birding spot.  

*Please be aware that we have a lot of travel logistics in this episode, because it took us some figuring out how to get there, transport, and accommodations - hopefully it's helpful if you ever decide to explore Ouvea!*

Adventure begins at: 10:02

Show notes

Morro Bay Birding Festival
Spring Chirp
eBird Taxonomic update finalizes
Quill and Finch journals  Discount Code: HannahandErik
New Caledonia Bird Guide Isabelle
Tribal Home Stay on Ouvea

eBird Trip Report

Birds/Animals mentioned

Intro Bird Call: Rufous Whistler (Recorded: New Caledonia October, 2025)
Outro Bird Call: Gray-eared Honeyeater (Recorded: New Caledonia October, 2025)

Support the show

Connect with us at...

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

Get a discount at Buteo Books using code: BIRDNERDBOOKCLUB

On the way to our destination, New Caledonia, we had a 36-hour layover in Fiji.  We know how to make the most of that!  So, we explored the southern edge of the island from Nadi to Suva. 

Adventure begins at: 11:40 

Show notes 

Rio Grande Valley Birding Festival
Morro Bay Birding Festival
Spring Chirp
eBird October Global Big Day; Team trip report
Texas A&M extension birding
Rainforest Eco Lodge
Sigatoka Sand Dunes National Park
Garden of the Sleeping Giant

eBird Trip Report 

Birds/Animals mentioned 

Many-colored Fruit-Dove
Collared Lory
Golden Dove 

Intro Bird Call: Duetting Giant Honeyeater (Recorded: Fiji October 2025)
Outro Bird Call: Fiji Bush Warbler (Recorded: Fiji October 2025) 

Support the show

Connect with us at...

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

Get a discount at Buteo Books using code: BIRDNERDBOOKCLUB

Hawk watches are conducted along migration routes and collect important information on how these species are doing.  Hannah and Erik visited the hawk watch at Bonney Butte in the Mount Hood National Forest to check it out!

Hannah and Erik were given behind-the-scenes access to be able to share some of the nitty-gritty details of what Hawkwatch does, the bird blind that we visited is typically not open to visitors to the site.

*The audio is a bit quiet due to the environmental conditions*

Adventure begins at: 5:35 

Show notes 

Rio Grande Valley Birding Festival
Morro Bay Birding Festival
Spring Chirp
eBird October Global Big Day; Team trip report
Hawk Watch International
Hawkcount.org
Bonney Butte Hawk Watch US Forestry Service 

eBird Trip Report 

Birds/Animals mentioned 

Intro Bird Call: White-crowned Sparrow (Recorded: Oregon July, 2019)
Outro Bird Call: Red-tailed Hawk (Recorded: Oregon June, 2019) 

Support the show

Connect with us at...

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

Get a discount at Buteo Books using code: BIRDNERDBOOKCLUB

We were supposed to have two pelagic trips... but ocean conditions caused one to be cancelled, and the other was delayed!  At least we were able to get out on a Westport Pelagic trip before the end of the year - it's always a good time!

Adventure begins at: 14:20

Show notes

Rio Grande Valley Birding Festival
Morro Bay Birding Festival
Spring Chirp
eBird October Global Big Day; Team trip report
Westport Seabirds

eBird Trip Report

Birds/Animals mentioned

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

Support the show

Connect with us at...

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

Get a discount at Buteo Books using code: BIRDNERDBOOKCLUB

There are a lot of birding sites in and around Tucson.  While guiding at the Southeast Arizona Birding Festival, we had the opportunity to check out some new spots and revisit some favorite locations.

Adventure begins at: 11:20 

Show notes 

Southeast Arizona Birding Festival
Rio Grande Valley Birding Festival
Morro Bay Birding Festival
Spring Chirp
eBird October Global Big Day ; Team Trip Report
Barrio Brewery
Eegee’s
Catalina State Park
Mt Lemmon
Naturalist Journeys

eBird Trip Report 

Birds/Animals mentioned 

Blue-throated Mountain-gem
Berylline Hummingbird

Intro Bird Call: Chihuahuan Meadowlark (Recorded: August, 2025, Arizona)
Outro Bird Call: Botteri’s Sparrow (Recorded: August, 2021 Arizona) 

Support the show

Connect with us at...

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

Get a discount at Buteo Books using code: BIRDNERDBOOKCLUB

We haven't done much birding in Arizona, so there is still a lot for us to go out and see!  In this episode, we visit a few beloved locations, check out some new ones, and find a few new birds.

Adventure begins at: 10:50 

Show notes 

Southeast Arizona Birding Festival
Rio Grande Valley Birding Festival
Morro Bay Birding Festival
Spring Chirp
eBird October Global Big Day; Team trip report
El Charro
The Paton Center For Hummingbirds
Santa Rita Lodge

eBird Trip Report 

Birds/Animals mentioned

Violet-crowned Hummingbird
Rose-throated Becard Arizona Information

Intro Bird Call: Bell’s Vireo (Recorded: August 2021, Arizona)
Outro Bird Call: Yellow-breasted Chat (Recorded: August 2021, Arizona) 

Support the show

Connect with us at...

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

Get a discount at Buteo Books using code: BIRDNERDBOOKCLUB

On our recent trip to Washington, we had two days to play with.  So we decided to go search out a lifer: Dusky Grouse.  Who knew we would find such a charming, interesting vacation destination, too!  Winthrop and the Methow Valley has a lot of great cascades birds to see and things to do.

Adventure begins at: 12:15 

Show notes
Southeast Arizona Birding Festival
Rio Grande Valley Birding Festival
Spring Chirp
eBird October Global Big Day
Sun Mountain Lodge
Winthrop

eBird Trip Report 

Birds/Animals mentioned 
Kagu
Dusky Grouse
Lewis’s Woodpecker 

Intro Bird Call: Vesper Sparrow (Recorded: June 2025, Washington)
Outro Bird Call: Black-throated Gray Warbler (Recorded: June 2025, Washington) 

Support the show

Connect with us at...

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

Get a discount at Buteo Books using code: BIRDNERDBOOKCLUB

Since the 1980's, Cooper's Hawks have become a more regularly sighting in cities, including Seattle.  Ed Deal, with the Urban Raptor Conservancy, has been studying them for years to find out more about these urban raptors.  

Adventure begins at: 9:55 

Show notes 

Southeast Arizona Birding Festival
Rio Grande Valley Birding Festival
America’s Favorite Couple
Urban Raptor Conservancy
Peregrine Falcons infected with Avian Influenza

eBird Trip Report 

Birds/Animals mentioned 

Cooper's Hawk

Intro Bird Call: Spotted Towhee (Recorded: June 2025, Washington)
Outro Bird Call: American Robin (Recorded: April 2020, Oregon) 

Support the show

Connect with us at...

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

Get a discount at Buteo Books using code: BIRDNERDBOOKCLUB

Tufted Puffins are such an iconic seabird that so many people want to see!  A great way to see them up close is to take a bay cruise in the Salish Sea - you might even see an out-of-place Horned Puffin!  Listen in to learn about puffins, Smith Island, and the Puget Sound. 

Adventure begins at: 10:53 

Show notes 

Southeast Arizona Birding Festival
Rio Grande Valley Birding Festival
America’s Favorite Couple
Salish Sea School
McMenamins Tacoma Elks Lodge
Smith Island
Swimming anemones
Sisterhood Birding 

eBird Trip Report 

Birds/Animals mentioned 

Tufted Puffin
Horned Puffin
Atlantic Puffin
Rhinocerous Auklet 

Intro Bird Call: Pink-footed Shearwater (Recorded: July 2020 Westport Pelagic)
Outro Bird Call: Pink-footed Shearwater (Recorded: July 2020 Westport Pelagic) 

Support the show

Connect with us at...

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

Get a discount at Buteo Books using code: BIRDNERDBOOKCLUB