Dick and Andrew Woods, who operate the family business behind Finches Friend bird feeders, prioritise the health of garden birds in the design of their products.

A passionate designer, Dick set out to revolutionise bird feeding practices by confronting the disease and contamination risks that exist wherever we feed our garden birds.

Not only do their feeders separate the food from contact with birds feet, they also encourage us to maintain good feeder hygiene by providing easy clean solutions through their innovative feeder design.

In this episode, Dick and Andrew, tell me about their latest product: the cleaner peanut feeder.

Timestamps & Links

• 00:00:00  Opening
• 00:01:14  Past Episode
  • Past episode: #128 Casual Birding in Panama City 
• 00:01:27 Introduction
• 00:03:34 Conversation with Dick and Andrew Woods from Finches Friend
  • Past episode with Finches Friend #119 Food, Feet and Faeces: the key to keeping our garden birds healthy
  • Get 5% off the price of any Finches Friend product - valid until the end of January 2024 Use the code CASBIR5PC Visit the Finches Friend website
• 00:30:49 The Casual Birder Bird Club
  • The Casual Birder Bird Club is an online bird club that meets every month. 
  • Sometimes it features guest speakers, but most months a group of us get together to talk about the birds we've seen, share birding moments that have brought us joy, and ask questions or get help from the community.
  • If meeting up with a group of friendly people from around the world to talk about the birds you've seen sounds like something you'd like to do, you'd be very welcome to join us. Sign up here: The Casual Birder Bird Club
• 00:31:29 Wrap and Close
  • The Casual Birder Podcast   https://casualbirder.com/
  • Don't miss an episode - follow the show!
  • Thanks to Randy Braun for designing the artwork for the show and to The Drones for the theme music Short Sleeved Shirt. Check out their website at www.dronesmusic.net

John and Suzy share their first experiences with the stunning birds of Panama City, and we hear from Edwin, their professional guide, who took them birding in the Metropolitan Nature Park.

Links

• Sign up to our Team for the October Big Day
• Fundraiser for BirdLife International

 

 Past Episode

• Past episode: Slow birding with Bridget Butler

 

Support the show

• Tell me about your birding
• Buy me a virtual coffee on Ko-Fi.com
• The Casual Birder Bird Club - sign up

 

The Casual Birder Podcast   https://casualbirder.com/

Thanks to Randy Braun for designing the artwork for the show.

The theme music is Short Sleeved Shirt by The Drones. Thanks to them for letting me use it. Check out their website at www.dronesmusic.net

Bridget Butler, also known as the Bird Diva, did not originally have a passion for birds.  But seeing an Indigo Bunting one morning sparked her birding interest. 

Finding support and encouragement in the Vermont birding community Bridget developed an interest in slow birding.

Bridget encourages the observation of birds as a holistic, mindful practice rather than a race to spot the most species. 

She now teaches the practice of slow birding, encouraging others to embrace a slower, more contemplative approach.

Timestamps & Links:

00:00:00  Opening

• Sign up to our Team for the October Big Day

00:01:12  Past Episode

• Past episode: Beccy Speight and Patricia Zurita

00:01:59 Introduction

00:03:21 Conversation with Bridget Butler begins

• Bird Diva website
• Intro to Slow Birding

Get 25% off the cost of the course with the code CASUALBIRDER25.

00:21:26 Promo for The Wilder Skies Podcast

00:22:01 More about Slow Birding

00:53:20 Keep in touch and support the show

• Tell me about your birding
• Buy me a virtual coffee on Ko-Fi.com
• The Casual Birder Bird Club - sign up
• Fundraiser for BirdLife International

00:54:03 Wrap and Close

 

The Casual Birder Podcast   https://casualbirder.com/

Thanks to Randy Braun for designing the artwork for the show.

The theme music is Short Sleeved Shirt by The Drones. Thanks to them for letting me use it. Check out their website at www.dronesmusic.net

Beccy Speight (Chief Executive of the RSPB) and Patricia Zurita (former CEO of BirdLife International and now Chief Strategy Officer of Conservation International) join Suzy to share their insight on changing perceptions and overcoming challenges as women in the conservation community.

And we hear how each would spend a fantasy birding day.

Recorded at Global Birdfair 2023

Timestamps & Links:

00:00:00  Opening

The October Big Day takes place this year on October 14th and The Casual Birder Podcast will again be entering a team.

We will also be supporting BirdLife International. Help us reach our fundraising target!

Just Giving link

00:01:12  Past Episode

Past episode: Focus on Birders: Chiara Talia

00:01:30 Introduction

00:02:32 Conversation with Beccy and Patricia begins

00:03:13 Patricia Zurita introduces BirdLife International and her path to joining the organisation.

00:05:26 Beccy Speight introduces the work of the RSPB and her background in conservation.

00:07:49 Beccy shares two birding memories that inspired her

00:09:00 Engaging with communities 

00:09:40 Patricia shares the International perspective

00:11:48 Beccy speaks of the power of documentaries like Wild Isles to raise awareness

00:14:22 Overcoming Challenges and Changing Perceptions

00:17:06 The Importance of Collaboration and Diversity in Leadership

00:20:00 A fantasy birding day: where would you go, what you see?

00:20:15 Patricia - New Hummingbird species in Ecuador   

00:20:45 Beccy - Shetland soundscapes

BirdLife International

RSPB

00:22:00 Suzy’s Birding

00:22:02 In search of a Nightjar

00:25:31 Stone-Curlew

00:27:38 Mis-identifying a Common Tern

00:28:18 Support the Show

Contribute to the show's tip jar

00:28:46 Keep in touch

Tell me about your birding

The Casual Birder Bird Club - sign up

00:29:10 Wrap and Close

Thanks to Randy Braun for designing the artwork for the show.

The theme music is Short Sleeved Shirt by The Drones. Thanks to them for letting me use it. Check out their website at www.dronesmusic.net

The Casual Birder Podcast   https://casualbirder.com/

Chiara Talia's gorgeous photographs, along with her tips on how to improve at both birding and bird photography, make her Instagram account a must for everyone's feed.

In this episode, Chiara tells Suzy how a walk in the park, and a chance encounter with a European Robin, led to a passion for bird photography and a pathway to healing at a time when she was struggling with her mental health.

We also hear about her experiences using a floating bird hide in Slovenia, and her search for the Southern Cassowary in Australia.

Timestamps & Links

00:00:09  Opening

The Casual Birder Bird Club - sign up

00:01:09  Past Episode

Past episode: Mel Shepherd-Wells

00:01:25 Introduction

00:02:40 Interview with Chiara Talia begins

00:05:15 The moment that changed everything

00:07:06 European Robin and Chiara’s pathway to healing 

00:10:22 Learning about birds is fundamental to bird photography

00:14:02 Chiara’s process for managing photo files

00:19:44 Canon Young Talent 2021 and increasing confidence

00:23:10 Floating Hide photography in Slovenia

00:29:35 Promo for The Wildlife Community Podcast

The Wildlife Community Podcast

00:30:25 Birding in Australia

00:41:22 How Chiara shares knowledge and joy via Instagram

00:46:02 Find Chiara online

Chiara on Instagram

Chiara's website

00:47:11 Suzy’s Shout-outs

00:51:04 Your birding stories

Tell me about your birding

00:54:04 Support the Show

Buy me a virtual coffee on Ko-Fi.com

00:54:22 Wrap and Close

 

The Casual Birder Podcast   https://casualbirder.com/

Don't miss an episode - follow the show!

Thanks to Randy Braun for designing the artwork for the show and to The Drones for the theme music Short Sleeved Shirt. Check out their website at www.dronesmusic.net

Long-time birder, Mel Shepherd-Wells, joins Suzy in a delightful chat about his birding adventures, and shares some top tips applicable to all birders.

 

Links:

The Casual Birder Bird Club - sign up

The UK Wildlife Podcast

Support the Show - Buy me a virtual coffee on Ko-Fi.com

The Casual Birder Podcast   https://casualbirder.com/

Don't miss an episode - follow the show!

Thanks to Randy Braun for designing the artwork for the show and to The Drones for the theme music Short Sleeved Shirt. Check out their website at www.dronesmusic.net

A mini episode about the wonderful time that was had at Global BirdFair 2023, where Suzy spent time with other wildlife podcasters, interviewed amazing guests and met people passionate about the natural world.

There is also news on what to expect in upcoming episodes of The Casual Birder Podcast.

 

Links

Links to wildlife podcasts mentioned

Planty Planty Zoo Zoo

The UK Wildlife Podcast

The Wild Community Podcast

Into the Wild Podcast

Wilder Skies Podcast

Hannah and Erik Go Birding

Trees a Crowd Podcast

 

Other links

Chiara Talia on instagram

The Casual Birder Bird Club - sign up

 

Support the Show - Buy me a virtual coffee on Ko-Fi.com

The Casual Birder Podcast   https://casualbirder.com/

Don't miss an episode - follow the show!

Thanks to Randy Braun for designing the artwork for the show and to The Drones for the theme music Short Sleeved Shirt. Check out their website at www.dronesmusic.net

 

Suzy shares some of her bird experiences while on vacation in Portugal, and tells how you can join our team for the Global Big Day - an important and exciting event in the birding calendar!

On the Global Big Day people around the world will go birding and then upload their checklists to eBird.

In this way, not only are they enjoying our wonderful bird life, but they are providing important data via community science to widen knowledge around bird populations during migration time.

Suzy explains how you can be join the Casual Birder Podcast Team for the event!

Stay listening for a short recording of a Nightingale, Blackbird, Collared Dove and European Goldfinch.

Links

Join the Casual Birder Podcast Team for the Global Big Day 2023. Sign up here:

https://casualbirder.com/global-big-day-2023

Please donate to our Just Giving page for BirdLife International - and share the link with your friends:

https://www.justgiving.com/page/suzy-buttress-casualbirderteam

On a pre-birthday outing, Anneke (from the show's FaceBook group) joins Suzy and her husband John for a day’s birding at RSPB Nagshead in Gloucestershire.

The woods are alive with birds singing, engaging in courtship displays, and building nests. Anneke and Suzy share their bird encounters from the day, and some surprising mammal ones too!

Links:

Last episode: Spring is here!

RSPB Nagshead webpage

Short video of our day at RSPB Nagshead

Marylee's video of the Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Join the Casual Birder Bird Club

 

Suzy is back!

In this episode, she shares her recent birding experiences and encounters with fellow enthusiasts, and the excitement of watching nesting Blue Tits, characterful Rooks and some unexpected Grey Wagtails.

Suzy also announces the launch of the Casual Birder Bird Club, and invites listeners to join the show's team for the Global Big Day birding event on 13th May 2023.

Links mentioned in the show:

• Sign the Swift petition here
• The Casual Birder Bird Club - sign up!
• Visit The Casual Birder Podcast clothing store
• Facebook group link
• The Bearded Tit Podcast 
• Join our Team for the Global Big Day
• Support the show - Buy me a virtual coffee on Ko-Fi.com

Timestamps:

00:00:00 Introduction

Suzy introduces the episode and shares the changes she's noticed as the breeding season ramps up. She also requests listeners to sign a petition created by Hannah Bourne Taylor to help increase the number of suitable nesting sites for the Swift birds in the UK.

Sign the Swift petition here

00:02:51 Dawn Chorus and Springtime

Dawn Chorus and Springtime, Suzy shares the beautiful sound of the Dawn Chorus she recorded and talks about the changes she has noticed in the garden as the weather gets better. She also discusses her plans for the podcast for the coming months.

00:06:16 Casual Birder Bird Club

Suzy talks about the monthly virtual Casual Birder Bird Club she launched and how listeners can join. She also mentions her plans to invite specialists to give talks on bird identification and other related topics.

The Casual Birder Bird Club - sign up!

00:08:24 Shoutouts to members of the birding community

Suzy thanks the members of the show's Facebook group for their support and mentions Karin for taking over moderating duties. She also gives shoutouts to birders she met while out and about over the last couple of months and talks about the birds she saw.

Visit The Casual Birder Podcast clothing store where embroidered hats, shirts and sweatshirts featuring The Casual Birder Podcast artwork are now available to buy.

Join the show's Facebook group: Facebook group link

00:22:53 Nest Box Season

Suzy shares her excitement about the nesting season in her garden and how a Blue Tit has returned to her garage nest box. She also talks about another Blue Tit checking out their Camera nest box.

00:24:19 Rooks are full of character

Suzy talks about how her garden makeover has affected Rooksy the Rook's visits to her house. She describes how Rooksie now parades on their patio until someone notices it and gives it treats. We are introduced to Rooksy's mate Billy, and the behaviour of Patches demonstrates how each bird has their own character.

00:27:50 Advert for The Bearded Tit Podcast 

00:28:16 Hampshire Ornithological Society Members Day - report

Suzy recently joined the Hampshire Ornithological Society and on 1st April attended a Members Day, which had talks given by various bird experts.

00:31:51 Global Big Day 13th May 2023

Suzy invites listeners to join the Casual Birder Podcast team for the upcoming Global Big Day on May 13th. The team will be raising funds for Birdlife International.

Join our Team for the Global Big Day

00:34:16 Wrap and Close

Support the Show - Buy me a virtual coffee on Ko-Fi.com

The Casual Birder Podcast   https://casualbirder.com/

Don't miss an episode - follow the show!

Thank you to Randy Braun for designing the artwork for the show.

The theme music is Short Sleeved Shirt by The Drones. Thanks to them for letting me use it. Check out their website at www.dronesmusic.net

Finches Friend founder Dick Woods and wildlife presenter Martin Hughes-Games join Suzy to talk about the unintended consequences of feeding garden birds that can affect their health. Dick showcases a revolutionary easy-clean feeder that he designed to reduce the transmission of disease among birds visiting feeders. He says the key is to keep birds' feet and faeces out of their food. Timestamps & Links:

00:00:00 Announcements

Big news! 

Embroidered hats, shirts and sweatshirts featuring The Casual Birder Podcast artwork are now available to buy.

Visit The Casual Birder Podcast clothing store

00:00:48  Last Episode

118 A weekend of waders at the Hampshire coast

00:01:04 Casual Birder Weekly newsletter

Sign up here!

00:01:31 Introduction to the episode

00:04:37 Interview with Dick Woods and Martin Hughes-Games

Finches Friend Website

00:47:10 Wrap-up

A Wild Life: My Adventures Around the World Filming Wildlife by Martin Hughes-Games

Martin Hughes-Games' website

Garden Wildlife Health

Garden Bird Health

00:48:06 Wrap and Close

Support the Show - Buy me a virtual coffee on Ko-Fi.com

Thanks to Randy Braun for designing the artwork for the show.

The theme music is Short Sleeved Shirt by The Drones. Thanks to them for letting me use it. Check out their website at www.dronesmusic.net