Please note: Due to post surgery recovery from an elbow fracture to my dominant arm I am unable to continue production of the podcast at this time. Full recovery is expected by early 2026, but whether I can continue given other health issues is a question.

This has been a solo act from the begining in 2021. This episode was produced before the injury, includes the conclusion of a series on the extraordinary recovery of the Lesser Snow Goose in western North America, increasingly a common resident of Arizona. A report on efforts underway to have Bendire's Thrasher elevated to threatened status following surveys that show dramatic declines in recent years. Bird of the episode: Barn Owl. Birding hotspot: Dankworth Pond State Park south of Safford. Friend of wildlife: Arizona Sustainability Alliance.

I have arranged with the podcast distribution platform to keep all episodes available until further notice. Thank you all for your interest and loyalty, some of you from the very first episode.

I started the podcast as what I thought might be a brief interlude during the Covid pandemic. Nearly 10,000 downloads later to more than 70 countries, more than 700 cities/principalities on every continent except Antarctica I am overwhelmed with gratitude. I hope you have found the podcast interesting and, from time to time, perhaps entertaining.

Wishing happy birding to all wherever you are.

- Mike Ameigh

Lesser Snow Geese, once a rarity in Arizona and western North America more broadly have rebounded from the brink of extinction as a result of adaptation to modern agricultural practices. In this podcast part 1 of an article from Audubon Magazine that describes major damage to wetland ecology resulting from this rebound. Bird of the episode: the Arizona Bald Eagle. Birding hotspot: Big Horn Mountains Wilderness, Buckeye. Friend of Wildlife: Arizona Sonoran desert Museum.

A brief explanation of how birds are 'smaht.' Kettles of hawks, vultures and other large birds of prey are passing through Arizona headed for South America in migration. What is a 'kettle' and how does it form? Pinto Creek in Gila County is drying up from water extraction by mining operations destroying riparian ecology in the area. A tribute to Richard Glinski, long-time Arizona biologist and nature educator who passed away earlier this year.