Dr. Steve Brusatte is a palentologist, author, consultant, professor, and much more - he wears so many hats! But communicating science is at the center to all he does. He joined us to talk about his latest work, The Story of Birds, a fascinating book exploring the history of birds from their dinosaur origins.

Start of interview: 10:20

Show Notes

Naturalist Journeys Go Birding with Hannah and Erik
Tufted Puffin Walks
eBird Big Day; GoBirdingTeam
The Story of Birds by Dr. Steve Brusatte
Tu Hands Creations
Rio Grande Valley Birding Festival
Birding the Border

Intro Bird Call: Yellow-crowned Gonolek (recorded Senegal, December 2023)
Outro Bird Call: Plain Chachalaca (recorded Texas, April 2025)

Didn’t explain bird calls in recording, but Yellow-crowned Gonolek to me makes me think of what an ancient Mesozoic bird song might sound like and the outro of a Plain Chachalaca is of one of the birds that seems to be most raptor like, living in packs, extremely curious, kind of awkward, etc.

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Our last adventure in Japan was to fly into the Kagoshima airport on the southern island of Kyushu and bird between there and Izumi. We were searching for wintering cranes at the Izumi Crane Observation Center, ducks and forest birds at the Kogawa dam, and then finished up our trip at the Kagoshima Prefectural Forest. What a way to end an exciting trip!

Adventure begins at: 8:00

Show notes

Naturalist Journeys Go Birding with Hannah and Erik
Tufted Puffin Walks
eBird Big Day; GoBirdingTeam
Koko Stay Izumi
Izumi Crane Observation Center
Koji Tagi Japan Bird Guide

eBird Trip Report

Intro Bird Call: Varied Tit (Recorded Japan, February 2026)
Outro Bird Call: Green Pheasant (Recorded Japan, February 2026)

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Email us at HannahandErikGoBirding@gmail.com
Website: http://www.gobirdingpodcast.com
Venmo: @hannahanderikgobirding

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Hokkaido has a lot of really neat birds and one-in-a-lifetime experiences. The Steller's Sea-Eagles and Blakiston's Fish-Owls what attracted us to go on the trip, but amazing places, good food, and other wildlife made it even better!

Adventure begins at: 10:20

Show notes

Naturalist Journeys Go Birding with Hannah and Erik
Seicomart
Hotel Live Max in Shiretoko
Shiretoko Nature Cruise
Yoroushi Hotspring Lodge

eBird Trip Report

Birds/Animals mentioned

Blakiston’s Fish-Owl
Steller’s Sea-Eagle

Intro Bird Call: Large-billed Crow (Recorded Hokkaido Japan, February 2026)
Outro Bird Call: Steller’s Sea-Eagle (Recorded at sea near Japan, February 2026)

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IG: @Hannahgoesbirding and @Erikgoesbirding
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Website: http://www.gobirdingpodcast.com
Venmo: @hannahanderikgobirding

Get a discount at Buteo Books using code: BIRDNERDBOOKCLUB

In our first few days in Japan, we did a bit of sightseeing in Tokyo, including the Sensō-ji Temple and a few days in Tokyo Disney...just a tiny bit of birding there! We also chatted a bit about traveling around Tokyo and some tips for folks who haven't been there before.

Then we headed to Hokkaido to get the real birding adventure started! Cranes, seabirds, ducks, and owls...and freezing cold temperatures. There is so much to see!

Adventure begins at: 10:51
Tokyo and Disney: 14:00
Hokkaido adventures: 33:45

Show notes

Spring Chirp
Naturalist Journeys Go Birding with Hannah and Erik
Stephen Fry and the Kakapo
Seicomart, the Hokkaido local convience store
Senso-Ji Temple
Tokyo Disney
Tsurui-Ito Red-crowned Crane Sanctuary
Koji Tagi

eBird Trip Report

Birds/Animals mentioned

Red-crowned Crane
Long-tailed Tit
Dusky Thrush
Azure-winged Magpie

Intro Bird Call: Red-crowned Crane (Recorded: Hokaido Japan, February 2026)
Outro Bird Call: Brown-eared Bulbul (Recorded: Hokkaido Japan, February 2026)

Support the show

Connect with us at...

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

Get a discount at Buteo Books using code: BIRDNERDBOOKCLUB

Alt title: Elephant Seals, Wine Tasting, and Owls, oh my!

On our day off from the Morro Bay Birding Festival, we decided to check out a few birding spots, like Atascadero Lake and Wolff Vineyard. We also searched for a couple of owls and then found some cool birds off-the-beaten path!

Adventure begins at: 11:25

Show notes

Spring Chirp
Naturalist Journeys Go Birding with Hannah and Erik
Morro Bay Birding Festival
Article about Exotic Gardens
Wolff Vineyards

eBird Trip Report

Birds/Animals mentioned

Elephant Seals

Intro Bird Call: California Scrub Jay (Recorded Oregon, 2021)
Outro Bird Call: Great Horned Owl (Recorded Cannon Beach OR, 2025)

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Connect with us at...

IG: @Hannahgoesbirding and @Erikgoesbirding
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Email us at HannahandErikGoBirding@gmail.com
Website: http://www.gobirdingpodcast.com
Venmo: @hannahanderikgobirding

Get a discount at Buteo Books using code: BIRDNERDBOOKCLUB

Audubon California has a program that benefits both ranchers and birds! Swallow Creek Ranch is one of their partners. Hannah and Erik sat down with Kyla, Paul, and Nick from Swallow Creek Ranch and Grace from Audubon California to learn about this program!

Adventure begins at: 14:50

Show notes

Spring Chirp
Naturalist Journeys Go Birding with Hannah and Erik
Morro Bay Birding Festival
AOS Proposals
Words on Birds

eBird Trip Report

Birds/Animals mentioned

Intro Bird Call: Brown-headed Cowbird (Recorded Cannon Beach OR, April 2020)
Outro Bird Call: Cows attracting our attention (Recorded Morro Bay CA, 2026)

Support the show

Connect with us at...

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

Get a discount at Buteo Books using code: BIRDNERDBOOKCLUB

We were happy to get back down to Morro Bay for another festival. Had a brief birding stop along the way and then on to the festival! Morro Rock and surrounding parks are such nice, easy birding spots with lots of species!

Adventure begins at: 10:24

Show notes

Spring Chirp
Christina Baal, Drawing 10,000 Birds; Instagram
Naturalist Journeys - Go Birding with Hannah and Erik
Morro Bay Birding Festival
Sammy J’s
Pinnacles National Park

eBird Trip Report

Birds/Animals mentioned

Sea Otter

Intro Bird Call: Canyon Wren (Recorded Morro Bay CA, 2025)
Outro Bird Call: California Thrasher (Recorded Morro Bay CA, 2025)

Support the show

Connect with us at...

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

Get a discount at Buteo Books using code: BIRDNERDBOOKCLUB

Cozumel, an island just off of Mexico, is a great, quick birding spot AND has three endemic bird species! We enjoyed finding these interesting birds amongst the hustle and bustle of a popular tourist destination.

Adventure begins at: 11:55

Show notes

Spring Chirp
The Great Backyard Bird Count
BirdsCaribbean
Christina Baal, Drawing 10,000 Birds; Instagram
Cozumel Birding Tours

eBird Trip Report

Birds/Animals mentioned

Cozumel Vireo
Cozumel Wren
Cozumel Emerald

Intro Bird Call: Cozumel Wren (Recorded: Cozumel, Mexico November 2025)
Outro Bird Call: Cozumel Wren (Recorded: Cozumel, Mexico November 2025)

Support the show

Connect with us at...

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

Get a discount at Buteo Books using code: BIRDNERDBOOKCLUB