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Talkin' Birds

Ray Brown's Talkin' Birds

Ray Brown's Talkin' Birds is a call-in show of entertaining conversation about wild birds -- attracting them to your back yard, identifying them, feeding them, and learning more about them along the way. Every week, we have contests for prizes like bird feeders and other great bird-related stuff, along with expert guests. So, whether you're an experienced birder, or you're new to birding, listen in, and be part of the show by calling in with a question, sharing some information or observations, or trying for one of our prizes. It's birdwatching--in the backyard and beyond.

  • 300 episodes
  • Updated Sunday

Episodes300

  • March 15 · 30 min

    #1,081 Mar. 15, 2026

    On our latest show: Conservation Scientist Desirée Narango explains why preserving the bird;insect/plant food web is so important for our gardens; plus, we get an Audio Postcard from an English castle, and a report from Mike O’Connor on birds of Key West.

  • March 8 · 30 min

    #1,080 Mar. 8, 2026

    On our latest show: Gardening for Birds Month continues with sustainable gardening expert Edwina von Gal, and Week 2 of our Name the Takin’ Birds Garden Frog contest.

  • March 1 · 30 min

    #1,079 Mar. 1, 2026

    On our latest show: Colorado Master Gardener Kaitlyn Parkins on gardening with native plants; Cape Cod’s Mike O’Connor on enhancing your backyard bird experience; and the unveiling of our Name the Tatlkin’ Birds Garden Frog contest.

  • February 22 · 30 min

    #1,078 Feb. 22, 2026

    On our latest show: a cool audio postcard from New Zealand; plans for an exciting statewide birding trail in Georgia; and Mike O’Connor’s thoughts on American Robins in winter.

  • February 15 · 30 min

    #1,077 Feb. 15, 2026

    On our latest show: We meet a torrent-taming duck; Mike weighs in on Angel Wing syndrome; and we hear the pro side of the Barred Owl culling debate.

  • February 8 · 30 min

    #1,076 Feb. 8, 2026

    On our latest show: The Great Backyard Bird Count; the silky star of the southwest; and Mike O’Connor on the Birdman Cult of Easter Island.

  • February 1 · 30 min

    #1,075 Feb. 1, 2026

    On our latest show: Susan Bonfield on the partnership to save our hummingbirds; Freya McGregor’s second audio postcard from Australia; and Mike O’Connor’s Short-eared Owl observations.

  • January 25 · 30 min

    #1,074 Jan. 25, 2026

    On our latest show: Animal Wellness Action’s Wayne Pacelle explains his group opposition to a plan to cull Barred Owls to save Spotted Owls. Plus, a featured bird from South Florida, and an audio postcard from Australia.

  • January 18 · 30 min

    #1,073 Jan. 18, 2026

    On our latest show: How woodpeckers can do what they do; the story of the “Plunging Goose;” and Mike’s thoughts about hummingbirds enduring northern winters.

  • January 11 · 30 min

    #1,072 Jan. 11, 2026

    On our latest show: A preview of a big birding festival; a salute to an Audubon chapter’s 100th Anniversary; and Mike O’Connor’s advice on feeding birds during snowstorms

  • January 11 · 30 min

    #1,071 Jan. 4, 2026

    On our latest show (#1,071 Jan. 4): special guest Ryan Goldberg on his terrific new book, Bird City: Adventures in New York’s Urban Wilds. Plus, backyard birding expert Mike O’Connor with some backyard suet-substitution ideas.

  • Dec 28, 2025

    #1,070 Dec. 28, 2025

    On our latest show: The Five Forests of Central America, and their importance for birds: Mike O’Connor’s thoughts about bird lists and journals; and an Audio Postcard from a San Diego Bird and Butterfly Garden.

  • Dec 21, 2025 · 30 min

    #1,069 Dec. 21, 2025

    On our latest show (#1,069 Dec. 21): The five Kiwi species of New Zealand; Mike O’Connor on mixed winter bird flocks; and Freya McGregor on how she’s helping make birding accessible to all.

  • Dec 14, 2025 · 30 min

    #1,068 Dec. 14, 2025

    On our latest show: How birds can coexist with wind turbines, and Mike’s gift-giving ideas for bird lovers.

  • Dec 7, 2025 · 30 min

    #1,067 Dec. 7, 2025

    On our latest show -- the American Bird Conservancy’s Hardy Kern explains the threats to the Endangered Species Act — and what we can do to protect it. Plus, we feature a bird from down south that visited New England last week — and Mike O’Connor offers some thoughts on such unexpected bird wanderi

  • Nov 30, 2025 · 30 min

    #1,066 Nov. 30, 2025

    On our latest show (#1,066 Nov. 30): A shiny bird with a bad reputation; Donald Ditzenberger’s expert advice on choosing a spotting scope; and a Mike O’Connor segment on dabbling duck winter romance. Hear it here: Talkinbirds.com/archive.

  • Nov 23, 2025 · 30 min

    #1,065 Nov. 23, 2025

    On our latest show: Towhee vs Towhee Audio Postcards from California; Ohio’s EveryBody Birding Club; and Mike’s advice for a topic that won’t cause trouble at your family holiday gatherings.

  • Nov 16, 2025 · 30 min

    #1,064 Nov. 16, 2025

    On our latest show: an audio postcard from Western Australia, and a spectacular featured bird from there; plus a revisit with some folks who are making a Washington, D.C. river more friendly to birds and people.

  • Nov 9, 2025 · 30 min

    #1,063 Nov. 9, 2025

    On our latest show: An Audio Postcard from northern Canada; Project FeederWatch 2025; and fascinating feather facrts from Mike O’Connor. Hear it here: Talkinbirds.com/archive

  • Nov 2, 2025 · 30 min

    #1,062 Nov. 2, 2025

    On our latest show: We meet a really big jay from South Texas; hear about Jeff Reiter’s Words on Birds; and address a listener’s question about putting pennies in your bird bath.