A rare Spectacled Eider sighting in the Netherlands—far outside its normal Arctic range—sparked this week’s episode of Birds of a Feather Talk Together.

In this episode, we explore all four living species of eiders—from the iconic Common Eider to the stunning King and Spectacled Eiders. Along the way, we break down what makes these Arctic ducks so unique, from their extreme cold-weather adaptations to their fascinating breeding behavior.

We’re also kicking off our March Madness-style bird bracket tournament, and we have a special surprise in our bracket challenge!

If you love birding, rare bird sightings, ornithology, and fun, science-driven conversations, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.

As always it's married couple and ornithologists John Bates and Shannon Hackett and new-ish birders RJ and Amanda Pole.

Here are links to our social and YouTube pages, give us a follow:

YouTube

Instagram

TikTok

BlueSky

This week on Birds of a Feather Talk Together, we’re joined by Dr. Nick Mason, Assistant Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences and Curator of Birds at the Museum of Natural Science at LSU, for an in-depth and engaging conversation all about the fascinating Horned Lark.

Widely regarded as one of the world’s leading experts on Horned Larks, Nick brings incredible insight into this unique grassland bird—from its behavior and evolution to what makes it so special among North American birds. With strong ties to hosts John Bates and Shannon Hackett through LSU, this episode is filled with great stories, shared history, and plenty of laughs along the way.

Perfect timing, too—the Horned Lark has just been named the ABA Bird of the Year, making this a must-listen for birders and nature lovers alike.

If you’re into birding, ornithology, migration, and bird conservation, this episode dives deep into one of the most overlooked yet remarkable birds in North America.

Here are links to our social and YouTube pages, give us a follow:

YouTube

Instagram

TikTok

BlueSky

We came across a recent article suggesting that birdwatching might actually help slow the aging process, and naturally we had to dig into it. As it turns out, tracking down the original scientific paper isn’t exactly easy, which led us into a fun exploration of what the research actually says—and what it might mean.

Along the way, the conversation took a really personal turn as Shannon shared her experience with her cochlear implant and what it’s been like to relearn how to hear the world again—from identifying bird calls to rediscovering music like the Talking Heads.

It sparked a fascinating discussion about how our brains process sound, observation, and learning—something that birding constantly challenges us to do.

So this episode is a mix of science, personal stories, and a lot of curiosity about how birding shapes the way our brains work. It’s thoughtful, a little nerdy, and still very much the kind of conversation our bird-loving crowd will enjoy.

Hosted by Field Museum ornithologists John Bates and Shannon Hackett and birding enthusiasts RJ Pole and Amanda Pole.

Here are links to our social and YouTube pages, give us a follow:

YouTube

Instagram

TikTok

BlueSky