NatureBoost Episode 68: Birding
September 2025
SMA
[Birds calling.]
[Intro music ♫]
>> Hey there, and welcome back to NatureBoost! The podcast where we explore the outdoors in Missouri, one adventure at a time! I'm Jill Pritchard with the Missouri Department of Conservation. You might have noticed something a little different. Yep, our brand new music! I want to thank digital media producer Peg Craft for working with her team to put something together. We've got this fresh new sound, and I'm so excited about it! But . . . it's the same great NatureBoost adventures! I hope you enjoyed our recent episodes on backpacking. Maybe it even inspired you to plan a trip of your own. But, if you're looking for a hobby that doesn't require quite as much equipment . . . might I suggest birdwatching?
[Birds chirping.]
We've discussed birding on NatureBoost in the past, but it's gone viral lately. You may think it's just for retirees with binoculars, but it's a trending hobby on social media. Especially among young people, which is great news! Because, birds need our appreciation and help now more than ever, because their populations are declining at an alarming rate. To talk more about the joy of discovering birds and the serious threats they're facing, I spoke with Kaylee Wool-Full. She's the Bird Friendly Communities Coordinator for the Missouri River Bird Observatory. We met up earlier this summer at Stephens Lake Park in Columbia.
[Music ♪]
I love the stuff that I'm seeing in my algorithm! My algorithm knows me so well.
>> Tell me more.
>> So, it keeps showing me all of these reels. Okay, I'm not on TikTok, don't give me any grief Kaylee, okay?
>> Okay!
>> I'm not on TikTok, but I'm on Instagram.
[2:02.]
That's the closest to TikTok I'm ever going to get, but it keeps showing me these reels where it's like. . . "congratulations, you're in your 30s, you now love birdwatching!" I'm like . . . "I do!" [Laughing.] I am 24 plus 10 . . .
>> [Laughing.]
>> So, yeah. I do love birdwatching. While doing some research for this, I know that birdwatching has really started to trend because of COVID, right? We knew that, that it really blew up during the pandemic. It has also really started to trend with even younger people too. In 2022, the Cornell Lab of Ornithology found a 9% increase in birdwatching in ages 18 to 25 over the previous 5 years, and respondents listed social media as a primary exposure point. And, obviously COVID was in that time frame. Why do you think it's so popular among younger people?
>> Especially since the pandemic, restrictions on gatherings started to get pretty tough, right? You couldn't be by a lot of people. That really forced people, I think, outside, and to dive more deeper into those self-driven hobbies, and to figure out . . . what's all out there, you know? I feel like this became kind of a competitiveness, or like a game, or . . . "what's out there?" I think it started to become this Pokémon mentality . . .
>> [unclear.]
>> Like, "got to catch them all", right? It's super exciting to find species, new or uncommon species that you wouldn't have thought of, even thinking of.
>> Do you think that the short form videos too, like having those tutorials, especially because the younger people are on social media? It's probably a great touch point for them, to be able to start. And then the fact that "birds are everywhere, I can start watching from anywhere, I can start watching from where I am right now." I think that's probably the best part of it.
[4:01.]
You were saying earlier, you can start where you are without anything, without having to buy anything.
>> Literally! And that's the best thing about it. You can just step outside. Being able to step outside and say "oh my gosh . . . there's wildlife in front of me. I don't have to go out of my way and spend millions of dollars on equipment or whatever." You know what I mean?
>> Something that I love mentioning on the podcast is nature's impacts on mental and physical wellbeing. Especially in this day and age where we are so connected to our screens, right? So, birding is a great way to get outside and disconnect, right?
>> Right. Exactly. I think especially the pandemic . . . I think that was a kind of pros and cons . . . like, yes. You're kind of glued to your screen a little bit more, and you get a shorter attention span, and all of that stuff. But also, you do figure out more hobbies. I know a lot of people, myself included, figuring out "oh my gosh." A lot of these crafting hobbies, or birding, or all this stuff. But it is really interesting to see the switch, to see the realization people have about "oh my gosh, wait . . . I feel a lot better, after even just spending time outdoors." There's a lot of research out there that shows that it's linked to physical wellbeing, psychological wellbeing, mental health . . . all of that stuff. I think especially during lockdown, paying attention to birds and nature in general offered an easy and accessible digital detox.
>> The good news is that people are birding, and we love that! Especially younger people are birding. The sad news is bird populations are declining, right?
>> Yeah. Actually, there was a massive study that was conducted in 2019 by scientists across Canada, the U.S. and Mexico. It looked at long-term trends. They quantified that we've lost about 3 billion birds, which is about 30% of the population . . . since 1970.
[6:05.]
>> So hard to even wrap your head around, right? [unclear.]
>> Right.
>> That's in North America?
>> Sorry, yes. North America.
>> Okay. That's insane, since 1970! Yeah. What were the causes?
>> A lot of it is anthropogenic factors.
>> What does that mean, "anthropogenic"?
>> Human-caused threats.
>> Human-caused.
>> We . . . are the problem.
[Unclear, scrambled audio.]
>> Love it. Alright. Tell me, tell us. . . .?
>> So, habitat loss is the biggest driver. Can you guess what's next?
>> I bet it's cats.
>> Nailed it.
>> I knew it! Having your cats outside, right?
>> Yep. This doesn't necessarily mean specifically feral cats, because inside cats can also contribute to the decline.
>> Like if people just let their indoor cats outside?
>> Exactly.
>> Cats are just . . . they have that instinct to just kill.
>> Right. It's really not "their fault", because it's you know . . . it's their natural . . .
>> Instinct, genetics.
>> Exactly. We've actually lost about a billion birds per year just from cats.
>> Just from cats?
>> Yeah.
>> That's sad.
>> And, I'm a cat lover, so it's tough. I get it, but I also . . . keep your cats indoors. Also, if you have your cat outside, that cuts their life expectancy in half already. It's more beneficial to have your cats inside.
>> Truly. Safer for the birds, safer for your cat and your family to keep your pet inside.
>> Exactly. Other factors, window collisions, climate change, plastic pollution, pesticides . . . there are so many other environmental threats that contribute to the decline.
>> So window collisions, real quick I want to touch on that. I didn't know about this until I started working for conservation.
[8:02.]
Birds don't understand that they . . . that that's a reflection.
>> Right. We grew up with the ability to distinguish. We have visual cues. We have the ability to understand "oh, that's a window because of the window frame" or whatever, right? They don't have that ability at all. So, they don't have those cues. So, they just think, especially if there's reflected vegetation, or whatever . . . they think that's an open space to fly through. So, they're just like . . . "la la la, I'm gonna enjoy my day . . ." and then, smack!
>> You hear that, and then they injure themselves? Or maybe it just kills them?
>> It usually kills them. Sometimes they'll be stunned and fly off. A lot of the times, they'll still have internal injuries that you won't be able to see.
>> And then they just die later on?
>> Yeah.
>> Oh . . .
>> They're hollow. They have hollow bones.
>> They're so fragile.
>> Very fragile.
>> So we know the causes here in Missouri. What are the species that have been most impacted?
>> A lot of bird species are impacted, but specifically grassland species are the most vulnerable . . . especially with habitat loss. So, their populations have declined by about 53% alone. Missouri was once dominated by prairies. So, a third of the state was covered. But now only less than 1% remain intact. That really impacted a lot of grassland species specifically, that used to thrive in those habitats. Like dickcissel, Henslow's sparrows, eastern meadowlarks . . . all that stuff. Prairie chickens . . . birds like dickcissel were once abundant, but now they're facing challenges in finding suitable breeding habitats.
But, there are conservation efforts to restore a lot of these habitats. Through restoration work, land management, and other practices that promote biodiversity. So, there are good things happening.
[10:00.]
>> So what are the long term impacts?
>> Yeah. Because birds play such a crucial role in maintaining the healthy ecosystems, their decline indicates a growing environmental concern. So, that signals deeper disruptions in our natural worlds. As bird populations diminish, the delicate balance of our ecological systems become destabilized. Then, those cascading effects are really felt throughout the whole environment. It can snowball into food production, insect population control . . . like, overall biodiversity. This can also ripple into economic consequences. That as well, with human health.
>> So . . . this is interesting, because this is a part of our overarching conversation that we have recently been having as part of . . . "one health." Wildlife health is part of human health, and tree health is part of human health . . . you know? We're all connected.
>> Exactly. That's such a beautiful thing. I love knowing that everything is integrated. It makes a lot of people want to try even harder, to conserve the world around us. Because, it's linked to us as well.
>> Yeah. It's beautiful in that we're all connected so deeply, and so I would hope that that should make us care about . . .
>> Yeah.
>> About that relationship, and that connection. So, because of that connection, what can we do to care about it, and to help protect it?
>> All of these effects highlight the urgent need for conservation initiatives to protect birds and their habitats. Urban areas pose one of the biggest threats to bird populations, because of how high concentration of human infrastructure and activities that disrupt that natural habitat, right? That will compromise the overall avian health. But this also brings in a really awesome and unique opportunity for urban areas to change, and provide a safer and healthier space for both birds and people.
[12:01.]
So, that's such a really cool thing as well. Actually, the Cornell Lab of Ornithology developed the "7 simple actions to help birds." These actions are designed to encourage individuals to take simple yet impactful steps to protect these birds. So, the 7 simple actions . . . make your windows safe, both at night and during the day. That includes keeping your lights out, dimming your lights when you're not using them. Light pollution also plays a big factor into window collisions.
>> Oh, yeah! I never thought about that.
>> Yeah. A lot of the times . . . especially during migration, it's so important to really be cognizant about that. With Missouri being in the Mississippi flyway . . . that's one of the major migration paths that millions and millions of birds fly through. Especially in urban areas, those lights will draw birds in like a moth to a flame. So, once they're drawn in, then they get very confused. When those lights are on, it draws those birds in deeper into those urban settings, which will disorient them. That will cause more window collisions, because they're flying into the windows.
>> So the lights will actually attract them?
>> Oh, yeah.
>> I didn't realize that!
>> Also, along with that, it'll disrupt their migration path and deplete their energy. Now not only are they crashing into windows, but they don't have the energy that they need in order to continue on their migration journey.
>> We can do better! We can do better though.
>> We need to lock in.
>> Yeah! Lock in!
>> [Laughing.]
>> We've got to lock in!
So, we need to make windows safer, and turn the lights off at night?
>> Right. And yeah . . . safety is a big concern, and that's completely understandable. Even a simple switch to different lighting . . .
>> Like a different glow?
>> Yeah, like different colors.
>> Different colors?
>> Yep.
>> Okay . . . like not as . . .?
>> Different tones of light.
[14:01.]
>> Like . . . not as harsh?
>> Like, warmer tones compared to cooler tones. That's another solution, if you don't want to . . . if you can't even turn your lights off. Another example . . . even making sure that your lights are facing downward, rather than upward. When that light emits up to the sky . . . light pollution, no bueno.
>> Okay. So if the light is facing downward, it doesn't . . . it won't attract them, and it's not as big of an impact?
>> Right. It at least helps mitigate more of that light coming off.
>> And then it having more of a warm glow?
>> Yeah. Warmer tones are better than cooler tones. Motion lights . . .
>> Oh . . . [unclear.]
>> Yeah.
>> So it's not on all the time. That not only helps the birds, but it also saves your bills. Double whammy, baby!
>> We're saving money, people!
>> Especially in this economy!
>> Yes! What else?
>> Hmm . . . so, keep your cats indoors, we already talked about that. That also includes getting a leash for your cat, or making a catio. That's a really popular thing nowadays, if you have the capabilities.
>> A cat patio?
>> Yes ma'am.
>> That is precious. Okay.
>> Leashing your cats . . . like, treating your cats how you'd treat your dogs, basically.
>> Being a responsible pet owner.
>> Exactly. Again, it helps not only them with their health, but also your health and your other pet's health.
>> True. Good point. What else do we got?
>> Planting native plants is another one, and then reducing lawns. Reducing mowing and lawn care. If you have more native plants in your yard, that provides such a safe haven especially during migration for the birds. Because they need places to shelter, rest, nest . . . food sources. They need so many of those things. And, it's so crucial, especially during that time. Leading into that, avoiding pesticides. Trying to be as organic as you can, or as natural as you can.
[16:02.]
So with native plants, you have your natural pest control already with the birds. But avoiding those really harsh chemicals is super important. You know, that feeds into a lot of different issues.
>> There's almost more cons than pros to that.
>> Right. It's not sustainable, it poisons a lot of different wildlife, especially birds.
>> Right. Bad for your trees, too.
>> Ingesting seeds that are coated with that . . . there's a lot of issues that it can cause. So, avoiding pesticides as much as you can, or switching to at least more natural deterrents.
[Music ♪]
Buying shade-grown coffee!
>> What does this even mean?
>> I love talking about this . . . oh my goodness!
>> Good! Because I want to learn about it.
>> Yeah. Shade-grown coffee. To rewind, give you a little background . . . coffee is traditionally an understory shrub. A lot of our coffee is made in South America, which also happens to be where a lot of our migratory birds end up. So, as the coffee production started growing, they decided to switch to sun-grown methods. Sun-grown methods include a lot of clear cutting and deforestation, and that is not good, right?
>> Oh no! Okay. Bad practices.
>> Right. They get out a higher yield when they do that. They produce more with that, but it's lower quality. So, with switching to shade-grown coffee, or also "bird friendly" coffee, this provides some canopy coverage over the plants. It does take a little longer to ripen, but that means you have a bolder flavor with it. It's less acidic for your body. So, as an IBS girlie . . .
>> Same! Oh my god, go on! [Laughing.]
>> Like . . . this girl got some tummy issues, okay? And I need my caffeine.
[18:00.]
>> Yeah.
>> So like, this helps with my tummy, and this helps all you IBS girlies or guys out there.
>> [Laughing.] There's no boy version of "girlie." Like, "boyee"? It's not as cute.
>> It's not as cute!
>> So, it's less acidic?
>> It's less acidic for your body, it has a bolder flavor, so the profile comes out a bit more.
>> And it's good for birds?
>> Yeah. Because, there's higher biodiversity when you have shade-grown coffee. Because, you have all those canopy coverage and those layers.
>> That's interesting. I had heard about shade-grown coffee, but I was just like "what's the story there?" I knew that's kind of where they were migrating and overwintering. I didn't know the full benefits of it.
>> Yeah.
>> Do you just buy that online?
>> There are stores around . . . if you look it up online.
>> Google it, okay.
>> Smithsonian came out with the "bird friendly" stamp. If coffee is bird friendly, sometimes it'll have that stamp with the Smithsonian. That's how . . . one way to know that it's bird friendly.
>> Oh, that it's authentic.
>> Yeah. But that doesn't necessarily mean that everything isn't. So, even if it doesn't have that stamp, because it is hard to get that certification . . . that doesn't mean that it's not bird friendly, or shade-grown.
[Birds chirping.]
Plastic pollution, the whole plastic pollution crisis has been a big, ongoing issue. Avoiding those single use plastics specifically, but that can get into a lot of different issues. They even coined a new term, with how much plastic gets into specifically bird systems. It's called "plasticosis."
>> Plasticosis?
>> Yeah. So, it inflames their tract, and everything. It's fatal.
>> That's where we're at right now? And plastic is a human-made material.
>> Right. It's really important to note that a lot of the big producers keep producing a lot of plastic. So, we're surrounded.
>> Right. It's not like this was made with the intent to result in bird deaths.
[20:06.]
It's just important to note, this is one of the consequences. We can all be thoughtful about how we play a part in it, and just, you know. . . . our own actions.
>> Yes. It may seem very scary, and overwhelming . . . but there are simple things you can do, and easy switches you can make in your life to reduce those single-use plastics.
Last thing, participating in citizen science efforts. Bird conservation as a whole is a multifaceted effort. It's not something that scientists can tackle alone. There are so many moving parts within it. Within research, habitat protection, conservation policy, advocacy, education . . . all of that. Among all of these moving parts, there's one crucial element that often flies under the radar, which is citizen science. Citizen science is a collaborative approach that engages people of all ages and backgrounds, regardless of any kind of scientific experience. Then, they will contribute to scientific research by collecting data. This allows researchers to gather vast amounts of information from a variety of areas geographically, to give us a more complete picture of our avian population in trends.
And the best part, anyone can be a citizen scientist!
>> Okay, so you don't have to have any type of science background?
>> No, exactly.
>> To be a citizen scientist?
>> No ma'am! There's so many different ways to get involved. Whether this means logging bird sightings on an app, or participating in bird counts, or monitoring nest activities . . . these observations are so, so important in providing researchers with data that couldn't be gathered by themselves. And all you really need is curiosity and willingness to observe.
>> What type of citizen science efforts would be good to participate in? Do you have any examples?
>> Yeah. So, with technology nowadays . . . they came out with a really great, a couple of great apps, actually.
[22:00.]
E-bird is a really great tool. It has one of the largest biodiversity databases. You can submit and access any kind of bird sightings, any time, anywhere. This really helps scientists track bird migration patterns and their distributions, and their abundances. It's really cool. You can find different hot spots around you, see what kind of birds people are seeing. Like . . . look at that, a cardinal!
>> I heard that chirping, and I was like "cardinal."
[Both laughing.]
I was like, easy!
[Both laughing.]
I've been getting crazy on my Merlin app.
[Both laughing, talking.] [unclear.]
Was that going to be the next one you mentioned?
>> Yeah! Merlin ID is a really, really good app. It's really popular, no matter if you have a lot of experience or a little experience. It's such a great app. This was also developed by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, but it helps people identify birds by appearance or sounds. It's so cool! So cool.
>> I really like it. I haven't downloaded E-bird.
>> Boo! Sorry . . . [laughing.]
>> Should I do it?
>> I mean, it's really cool.
>> Do you like it better than Merlin?
>> Merlin is tough to beat, but it's still a really great resource to have.
>> Whenever I'm out on walks, and I'll hear birds, you can record . . .
>> Yes!
>> I'll be like "what am I hearing", and it'll tell me everything I'm hearing.
>> Yeah.
>> Am I doing anything . . .?
>> Yeah!
>> Am I helping?
>> You're helping! You're helping by just doing anything like that.
>> Okay! I got that app just because I wanted to be able to identify more of the bird calls.
>> Yeah. Not only are you learning, but you're also contributing to science. Isn't that really cool?
>> It really is!
[Birds chirping.]
>> Other examples of projects that can help contribute to citizen science . . . like I said, participating in bird counts. So, The Great Backyard Bird Count, there's Project Feeder Watch, there's Nest Watch . . . so many different projects out there.
[24:02.]
>> What's The Great Backyard Bird Count? I assume I can just do that from my backyard?
>> Every February, people all over the world spend at least 15 minutes counting birds in their local area, and then they submit those observations.
>> That's it?
>> Yeah. Super easy way to track bird population trends.
>> Oh, that's nothing! I'm going to do that. That's nothing!
>> Yes.
>> And, they just wrapped up the first ever Missouri Birding Challenge.
>> I know!
>> Did you participate in that?
>> I wanted to, but I helped my friend.
>> That's kind of participating, if you help!
>> Yeah.
>> I'm still an amateur birder. I'm not that experienced. I do want to join it next year, because they had a lot of people. It was a big success. And, Missouri River Bird Observ- . . . [unclear.] Geez, your guy's organization!
>> It's a mouthful, trust me. . .
>> [unclear.]
>> My title, my role, and then having to lead into that . . .
>> Say it! Say your whole title! Do it.
>> Oh my gosh. My title is, I am the Bird Friendly Communities Coordinator for the Missouri River Bird Observatory.
>> You really have to say that slow, don't you?
>> It's actually so funny, because I helped my old roommate. I actually helped my friend do that. It was so fun. She is not at all in the natural resource field, and so she reached out to me, and she's like "oh my gosh, do you want to come with me on this hike, and blah blah . . . I just got into birding . . ."
>> [Gasping.]
>> I was so excited to tag along, and be there, and help her identify birds! She was like, it was just really exciting to see how excited she would get. Because, I know how she is. She's not the kind of person to do this, so it's really exciting to see her get excited about it! And like, really get into it. I really loved it. Now she carries around her Merlin ID app with her, and she'll go birding without the challenge. It's just so fun watching that grow, like, I love it!
>> That's how I feel, honestly, whenever I'm outside and I see a bird, or I'm able to like, identify a bird either by sight or sound.
[26:06.]
I feel like a little kid again! I'm like . . . I just get such excitement!
>> Exactly! And again, it's like with Pokémon. Oh my gosh, I saw this bird, and now you know about all these other birds. There's so many birds out there, and you're just like "I want to see them all!" I want to see all the cool ones.
>> It circles back to the broader conversation. Like, we want to continue to be able to see them.
>> Exactly.
>> So, we need to remember to help protect them, and keep them safe.
>> Right. If you want to keep seeing your common birds, we've got to keep them common.
>> Right!
>> You know what I'm saying?
>> So what is the message here? That there's small things that we can do every day to help our birds?
>> Right. There's big and small. Not only can you do 7 simple actions, right? And change things in your own life . . . but there are bigger steps that communities and cities can take. Conservation, as I said, is fundamentally a multifaceted effort. It's not something that researchers can do by themselves, but by raising awareness, engaging the community, and incorporating bird friendly designs in urban planning strategies, we can develop more sustainable practices that mitigate the adverse impacts of urbanization on bird populations.
[Birds chirping.]
[Music ♪]
>> Birdwatching is one of the fastest growing outdoor hobbies, and it's had a bit of a rebrand thanks to social media! The rise of apps like Merlin and E-bird, and because of that accessibility factor. Birds are everywhere, and you can enjoy them from anyplace, without any equipment. But it's not just a trend, it's a movement. It's mindfulness, and like Kaylee says, it's citizen science. It's choosing to care about something that we see everyday, and may even take for granted. So whether you're watching that cardinal outside your window, or participating in a birding challenge, know that you're part of a growing flock of people who are paying attention, and that attention matters.
[28:11.]
To learn more about the 7 simple actions to help birds, visit 3billionbirds.org. You can also learn more from the Missouri River Bird Observatory at mrbo.org, and be sure to follow their social media pages. Thanks again to Bird Friendly Communities Coordinator Kaylee Wool-Full, to digital media producer Peg Craft, and to you, for listening to another episode of NatureBoost! Be sure to come back for next month's episode, for a fun tutorial on fall foraging. You won't want to miss it! I'm Jill Pritchard with the Missouri Department of Conservation, encouraging you to go birding, to keep your cats inside, and of course to get your daily dose of the outdoors!
[Outro music ♫]
>> Like, morning doves for example. I feel like that brings me back to a lot of nostalgic times. Like, I don't know . . . just a warm, sunny day back when I was younger, and you hear the sound or cooing of the morning doves. And you're like, "yes!" [Imitating dove call.] Amazing!
>> That was really good! Right? Can you do any calls?
>> [Laughing.]
>> I can do a crow! [Laughing.]
>> You can do an American craw?
>> [unclear.]
>> How does that . . .?
>> I don't know. I haven't done it in a while.
>> A scream?
>> [Imitating crow call.]
[Both laughing.]
>> That was actually . . . that was so good!
>> [Laughing.] [unclear.]
>> You're like, I can do a crow! And I was like, what does that even . . .? I forget what that even sounds like! And you're like . . .
[30:01.]
[Imitating crow call.]
[Both laughing.]
>> Dang, you weren't lying!
>> Show us your best bird impression, right now!
[End of podcast.]