Hannah and Erik Go Birding

Spring migration is a great time to visit the Rio Grande Valley.  Warblers, vireos, orioles, and more move through the Gulf Coast on their way to breeding habitats further north.  The Spring Chirp birding festival is the perfect opportunity to see migrating birds, eat good food, and enjoy the Rio Grande Valley.
Adventure begins at: 6:55 
Show notes
Naturalist Journeys Go Birding with Hannah and Erik
Tufted Puffin Walks
Rio Grande Valley Bird Festival
Birding The Border
Spring Chirp
Nana’s Taqueria
Valley Nature Center
eBird Trip Report 
Birds/Animals mentioned
Prothonotary Warbler
Swallow-tailed Kite  
Intro Bird Call: Cactus Wren (Recorded Cameron, TX, April 2026) 
Outro Bird Call: Great Kiskadee (Recorded Hidalgo, TX, April 2026) 
Support the show
Connect with us at...
IG: @Hannahgoesbirding and @Erikgoesbirding
Facebook: @HannahandErikGoBirding
Email us at [email protected]
Website: http://www.gobirdingpodcast.com
Venmo: @hannahanderikgobirding

Get a discount at Buteo Books using code: BIRDNERDBOOKCLUB

Pelagic boat trips are always an adventure.  There is so much variability with weather, ocean conditions, and, of course, birds.  We have never done a pelagic in the spring, so we thought we would give it a chance and chase after our most hoped-for bird, Parakeet Auklet.
Adventure begins at: 13:30 
Show notes 
Naturalist Journeys Go Birding with Hannah and Erik
Tufted Puffin Walks
eBird Big Day; GoBirdingTeam
Rio Grande Valley Bird Festival
Birding The Border
Tu Hand Creations
Westport Pelagic
eBird Trip Report
Birds/Animals mentioned:
Short-tailed Albatross
Manx Shearwater 
Intro Bird Call: Pink-footed Shearwater (Recorded Washington, July 2020) 
Outro Bird Call: Pink-footed Shearwater (Recorded Washington, July 2020) 
Support the show
Connect with us at...
IG: @Hannahgoesbirding and @Erikgoesbirding
Facebook: @HannahandErikGoBirding
Email us at [email protected]
Website: http://www.gobirdingpodcast.com
Venmo: @hannahanderikgobirding

Get a discount at Buteo Books using code: BIRDNERDBOOKCLUB

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.
Support the show
Connect with us at...
IG: @Hannahgoesbirding and @Erikgoesbirding
Facebook: @HannahandErikGoBirding
Email us at [email protected]
Website: http://www.gobirdingpodcast.com
Venmo: @hannahanderikgobirding

Get a discount at Buteo Books using code: BIRDNERDBOOKCLUB

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)
Support the show
Connect with us at...
IG: @Hannahgoesbirding and @Erikgoesbirding
Facebook: @HannahandErikGoBirding
Email us at [email protected]
Website: http://www.gobirdingpodcast.com
Venmo: @hannahanderikgobirding

Get a discount at Buteo Books using code: BIRDNERDBOOKCLUB

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) 
Support the show
Connect with us at...
IG: @Hannahgoesbirding and @Erikgoesbirding
Facebook: @HannahandErikGoBirding
Email us at [email protected]
Website: http://www.gobirdingpodcast.com
Venmo: @hannahanderikgobirding

Get a discount at Buteo Books using code: BIRDNERDBOOKCLUB