Listen here: Northern Wings episodes

Episode 6

Doctoral Student Matt Jenkins Talks About His Bluebird Research in Northern Arizona

In this episode, you get two Matts for the price of one.  Matt Anderson interviews Matt Jenkins, a third-year doctoral student at the University of Arizona, about the fascinating research he’s conducting regarding bluebirds (both Western and Mountain) using data he’s collecting in Northern Arizona and elsewhere.  We talk about Matt’s fascinating journey, from his boyhood interest in birds to his scientific research exploring the evolution of behaviors over time and how they influence birds’ dispersal, range expansion, and developmental environments.  We also discuss the goals of Matt’s research, his data-collection practices, and more. Learn more about Matt Jenkins's research on the University of Arizona’s website: Matthew Jenkins research

Thanks to Jay McGowan and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s Macaulay Library for the use of the bird song clip and to Christina Vojta, NAAS steward for Kachina Wetlands, for her assistance with the bird song segment.  

Episode 5

Alice Madar on Hummingbirds

As the Sedona International Hummingbird Festival approaches, Matt Anderson chats with Alice Madar, who serves as both the executive director of the International Hummingbird Society and vice president of the Northern Arizona Audubon Society.  They discuss the beauty of hummingbirds and the challenges they face, the upcoming Sedona Hummingbird Festival, her deep commitment to conservation, and her extraordinary photographic adventures.

We are grateful to the Macaulay Library, part of Cornell Lab of Ornithology at Cornell University, for the use of an audio clip of birdsong in this episode.

Episode 4

Paul Dougherty Lazuli Bunting research

In this episode, Matt Anderson chats with Paul Dougherty, Ph.D., about the research he is conducting that brought him to northern Arizona to collect data.   Dr. Dougherty is a National Science Foundation Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.  One of his primary interests is molting behavior, a chronically understudied aspect of avian biology that can render bird populations vulnerable to climate change.  Listen to this episode to learn more about his interesting research and academic journey.  

This episode includes a new Name That Song segment (birdsong, that is).  We are grateful to Rich Hoyer and the Macaulay Library, part of Cornell Lab of Ornithology at Cornell University, for the use of the audio clip.  

Episode 3

Motus update

In our episode on the Motus Wildlife Tracking System, we looked forward to receiving the first “pings,” or detections of tagged birds.  That future has become real.  This update provides information on three recent detections.   

Visit the Motus site www.motus.org to see the most recent data from the two stations in Northern Arizona. 

Episode 2

Our Motus Wildlife Tracking System

In this episode, NAAS member Matt Anderson interviews immediate past president, Kay Hawklee, and board member, Rick Moore, on the efforts that led to the installation of two Motus wildlife tracking stations in Northern Arizona.  Motus is an international research community working together to study the movement and behavior of birds, bats, and insects (Link to Motus.org).  The two new stations are designed to capture radio signals from tagged animals and to contribute these data to the motus system to help advance research, education, and conservation.  

Episode 1

Introduction to Northern Wings

The Northern Arizona Audubon Society is launching a podcast focused on appreciating and protecting birds and the places they need in this beautiful part of the Southwest. Listen to this trailer for more information and subscribe now so you don’t miss an episode! 

About the Podcast Moderator | Matt Anderson

Matt moved to Flagstaff in 2009 to attend graduate school (MA in psychology) and has called this lovely mountain town home ever since. Matt and his wife, Julie, rented a small place in Kachina when he was in school, and they fell in love with the wetlands there. They have since moved to another part of Flagstaff, but Matt still returns often to photograph birds, volunteer on the Western Bluebird Nestwatch team, and bask in the community of runners, bikers, walkers, dog walkers, and photographers who enhance the purpose and vibrance of the wetlands. His experiences there created a connection with the Northern Arizona Audubon Society and a deep appreciation for its mission, staff, and incredible volunteers. A newcomer to podcasting Matt is loving the chance to talk with people who support birds and the places they need. Feel free to contact Matt at podcast@birdnaas.org with questions, comments, and suggestions.

Thank you for listening.