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Artwork for Okay, But... Birds

Okay, But... Birds

Dr. Scott Taylor
Birds
Climate Change
Winter Survival Strategies
Chickadees
Bird Behavior
Cold Weather Adaptation
Bird Migration
Evolutionary Biology
Countercurrent Heat Exchange
Bird Coloration
Physiology
Ecosystems
Bird Watching
Ornithologists
Ecologists
Avian Influenza
H5N1
Dinosaur Nuggets
Flightless Birds
Cornell Lab Of Ornithology

Hosted by evolutionary biologist Dr. Scott Taylor, Okay, But... Birds explores the drama, brilliance, and science behind bird life. Each snackable 30-minute episode blends smart storytelling, expert interviews, and a touch of humor to reveal how birds shape our world . No jargon. No binoculars required. Just real science, quirky insights, and bird-brained drama you’ll want to share at brunch. Beca... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes35Founded9 months ago
Number of ListenersCategories
NatureEducationScience

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Artwork for Okay, But... Birds

Latest Episodes

E34. Not all birds build one, but for the ones that do, a nest has a single job and a shockingly wide range of ways to get it done. Dr. Vanya Rohwer, Curator of Birds and Mammals at the Cornell University Museum of Vertebrates, joins Scott to walk th... more

E33. When the air temperature climbs past a bird's own body temperature, staying cool stops being free and starts to cost them water they may not have. Dr. Blair Wolf, University of New Mexico, has spent his career studying how desert birds survive h... more

E32. Wildfire smoke is blanketing more of the map every year, and it turns out a smoky sky changes everything for birds, from how they breathe to whether we can find them at all. Dr. Olivia Sanderfoot, Research Scientist at the Cornell Lab of Ornitho... more

E31. If a bird sings a phrase worthy of Beethoven, is that music, or just biology in a nice outfit? Dr. Hollis Taylor, a violinist, composer, and ornithologist, has spent more than two decades recording and transcribing the songs of the Pied Butcherb... more

Key Facts

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Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Blair Wolf
Professor in the Department of Biology at the University of New Mexico
University of New Mexico
Episode: Okay, but how do birds handle a heatwave?
Hollis Taylor
Violinist, composer, ornithologist; author of Music From Another Species
Researcher of Pied Butcher Bird songs
Episode: Okay, but did birds invent music?
Dan Mennill
Professor at the University of Windsor who studies whole neighborhoods of birds
University of Windsor
Episode: Okay, but is the dawn chorus getting quieter?
Chris Witt
Professor at the University of New Mexico and curator of birds at the Museum of Southwestern Biology
University of New Mexico
Episode: Okay, but what's it like as a bird at the top of the world?
Carlos Botero
Associate Professor at the University of Texas at Austin
University of Texas at Austin
Episode: Okay, but does easy living make birds dumber?
Elizabeth Carlen
Evolutionary ecologist and postdoctoral fellow
Living Earth Collaborative, Washington University in St. Louis
Episode: Okay, but... pigeons!
Wenfei Tong
Biologist and author of Bird Love
Episode: Okay, but did birds originate the open relationship?
Carlos Zavalaga
Marine Biologist and Director of the Marine Ecosystem Research Unit and Peruvian Seabird Group at Universidad Científica del Sur in Lima
Universidad Científica del Sur, Peru
Episode: Okay, but... boobies!
Scott Edwards
Professor of Evolutionary Biology at Harvard, ornithologist specializing in the genetics of flightlessness in birds
Harvard University
Episode: Okay, but what about birds that can't fly?

Host

Scott Taylor
Host of the show; evolutionary biologist with broad involvement in avian science.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 172 ratings
  • Bird wisdom

    I love this podcast! I am a poet, and I am always seeking bird facts. I have hit the jackpot! It’s entertaining, delightful, and such a joy to listen to.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Special K Bird
    United States21 days ago
  • Birds!

    I love birds and I love this podcast about birds

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Zerozx
    United States21 days ago
  • Refreshing!

    This is genuinely a great podcast. The information shared is interesting and compact, so I don’t find myself daydreaming away whilst the voices blend into the background. I’m personally more of a parrot person but the themes always manage to grab my attention. Recommend!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    oatmealnik
    Netherlands23 days ago
  • Super fun way to learn about birds

    This is such a fun podcast. It explores the science of birds in creative and accessible ways with interesting experts. You’ll learn something new with every episode.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Jos56bottles
    United Statesa month ago
  • Facts about birds make me happy

    I discovered this show because I use Cornell’s Merlin app. Lots of great info!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    robinleigh
    United Statesa month ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners praise the engaging, accessible approach to bird science.
Some critique the host's interviewing style as less dynamic, though production remains strong.
Episodes are seen as a reliable source of current bird science and research summaries.
Many say it's educational and entertaining for families and casual listeners alike.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#4
United States/Science/Nature
Apple Podcasts
#39
United States/Science
Apple Podcasts
#4
Canada/Science/Nature
Apple Podcasts
#45
Canada/Science
Apple Podcasts
#102
United Kingdom/Science/Nature
Apple Podcasts
#8
Australia/Science/Nature

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Okay, but how does wildfire smoke impact birds?
Q: What can listeners do to help birds during smoky fire seasons?
Support conservation actions like protecting smoke refugia, providing supplemental resources (water, seed, suet), and participating in citizen science projects such as Project Phoenix and Feeder Watch to collect data.
Okay, but how does wildfire smoke impact birds?
Q: How does wildfire smoke affect bird observations and detection in studies?
Smoke can reduce detectability, especially for vocal birds, leading to apparent declines in observed birds even if some individuals remain; however, the pattern can vary across species and contexts.
Okay, but how does wildfire smoke impact birds?
Q: So what's happening to the birds when smoke rolls in like that that we might notice?
Bird activity generally declines and health outcomes worsen, with species-specific responses; some birds may stay and reduce activity, some may shift behaviors, and others may move to cleaner air, while overall detectability and vocalization can decline in smoky conditions.
Okay, but how do birds handle a heatwave?
Q: What role does skin permeability in doves play in their cooling strategy?
Doves have unusually permeable skin through which they can dump heat, effectively using their skin as a heat-exchange site in addition to panting, which allows them to sustain high temperatures with significant evaporative cooling.
Okay, but how do birds handle a heatwave?
Q: How do temperate species cope when a heat wave hits compared to desert species?
Temperate species are not as well adapted to extreme heat as desert species; they reach lethal body temperatures more quickly and rely more on behavioral strategies like seeking shade and moving to cooler micro-sites, but their tolerance is generally lower and climate change may push them beyond their historical limits.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Okay, But... Birds

What is Okay, But... Birds about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show combines concise, story-driven science with accessible humor to explore birds and their world. Episodes cover everything from wild field research and evolutionary biology to behavior, cognition, ecology, and conservation, often featuring leading researchers as guests. Its snackable 30-minute format and guest diversity make complex avian science approachable for lay listeners, wildlife enthusiasts, and professionals alike, with a consistent emphasis on why birds matter to ecosystems and everyday life.

A standout aspect is the blend of rigorous science and playful segments, including practical takeaways for homeowners, educators, and amateur naturalists. The show often ties in fieldwork anecdotes and current research questions, off... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Okay, But... Birds?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Okay, But... Birds:

1. The Science of Birds
2. The American Birding Podcast
3. Life List: A Birding Podcast
4. Songbirding
5. BirdNote Daily

How many episodes of Okay, But... Birds are there?

Okay, But... Birds launched 9 months ago and published 35 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Okay, But... Birds?

Recent guests on Okay, But... Birds include:

1. Blair Wolf
2. Hollis Taylor
3. Dan Mennill
4. Chris Witt
5. Carlos Botero
6. Elizabeth Carlen
7. Wenfei Tong
8. Carlos Zavalaga

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