mindfulbirdingnetwork@gmail.com

In this episode we sit down with Emily Nichols, who discovered that a family of owls could become her "absolute top therapists" after she suffered a significant traumatic brain injury.

Emily shares stories of the transformative healing powers of her neighborhood owls, and birds and birding. If you aren't familiar with her recent Cornell Lab of Ornithology Living Bird article entitled Birding Influences Brain Health and Mental Health, we encourage you to check it out. And check out Emily's Substack blog which can be found here: https://substack.com/@justemilythings

For our Joy of Birdsong episode, we feature a delightful contribution from recordist Laura Sebastianelli, of some of her local Barred Owls having a fun conversation with one another.

Intro music: “Inspired by Nature” by PlayAgain
Intro Birdsong & Clips throughout : Western Meadowlark
Outro music: “Inspired by Nature” by PlayAgain
Outro Birdsong: Eastern Meadowlark
Mindful Birding Network Website
Instagram: @mindfulbirdingnetwork
Produced by Co-hosts Holly Merker and Holly Thomas

mindfulbirdingnetwork@gmail.com

In this episode of the Mindful Birding Podcast, we spend time with Diego Calderón-Franco, a well-known Colombian bird guide whose remarkable story was recently featured on 60 Minutes with Anderson Cooper. After surviving a harrowing kidnapping and being held hostage, Diego turned to birds as a source of strength and healing. But his story reaches beyond his own resilience—it is also one of grace, reconciliation, and the unexpected ways birds can bring people together.

You can hear and watch more of his story and meet some of the people he refers to in this National Geographic video “Birdwatching with Farc” by Tristan Martin.

In the episode, Diego talks about a recent 7.4 earthquake in western Colombia, and the devastating impacts to the people and especially many Colombian bird guides, and he mentions ways to help the people there by donating in the following ways: https://vaki.co/en/birders-together or people can also donate directly via PayPal: https://paypal.me/COLOMBIABirding

Holly Merker offers a the voices of the Canada Warbler, Red-eyed Vireo, and Yellow Warbler in the Joy of Birdsong segment, giving nod to birds North America shares with Colombia.

Intro music: “Inspired by Nature” by PlayAgain
Intro Birdsong & Clips throughout : Western Meadowlark
Outro music: “Inspired by Nature” by PlayAgain
Outro Birdsong: Eastern Meadowlark
Mindful Birding Network Website
Instagram: @mindfulbirdingnetwork
Produced by Co-hosts Holly Merker and Holly Thomas

mindfulbirdingnetwork@gmail.com

In this episode, Holly & Holly reflect on the evolution of Mindful Birding over the past five years and explore some of the influences that may have helped this slower, more intentional way of being with birds take flight. Why does Mindful Birding seem to resonate so strongly right now, and what might its growing popularity tell us about what people are seeking from their time in nature?

We also delve into recent research examining the many ways people interact with wild birds—and what those interactions may mean for human health and wellbeing, and specifically reference this paper that Holly Merker contributed to: The human health and well-being benefits of birds: a systematic scoping review of interaction patterns

We discuss the growing interest in Mindful Birding Retreats and why opportunities to slow down, reconnect with nature, and spend meaningful time with birds are finding a place within the broader global movement toward wellness travel and retreats. And share with our listeners an upcoming Mindful Birding Retreat in Sedona, Arizona that the "Hollys" will be co-guiding with Field Guides.

Chris Benesh returns for this episode's Joy of Birdsong segment, and brings us a soundscape from the desert southwest, which features the wonderfully curious song of the Yellow-breasted Chat.

Intro music: “Inspired by Nature” by PlayAgain
Intro Birdsong & Clips throughout : Western Meadowlark
Outro music: “Inspired by Nature” by PlayAgain
Outro Birdsong: Eastern Meadowlark
Mindful Birding Network Website
Instagram: @mindfulbirdingnetwork
Produced by Co-hosts Holly Merker and Holly Thomas