With close to 9 million domestic cats in Canada, and a third of them regularly roaming outdoors, we know that birds are heavily impacted by cats. In fact, cats are considered the number one threat to birds in Canada – but they’re also some of our best friends.

Our guests, Julia Kilgour and Jonathan Chu, help us explore this fascinating and complex issue. From the science – predation numbers, the most vulnerable bird species, and how we study cats outdoors – to the complex emotions and human behaviours that impact conservation strategies. Jonathan and Julia help us learn how positive changes for birds doesn't have to mean leaving our furry friends behind.

Travel to Madagascar, and other dream birding destinations with Birding Ecotours, visit birdingecotours.com

Warm up with some Bird Friendly coffee from Birds and Beans. They donate to this podcast when you order at birdsandbeans.ca/warblers

Jonathan Chu is a PhD candidate at the University of Guelph studying the impacts of outdoor domestic cats on wildlife. He accomplishes this by attaching tiny animal-borne cameras to cats, allowing him to see the world from the point-of-view of a cat! Jonathan started in ecology from his love of birds and previously studied North American bird migratory timing advance, dispersal distance and wing morphology. He is also an avid birder who finds any excuse to go out and watch birds, though less so currently as a busy PhD student!

Julia Kilgour (she/her) is an urban ecologist based in Guelph, Ontario who wants to solve the problem of outdoor cats and their impacts on birds. For the last 10 years, she’s been studying the effects of outdoor cats on birds and people in cities across North America. Julia is excited to work with communities in Canada to develop local strategies to help address this daunting issue. She is passionate about wildlife of all kinds, and loves watching and learning about birds (and other creatures) in her local urban forests.

Andrea Gress (she/her) secretly thinks Piping Plovers are better than all the other birds...studied Renewable Resource Management at the University of Saskatchewan. She pivoted towards birds, after an internship in South Africa. Upon returning, she worked with Piping Plovers in Saskatchewan, and then as the Ontario Piping Plover Coordinator. Years of sharing her love of plovers with beach goers has turned into a full time communications role with Birds Canada.

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Some of Canada's weirdest and most wonderful birds can be found in marshes! But which ones have the marshiest adaptations?...is it the Thunder Pumper?

Gwendolyn Clark helps us explore the fascinating lives of the American Bittern, Sora, and Nelson's Sparrow. From extra long toes, to crossed-eyes, and some of the strangest sounds birds can make - we are excited for you to meet these species. Plus, learn about Marsh Watch and the Marsh Monitoring Program; two ways to help marsh birds and their habitats.

Join Marsh Watch if you'd like to dip your toes into the marsh, or the Marsh Monitoring Program if you're keen to take your skills up a notch and help marsh birds at the same time. Both are heaps of fun!

Help warblers and The Warblers podcast with some Birds and Beans coffee. Birds and Beans donates to this podcast when you order at birdsandbeans.ca/warblers. Thank you!

Gwendolyn Clark studied ecology and evolutionary biology in university with a focus on tropical fish, and during this time she volunteered as a nest searcher at Tommy Thompson Park in Toronto and rediscovered a love of birds. At Birds Canada she first managed the Chimney Swift Chimney Restoration Fund, but now is now the Marsh Monitoring Field Coordinator in Atlantic Canada.

Andrea Gress (she/her) secretly thinks Piping Plovers are better than all the other birds...studied Renewable Resource Management at the University of Saskatchewan. She pivoted towards birds, after an internship in South Africa. Upon returning, she worked with Piping Plovers in Saskatchewan, and then as the Ontario Piping Plover Coordinator. Years of sharing her love of plovers with beach goers has turned into a full time communications role with Birds Canada.

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James Bay is an essential stopover site for thousands of migrating shorebirds - Hudsonian and Marbled Godwits, Whimbrels, Red Knots, and more. But this once reliable habitat is threatened.

Back in August, Cléa Frapin of Birds Canada, headed to a shorebird camp in James Bay to see it for herself. She spoke with Indigenous Elders, wildlife biologists and locals, to better understand the threats that Canada's North is facing, and why we must all tune into this issue and work together - for the birds and for the people.

Learn more about the Mushkegowuk Council here, and the James Bay Shorebird Project here.

A warm welcome to our newest sponsor, Birding Ecotours! Be sure to check out their selection of birding tours from all across the globe at birdingecotours.com

Cléa Frapin is originally from France, but moved to New Brunswick in 2018 to pursue a MSc in seasonal trophic interaction modeling across the Arctic biome. She has worked with Birds Canada on Piping Plover and Bicknell Thrush monitoring programs in the Atlantic, and now works on Northern habitat conservation and contributes to the development of Indigenous-led conservation initiatives with the Science in the North program.

Edward Sutherland is is from Kashechewan First Nation, and works as the Community Engagement Coordinator with Mushkegowuk Council's Lands & Resources Department.

Vicki Sahanatien has 25+ years of experience leading natural resource conservation programs and multi-disciplinary teams in the Canadian Arctic. Currently she works as the Knowledge and Research Manager with Mushkegowuk Council.

Christian Friis works at the Canadian Wildlife Service, Environment and Climate Change Canada. Christian is interested in shorebird ecology, with a focus on migrants in Ontario and James Bay.

Andrea Gress (she/her) secretly thinks Piping Plovers are better than all the other birds...studied Renewable Resource Management at the University of Saskatchewan. She pivoted towards birds, after an internship in South Africa. Upon returning, she worked with Piping Plovers in Saskatchewan, and then as the Ontario Piping Plover Coordinator.

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It's back! We've called upon guests from across Canada to help answer your birdiest questions!

Do the Northern Lights impact migratory birds? How do Surf Scoters digest whole clams? What does the "cheeseburger" song of the chickadee really mean? We answer these questions, and many more!

A special thanks everyone who sent in questions, and to our experts guests who have so wonderfully helped to answer them!

If you loved this episode, please consider donating to Birds Canada to support the show and bird conservation in Canada. And continue learning with some of the other episodes we talked about:

• Episodes: Did a chickadee steal my hotdog? Experts answer your questions.
• Exploring Bird Sounds with Dan Mennill
• The Wake-up Call: Chimney Swift
• The Superhero Senses - of birds! featuring Andrew Iwaniuk

If you want to spend more time enjoying birds this winter, join Project FeederWatch!

Dan Mennill is a Professor of Ornithology at the University of Windsor. He studies acoustic communication in wild animals, especially the songs of birds. He has helped pioneer many new recording and playback technologies for field research. He has published more than 180 papers, and supervised over 40 graduate students.

Nelsy Niño is a a Colombian biologist and anthropologist, and a Ph.D. Candidate at the University of Windsor. Her research focuses on bio- and eco-acoustics, as well as sound in general, sharing knowledge in the field with local communities.

Dr. Andrew Iwaniuk is a Professor of Neuroscience at the University of Lethbridge in Alberta. Andrew studies how and why brain anatomy varies within and across species, focusing primarily on birds. He recently published the book, Bird Brains and Behaviour: A Synthesis with MIT Press.

Tyler Hoar has been leading the Winter Finch Forecast since 2020. He has studied and worked with many species, including shorebirds, raptors, parrots, and passerines. His work has taken him from the high Canadian Arctic south to the deserts of Arizona and the rainforests of the Caribbean.

Doug Tozer is the Director of Waterbirds and Wetlands with Birds Canada. His academic and professional career has focused on developing workable conservation solutions for birds, and raising awareness of the importance of these animals; through programs such as the Great Lakes Marsh Monitoring Program, Canadian Lakes Loon Survey, and Long Point Waterfowl and Wetlands Research Program.

Jody Allair is an avid birder and naturalist who enjoys sharing his enthusiasm for the natural world. He is the Director of Communications at Birds Canada and has written numerous articles on birds, birding and connecting with nature. You can find him on BlueSky and Instagram at @JodyAllair.

Andrea Gress (she/her) secretly thinks Piping Plovers are better than all the other birds...studied Renewable Resource Management at the University of Saskatchewan. She pivoted towards birds, after an internship in South Africa. Upon returning, she worked with Piping Plovers in Saskatchewan, and then as the Ontario Piping Plover Coordinator.

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Canada's largest city attracts a surprising diversity of bird species - and peeping at them from along the shores of Lake Ontario: countless birders.

Among these birders, you'll find Jean Iron, Mark Peck and Nancy Barrett - three of Toronto's well known faces in the birding community. They share their favourite birding stories, explain the science behind why Toronto is a hotspot for birds, and relish in the community and friendships they've made through birding. Plus we hear about their new book, and give away a few copies!

Donate to Birds Canada for your chance to win a copy of Toronto's Birds: 100+ species photographed in the GTA . Go to birdscanada.org/donate and mention the podcast in the comment field.

When you order from birdsandbeans.ca/warblers, Birds and Beans donates to this podcast - thank you for supporting us, and our migratory birds!

We mentioned lots of volunteer opportunities in this episode:

• Project FeederWatch (runs all winter, from Nov 1-April 30)
• Great Backyard Bird Count (Feb 13-16, 2026)
• Christmas Bird Count (Dec 14-Jan 5)
• Hawk Watch (look for groups near you, they're all over Canada)
• Toronto Whimbrel Watch
• Toronto Ornithological Club and Ontario Field Ornithologists

Mark Peck was the Collections Specialist in Ornithology at the Royal Ontario Museum for 41 years until his retirement in 2024. He is the author of Bird Eggs: A Young Naturalist’s Guide, is Vice-President of the Ontario Field Ornithologists, who awarded him the Distinguished Ornithologist Award in 2024, and is a longtime member of the Toronto Ornithological Club. He lives in Toronto, Ontario.

Nancy Barrett worked as a medical transcriptionist for 31 years at a community hospital. She belongs to several bird and nature organizations, including as a member of the board at THE TOC (Toronto Ornithological Club), OFO (Ontario Field Ornithologists), and is the VP at the Friends of Sam Smith Park.

Jean Iron was President of the Ontario Field Ornithologists for nine years and editor of its newsletter for fourteen; she received its Distinguished Ornithologist Award in 2016. She is an Honorary Member of the Toronto Ornithological Club, and has authored many articles about birds, illustrated with her own photos, and leads tours for birding clubs and at birding festivals. She lives in Toronto, Ontario.

Andrea Gress (she/her) secretly thinks Piping Plovers are better than all the other birds...studied Renewable Resource Management at the University of Saskatchewan. She pivoted towards birds, after an internship in South Africa. Upon returning, she worked with Piping Plovers in Saskatchewan, and then as the Ontario Piping Plover Coordinator. Years of sharing her love of plovers with beach goers has turned into a full time communications role with Birds Canada.

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Discover the unique ways that birds understand the world through their senses! Some birds have bendy beaks, some swivel their eyes, and others sense magnetic fields. Andrew Iwaniuk is an expert on bird brains, and he helps us explore specialized bird senses and how their brains work!

Send us your bird questions! We'll answer them in our end of year episode.

• Email podcast@birdscanada.org
• Send Birds Canada a message on Instagram, Facebook or Bluesky
• Or leave us a voicemail at 519-586-3531, extension 128

Big thanks to Birds and Beans for supporting the podcast! When you order from birdsandbeans.ca/warblers, Birds and Beans donates to this podcast. Thanks!

Get a copy of Andrew's book, Bird Brains and Behavior: A Synthesis

Dr. Andrew Iwaniuk is a Professor of Neuroscience at the University of Lethbridge in Alberta. Andrew studies how and why brain anatomy varies within and across species, focusing primarily on birds. His lab houses the world’s largest bird brain collection and he has published over 100 scientific articles, contributed to National Geographic magazine and Earthsounds documentary series, and recently published the book, Bird Brains and Behaviour: A Synthesis with MIT Press.

Andrea Gress (she/her) secretly thinks Piping Plovers are better than all the other birds...studied Renewable Resource Management at the University of Saskatchewan. She pivoted towards birds, after an internship in South Africa. Upon returning, she worked with Piping Plovers in Saskatchewan, and then as the Ontario Piping Plover Coordinator. Years of sharing her love of plovers with beach goers has turned into a full time communications role with Birds Canada.

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In the spirit of spooky season, we bring you an eerie episode filled with spine-tingling bird facts. We debate the most haunting bird sounds, learn about blood sucking birds, corvid funerals, toxic species, and more. Plus you'll get some inspiration for a bird-themed Halloween costume!

Natasha has shared some links with additional facts:

• Crow funerals with Kaeli Swift
• Vampire Finches from BBC Earth
• The relationship between Oxpeckers and Rhinos

Natasha Barlow grew up near Point Pelee National Park in southern Ontario, and didn't fully appreciate the area until she had already moved away. Thankfully, she realized the error in her ways, and after completing her masters assessing the efficacy of restoration and conservation strategies on protecting sagebrush songbirds, she now coordinates various field-based research projects, runs citizen science programs, and advocates for change for aerial insectivores in Ontario as a Projects Biologist with Birds Canada.

Andrea Gress (she/her) secretly thinks Piping Plovers are better than all the other birds...studied Renewable Resource Management at the University of Saskatchewan. She pivoted towards birds, after an internship in South Africa. Upon returning, she worked with Piping Plovers in Saskatchewan, and then as the Ontario Piping Plover Coordinator. Years of sharing her love of plovers with beach goers has turned into a full time communications role with Birds Canada.

Sound credits:

Northern Potoo: Peter Boesman (xeno-canto)
Barred Owl: Gerrit Vyn and Benjamin Clock
Great Spotted Kiwi: David Boyle (xeno-canto)
Common Loon: Steven R. Pantle
Capuchinbird: Felipe Arantes (xeno-canto)
Wilsons Snipe: Wil Hershberger

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Think you know blackbirds? This episode will change the way you see them. Andrea Gress and co-host Jody Allair discuss the underrated beauty and behaviour of blackbirds with experts Peter Burke and Alvaro Jaramillo. They highlight the diverse species within the Icteridae family, including Red-winged Blackbirds, Meadowlarks, and Orioles. They explore population trends, cultural perceptions, and the challenges of tracking species like the Rusty Blackbird. You won't want to miss the incredible stories from the pair who literally wrote the book on blackbirds!


Help migratory birds simply by drinking Bird-friendly Certified Coffee. When you order from birdsandbeans.ca/warblers, Birds and Beans donates to this podcast. Thanks!

Peter Burke: Peter is a Senior Ecologist with GEI Consultants Canada, living in Kearney Ontario, near Algonquin Park. He is involved with overseeing forestry and restoration joint ventures to improve landscape health and function across Ontario’s landscape. He serves on the Steering Committee for the conservation of Kirtland's Warbler and helps to guide recovery of the Canadian breeding population of that species. He also is an illustrator, with his work can be seen in field guides such as National Geographic's Birds of North America, Birds of Peru, Birds of northern Central America, and Birds of Cuba. He also contributed to a field guide to Dragonflies and Damselflies of Algonquin Park and surroundings.

Alvaro Jaramillo: Alvaro has been a birder just a tad less than Peter, starting at 11 years old in Toronto. His local patch was “The Spit,” now Thommy Thompson Park. He studied Ecology and Evolution, first at Guelph University, then University of Toronto where he researched Argentine cowbirds for his MSc. After a short stint in Vancouver, he moved to California where he lived for decades, operating Alvaro’s Adventures an international birding tour company, and pelagic birding operator. He recently moved back to Ontario, to wonderful Prince Edward County. Peter and Alvaro worked together on the Birds of Chile, and New World Blackbirds: The Icterids. Alvaro also wrote the ABA Field Guide to California. And he is one of the co-hosts of the Life List Birding Podcast.

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