BirdNote Daily

By moving from the faster high air to slower low air, or vice versa, an albatross can propel itself forward. In a series of sinuous loops, the albatross surfs the wind, up and down, repeating the pattern over and over again as it moves thousands of miles across the ocean.

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Adriaan Dokter is an aerial ecologist who designs tools to study how birds migrate. On the Bring Birds Back podcast, Adriaan traces his fascination with flight back to an early experience with common birds. Listen to the full episode here and on your favorite podcast app.

More info and transcript at BirdNote.org.

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Some ducks don't sound like ducks at all. Some — like the Harlequin — squeak. Harlequins are unique in other ways, too. Quick and agile in rushing white water, they dive to the bottom of mountain streams for food, and use fast-flowing rivers for breeding. If you're lucky enough to spot a Harlequin Duck, you may guess how it got its name. Dressed in vivid multi-colored patches, "harlequin" is the jester of traditional Italian comedy.

More info and transcript at BirdNote.org.

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Hummingbirds use their long tongues to sip nectar from flowers. They’re able to roll their tongues into a tube-like shape. Since the 1800s, scientists thought those tongues worked through capillary action, like how water instantly rises into a straw in a full cup. But when scientists spent years using slow-motion cameras to capture hummingbirds drinking in greater detail, they uncovered a completely different story: the tongues act like a tiny but powerful pump.

More info and transcript at BirdNote.org.

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By carrying more people in a single vehicle, mass transit can use less energy than cars. Taking steps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions can help the hundreds of bird species put at risk by climate change. Not to mention, you can do a little birding on the commute – on the way to the bus or train stop, and on the ride itself.

More info and transcript at BirdNote.org.

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