Thanks for listening to the 21st episode of the Avian Beauty podcast. Today I have some news. I have listened to the feedback I am getting from listeners and the majority of you want a longer show. Those who I polled overwhelmingly want me to bring on guests as well. This involves a lot more planning and logistical consideration as well as longer recording and edit times, so I am going to a once per month schedule. Beginning the second week of October, I'll start publishing one episode per month.

If you have any suggestions for guests, please email me at [email protected].

Additionally, I am going to introduce a news or current events component to the show. I'll discuss how climate and over population have impacted bird populations and bring on specialists who can discuss possible solutions to the problems birds face.

Right now, I'll give you an idea of what I mean by finishing off today's podcast with some items of interest to most bird lovers.

According to Birdwatching Magazine, new research at the University of Saskatchewan (USask) shows how the world’s most widely used insecticides could be partly responsible for a dramatic decline in songbird populations.

A new study published in the journal Science is the first experiment to track the effects of pesticides on birds in the wild.

The study found that White-crowned Sparrows that consumed small doses of an insecticide suffered weight loss and delays to their migration–effects that could severely harm the birds’ chances of surviving and reproducing.

According to Aquarian Weekly, a musician named Stephanie Seymour has found a way for bird lovers and music fans to unite. Stephanie is an avid birdwatcher and has brought two unlikely interests together to create the album, "There Are Birds."

It's a solo album all about birds (literally, metaphorically, from their perspective, etc.) There is a link to the album in the show notes at avianbeauty.com.

https://stephanieseymour.bandcamp.com/album/there-are-birds

And finally this piece of news. If you are love birds, you aren't alone.

Bird-watching is a multi-million dollar industry and one of the biggest attractions for ecotourism . The recreational sport associated with bird-watching, called "birding," has one of the largest followings of any leisure activity in the world. According to the U.S. census, 24 million Americans play basketball; 23 million play baseball, and nine million play football. By comparison, the census says that roughly 60 million people consider themselves birdwatchers. According to a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service study, in the United States alone, bird watchers contributed about $36 billion to the U.S. economy.

I hope you've enjoyed this episode of Avian Beauty. Thanks for listening.

If you have news about birds or birding, or if you have show content ideas, please send me an email at: [email protected]. I'd love to hear from you.

Be sure to visit avianbeauty.com for more bird inspiration and information and please consider subscribing (for free) to our blog and podcast. I’m Scott Bourne. Happy birding.

If you'd like to show your appreciation for this site, please consider the purchase of prints or gifts featuring Scott's bird art, visit scottbourne.photos for more information.