Northern Wings – Connecting People and Birds of Northern Arizona Fri, 01 May 2026 03:11:12 -0400 https://www.northernarizonaaudubon.org/ en-us © 2026 Northern Wings – Connecting People and Birds of Northern Arizona yes 57e99c24-1cc6-5fdb-ab3f-e4c6a196a2ad Northern Arizona Audubon Society episodic false Northern Wings, the official podcast of the Northern Arizona Audubon Society (NAAS), explores the beauty of birds and the habitats they depend on across northern Arizona. Join host Matt Anderson and guests from NAAS, researchers, and fellow bird enthusiasts as they share birding tips, inspiring conservation stories, and insights on safeguarding birds and the places they need. Learn about Important Bird Areas, habitat restoration, citizen science projects, and how you can take action for birds in your community. Whether you’re a lifelong birder or just curious about nature, Northern Wings helps you connect with the birds of northern Arizona and the places they rely on.


Learn more about NAAS at: northernarizonaaudubon.org

]]> Buzzsprout (https://www.buzzsprout.com) Birds, birding, nature, conservation, habitat, Arizona, "Northern Arizona" , Important Bird Areas, citizen science, habitat restoration Northern Arizona Audubon Society https://storage.buzzsprout.com/4nl34d01vmshfqrzyx7b0z3w9md4?.jpg Northern Wings – Connecting People and Birds of Northern Arizona https://www.northernarizonaaudubon.org/ Matt Anderson A Conversation With Harry Jones, Ph.D. A Conversation With Harry Jones, Ph.D. This episode features Harry Jones, Ph.D., an applied field ecologist who, in addition to his scholarly pursuits and conservation efforts, is a frequent guide on bird walks hosted by the Northern Arizona Audubon Society.  We chat about his work at the intersection of community, landscape, population, and conservation biology, the joys of birding in northern Arizona, and his recommendations for birders related to identification and conservation.  In addition, Dr. Jones offers students interested in pursuing graduate education and employment in the field with sage advice regarding academic planning.   Truly, there is something in this episode for everyone.  Since we chatted about participatory science, I’ve taken the liberty of adding a link below to information on Audubon’s Christmas Bird Count.  

Relevant Links:

https://motus.org/

https://www.birdpop.org/

https://www.nps.gov/im/scpn/index.htm

https://merlin.allaboutbirds.org/

https://www.audubon.org/community-science/christmas-bird-count

Thank you for listening.  Please visit our website and subscribe to our Instagram feed.

The Northern Arizona Audubon Society has been the voice for birds in Northern Arizona since 1972. Join us. Add your voice.

]]> This episode features Harry Jones, Ph.D., an applied field ecologist who, in addition to his scholarly pursuits and conservation efforts, is a frequent guide on bird walks hosted by the Northern Arizona Audubon Society.  We chat about his work at the intersection of community, landscape, population, and conservation biology, the joys of birding in northern Arizona, and his recommendations for birders related to identification and conservation.  In addition, Dr. Jones offers students interested in pursuing graduate education and employment in the field with sage advice regarding academic planning.   Truly, there is something in this episode for everyone.  Since we chatted about participatory science, I’ve taken the liberty of adding a link below to information on Audubon’s Christmas Bird Count.  

Relevant Links:

https://motus.org/

https://www.birdpop.org/

https://www.nps.gov/im/scpn/index.htm

https://merlin.allaboutbirds.org/

https://www.audubon.org/community-science/christmas-bird-count

Thank you for listening.  Please visit our website and subscribe to our Instagram feed.

The Northern Arizona Audubon Society has been the voice for birds in Northern Arizona since 1972. Join us. Add your voice.

]]> https://www.northernarizonaaudubon.org/northern-wings-Podcast Northern Arizona Audubon Society Buzzsprout-18944758 Wed, 01 Apr 2026 14:00:00 -0400 2743 2 2 full false Brains, Beaks, and Brilliant Ravens: A Conversation with Dr. Emily Cory Brains, Beaks, and Brilliant Ravens: A Conversation with Dr. Emily Cory Join Matt as he talks with Dr. Emily Cory, a northern Arizona native, animal behaviorist, and researcher with a Ph.D. in psychology and a minor in astrobiology. Dr. Cory has studied raven intelligence, traveled from Arizona to Rwanda observing mountain gorillas, and presented her work on corvid cognition at NAAS meetings—often alongside her African White-necked Raven, Shade. In this episode, she shares captivating stories from her research, insights into the remarkable intelligence of ravens and other corvids, and the experiences that shaped her journey in the study of animal behavior. 

Thank you for listening.  Please visit our website and subscribe to our Instagram feed.

The Northern Arizona Audubon Society has been the voice for birds in Northern Arizona since 1972. Join us. Add your voice.

]]> Join Matt as he talks with Dr. Emily Cory, a northern Arizona native, animal behaviorist, and researcher with a Ph.D. in psychology and a minor in astrobiology. Dr. Cory has studied raven intelligence, traveled from Arizona to Rwanda observing mountain gorillas, and presented her work on corvid cognition at NAAS meetings—often alongside her African White-necked Raven, Shade. In this episode, she shares captivating stories from her research, insights into the remarkable intelligence of ravens and other corvids, and the experiences that shaped her journey in the study of animal behavior. 

Thank you for listening.  Please visit our website and subscribe to our Instagram feed.

The Northern Arizona Audubon Society has been the voice for birds in Northern Arizona since 1972. Join us. Add your voice.

]]> Northern Arizona Audubon Society Buzzsprout-18796976 Mon, 09 Mar 2026 19:00:00 -0400 3524 2 1 full false A Conversation with Nancy Steele, President of the Northern Arizona Audubon Society A Conversation with Nancy Steele, President of the Northern Arizona Audubon Society In this episode, NAAS member Matt Anderson interviews Nancy Steele, President of the Northern Arizona Audubon Society, regarding her love for birds, wildlife and nature, the path she’s taken to her current position, and the organization’s accomplishments, plans, and connections with birders and communities in Northern Arizona.  

This conversation was recorded in August 2025 and mentions a few activities that are now in the past.  For current information on everything from bird walks to volunteer opportunities to Motus pings, visit Northern Arizona Audubon Society’s website. 

We are grateful to William W.H. Gunn and the Macaulay Library, at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology for the clip used in the Name That Birdsong segment of the podcast.  

Relevant Links:

https://motus.org/

https://www.northernarizonaaudubon.org/

https://northernarizonaaudubon.org/page-18090 (events)

Thank you for listening.  Please visit our website and subscribe to our Instagram feed.

The Northern Arizona Audubon Society has been the voice for birds in Northern Arizona since 1972. Join us. Add your voice.

]]> In this episode, NAAS member Matt Anderson interviews Nancy Steele, President of the Northern Arizona Audubon Society, regarding her love for birds, wildlife and nature, the path she’s taken to her current position, and the organization’s accomplishments, plans, and connections with birders and communities in Northern Arizona.  

This conversation was recorded in August 2025 and mentions a few activities that are now in the past.  For current information on everything from bird walks to volunteer opportunities to Motus pings, visit Northern Arizona Audubon Society’s website. 

We are grateful to William W.H. Gunn and the Macaulay Library, at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology for the clip used in the Name That Birdsong segment of the podcast.  

Relevant Links:

https://motus.org/

https://www.northernarizonaaudubon.org/

https://northernarizonaaudubon.org/page-18090 (events)

Thank you for listening.  Please visit our website and subscribe to our Instagram feed.

The Northern Arizona Audubon Society has been the voice for birds in Northern Arizona since 1972. Join us. Add your voice.

]]> Northern Arizona Audubon Society Buzzsprout-18403828 Tue, 23 Dec 2025 14:00:00 -0500 2587 1 9 full false Becky Hardy, of BENA: Creating Butterfly Habitats Becky Hardy, of BENA: Creating Butterfly Habitats In this bonus episode of Northern Wings, we continue our conversation with Becky Hardy, this time, focusing on creating habitats for butterflies and hummingbirds.  Becky is the president of the Butterfly Enthusiasts of Northern Arizona, a Yavapai County master gardener, birding guide, and the education chair for the Northern Arizona Audubon Society.    

We recorded this episode at Bubbling Ponds Preserve in the beautiful Anita MacFarlane Ramada following a wonderful butterfly walk Becky led at the preserve.

https://www.butterflyenthusiastsofnaz.org/

https://xerces.org/

https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/

Thank you for listening.  Please visit our website and subscribe to our Instagram feed.

The Northern Arizona Audubon Society has been the voice for birds in Northern Arizona since 1972. Join us. Add your voice.

]]> In this bonus episode of Northern Wings, we continue our conversation with Becky Hardy, this time, focusing on creating habitats for butterflies and hummingbirds.  Becky is the president of the Butterfly Enthusiasts of Northern Arizona, a Yavapai County master gardener, birding guide, and the education chair for the Northern Arizona Audubon Society.    

We recorded this episode at Bubbling Ponds Preserve in the beautiful Anita MacFarlane Ramada following a wonderful butterfly walk Becky led at the preserve.

https://www.butterflyenthusiastsofnaz.org/

https://xerces.org/

https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/

Thank you for listening.  Please visit our website and subscribe to our Instagram feed.

The Northern Arizona Audubon Society has been the voice for birds in Northern Arizona since 1972. Join us. Add your voice.

]]> Northern Arizona Audubon Society Buzzsprout-17833747 Thu, 18 Sep 2025 08:00:00 -0400 1271 1 8 bonus false Becky Hardy and the Butterfly Enthusiasts of Northern Arizona Becky Hardy and the Butterfly Enthusiasts of Northern Arizona In this episode, Matt talks with Becky Hardy.  Becky is a Yavapai County master gardener, bird guide, Northern Arizona Audubon Society's education chair and most recently co-founded Butterfly Enthusiasts of Northern Arizona (BENA).  BENA is a wildlife conservation and education nonprofit with the mission to “create a world where butterflies thrive, for the benefit of nature and people.”  In this podcast we discuss a wide range of butterfly related topics, including how BENA benefits our small wildlife, BENA volunteer opportunities, the butterfly species likely to be seen in Northern Arizona, their migrations and how we can create gardens to support butterflies and birds.  Also discussed is how BENA partners with the Northern Arizona Audubon Society.

Credits for Media Used in Name That Bird Song Segment in This Episode

Institution: Cornell Lab of Ornithology | Macaulay Library.

Contributor: Andrew Spencer

Relevant Links

https://www.butterflyenthusiastsofnaz.org/

https://naba.org/

https://swmonarchs.org/

https://www.hummingbirdsociety.org/

Thank you for listening.  Please visit our website and subscribe to our Instagram feed.

The Northern Arizona Audubon Society has been the voice for birds in Northern Arizona since 1972. Join us. Add your voice.

]]> In this episode, Matt talks with Becky Hardy.  Becky is a Yavapai County master gardener, bird guide, Northern Arizona Audubon Society's education chair and most recently co-founded Butterfly Enthusiasts of Northern Arizona (BENA).  BENA is a wildlife conservation and education nonprofit with the mission to “create a world where butterflies thrive, for the benefit of nature and people.”  In this podcast we discuss a wide range of butterfly related topics, including how BENA benefits our small wildlife, BENA volunteer opportunities, the butterfly species likely to be seen in Northern Arizona, their migrations and how we can create gardens to support butterflies and birds.  Also discussed is how BENA partners with the Northern Arizona Audubon Society.

Credits for Media Used in Name That Bird Song Segment in This Episode

Institution: Cornell Lab of Ornithology | Macaulay Library.

Contributor: Andrew Spencer

Relevant Links

https://www.butterflyenthusiastsofnaz.org/

https://naba.org/

https://swmonarchs.org/

https://www.hummingbirdsociety.org/

Thank you for listening.  Please visit our website and subscribe to our Instagram feed.

The Northern Arizona Audubon Society has been the voice for birds in Northern Arizona since 1972. Join us. Add your voice.

]]> Buzzsprout-17833118 Thu, 18 Sep 2025 08:00:00 -0400 2618 1 7 full false Doctoral Student Matt Jenkins Talks About His Bluebird Research in Northern Arizona Doctoral Student Matt Jenkins Talks About His Bluebird Research in Northern Arizona In this episode, you get two Matts for the price of one.  Matt Anderson interviews Matt Jenkins, a third-year doctoral student at the University of Arizona, about the fascinating research he’s conducting regarding bluebirds (both Western and Mountain) using data he’s collecting in Northern Arizona and elsewhere.  We talk about Matt’s fascinating journey, from his boyhood interest in birds to his scientific research exploring the evolution of behaviors over time and how they influence birds’ dispersal, range expansion, and developmental environments.  We also discuss the goals of Matt’s research, his data-collection practices, and more.  Here is a link to Matt Jenkin’s page on the University of Arizona’s website: 

     https://eeb.arizona.edu/person/matthew-jenkins

Thanks to Jay McGowan and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s Macaulay Library for the use of the bird song clip and to Christina Vojta, NAAS steward for Kachina Wetlands, for her assistance with the bird song segment.  

Thank you for listening.  Please visit our website and subscribe to our Instagram feed.

The Northern Arizona Audubon Society has been the voice for birds in Northern Arizona since 1972. Join us. Add your voice.

]]> In this episode, you get two Matts for the price of one.  Matt Anderson interviews Matt Jenkins, a third-year doctoral student at the University of Arizona, about the fascinating research he’s conducting regarding bluebirds (both Western and Mountain) using data he’s collecting in Northern Arizona and elsewhere.  We talk about Matt’s fascinating journey, from his boyhood interest in birds to his scientific research exploring the evolution of behaviors over time and how they influence birds’ dispersal, range expansion, and developmental environments.  We also discuss the goals of Matt’s research, his data-collection practices, and more.  Here is a link to Matt Jenkin’s page on the University of Arizona’s website: 

     https://eeb.arizona.edu/person/matthew-jenkins

Thanks to Jay McGowan and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s Macaulay Library for the use of the bird song clip and to Christina Vojta, NAAS steward for Kachina Wetlands, for her assistance with the bird song segment.  

Thank you for listening.  Please visit our website and subscribe to our Instagram feed.

The Northern Arizona Audubon Society has been the voice for birds in Northern Arizona since 1972. Join us. Add your voice.

]]> Northern Arizona Audubon Society Buzzsprout-17649418 Sun, 10 Aug 2025 20:00:00 -0400 1922 1 6 full false Alice Madar - A Conversation About Hummingbirds Alice Madar - A Conversation About Hummingbirds In this episode, I chat with Alice Madar, who serves as both the executive director of the International Hummingbird Society and vice president of the Northern Arizona Audubon Society.  We discuss the beauty of hummingbirds and the challenges they face, the upcoming Sedona Hummingbird Festival, her deep commitment to conservation, and her extraordinary photographic adventures.  

We are grateful to the Macaulay Library, part of Cornell Lab of Ornithology at Cornell University, for the use of an audio clip of birdsong in this episode.  

Relevant Links:

https://www.hummingbirdsociety.org/

https://sedonahummingbirdfestival.com/

Thank you for listening.  Please visit our website and subscribe to our Instagram feed.

The Northern Arizona Audubon Society has been the voice for birds in Northern Arizona since 1972. Join us. Add your voice.

]]> In this episode, I chat with Alice Madar, who serves as both the executive director of the International Hummingbird Society and vice president of the Northern Arizona Audubon Society.  We discuss the beauty of hummingbirds and the challenges they face, the upcoming Sedona Hummingbird Festival, her deep commitment to conservation, and her extraordinary photographic adventures.  

We are grateful to the Macaulay Library, part of Cornell Lab of Ornithology at Cornell University, for the use of an audio clip of birdsong in this episode.  

Relevant Links:

https://www.hummingbirdsociety.org/

https://sedonahummingbirdfestival.com/

Thank you for listening.  Please visit our website and subscribe to our Instagram feed.

The Northern Arizona Audubon Society has been the voice for birds in Northern Arizona since 1972. Join us. Add your voice.

]]> Northern Arizona Audubon Society Buzzsprout-17484954 Thu, 10 Jul 2025 12:00:00 -0400 2411 1 5 full false Paul Dougherty: A Discussion of his Research in Northern Arizona Paul Dougherty: A Discussion of his Research in Northern Arizona In this episode, I chat with Paul Dougherty, Ph.D., about the research he is conducting that brought him to northern Arizona to collect data.   Dr. Dougherty is a National Science Foundation Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.  One of his primary interests is molting behavior, a chronically understudied aspect of avian biology that can render bird populations vulnerable to climate change.  Listen to this episode to learn more about his interesting research and academic journey.  

This episode includes a new Name That Song segment (birdsong, that is).  We are grateful to Rich Hoyer and the Macaulay Library, part of Cornell Lab of Ornithology at Cornell University, for the use of the audio clip.  

Thank you for listening.  Please visit our website and subscribe to our Instagram feed.

The Northern Arizona Audubon Society has been the voice for birds in Northern Arizona since 1972. Join us. Add your voice.

]]> In this episode, I chat with Paul Dougherty, Ph.D., about the research he is conducting that brought him to northern Arizona to collect data.   Dr. Dougherty is a National Science Foundation Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.  One of his primary interests is molting behavior, a chronically understudied aspect of avian biology that can render bird populations vulnerable to climate change.  Listen to this episode to learn more about his interesting research and academic journey.  

This episode includes a new Name That Song segment (birdsong, that is).  We are grateful to Rich Hoyer and the Macaulay Library, part of Cornell Lab of Ornithology at Cornell University, for the use of the audio clip.  

Thank you for listening.  Please visit our website and subscribe to our Instagram feed.

The Northern Arizona Audubon Society has been the voice for birds in Northern Arizona since 1972. Join us. Add your voice.

]]> Northern Arizona Audubon Society Buzzsprout-17432855 Tue, 01 Jul 2025 18:00:00 -0400 2037 1 4 full false Motus Episode Update Motus Episode Update In our episode on the Motus Wildlife Tracking System, we looked forward to receiving the first “pings,” or detections of tagged birds.  That future has become real.  This update provides information on three recent detections.   

Visit the Motus site (www.motus.org) to see the most recent data from the two stations in northern Arizona. 

Thank you for listening.  Please visit our website and subscribe to our Instagram feed.

The Northern Arizona Audubon Society has been the voice for birds in Northern Arizona since 1972. Join us. Add your voice.

]]> In our episode on the Motus Wildlife Tracking System, we looked forward to receiving the first “pings,” or detections of tagged birds.  That future has become real.  This update provides information on three recent detections.   

Visit the Motus site (www.motus.org) to see the most recent data from the two stations in northern Arizona. 

Thank you for listening.  Please visit our website and subscribe to our Instagram feed.

The Northern Arizona Audubon Society has been the voice for birds in Northern Arizona since 1972. Join us. Add your voice.

]]> Northern Arizona Audubon Society Buzzsprout-17282507 Wed, 04 Jun 2025 15:00:00 -0400 93 1 3 bonus false The Motus Wildlife Tracking System The Motus Wildlife Tracking System In this episode, NAAS member Matt Anderson interviews immediate past president, Kay Hawklee, and board member, Rick Moore, on the efforts that led to the installation of two Motus wildlife tracking stations in Northern Arizona.  Motus is an international research community working together to study the movement and behavior of birds, bats, and insects (www.motus.org).  The two new stations are designed to capture radio signals from tagged animals and to contribute these data to the motus system to help advance research, education, and conservation.  

Thank you for listening.  Please visit our website and subscribe to our Instagram feed.

The Northern Arizona Audubon Society has been the voice for birds in Northern Arizona since 1972. Join us. Add your voice.

]]> In this episode, NAAS member Matt Anderson interviews immediate past president, Kay Hawklee, and board member, Rick Moore, on the efforts that led to the installation of two Motus wildlife tracking stations in Northern Arizona.  Motus is an international research community working together to study the movement and behavior of birds, bats, and insects (www.motus.org).  The two new stations are designed to capture radio signals from tagged animals and to contribute these data to the motus system to help advance research, education, and conservation.  

Thank you for listening.  Please visit our website and subscribe to our Instagram feed.

The Northern Arizona Audubon Society has been the voice for birds in Northern Arizona since 1972. Join us. Add your voice.

]]> Northern Arizona Audubon Society Buzzsprout-17059358 Wed, 04 Jun 2025 15:00:00 -0400 1883 1 2 full false Introducing Northern Wings: A Podcast of the Northern Arizona Audubon Society Introducing Northern Wings: A Podcast of the Northern Arizona Audubon Society The Northern Arizona Audubon Society is launching a podcast focused on appreciating and protecting birds and the places they need in this beautiful part of the Southwest.   Listen to this trailer for more information and subscribe now so you don’t miss an episode! 

Thank you for listening.  Please visit our website and subscribe to our Instagram feed.

The Northern Arizona Audubon Society has been the voice for birds in Northern Arizona since 1972. Join us. Add your voice.

]]> The Northern Arizona Audubon Society is launching a podcast focused on appreciating and protecting birds and the places they need in this beautiful part of the Southwest.   Listen to this trailer for more information and subscribe now so you don’t miss an episode! 

Thank you for listening.  Please visit our website and subscribe to our Instagram feed.

The Northern Arizona Audubon Society has been the voice for birds in Northern Arizona since 1972. Join us. Add your voice.

]]> Northern Arizona Audubon Society Buzzsprout-17116311 Wed, 07 May 2025 14:00:00 -0400 66 1 1 trailer false