Destination Birding. Backyard Birding, Black Birders Week

Destination Birding. Backyard Birding, Black Birders Week

Author: Christy Hyman, PhD May 29, 2025 Duration: 22:23

In this episode of Random Nature we explore the captivating worlds of destination birding and backyard birding.  I shout out several other cool podcasts:

Lifelist

Hannah and Erik go Birding

Bird Banter

Science of Birds

BirdJoy Podcast

We highlight incredible locations such as the Pantanal in Brazil, home to over 650 bird species, and Hokkaido in Japan, known for its diverse ecosystems that attract various birds throughout the year. 

Transitioning to backyard birding, we discuss how to create a bird-friendly environment with feeders, native plants, and water sources, allowing birdwatchers to connect with local wildlife from the comfort of home. 

Whether venturing into the wild or observing familiar species in your yard, each birding experience enriches our appreciation for nature. 

I close out to remind everyone of Black Birders Week, then announce that my trade book is available for preorder: 

https://www.bloomsbury.com/us/cultural-heritage-resilience-of-the-great-dismal-swamp-9780761892021/






Christy Hyman is a geographer with a deep affection for birds and the wild spaces just outside our doors. In Random Nature, she sits down with fellow academics, not for stiff lectures, but for genuine conversations that explore the surprising and personal relationships we have with the natural world. You’ll hear how a sociologist might find order in a tangled forest, or how a historian sees the landscape as a living archive. These discussions get at the heart of how people who think for a living actually *experience* nature-whether they seek it out daily on long walks or observe it more quietly from a kitchen window garden. This podcast lives in the intersection of science, culture, and everyday life, revealing that our connection to the environment is rarely straightforward. It’s often messy, overlooked, and wonderfully random. Each episode is an invitation to reconsider your own surroundings, to notice the details in your own home, garden, or local park through a slightly different lens. Tune in for thoughtful, meandering talks that bridge the gap between scholarly insight and simple, personal appreciation.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 40

Random Nature
Podcast Episodes
BONUS: SUMMER TIME; ANNOUNCEMENTS! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 12:35
Bonus! Christy tells us where she is headed next in her academic career. And of course BIRDS!Birds mentioned: Pileated WoodpeckerPeople mentioned: Ed Baptist PhD, Bill Block, PhD, soon to be PhD Megan Jeffreys .
Anna Bartel, PhD [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:07
Part activist, part administrator, and part academic,” Anna Sims Bartel earned her Ph.D. in Comparative Literature at Cornell University. She runs her own consulting firm and enjoys doing public humanities work as well h…
BONUS: A CONFUSING FALL BIRD MIGRATION [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 6:13
Here I give a glimpse into what is coming up next. I talk about my confusing fall birding migration in a new region and FUNGI.My next guest will be Dr. Anna Bartel.
Season 2: The New Year [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 11:04
A meditation on grief and nature on a day of sorrow.
Bonus: Farewell Rose-Breasted Grosbeak [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 13:31
In this episode I share a precious moment with the Rose-Breasted Grosbeak and my emotional farewell.
Dr. Hanieh Molana [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:45
Meet one of my sweetest Feminist Geographer friends, Dr. Molana!
Minisode: Drs. Malaia, Jimenez, Cohen! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 7:54
In today's minisode we hear from three of my friends in this order: Dr. Kate Malaia, Dr. Claire Jimenez, Dr. Matt Cohen.They share their most random/unusual/incredible nature moment.Check out their works!Recent article f…