This used to be my go to birding podcast, but in the past year or two it has taken a turn for the worse. The podcast host has decent segments and excellent guests, but he projects a snarky attitude that makes my eyes roll on most occasions. It’s also unfortunate that he blasts and ridicules other negative podcast reviews on various social media outlets. That doesn’t seem professional for the ABA. I hope the show improves. There’s not exactly a plethora of birding podcasts to choose from, so until then I’ll be offline enjoying the birds. Steve, Missouri. I’ll always listen to the Ted Floyd episodes though.

Love the podcast. Every week seems to brings new and interesting topics. I also love the interviews. Lots of very knowledgeable guests appear on the podcast regularly.

Newer birder here. Thanks for doing this podcast. It’s my favorite birding podcast to listen to.

But I just dont like how all the people Nate interviews are all woke! If the left is so inclusive of all people bring in some conservative birders! This podcast took a turn for the worse😢. If this is a podcast about birds then stop bringing up politics. Also Nate will probably end up saying hes a 13 year old girl and swims on the girls swim team🤣

Love this podcast. Nate Swick is the best host! I look forward to Thursday mornings. Light, healing and positivity to Nate and his family.

ABA member, birder and outdoor enthusiast here that cannot stand the political/woke/non-informational turn this podcast has taken over the last six months. Do not find it interesting at all to listen to virtue signaling from the sometimes interesting host or the woke tribunals take during the monthly “bird talk” about modern society. Heavy leftist podcasts are dime a dozen but I tried this podcast to get more in depth studies of the ABA region and species NOT divisive politics. Were it not for the Ted Floyd episodes…yikes

A favorite podcast, I enjoy the breadth of topics, the casual yet focused discussions, and all the shows with Ted Floyd.

Nate’s interviews are always insightful. He is able to interview his guests to get the best information they have to offer us listeners.

Lots of great information in each episode! Great interviews of birders, scientists and others that keep me informed about the world of birding and birders! Nate is a thoughtful interviewer and brings out all sorts of interesting perspectives from his guests! It my #1 birding podcast!

I look forward to these episodes every Thursday, even if some of the closing puns are devastating groaners!

The podcast has been my introduction to birds. Very informative and entertaining!

Nate Swick is obviously amazingly knowledgeable about birding and I appreciate the variety of ways he talks about birds on the show. Love the birding books episodes. To nitpick about a few things: topic of bird names for birds gets too much play (agree with the point but does it need to be on every show?); Swick often talks over his guests when he is excited about a point. Would be better if he drew out certain birding information. Could enhance a lot of the birding information instead of just kind of showing off that he knows something or was jetsetting around the globe recently without adding to viewer understanding of a topic. Finally, his microphone is too powerful for my tastes. I don’t need to know every time he swallows or his chair freaks. That all said, it is a great birding podcast.

Wonderful explanation of why we love birds and bird watching.

I was awake at 3 am bemoaning the sad state of the world. So, as I often do, I looked for a podcast. I found the episode on the “birth” of birding in Columbia to be fascinating and uplifting. Great interview!

Thank you for bringing vital and current topics in ornithology & ecology to us as well as diverse voices. I learn something in every episode. The host, Nate, while charming, could benefit from training in interviewing, listening, asking questions, and journalism. It’s cringey when he inserts himself into the midst of important information or tries to show that he knows all about the topics. His guests are almost always skilled public speakers and his interjections, giggles, and redirecting to himself are a distraction. Longtime ABA member here, and I’ll keep listening, but the pod could use a little more polish.

I have been amazed at both the quality of guests and the scope of content on this ever-growing podcast! From the most highly respected birders and conservationists of our times to everyday birders like me; the ABP features something for everyone with an interest in birds and conservation. It’s realistic, but optimistic take on the resilience of birds is a balm for troubling times. Today I listened to one of the most recognized and passionate ornithologists in the world. Peter Harrison’s life work reflects his genius… simply inspiring! Thanks for all you do, ABA and Nate!

I really enjoyed your 06-38 episode. When Nick and Ted described seeing swallow tailed kites in Panama and Columbia. It made me think that I had not seen our swallow tailed kites since mid August here in south east Florida. They must have made their fall migration to those locations and it’s very interesting to me to know I get to witness their arrival and departure. I’ve only been in SE Florida for a little over a year and used to live in Upstate NY enjoying spring migration time close to Ithaca. Keep up the great work!

Great work, Nate! I love Nick Lund too, wish you had him on even more. Other suggestion is to extend the Rare Bird report significantly. I think you could make a whole podcast about this - bringing on guests or playing excerpts from birders who saw or chased the birds - or bringing on a scientist studying a certain species (ex. limpkin)

Love this podcast. Wondering if we can have a few episodes that focus on the west? I live in Tucson and we have so many cool birds in SE Arizona, but doesn’t seem like we talk about them much. Hummingbirds, raptors and flycatchers.. Maybe this is already happening but I haven’t been listening long enough.

I love the ABA Podcast. Nate is a great host. He’s funny, knowledgeable and recruits great guests. I really value the diversity of his guests, and the multiple perspectives and experiences they share. My favorite episode was the podcast with Peri Sasnett on Clark’s Nutcrackers. I loved the deep dive into one species. I learned so much from Peri and Nate about this remarkable species. Keep up the great work!

Love this show! wouldn't miss it

The actual birding segments were okay. But the host has always had an irritating snark. Then the show went "woke" with the stuff we go birding to get away from. I been looking at a fb site about ivorybilled woodpeckers and see he posts in it a lot. Mean and nasty to people who believe ivorybills still exist and calling them truthers like they are wackos who won't accept his opinion. He insults people who report seeing ivorybills saying they are embellishing, dishonest and grifting. Seeing the guys behavior towards others I cant listen any more. I thought birding was about respecting the environment and birds and other people. I guess not at least for this ABA bigshot. No more for me.

I’ve been listening to this podcast for a long while and still look forward to checking in every Thursday for the next episode. I enjoy how this podcast covers a wide range of subjects which is both informative and promotes birding for all those who enjoy watching birds.

I really enjoy this podcast. Host Nate Swick keeps a good balance of stories and guests. I enjoy the panels where guests just chat about birding, usually with some good laughs. (Got a kick out of “most over- and under-rated warbler.”) But most of all, I appreciate that I always learn something new about birds. Keep up the good work!

I’ve learned so much from this show and never miss an episode. Host Nate Swick does a deft job of mixing hard core birding discussion and information with important social and political issues related to birding, particularly the long overdue move towards inclusion in our community. Appeals to the expert and the beginner in so many ways. And often funny as well. Surprised at how few birders I mention it too haven heard of it. Tell your friends!

I’ve been listening to the ABA Podcast for years and each year it gets better. During the pandemic, Nate

Nate, the ABA staff, and guests provide a good balance of content for both novice and experienced bird watchers (and birders). I enjoy learning something new about birds every episode. And despite some reviews here complaining about the inclusion of discussions about social trends in birding, this older birder finds it educational, refreshing, and ultimately hopeful.

I look forward to Thursdays for the new episodes!

I don’t know what has happened to the host of the show. It used to be valuable, however, after the death of George Floyd it’s just turned into a political rant. It seems as though every episode has to do with some aggrieved identity group and their unique birding attributes. A show on women in birding, a show on blacks and birding, a show for the disabled and birding. Give it a rest!! People want to hear tips on birding. They don’t want to hear your white guilt and political commentary.

This is a good podcast. Nate Swick’s intros are hilarious and often the best part of the episode. It’s likely because I’m a less experienced birder, but I wish there were more episodes focused more directly on birds, birding tips, etc. A lot of times the topics get a little out there to things somewhat related to birding (live-streaming, birds and music, board games <huge Wingspan fan here by the way>, women in the outdoors, etc). Those things can be interesting but often the conversation gets to a place where we’re not really talking about birds anymore. Would love to just hear and learn more about birds and birding!

One of the best birding podcasts out there.

Some hit an miss topics. Love the book reviews, science topics, birding tips etc. Conservation and politics take a very individualist perspective. Important to understand that nothing will fundamentally change if we don’t overthrow the system, and that system is Capitalism. Tough to hear ‘drive a little less’ when 100 companies produce 71% of carbon dioxide emissions.

The ABA podcast does a great job of balancing bird and bird adjacent topics to create a well rounded discussion about all things birding. It is both a great place to get in the weeds about taxonomy and discuss political issues that impact birds and birders. Nate is enthusiastic and funny which makes the content even more enjoyable.

Fine. Great bird content when the episodes actually focus on birds.

How about Bird Stamps instead of Duck Stamps?

This show has everything- smart participants, interesting topics, multiple perspectives, and puns. It’s my goto for walking or road trips.

Informative...interesting...current...relevant! Nate does an excellent job of creating a fun show, but always bringing in new elements and people within the whole bird-watching community. It’s a must listen!

I look forward to seeing this podcast show up in my feed and am so happy they increased the episode frequency. Great guests from all parts of the birding community. Birding can be a very solitary activity (especially since local meetings went virtual) but this podcast makes me feel like I’m back from a great group trip.

I used to love this podcast but for the past year, all they seem to talk about is changing all the bird names named after white people, and about racism. If I want to be pummeled with critical race theory I’ll sit in on my kid’s elementary school class. This is supposed to be about birds. Enough already!

The ABA really should rename this to something like “Nate Swick's Birding Podcast" as the show has been getting increasingly idiosyncratic. When birds are the topic the show is great as Swick is enthusiastic and clearly knows his stuff. But when the conversation turns to non-bird topics it all becomes predictable and self-congratulatory as the host and his guests are always perfectly aligned and a bit too pleased with themselves.

I love the new “Birds in the News” segment of the American Birding Podcast ... Host Nate Swick’s side commentary during it had me laughing out loud!

I love how expansive the show’s topics are. Please do keep covering issues that affect the most vulnerable members of the birding community, and the most vulnerable birds.

This podcast used to be awesome, and I listened to it religiously for years. Within the last year, it’s gotten remarkably “woke” and needs to share its progressive virtue signaling more and more. If that’s something you’re into, you will love this podcast. Nate is an interesting host who really does a great job. But if you use birds to escape all that other stuff, this is not the place for you.

The best podcast out there for birders, Nate is an amazing host and the guests are wonderful. Keep up the great work.

Entertaining, incisive, and with a lot of heart. And as for the couple of negative reviews that say the show is too political at times, to me that shows why that is so important. Stay political, Nate. “I don’t see race, just birds,” is the birders’ version of “I don’t see color, I see people.” Keep doing what you’re doing. It is educating a lot of people out there, welcoming in far more individuals than it is alienating, and these types of hard discussions have always been important, even if we’re just now belatedly having them at a broad scale. And I say all this as a white male lifelong birder living deep within rural, red state America.

Nick really brings birding to life with his interviews, guests, weekly rare bird round up and interesting guests. It’s fun to listen to his interviews because Nick is very knowledgeable and can ask thoughtful questions. Great show!

After searching for a good podcast about just nature and wildlife in general, I am SO glad I stumbled upon this one. The episode with Rebecca Heisman introduced me to the concept of ornitherapy, and has made me want to try birding for myself!

I am really enjoying this podcast and I am loving that tattooed punk rocking skateboarders are so into birds that they participate in these podcasts! As a science teacher and wildlife biologist, I now have a measure of hope for the future that I didn’t have before. Seriously! You guys rock!! I just wanted to comment on the pileated story that involved two girls using their phones to try to identify woodpecker calls and they ended up causing a pileated woodpecker to fly up to them. Please please warn your listeners that in most places, the use of a phone to vocalize calls is considered “harassment of wildlife” for which you can receive a ticket. The reason for this is that just with this one story we have a record of 1 party of two who used their phones to try to ID a bird call, resulting in a pileated using it’s energy to check out a violation of its territory. But how many other birders did the same thing later that day or week? How much of that birds’ energy, that was supposed to be directed at courtship, incubation or chick rearing, was misdirected to securing the territory against an unseen threat? There are many stories about birds being “loved to death” by enthusiastic birdwatchers who didn’t realize how much disruption they were creating for the birds they were desiring to see. A program about the ethics of birdwatching and wildlife photography would be a great thing to include for this podcast. 99 people out of 100 have no idea about the negative impacts on wildlife due to birders and photographers and would immediately change their behavior once they knew the harm they were doing. Thanks for thinking about that kind of program and for this wonderful podcast!

Too much opinion, not enough substance; rare bird alerts are the main reason I listen, but they’re too short and the silly music following them give me reason to hit “stop” and switch to a different podcast. Clean it up and I’ll subscribe and even promote it.

A great listen — a little education, a little entertainment, and a whole lot of enthusiasm for birds.