Nature's Hangout Podcast

In this episode, we dive into a fascinating question in animal behavior:Why do males and females in some species move away from home at different rates?

A study by ecologist Tadao Hirota looks at this question using the cabbage white butterfly (Pieris rapae crucivora)—a very common butterfly in Japan. In this species, females tend to leave their birthplace and spread out to new areas, while males mostly stay put. The study uses a window bird feeder and computer simulations to understand why this sex difference evolved.

The research highlights two key factors:

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In this episode, we unpack a fascinating study that looked at what really happens at our backyard bird feeders—and why some birds always seem to get the best snacks. Researchers watched ten common garden bird species compete for two types of food: easy-to-eat sunflower hearts and harder, hull-intact sunflower seeds. They recorded more than 800 competitive interactions, capturing a surprisingly strict pecking order among species.

The key finding? Body size predicts dominance. Heavier species—like house sparrows and greenfinches—regularly chased lighter birds away and claimed the higher-value food (sunflower hearts). Meanwhile, smaller species such as coal tits a...

n this episode, we explore a fascinating field study that examines how songbirds living in different environments—urban backyards, rural forests, suburban edges—approach new challenges. Researchers deployed custom-built, puzzle-based feeders across 20 sites in Illinois to test birds’ neophobia, problem-solving ability, and behavioral flexibility.

The findings turned expectations upside down.

Although many lab studies suggest that urban birds are better problem-solvers, this real-world experiment revealed the opposite: rural forest birds—especially black-capped chickadees—were the only ones who consistently attempted and solved the feeder puzzles. Urban and suburban birds visited freely during the habituation stage, but once s...

In this episode, we dive into the 2024 Current Biology study “Episodic-like memory in wild free-living blue tits and great tits” by Davies, Keuneke, Clayton & Davidson.

Researchers used computerized RFID-equipped feeders (shown on page 4, Figure 1) to test whether these familiar garden birds could recall the what-where-when details of prior foraging events. The findings were remarkable: blue tits and great tits remembered what food type they encountered, where they found it, and how long ago the experience occurred (page 4–6). They also demonstrated the ability to remember incidental spatial and visual details, a hallmark of episodic-like memory, especially in juveniles (page 6...

We often imagine that bird feeders affect only the birds in our backyards—but new research suggests the impact reaches far into wild forests. In this episode, we break down the 2021 study “Faecal metabarcoding reveals pervasive long-distance impacts of garden bird feeding” by Shutt et al.

Using DNA metabarcoding across a 220 km transect in Scotland, the researchers discovered that supplementary foods, especially peanuts, were found in over 53% of blue tit faecal samples, making them more common than many natural prey items. Birds weren’t just snacking near houses: supplementary food was detected even 1.4 km away from the nearest...

Most research on bird feeding compares feeders with food to feeders without, but what happens when food is available only sometimes? In this episode, we unpack findings from the Behavioral Ecology article “Consistency in supplemental food availability affects the space use of wintering birds” by Mady et al. (2021).

In a controlled experiment across nine forest sites in New York, researchers tested how three familiar feeder species - black-capped chickadees, tufted titmice, and white-breasted nuthatches - respond when feeder food is:

* Constant (available every day)

* Pulsed (available three days per week)

* Absent (feed...

In this episode, we explore “Garden Bird Feeding: Insights and Prospects from a North–South Comparison of This Global Urban Phenomenon” by Reynolds et al. (2017).

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Backyard bird feeding is one of the most widespread ways people interact with wildlife - but how does it actually shape bird behavior, ecological communities, and even evolution? This study compares window bird feeder bird feeding practices across the Northern and Southern Hemispheres, revealing surprising differences in which species benefit, how communities shift, and what unintended consequences emerge.

We break down what scientists have learned, what remain...

Most people feed birds because they want to help them—but does it actually make birds healthier?In this episode, we unpack the landmark 2015 study “Effects of bird-feeding activities on the health of wild birds” (Wilcoxen et al.) one of the most comprehensive investigations ever conducted on this question.

Across 1,680 birds, 11 species, and four years, researchers compared forested sites with feeders to matched sites without them. Birds at feeder sites showed:

* Lower stress levels (reduced heterophil-to-lymphocyte ratios; see Figure 1a, page 7)

* Higher fat reserves (Figure 1b)

* Greater antioxidant capacity (Figure 1c)

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What really determines who gets the seed at a backyard feeder: strength, social behavior — or strategy? In this episode, we dig into the findings from “Who Wins at the Bird Feeder — the Lone Wolf or the Social Butterfly?” All About Birds. The study draws on massive citizen-science data from Project FeederWatch and shows that being social doesn’t always give birds the upper hand.

* Solitary species like nuthatches and woodpeckers often win one-on-one feeder showdowns. All About Birds+1

* By contrast, highly social birds (e.g., goldfinches, sparrows) tend to retreat — unless they show up in larger group...

Landfills might seem like the last place to look for meaningful bird diversity—but new research says otherwise. In this episode, we unpack findings from the PLOS ONE study “Not just trash birds: Quantifying avian diversity at landfills using community science data” (Arnold et al. 2021)

Using thousands of eBird checklists, researchers compared 19 U.S. landfills to nearby natural sites. While landfills did show more gulls and scavengers—as expected—they also supported grassland specialists, migratory waterfowl, and a surprisingly broad mix of species. The indicator species analysis on page 7 even highlights Eastern Meadowlark and Savannah Sparrow appearing more often...

What if the best way to protect endangered birds… is to feed their predators?

In this episode, we break down the 2025 Proceedings of the Royal Society B study “Empirical evidence that diversionary feeding increases productivity in ground-nesting birds” - a rare, large-scale field experiment that tested whether giving predators an abundant alternative food source could reduce nest predation on declining capercaillie.

Across three years of work in the Cairngorms, diversionary feeding slashed the chances of hens being brood-less and more than doubled predicted productivity, from 0.82 to 1.90 chicks per hen (Figure 1B, page 5)

While brood...

Bird feeders seem harmless—even helpful. But new research shows they may be reshaping ecosystems in ways we’ve barely considered.

In this episode, we dive into the 2024 study “Supplementary bird feeding as an overlooked contribution to local phosphorus cycles”

Frontiers in Ecol Environ - 2…

which reveals that the seeds, nuts, and grains we put out for birds are carrying huge amounts of phosphorus (P) from global agricultural systems straight into local environments. According to the article’s analysis, UK bird feeding contributes 2.4 gigagrams of phosphorus per year, a flux similar to atmospheric deposition...

What happens when you give wild winter birds four seed options at once?This episode breaks down a hands-on field experiment from western Canada where sunflower seeds, millet, hemp, and peanuts were offered simultaneously to see what birds actually prefer.

Across five trials, the results were striking: sunflower seeds dominated, millet and hemp landed in the middle, and peanuts came in dead last. The bar chart on page 6 (Figure 3) shows the pattern clearly - sunflower seeds were consistently eaten the most, regardless of species present. And although the study compared nutritional traits like protein, lipids, and carbohydrates...

Most people think they decide how, when, and why they feed birds.But what if it’s actually the animals, wanted and unwanted, making those decisions for us?

In this episode, we unpack a fascinating national-scale study from Finland that analyzed 15,088 detailed answers from 9,473 people about why they changed their bird-feeding habits. The patterns were striking:

* Rats were the #1 reason people stopped feeding (

* Wanted birds like waxwings, thrushes, and tits motivated people to feed more.

* Magpies, squirrels, deer, and neighborhood cats could trigger either more feeding or total shutdown, depending on th...

Do birds care about the color of your backyard feeder? And do city birds behave differently from their rural counterparts? In this episode, we dive into a controlled winter experiment conducted across 43 sites in east-central Poland, where researchers tested green vs. yellow bird feeders to understand how birds respond to novelty, especially in environments with different levels of urbanization.

On page 3, Figure 1 shows the experimental setup: two identical wooden feeders placed side-by-side, one painted green (a color birds usually favor) and the other yellow (a color often avoided)

Across towns and villages, cameras recorded every...

What happens inside a bird’s mind when it approaches a feeder in midwinter—especially when predators or bullies might be nearby? In this episode, we unpack a detailed experimental study that tracked 1,266 feeder visits across 13 species to uncover how songbirds make split-second decisions when choosing whether to feed or flee during the harshest months of the year.

Using a unique setup that introduced two types of risk, a predator photo (Long-eared Owl) and a large food competitor (stuffed Eurasian Collared Dove), researchers recorded how species adjusted their number of visits and foraging time. The visuals make clea...

What if the number of friends a bird has could predict how adventurous it is with food? In this episode, we dive into a fascinating iScience study that tracked wild great tits in Oxford’s Wytham Woods to understand how social behavior affects dietary choices in real ecosystems.

Using RFID-equipped feeders and detailed social-network mapping, researchers monitored 105 wild birds, capturing over 210,000 detections across baseline and experimental periods

The result: birds with more social connections, those positioned centrally in their social networks, were significantly more likely to eat novel foods, even after neophobia had passed.

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Feeding ducks or tossing bread to gulls might seem like a harmless weekend habit, but new research reveals that our decisions to feed (or not feed) waterbirds are shaped by powerful social forces we rarely notice. In this episode, we unpack a 2023 study examining bird-feeding behavior at an urban wetland in Melbourne, Australia, where researchers surveyed residents and visitors to understand the real motivations, beliefs and misconceptions driving this incredibly common human-wildlife interaction.

The findings are eye-opening: while feeders and non-feeders share similar demographics and connection to nature, they hold vastly different perceptions about what others think...

What if giving predators food could save endangered birds?In this episode, we break down an ambitious three-year experiment in Scotland that tested diversionary feeding, providing predators with alternative food during nesting season in feeders and a window bird feeder, to protect vulnerable ground-nesting birds.

Using camera traps across dozens of sites, researchers found that hens in fed areas were far more likely to have surviving chicks, even though brood size didn’t increase. The real win? More nests survived in the first place.

According to the study (page 5), diversionary feeding more than doubled productivity, sh...

What if the birds at your feeder are shaping your emotions and decisions more than you realize?In this episode, we explore a nationwide study of backyard bird-feeders that reveals how everyday moments - a hawk swooping in, a sick bird appearing, a sudden rush of new species - trigger powerful emotional responses in people. And those emotions don’t just stay feelings… they influence real actions, from cleaning feeders to protecting birds to changing how often people feed.

This episode uncovers the fascinating two-way relationship between people and the wildlife right outside their window - and why...

Episode S01E05 — Smart Feeders, Smarter Science: How AI Is Transforming the Study of Bird Behavior

What if studying wildlife didn’t require a field trip, binoculars, or even leaving your house? In this episode, we explore a breakthrough project from Arizona State University that uses AI-equipped bird feeders to turn everyday backyards into living research labs. With built-in cameras, sensors, and machine-learning tools, these smart feeders allow ASU Online students to collect real-time data on bird behavior from anywhere in the world.

This isn’t just about cool gadgets, it’s about expanding who gets to...

Bird feeders may seem like a simple way to enjoy wildlife or help birds through tough seasons, but new research reveals that feeding birds introduces powerful nutrient subsidies into the environment, with ripple effects far beyond what most people imagine.

In this episode, we explore a groundbreaking study published in People and Nature that investigates how the food we place in backyards moves through local ecosystems. The research shows that garden bird feeding doesn’t just influence bird behavior and populations -it alters phosphorus cycles, nutrient flows, and ecological dynamics in surprising and sometimes overlooked ways.

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For decades, millions of people have filled backyard feeders believing they were offering a simple act of kindness to local wildlife. But what if those small, everyday actions reshaped an entire nation’s bird communities? In this episode, we explore one of the most influential and eye-opening long-term studies ever conducted on bird feeding, research published in Nature Communications that examines 40 years of garden bird feeding across Great Britain.

This landmark study reveals how supplementary feeding didn’t just support birds through harsh winters, it fundamentally influenced which species thrived, which declined, and how entire ecological communities reor...

What if improving your mental health was as simple as stepping outside and watching the birds in your garden? In this episode, we uncover a compelling study published in Urban Ecosystems that explores how two simple activities, rating your joy while watching birds and counting the species that visit your garden, can meaningfully improve well-being, reduce anxiety and strengthen your connection with nature.

Researchers asked participants to engage with birds in small, everyday ways, and the results were striking. Both joy-rating and bird-counting led to measurable boosts in mood and mental well-being. Even more surprising: the benefits...

A backyard window bird feeder is usually seen as simple acts of care—tiny gestures meant to support wildlife through harsh seasons. But recent ecological research reveals a more complicated story: when we feed songbirds, we may also be feeding the food chain.

In this episode, we unpack a 2024 study published in Basic and Applied Ecology that examines how supplementary feeding can reshape predator–prey interactions in suburban landscapes. Researchers explored how bird feeders influence not only the birds that come to snack, but also the predators—especially raptors—that learn to use these feeders as reliable hunting...

In this premiere episode, we dive into one of the most surprisingly complex backyard activities: feeding wild birds. While millions of people scatter seed each winter out of curiosity, compassion, or habit, researchers have only recently begun to understand how these small acts influence the broader urban ecosystem.

Drawing from a 2024 PLOS One experimental study, we explore how winter bird feeding affects species abundance and community dynamics in a subtropical suburban environment. What types of food matter most to your window bird feeder? How does surrounding impervious surface—driveways, rooftops, roads—shape which birds show up? And why...