In today’s episode of Backpacker Radio, presented by The Trek, we’re joined by Alison Kondler, an Audubon Master Birder—or as we like to call it, a certified bird guru. Alison wows us with her eerily accurate bird calls and shares her immense birding knowledge. We chat about the rarest birds you can spot in Colorado, the best apps for bird identification, why the American Ornithological Society (AOS) is renaming North American birds that are named after people, how to squirrel-proof your bird feeder, tips for turning your yard into a borderline bird sanctuary, and she finally settles the debate on whether birds are in fact government drones. If you’re a bird lover—or even bird curious—this episode is for you.

We wrap the show with a lively debate about whether thru-hiking belongs in the Olympics, the triple crown of underrated wildlife, a former guest obliterating the Arizona Trail FKT, and a generous dose of shameless self-promotion.

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Interview with Alison Kondler

Time stamps & Questions

00:03:30 - Reminders: Support us on Patreon for exclusive bonus content and apply to be a 2025 blogger OR vlogger!

00:11:14 - Introducing Alison

00:11:50 - What is an Audubon Master Birder?

00:13:45 - What does someone do with this certification?

00:15:10 - Was your family very into birds?

00:16:07 - When did you first interact with birds?

00:17:10 - What’s the outcome of interacting with birds?

00:20:30 - How long did it take you for your calls to be indistinguishable from birds?

00:22:20 - Can you make other animal sounds?

00:25:19 - What are the most common birds you’ll hear in Colorado?

00:27:45 - What are the rarest birds you’ll hear in Colorado?

00:29:40 - Discussion about the common ages of birders

00:30:37 - What’s your take on the movie The Big Ear?

00:31:50 - How do you prove that you’ve seen all the birds you claim?

00:32:57 - What Colorado birds would people travel from out of state to see?

00:33:50 - What’s your take on pet birds?

00:34:17 - Which birds are the asshole birds?

00:35:44 - What’s the easiest bird call to teach to others?

00:37:40 - How do you pick the right bird feeder for your yard?

00:39:35 - On a scale of 1 to 10, where do you stand on squirrels?

00:41:45 - What is the prettiest bird call?

00:43:20 - Bird call trivia

00:45:35 - How do you get rid of woodpeckers on your house?

00:47:40 - What’s your view on crows?

00:49:30 - Are you familiar with bird folklore?

00:51:05 - Bird call trivia round 2

00:53:05 - Why is the American Ornithological Society changing the names of many birds?

00:57:55 - What’s some hot gossip in the bird world?

00:59:20 - What makes a good area to go birding?

01:00:45 - What are some fun facts about ducks?

01:02:10 - Fuck Marry Kill: Ducks, geese, swans

01:03:50 - Aside from Colorado, where else do you love to watch birds?

01:05:00 - What’s your best bird story?

01:07:00 - Discussion about rescuing birds

01:08:55 - What’s the best birding app?

01:10:30 - Are there any endangered birds in Colorado?

01:11:50 - Are there any organizations dedicated to preserving birds?

01:12:48 - Do you think there’s more to owls than meets the eye?

01:13:40 - Do you think birds might be drones?

01:15:10 - What makes the best bird ecosystem in your backyard?

01:16:47 - Discussion about European starlings

01:19:16 - What bird product is a total scam?

01:21:45 - Any good tips for hummingbird feeders?

01:23:58 - If you could pick one bird to fill the world with, which one would you pick?

01:24:20 - Do you have a strong stance on wind turbines?

01:25:30 - How can people minimize harm to birds in their yard?

01:26:30 - Tell us about your social media following

01:27:53 - What are the best flowers for hummingbirds?

01:29:20 - What are the most common questions you get on social media?

01:31:01 - Kumo Question: What is the strangest dream you’ve ever had?

01:32:32 - What upcoming events are you hosting?

Segments

Trek Propaganda

Nick Fowler Decimates Fastest Known Time on the Arizona Trail by Katie Jackson
The Backpacker and Hiker Gift Guide: Under $50 by the Editors

QOTD: Should thru-hiking be an Olympic sport?

Triple Crown of underrated wildlife

Mail Bag (Wade’s Adventures)

5 Star Review

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Birds 101 with Alison Kondler: Bird Calls, Birding Tips, Bird Feeders, Myths, and More

Backpacker Radio