BirdNote
Collection Summary
The BirdNote Collection contains audio files and transcripts from BirdNote, a daily public media program that brings joy, inspiration, and hope to people who value birds and the environment. Each episode is approximately two minutes long, immersing listeners in the amazing lives and sounds of birds. Blending art, science, nature, and messages of conservation successes, BirdNote has covered hundreds of species of birds. The program reaches millions of listeners around the world through digital distribution and radio broadcasts. BirdNote’s talented writers have created more than 1,500 stories, rigorously reviewed by a team of science advisors. The stories come alive through the sounds of nature from the Macaulay Library at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Each episode is complemented by photographs on the BirdNote website, all contributed by nature photographers. Most stories feature the natural history of birds, often framed by music, poetry, literature, history, culture, or humor. Other stories touch on environmental issues such as habitat loss and climate change, as they relate to birds. All incorporate appropriate bird songs and calls.
Collection Background
BirdNote began in 2004 under the auspices of Seattle Audubon. In February 2005, the first show was broadcast by KPLU 88.5FM (now KNKX 88.5FM), an NPR member station in Seattle/Tacoma. BirdNote quickly achieved success as an independent media producer and distributor, expanding public radio carriage across the U.S. In 2006, BirdNote became a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. BirdNote began submitting episodes to the American Archive of Public Broadcasting in 2019, and materials continue to be added to this collection.
