Coastal Conversations Radio Program: Bird Songs, Part One

A figure standing in a field of vegetation with a round listening device looking into the blue fog — Laura Sebastianelli in the field.Photo: Catherine Schmitt

May 19, 2025 Coastal Conversations

Coastal Conversations Show: 23 May 2025

Hosts: Catherine Devine, ‘23 Cathy and Jim Gero Acadia Early Career Fellow in Science Communication, Schoodic Institute

This Episode

In this episode of Coastal Conversations, we feature a Schoodic Institute Sea to Trees podcast about the birds in Acadia, their songs, and what we can do to keep them around. We begins with naturalist Laura Sebastianelli, who has dedicated her summers to recording all the bird songs in Acadia National Park. We join Laura out in the field and discover how her work extends far beyond the recordings themselves. We meet the self-proclaimed “bird diva” Bridget Butler who teaches us the critical importance of attention in conservation. And, naturally, no birding episode about the Schoodic region is complete without Seth Benz, Bird Ecology Director at Schoodic Institute, who provides insights into the challenges that birds confront due to climate change and shifting habitats. Catherine Schmitt provides a post-script commentary.

Coastal Conversations is supported by Maine Sea Grant in partnership with Schoodic Institute and The First Coast.

Guests

Seth Benz, Bird Ecology Director at Schoodic Institute

Bridget Butler, Slow Birder

Laura Sebastianelli, Naturalist

Catherine Schmitt, Science Communications Specialist at Schoodic Institute

For more information

Schoodic Notes