Season 2, Episode 5

Christmas Bird Count: Counting Birds for Conservation

In this episode of *Northern Wings*, Matt Anderson chats with Elaine Lockey and Liz Brauer, compilers of the Flagstaff / Mt. Elden Christmas Bird Count, about the history and scientific importance of one of the world's longest-running community science projects.

Discover how volunteer bird counts contribute to conservation research, what happens during a count, and how birders of all experience levels can get involved.

Northern Arizona Audubon Society (NAAS) supports four Christmas Bird Counts across Northern Arizona: Sedona, Flagstaff / Mt. Elden, Cottonwood / Jerome, and Camp Verde.

2026–2027 Christmas Bird Count Dates:

• Sedona: December 18 — richarmstrong47@gmail.com
• Flagstaff / Mt. Elden: December 19 — mteldencbc@gmail.com
• Cottonwood / Jerome: December 20 — robgibbs54@gmail.com
• Camp Verde: January 2 — kay@birdnaas.org

To participate, please email the local count coordinator directly for details.

Learn more:

NAAS Christmas Bird Counts: click here

National Audubon Christmas Bird Count: click here

Explore our Christmas Bird Count Podcast Companion Guide to discover how elevation and habitat influence the birds found across our four count circles, including common winter species and some surprising. Click here.

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Season 2, Episode 4

Exploring Kachina Wetlands Preserve | A NAAS Sanctuary Site

Just a few miles south of Flagstaff lies a special place for birds, wildlife, and the people who enjoy them — Kachina Wetlands Preserve. One of four sanctuaries supported by Northern Arizona Audubon Society, Kachina Wetlands provides important habitat for resident and migrating birds while offering our community a wonderful place to connect with nature.

In this episode, we sit down with Christina Votja, steward of Kachina Wetlands, to explore the preserve's history, biodiversity, natural beauty, and important role in bird migration. Discover what makes this wetland such a special place for both wildlife and the local community.

Special places like Kachina Wetlands don't care for themselves. Through the dedication of volunteers and the generosity of our members and donors, NAAS helps care for and protect important bird habitats across Northern Arizona. Every membership, donation, and volunteer hour helps make this work possible.

Learn more about Kachina Wetlands Preserve: click here

Explore upcoming NAAS bird walks and events: click here

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Season 2, Episode 3

Following the Flight: Two Students, Two Birds, and the Power of Motus

In this episode of Northern Wings, Matt Anderson chats with Abbie Brozich and Samantha (Sam) Grow, the first two recipients of the Northern Arizona Audubon Motus Student Grant Program, about their experiences using wildlife tracking technology to explore the journeys of birds and how the program is helping shape their future careers.

Through the Motus Wildlife Tracking System, Abbie and Sam followed the stories of two birds detected by Motus stations in Northern Arizona: an American White Pelican and a Flammulated Owl. They used tracking data and other resources to learn about their species’ movements, migration, and the conservation challenges these birds face.

We discuss what they discovered about their birds’ incredible journeys, how tracking technology can support conservation, and what these experiences have meant for Abbie and Sam as they prepare to graduate from Northern Arizona University and begin exciting new chapters in their lives.

Motus Wildlife Tracking System: motus.org

Northern Arizona Audubon Motus Program: https://www.northernarizonaaudubon.org/Motus-Wildlife-Tracking
Motus Student Grants: https://northernarizonaaudubon.org/motus-student-grants
Audubon Flight Plan: https://www.audubon.org/about/welcome-flight-plan

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Season 2, Episode 2

Birding, Science, and Community with Dr. Harry Jones

In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Harry Jones, an applied field ecologist and familiar face on Northern Arizona Audubon Society bird walks. Harry shares insights from his work at the intersection of community, landscape, and conservation biology, and reflects on what makes birding in northern Arizona so rewarding.

From practical tips on bird identification to thoughtful perspectives on conservation, this conversation offers something for birders of all levels. Harry also shares valuable advice for students considering graduate school or careers in ecology, drawing from his own path in the field.

We also touch on the power of participatory science and how everyday birders can contribute to meaningful research and conservation efforts. Be sure to check out the link below to learn more about Audubon’s Christmas Bird Count and how you can get involved.

motus.org

www.birdpop.org

www.nps.gov

merlin.allaboutbirds.org

www.audubon.org/community-science/christmas-bird-count

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Season 2, Episode 1

Brains, Beaks, and Brilliant Ravens: A Conversation with Dr. Emily Cory

Join Matt as he talks with Dr. Emily Cory, a northern Arizona native, animal behaviorist, and researcher with a Ph.D. in psychology and a minor in astrobiology. Dr. Cory has studied raven intelligence, traveled from Arizona to Rwanda observing mountain gorillas, and presented her work on corvid cognition at NAAS meetings—often alongside her African White-necked Raven, Shade. In this episode, she shares captivating stories from her research, insights into the remarkable intelligence of ravens and other corvids, and the experiences that shaped her journey in the study of animal behavior.

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Season 1, Episode 9

A Conversation with Nancy Steele, NAAS President

In this episode, NAAS member Matt Anderson interviews Nancy Steele, President of the Northern Arizona Audubon Society, regarding her love for birds, wildlife and nature, the path she’s taken to her current position, and the organization’s accomplishments, plans, and connections with birders and communities in northern Arizona.

This conversation was recorded in August 2025 and mentions a few activities that are now in the past. For current information on everything from bird walks to volunteer opportunities to Motus pings, explore our website.

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Season 1, Episode 8

Becky Hardy of BENA: Creating Butterfly Habitats

In this bonus episode of Northern Wings, we continue our conversation with Becky Hardy, this time, focusing on creating habitats for butterflies and hummingbirds. Becky is the president of the Butterfly Enthusiasts of Northern Arizona, a Yavapai County master gardener, birding guide, and the education chair for the Northern Arizona Audubon Society. We recorded this episode at Bubbling Ponds Preserve in the beautiful Anita MacFarlane Ramada following a wonderful butterfly walk Becky led at the preserve.

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Season 1, Episode 7

Becky Hardy and the Butterfly Enthusiasts of Northern Arizona

In this episode, Matt talks with Becky Hardy. Becky is a Yavapai County master gardener, bird guide, Northern Arizona Audubon Society's education chair and most recently co-founded Butterfly Enthusiasts of Northern Arizona (BENA). BENA is a wildlife conservation and education nonprofit with the mission to “create a world where butterflies thrive, for the benefit of nature and people.” In this podcast we discuss a wide range of butterfly related topics, including how BENA benefits our small wildlife, BENA volunteer opportunities, the butterfly species likely to be seen in Northern Arizona, their migrations and how we can create gardens to support butterflies and birds. Also discussed is how BENA partners with the Northern Arizona Audubon Society.

Thanks to Andrew Spencer and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s Macaulay Library for the use of the bird song clip.

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Season 1, Episode 6

Doctoral Student Matt Jenkins Talks About His Bluebird Research in Northern Arizona

In this episode, you get two Matts for the price of one.  Matt Anderson interviews Matt Jenkins, a third-year doctoral student at the University of Arizona, about the fascinating research he’s conducting regarding bluebirds (both Western and Mountain) using data he’s collecting in Northern Arizona and elsewhere.  We talk about Matt’s fascinating journey, from his boyhood interest in birds to his scientific research exploring the evolution of behaviors over time and how they influence birds’ dispersal, range expansion, and developmental environments.  We also discuss the goals of Matt’s research, his data-collection practices, and more. Learn more about Matt Jenkins's research on the University of Arizona’s website: Matthew Jenkins research

Thanks to Jay McGowan and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s Macaulay Library for the use of the bird song clip and to Christina Vojta, NAAS steward for Kachina Wetlands, for her assistance with the bird song segment.  

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Season 1, Episode 5

Alice Madar on Hummingbirds

As the Sedona International Hummingbird Festival approaches, Matt Anderson chats with Alice Madar, who serves as both the executive director of the International Hummingbird Society and vice president of the Northern Arizona Audubon Society.  They discuss the beauty of hummingbirds and the challenges they face, the upcoming Sedona Hummingbird Festival, her deep commitment to conservation, and her extraordinary photographic adventures.

We are grateful to the Macaulay Library, part of Cornell Lab of Ornithology at Cornell University, for the use of an audio clip of birdsong in this episode.

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Season 1, Episode 4

Paul Dougherty Lazuli Bunting research

In this episode, Matt Anderson chats with Paul Dougherty, Ph.D., about the research he is conducting that brought him to northern Arizona to collect data.   Dr. Dougherty is a National Science Foundation Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.  One of his primary interests is molting behavior, a chronically understudied aspect of avian biology that can render bird populations vulnerable to climate change.  Listen to this episode to learn more about his interesting research and academic journey.  

This episode includes a new Name That Song segment (birdsong, that is).  We are grateful to Rich Hoyer and the Macaulay Library, part of Cornell Lab of Ornithology at Cornell University, for the use of the audio clip.  

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Season 1, Episode 3

Motus update

In our episode on the Motus Wildlife Tracking System, we looked forward to receiving the first “pings,” or detections of tagged birds.  That future has become real.  This update provides information on three recent detections.   

Visit the Motus site www.motus.org to see the most recent data from the two stations in Northern Arizona. 

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Season 1, Episode 2

Our Motus Wildlife Tracking System

In this episode, NAAS member Matt Anderson interviews immediate past president, Kay Hawklee, and board member, Rick Moore, on the efforts that led to the installation of two Motus wildlife tracking stations in Northern Arizona.  Motus is an international research community working together to study the movement and behavior of birds, bats, and insects ( Motus.org).  The two new stations are designed to capture radio signals from tagged animals and to contribute these data to the motus system to help advance research, education, and conservation.  

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Season 1, Episode 1

Introduction to Northern Wings

The Northern Arizona Audubon Society is launching a podcast focused on appreciating and protecting birds and the places they need in this beautiful part of the Southwest. Listen to this trailer for more information and subscribe now so you don’t miss an episode! 

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