Biophilic Cities

In this episode of the Bird Nerd Book Club, Hannah chats with Tim Beatley, a longtime advocate for intertwining the built and natural environments, about his 2020 book, The Bird-Friendly City, which takes readers on a global tour of cities that are reinventing the status quo with birds in mind. Efforts span a fascinating breadth of approaches: public education, urban planning and design, habitat restoration, architecture, art, civil disobedience, and more. Beatley shares empowering examples, including: advocates for “catios,” enclosed outdoor spaces that allow cats to enjoy backyards without being able to catch birds; a public relations campaign for vultures; and innovations in building design that balance aesthetics with preventing bird strikes. Through these changes and the others Beatley describes, it is possible to make our urban environments more welcoming to many bird species.

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Many birders line their shelves with field guides from across the world, travel tales from explorers, and scientific studies both recent and historical. The Bird Nerd Book Club takes a look at all genres of books from romantic fiction to biographies and memoirs to species guides. Join Hannah as she talks with authors about their beloved and new books all related to birds.

*Featured Image from Biophilic Cities

Written by Hannah Buschert
Hannah Buschert started birding in college thanks to a required Biology of Birds course and a professor who included Sir David Attenborough’s Life of Birds to punctuate lessons. Almost as if by accident, Hannah landed the dream job of Park Ranger in the Rio Grande Valley at Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park where she guided many birders who filled her head with far-off destinations and incredible birds. Consequently, her beat is Adventures in Birding Here and There. Called home to the Oregon Coast to operate the family motel, in her free time Hannah leads Tufted Puffin walks and escapes to guide at birding festivals and explore the world as often as possible. Hannah is passionate about travel, tourism, and birding and hopes to inspire others through her podcasts: Hannah and Erik Go Birding, Women Birders (Happy Hour), and Bird Nerd Book Club.