In this episode of the Spark Bird Podcast, hosts Jenn Lodi-Smith and Janet McNally welcome musician Nandi Rose of Half Waif. Nandi shares her Spark Bird story, recounting how a flash of color spotted in Costa Rica opened the door to a quieter, deeper noticing back home in the Upper Hudson Valley. For Nandi, it’s less about sight and more about sound, and bird song has become her guide. Even without binoculars, there’s a sense of recognition in the songs. A feeling of being spoken to, of returning to something familiar and sacred. Her music, like her birding, is shaped by this listening, drawing inspiration from moments of hearing the flute of a Wood Thrush or catching a glimpse of an Indigo Bunting in flight.

(Photo by: Logan White)

✨ Explore more from Nandi Rose:

🌐 Visit halfwaif.com to dive into her music, visuals, and creative world.

📝 Read her Substack, Ordinary Talk, where she writes beautifully about creativity, nature, and the quiet moments in between.

🎧 Listen to Half Waif on Spotify and wherever you stream music. Her songs echo the landscape she so often birds in. To listen in, start here.

Show Notes by Kayla Gajewski

In this special crossover episode, The Spark Bird Podcast's Jenn Lodi-Smith teams up with Bill Michalek of The Field Guides Podcast for a walk through Buffalo’s historic Forest Lawn Cemetery. As they explore the grounds, Jenn and Bill reflect on their spark birds, discuss bird migration and conservation. The episode also features Spark Bird stories from a variety of voices from the Feminist Bird Club of Buffalo in Forest Lawn Cemetery, showcasing the power of community in birding.

Resources & Links from This Episode

🔗 Listen to more nature adventures with Bill and Steve on The Field Guides Podcast YouTube channel.

🌼 Plan your next birding experience at the Allegany Nature Pilgrimage.

🌳 Learn more about Buffalo’s historic parks and Forest Lawn with the Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy.

🚫🐱 Lights Out! Cats In! is a campaign focused on bird-safe practices like keeping cats indoors and turning off lights at night during migration. Check it out here.

📖 Want a deeper dive into bird-safe, compassionate cat management strategies? Read this piece in Conservation Biology here.

🦜 Meet the Western New York Young Birder Club, uplifting the voices and skills of young birders across the region.

📍 Seen a bird strike a window? Report it on dBird to help researchers make cities safer for birds.

🌍 Visualize global data on bird-window collisions with the Global Bird Collision Mapper.

🧭 Explore how the birding community is becoming more inclusive and accessible at Birdability

Show notes by Kayla Gajewski

In this episode of the Spark Bird Podcast, hosts Jenn Lodi-Smith and Janet McNally talk with Lyanda Lynn Haupt, a writer known for exploring the connections between people and the natural world. The conversation follows Haupt’s path into bird watching, beginning in her childhood in the Pacific Northwest and shaped by her parents’ casual interest in birds. She recalls memorable encounters with species like the Northern Spotted Owl and how those moments influenced her work. Lyanda Lynn Haupt also talks about her experience living with a Starling, named Carmen, which inspired her book Mozart’s Starling.

(Photo credit: Tom Furtwangler)

🗓️ Join Lyanda Lynn Haupt for a special talk hosted by the Western New York Land Conservancy on June 4 more info & RSVP here

🌐 Learn more about Lyanda Lynn Haupt and her work at her website: lyandalynnhaupt.com

📸 Follow her on Instagram for nature moments, bird musings, and writing life: @lyandahaupt

📚 Explore all of her books in one place: Books

Lyanda Lynn Haupt's books mentioned in this episode, in order of appearance:

🐦 Crow Planet: Essential Wisdom from the Urban Wilderness 📖 Find it on Amazon

🎼 Mozart’s Starling- Inspired by her time living with a starling 🐤 Find it on Amazon

🌱 Rooted: Life at the Crossroads of Science, Nature, and Spirit. A beautiful reflection on how nature, science, and spirit connect in our everyday lives. 🛒 Order or learn more on her home page here.

Show Notes by Kayla Gajewski