E5: Look, Listen & Learn | Jim Gant

Summary

In this episode, we hear from the president of the Piedmont Bird Club, Jim Gant. I wanted to learn more about the club and hear his experience and advice about birding. The club formed in Greensboro, NC in 1938, and includes members representing a wide range of experience, who all share an enthusiasm for birding and nature, and who are committed to conservation throughout the Piedmont region and beyond.

Full Bio

This episode of the Roving Nature Podcast has really gone to the birds! I had a chance to catch up with Piedmont Bird Club president Jim Gant, as I wanted to learn more about the club and hear his experience and advice about birding. The club formed in Greensboro, NC in 1938, and includes members representing a wide range of experience, from renowned ornithologists to casual backyard or beginning birders, who all share an enthusiasm for birding and nature, and who are committed to conservation throughout the Piedmont region and beyond.

Members of the club meet up for local, regional, and international field trips; attend monthly meetings to learn about various topics related to birds, nature, and conservation; share knowledge with each other and those in the community who want to learn about birds and birding; and participate in conservation and citizen science activities.

I met with Jim on a lovely somewhat rainy morning at the Haw River State Park just north of Greensboro.

Related Links

Piedmont Bird Club

T. Gilbert Pearson Audubon Society

Cornell Lab of Ornithology

Merlin Bird ID phone app

E-Bird citizen science app

Credits

Many thanks to singer-songwriter Abigail Dowd for permission to use her song, Beautiful Day, as theme music for this episode. You can find Abigail and her music at:

Abigail Dowd’s website

Beautiful Day album link

Abigail Dowd’s Instagram

Through the Dust and Pines and Don’t Keep Me Waiting by Alsever Lake and New Traditions by Andy Ellison used by permission via Soundstripe.

A man looking through a camera with a large lens in a wooded area

A birder has been spotted in his element! Jim Gant in action capturing photos of the birds we saw on our walk in Haw River State Park.

A Great Crested Flycatcher (Myiarchus crinitus), who looked to eating lichen or bugs on this oak tree. Photo by Jim Gant

A bird on a limb with pine cones

A Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus) spotted (and heard!) on our walk around Haw River State Park.

A bird in a tree

A yellow-billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus americanus) spotted on our walk in Haw River State Park. Photo by Jim Gant

A bird on a limb

Sometimes the birds are curious about us too! An Eastern Wood-Pewee (Contopus virens) spotted high on a dead branch. Photo by Jim Gant

A man stands in a wooded area holding a camera with a large lens and has binoculars hanging around his neck

The man and his gear. Jim Gant at Haw River State Park