Hey there, friends, and welcome to episode 303 of Just the Zoo of Us. This week, I am joined by

a birder and science communicator for a review of a little bird full of big surprises. We discuss

birding pre-smartphone, Philadelphia's role in ornithological history, the truly wild

physiological adaptations that let this tiny songbird, brave

even mountain rapids, their smooth dance moves, aura farming, and so much more. Just the Zoo of Us

presents the American Dipper with Jason Hall. Hi there, everybody. This is Ellen Weatherford with Just the Zoo of Us, your favorite animal review podcast. I'm so excited this week to have a brand new friend to introduce to y'all.

If you listen to a lot of other animal and birding related podcasts,

maybe not a brand new voice to you today.

This week we have Jason Hall. Say hi Jason.

Hey, everybody.

Jason, what are your pronouns? My pronouns are he and him. Thank you so much. I'm so

excited to talk to you because you have been working on a very, very cool burning podcast that keeps

like popping up on my Instagram, like newsfeed, and your clips are always really, really great and really insightful.

So, Jason, for people who are unfamiliar, maybe are getting to know you for the first time,

how did you get into birding? What brought you to birds?

Well, like many people, I have to give credit to a teacher I had in high school,

Mr. DeSina at Upper Darby High School in Delaware County, Pennsylvania.

And I am a very, very proud nerd.

Like, I love all things science in high school.

I just ate up as many science courses as I could.

I couldn't possibly imagine what that would be like.

No, no, not at all.

...