Selected by Michael from Rorqual Studio
For this first series of sound sharing, I chose a theme that’s particularly close to our hearts at the studio: birds.
Fascinating to observe, they’re just as captivating to listen to. In fact, scientific studies show that simply listening to birdsongs can help reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression. Pretty cool, right?
So here are three podcasts that, I hope, will give you wings.
1 – The dream life of birds – LSD
LSD stands for La Série Documentaire (The Documentary Series), a France Culture podcast with thousands of episodes. In December 2023, they released a four-part series dedicated to birds. Each episode explores a specific theme: Flying, Singing, Inspiring and Protecting.
Through interviews with ornithologists, activists, researchers, and even bird singers, Elise Gruau explores the fascination birds hold for humans while highlighting initiatives by organizations like the LPO (Ligue pour la Protection des Oiseaux) that aim to better understand birds in order to protect them.
Listening to this podcast series, I was swept away by the birdsong recorded on the island of Groix in Morbihan, as much as by the carefully selected music — including the beautiful track “Oiseau” by Bertrand Belin.
To listen to this podcast
Visit France Culture’s website or click the image above.
2 – Crossing the wind – RFI
More than just a podcast, this is a true sound documentary by Thibaut Quinchon, an audio-naturalist whose work I first discovered in Quebec.
For nearly an hour, he immerses you in the natural landscapes of Quebec’s North Shore, where he meets passionate ornithologists who observe millions of migratory birds each year along the Saint Lawrence River.
This sound documentary holds a special meaning for me, as it features members of the Tadoussac Bird Observatory — with whom I was lucky enough to produce a video series in 2024 about their vital work during an exceptional reverse migration event (one episode is shown below; the rest can be found on YouTube).
This original RFI podcast, produced in 3D sound by RFI Labo, is best experienced with headphones for full sonic immersion.
To listen to this podcast
Visit RFI’s website or click the image above.
3 – Threat to the Albatrosses of Amsterdam Island – Les Baladeurs
In my opinion, Les Baladeurs is the G.O.A.T* of podcasts, across all categories. From the very first listen, you’re swept away by its legendary intro: “Adventures and misadventures in the wild”. Narration, voice-over, music, topic selection, and guest choices — it’s a masterclass.
A few years ago, I even had the chance to attend the launch of a new season of Les Baladeurs, featuring a live stage performance of one episode — a fantastic experience blending staging, oratory talent, and music.
With nearly a hundred episodes available to date, few focus specifically on birds. But the one dedicated to ecologist Corisande Abiven and her work on Amsterdam Island — studying a disease affecting yellow-nosed albatrosses — is utterly fascinating.
To listen to this podcast
Visit Les Baladeurs’ website or click the image above.
*Greatest Of All Time, an anglicism used to describe Michael Jordan or the best ever in a given field.
Bonus reading – A nightingale in the city
To complement your listening, the book "A nightingale in the city – in search of the perfect sound" (published by Actes Sud in their excellent Mondes sauvages collection) is a wonderful read for bird lovers and enthusiasts of soundscape ecology.
Written in first person by David Rothenberg — a pioneer of interspecies music and a leading figure in New York’s experimental music scene — it explores his quest for the “perfect sound” and the concept of Sharawadji: the beauty found in sought-after irregularity. A book straddling science and poetry.
To get this book
Visit an independent bookstore or click the image above.
