Think of a podcast as an online radio show. Each show consists of individual episodes that you can listen to in several ways - on your PC, using your MP3 player, or with a web browser. Learn more >>
We offer two formats for our podcast: one in mp3 format, which is audio only, and one in m4a format, which includes audio plus images. Learn more >>
Not at all. Our podcasts are produced as mp3 files, the most universal format for listening on various devices. You can download individual podcasts and listen to them using almost any application. Learn more >>
Getting Started: Step-by-Step Instructions
For those new to podcasting, we've provided the following detailed instructions with accompanying screenshots to help you along the way. Three things are required in order to subscribe to This Birding Life: a computer, podcasting software (we recommend iTunes), and an Internet connection (a faster connection means a faster download). Complete the following steps to subscribe to the TBL podcast:
STEP 1: Download iTunes to your computer (PC or Mac).
STEP 2: Install iTunes on your computer.
STEP 3: Open the iTunes application.
STEP 4: In the horizontal menu appearing at the top, click "Advanced."
STEP 5: After the drop-down menu displays, click the third line item, "Subscribe to Podcast..."
STEP 6: After a dialogue box pops up, enter the following URL into the text box:
http://www.birdwatchersdigest.com/podcasts/thisbirdinglife/stream.xml
Click on 'OK'. Congratulations! You have now successfully subscribed to This Birding Life.
STEP 7: In the podcast directory on the right-hand side, find the title of the podcast, This Birding Life/Bird Watcher's Digest. By default, the latest program should download to your computer. At the far left of the podcast title, an orange circle with a rotating arrow should display. This means a program is in the process of being downloaded.
STEP 8: Preceding the podcast title, click the filled-in triangle. This will display the files we've made available for download (typically the last five to ten shows we've produced). The program being downloaded will have an orange circle with a rotating arrow too. Any other programs not downloaded will have a oval button labeled "GET" next to it.
STEP 9: If you want to download another episode of This Birding Life, click on the "GET" button corresponding with that episode.
Once the file is finished downloading, click to highlight the program name that interests you. Then, click the play button at the top of the application window.
The next time you open iTunes, the application will automatically check to see if the latest episode of This Birding Life is available for download. Check your podcast directory at that time for the latest update.