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 >>
How do I subscribe to the MP3 podcast?
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: Visit Podcast Central at Bird Watcher's Digest.com and choose the podcast version that interests you (MP3 or M4A). Click on the subscription link for that podcast type. For the purposes of this example, we will demonstrate how to subscribe to the MP3 version. What is the difference between MP3 and M4A?
STEP 4: After you click on the link above, your iTunes application will automatically launch and open the iTunes store. The profile for This Birding Life will appear on your screen. Click on the gray 'Subscribe' button in iTunes.
STEP 5: Next, iTunes will verify that you want to subscribe to This Birding Life. Click on the 'Subscribe' button in the iTunes popup window.
STEP 6: iTunes will complete the subscription process and will automatically begin downloading the most recent episode of This Birding Life. At the left of the podcast title, an orange circle with a rotating arrow should display. This means an episode is in the process of being downloaded.
STEP 7: Beside the podcast title This Birding Life/Bird Watcher's Digest you will see a gray triangle. Click the triangle until it points downward. This will display the episodes available for download (typically the last five to ten shows we've produced). Any episodes not downloaded will be grayed out, and will have a gray 'GET' button next to them.
STEP 8: When the episode is finished downloading, the rotating orange arrow will turn into a checkmarked box, meaning that you may now play the episode file. Highlight the episode name and click on the 'Play' control near the top of your screen.
STEP 9: If you want to download another episode of This Birding Life, click on the "GET" button corresponding with that episode.
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.