We're going to take a little break this summer and we plan to resume episodes in September. We've got exciting stuff planned and we look forward to coming back and sharing all kinds of new ideas with you in the fall.

In the meantime, if you can't get enough Tracking Connections, we definitely recommend you go back and listen to some of our older episodes because every episode is timeless, and maybe you'll hear something that you didn't hear last time.

If you're interested in checking out what else we've got going on, you can always visit us at Living Connection 1st. We've got some really cool free stuff as well as courses, videos, books, and audio products.

Thanks a lot for listening!

Visit the Tracking Connections Podcast Page to join our mailing list and see browse our episodes.

What if the birds outside your window were telling a story—and you could understand it?

In this rich and deeply practical episode, we explore the timeless practice of bird language: an ancient skill of awareness, empathy, and interspecies communication. We share stories from sit spots, backyards, and wild landscapes where birds, bobcats, and even our dogs, help shape our understanding of what's happening in the natural world around us.

Jon shares insights from decades of study and teaching, including lessons from his book What the Robin Knows, and describes how tuning in to the “Five Voices” of the birds can open a deeper relationship with the world. Sarah and Aidan add stories of personal encounters—from backyard alarms to bobcat tracking—that show how learning bird language can help us see more of our wild neighbors, enrich daily life, and even change how we move through social spaces.

Whether you’re a seasoned tracker or just stepping outside with a cup of tea, this episode invites you to slow down, listen closely, and find magic in the everyday movement waiting just outside your door.

"Birds talk to each other, we can learn to understand it, and it's fun."

Backyard Bird Language Course

Coming soon - learn bird language at your pace, right in your backyard. Visit the episode page to learn more, and join our mailing list so you hear about it as soon as it's available.

Show Notes and transcription for this episode are available here

Learn more about our work at https://www.livingconnection1st.net/

"Nature doesn’t judge. It just invites you to show up and be yourself."

In this wide-ranging conversation, we’re joined by Alexis Burnett—naturalist, tracker, herbalist, and founder of Earth Tracks in Ontario, Canada. Alexis takes us on a journey through three decades of nature connection, beginning with a longing for deeper meaning after high school and leading to a life of wilderness mentoring, community building, and raising a family rooted in the rhythms of the land.

We explore Alexis’s learning journey, early influences from indigenous elders and mentors, and the humble beginnings of Earth Tracks, born out of curiosity, commitment, and a deep love for the land. Along the way, Alexis shares the transformative power of long-term mentoring, the quiet magic of gratitude circles, and the importance of routines like sit spot, tracking, and plant observation—simple practices that create space for awe, healing, and purpose.

Whether you’re new to nature connection or decades into the journey, this episode is a rich reflection on what it means to walk a path that’s guided not by goals, but by listening, presence, and the willingness to follow what calls.

Connect with Alexis

Visit Earth Tracks to learn more about Alexis' programs and join his newsletter. Alexis also has a great blog on his website.

Follow Earth Tracks on Facebook or Instagram

About Alexis Burnett

Alexis Burnett is a Naturalist, Tracker, Herbalist, Wilderness Skills Practitioner and Canoe Guide from Orangeville, Ontario. He currently resides in the Owen Sound area with his two children, spending his days tracking, wild-crafting and running his Outdoor School and Wilderness Canoe Tripping company, Earth Tracks. Alexis is lead guide for the wilderness canoe trips and head instructor for all the programs and classes. He is committed to mentoring and teaching others the skills that help us to re-connect with the natural world in an ancient and powerful way. By learning from nature through immersion and direct experience we begin to see and more importantly ‘feel’ the inter-relation of all things in the natural world. And from here we can begin to understand the important role that we all can play in protecting and preserving the Earth for future generations. View Alexis' full bio on his website.

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Tracking Connections Podcast is a production of Connection 1st, an organization that helps you deepen your connection with nature, other people and yourself. Learn more

The transcript for this episode is available here.