Episode 62: Bird diplomacy with Ambassador Jacques Pitteloud

Bird Podcast with Shoba Narayan

Photographing birds across continents. In this episode, we interview His Excellency Jacques Pitteloud who happens to be the Swiss Ambassador to the United States. Based in Washington, Ambassador Pitteloud is also a birdwatcher and bird photographer. In 2021, Ambassador Pitteloud’s photograph of a rare painted bunting that appeared in Maryland landed in the Washington Post prompting lots of excitement in the birding world. Later, the Washingtonian ran an article about him, titled, “The Guy Who Got That Photo of a Rare Painted Bunting? He’s the Swiss Ambassador!” He posts his birding photos on his Facebook page. On that page, he posts nothing personal or political. Here he talks about how he developed this passion for birds and some of his favourite regions and birds.

Episode highlights

12:45: his views on the “big year of birding.”

13:45: his view on the different species of bird watchers.

15:00: he talks about two anecdotes in Africa– Kenya. About finding the blue-headed beeeater and the Mackinder’s Eagle Owl.

18:00 mountain passes where you can see raptor migrations. He talks about Chicago’s Magic Hedge in the middle of the city where migratory birds especially warblers (thousands of them) congregate in early May before crossing the Great Lakes.

19:30 about the Connecticut warbler and warbler identification.

21:15 the apps that he uses to identify birds.

22:00 Is there a link between birding and diplomacy? “Birding is the new golfing.”

24:15: what photographic equipment does he use. He uses Canon. 600mm F4 lens. Camera is D90. With 500mm lenses he shoots handheld. With the 600mm he uses a tripod.

26:00 his favourite birds. Raptors. How they move differently.

27:15 about his Indian Facebook friends.