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Summer brings with it butterflies, lightning bugs, caterpillars, hummingbirds, fawns, baby birds, and so much more. It can be a really fun time to just get outside and observe all of the fascinating plants and animals around us. There are also plenty of things that we can be doing at this time of year to help make our yards more attractive to pollinators and wildlife. My husband, Anthony Trimboli, joins us again for this episode of the Backyard Ecology podcast. Anthony has been on the podcast a few times, so you may remember that, like me, he is a wildlife biologist and educator. He also frequently helps me with my nursery and habitat consulting. This is an episode that I have really been looking forward to sharing with you because we have an exciting announcement to share. We now have a Backyard Ecology YouTube channel! Anthony is taking the lead on it and in this podcast episode, we share some of our plans for the new YouTube channel. In addition to talking about the new YouTube channel, we share some of the many things that you can be doing or observing in your yards at this time of year. Links YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRQSzkcCJzYK6cBVm66drQA Spring Hole Trail Cam - 18 Species Critter Parade: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JAvdIlynBFU Other Backyard Ecology Resources Attracting Ruby-Throated Hummingbirds to Your Yard: https://www.backyardecology.net/attracting-ruby-throated-hummingbirds-to-your-yard/ Trail cameras: A fun way to watch wildlife in your yard: https://www.backyardecology.net/trail-cameras-a-fun-way-to-watch-wildlife-in-your-yard/ Attract Butterflies with Overripe Fruit and Melon Rinds: https://www.backyardecology.net/attract-butterflies-with-overripe-fruit-and-melon-rinds/ Lightning bugs and Fireflies: A conversation with Lynn Faust, Part 1: https://www.backyardecology.net/lightning-bugs-and-fireflies-a-conversation-with-lynn-faust-part-1/ Lightning bugs and Fireflies – A conversation with Lynn Faust, Part 2: https://www.backyardecology.net/lightning-bugs-and-fireflies-a-conversation-with-lynn-faust-part-2/ Make a Bee Waterer: https://www.backyardecology.net/make-a-bee-waterer/ Create Mudding Spots for Butterflies: https://www.backyardecology.net/create-mudding-spots-for-butterflies/ Other Resources: Fireflies, Glow-worms, and Lightning Bugs: Identification and Natural History of the Fireflies of the Eastern and Central United States and Canada by Lynn Faust *: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0820348724/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0820348724&linkCode=as2&tag=backyardecolo-20&linkId=67cfaa76687d86421a5e0ca6d4c54ad8 Website: https://backyardecology.net Blog: https://www.backyardecology.net/blog/ Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/backyardecology Subscribe to Backyard Ecology emails: https://www.backyardecology.net/subscribe/ My email: shannon@backyardecology.net Episode image: White-tail deer and her fawn Photo credit: USFWS, Midwest Region, public domain

I often get asked what people can plant for bees. I can give good general answers to those questions, because we have a good idea of what types of flowers tend to be attractive to bees in general. We can then use that information along with personal observations made by ourselves and others to fairly easy determine what we can plant in a given area for bees in general. However, we still have a lot to learn when it comes to knowing what types of flowers certain types of bees prefer or what we can plant for specific types of bees. This is especially true when it comes to our native bees. Ask a Bumble Bee, is a new community science, or citizen science, project that is striving to answer some of those questions specifically for bumble bees. Finding out what types of flowers bumble bees prefer and what we can plant for them is especially important, because many species of bumble bees appear to be declining in number. In this episode of the Backyard Ecology podcast, we talk with Jenan El-Hifnawi. Jenan is the Project Coordinator for Ask a Bumble Bee. Jenan joins us to talk about the project, the types of questions it hopes to answer, and how anyone who is interested can help out by observing bumble bees on flowers. Along the way we also share some of our own stories and experiences. Links Ask a Bumble Bee website: https://u.osu.edu/askabumble/ Jenan’s email: bumblebeecount@gmail.com Related Backyard Ecology episodes: Are Larger Patch Sizes Better When Planting for Pollinators?: https://www.backyardecology.net/are-larger-patch-sizes-better-when-planting-for-pollinators/ Factors that Make Pollinator Gardens More Attractive to Pollinators: https://www.backyardecology.net/factors-that-make-pollinator-gardens-more-attractive-to-pollinators/ Wasps: Victims of an Often Undeserved Reputation: https://www.backyardecology.net/wasps-victims-of-an-often-undeserved-reputation/ Checking In After 50 Episodes of the Backyard Ecology Podcast: https://www.backyardecology.net/checking-in-after-50-episodes-of-the-backyard-ecology-podcast/ Backyard Ecology’s website: https://backyardecology.net Backyard Ecology blog: https://www.backyardecology.net/blog/ Backyard Ecology’s Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/backyardecology Subscribe to Backyard Ecology emails: https://www.backyardecology.net/subscribe/ My email: shannon@backyardecology.net Episode image: Bumble bee on purple coneflower Photo credit: USDA, public domain

Glades are ecosystems where the soils are really shallow and rocky, often with patches of rock showing on the surface. They can be found all over the world, including multiple states within the eastern U.S. These ecosystems are unique areas that support some really interesting and sometimes highly specialized or rare organisms. Admittedly, they can also be frustrating for homeowners who may have one in their yard and be trying to force it to conform to the standards of a “normal” yard because they think something is wrong with it. However, sometimes all it takes is discovering that there isn’t anything wrong with that area, but instead it is something special and can be celebrated for its own uniqueness. In this episode of the Backyard Ecology podcast, we are talking with Dr. Kim Cleary Sadler. Kim is a professor of biology education at Middle Tennessee State University and co-director of the Center for Cedar Glade Studies. Glades are classified by the type of rock that is found there. So, you can have limestone glades, chert glades, sandstone glades, shale glades, etc. Much of Kim and my conversation focuses on limestone glades, or what in some areas are more commonly known as cedar glades. However, we also touch on a few other types of glades and the basic concepts that we talk about can be applied to pretty much any type of glade. In this episode, Kim and I discuss some of the characteristics of glades, some of the different types of organisms you can find there, ways homeowners can deal with glades on their properties, and much more. We also share numerous stories related to our experiences with glades. Links Center for Cedar Glade Studies: https://www.mtsu.edu/glade-center Kim’s email: kim.sadler@mtsu.edu Related Backyard Ecology episodes: Liking lichens: A Glimpse into the Fascinating World of Lichens: https://www.backyardecology.net/liking-lichens-a-glimpse-into-the-fascinating-world-of-lichens/ Checking In After 50 Episodes of the Backyard Ecology Podcast: https://www.backyardecology.net/checking-in-after-50-episodes-of-the-backyard-ecology-podcast/ Backyard Ecology’s website: https://backyardecology.net Backyard Ecology blog: https://www.backyardecology.net/blog/ Backyard Ecology’s Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/backyardecology Subscribe to Backyard Ecology emails: https://www.backyardecology.net/subscribe/ My email: shannon@backyardecology.net Episode image: Couchville Cedar Glade in spring Photo credit: Darel Hess, all rights reserved

I can’t believe that I’ve been podcasting for a year and a half and that this is my 50th episode of the Backyard Ecology podcast! I am truly honored and humbled that so many people enjoy hearing what I have to say and are following the podcast. Looking back, we’ve covered such a wide range of subjects including: crayfish, land snails (I still laugh every time I think about that episode), lightning bugs, hummingbirds, grassland ecosystems, all kinds of topics related to gardening for pollinators, probably just as many topics related to gardening with native plants, vernal pools, invasive species, habitat management, and much, much more. I’m eternally grateful for all of the scientists, educators, and resource managers who have taken the time to talk with us. I’ve had so much fun learning from and geeking out with each of them. I also appreciate each of you who have taken the time to email me and share your own thoughts, experiences, and discoveries. Those emails always bring a smile to my face. As this 50th episode approached, I kept trying to think of the “perfect” topic to cover. After all, isn’t 50 supposed to be a big milestone? Regardless of whether we’re talking birthdays, anniversaries, or podcast episodes. But the more I thought about it, the more I realized that I really didn’t want to do a typical episode this time. Instead, I wanted to stop a second and check in with you. I wanted to find out your thoughts. After all, I don’t want to just be blabbering into the digital airwaves. I want the Backyard Ecology podcast to be valuable to you and that means I need to make sure it is meeting your needs. To allow me to more easily gather and distill everyone’s thoughts and feedback I’ve created a short survey. The link to the survey will be in the show notes and on the webpage for this episode. Please take a few minutes to fill out the survey. Your answers will help guide me as I produce future episodes of the Backyard Ecology podcast. The survey will be available until June 12, 2022. As a thank you for sharing your thoughts with me, anyone who fills out the survey will have the option to enter a drawing to win 1 of 5 copies of my new book, Attract Pollinators and Wildlife to Your Yard: 15 Free and Easy Ways. Before I wrap up, I wanted to say once again how grateful I am to my Patrons on Patreon who help support this podcast, for everyone who listens to this podcast, and to the guests who have shared their knowledge and passion with us. Until next week, I encourage you to take some time to enjoy the nature in your own yard and community. Links: Survey: https://forms.gle/eh7mGD2wwx41g4SG6 Backyard Ecology’s website: https://backyardecology.net Backyard Ecology’s Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/backyardecology My email: shannon@backyardecology.net Survey about the Backyard Ecology podcast.

The interest in gardening with native plants has been growing steadily, and I am very excited about that fact. Growing native plants in our gardens and landscapes can have many benefits – both for us as the gardeners and for the pollinators and wildlife that also call our yards home. Plus, we have some absolutely gorgeous native plants that deserve to be recognized in their own right. In this episode of the Backyard Ecology podcast, we talk with Jennifer Ceska about gardening with native plants. Jennifer is a Conservation Coordinator with the State Botanical Garden of Georgia at the University of Georgia, Athens. She and her colleagues are doing some amazing work and I am grateful for their efforts to help others learn about and grow native plants. Jennifer and I both love sharing our knowledge and passion of the natural world, as well as continuing to learn ourselves. We’ve just always been naturally curious and that is reflected in this very informal conversation. One of the many topics we discuss is growing regionally appropriate native plants. This is especially important because many plants are native to one part of the country, but not another. For example, I was recently surprised to learn that common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) isn’t native to Georgia and can actually become problematic there because it spreads so aggressively. Jennifer said that she was surprised as well when she first learned that common milkweed isn’t native to Georgia because so many resources and online maps show it as native across the eastern U.S. However, newer research has shown that it isn’t native to Georgia which is one of the reasons why the State Botanical Garden of Georgia has created a brochure discussing the best milkweeds to plant in Georgia and the ones to avoid. Other topics of conversation include some of our favorite native species to plant in smaller areas and cues to care for native plant gardens or even when growing native plants in fields and “wilder” areas. Jennifer also shares with us some of the fantastic native plant programs and resources available through the State Botanical Garden of Georgia. If you live in Georgia, then I encourage you to take a look at these valuable resources. Links: Jennifer’s email: jceska@uga.edu Brochure about what milkweeds to grow in Georgia gardens: https://botgarden.uga.edu/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/milkweedinformation.pdf State Botanical Garden of Georgia: https://botgarden.uga.edu/ Georgia Plant Conservation Alliance: https://botgarden.uga.edu/conservation-science/georgia-plant-conservation-alliance/ Georgia Native Plant Initiative: https://botgarden.uga.edu/conservation-science/georgia-native-plant-initiative/ Connect to Protect: https://botgarden.uga.edu/conservation-science/connect-to-protect/ Georgia Pollinator Plants of the Year Program: https://botgarden.uga.edu/conservation-science/pollinator-plant-program/ Georgia Grasslands Initiative iNaturalist project: https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/georgia-grasslands-initiative-ggi Backyard Ecology’s website: https://backyardecology.net My email: shannon@backyardecology.net Episode image: Purple coneflowers in a pollinator garden Photo credit: USFWS, public domain

Once upon a time, the moon was the brightest object in the night sky followed by the stars. However, that’s no longer the case. Today the night sky is so brightly lit by artificial lights sources that the majority of people living in North America can no longer see the Milky Way from their yards. Even for those of us who can see the Milky Way, it is often greatly dimmed by nearby artificial light sources or sky glow caused by the closest city or town. Does it matter if our view of the stars is diminished? Actually, it does. All of that extra light that is obscuring the stars is called light pollution and it has significant impacts on a wide variety of wildlife species and can even affect us. In this episode of the Backyard Ecology podcast, we talk with Murry Burgess. Murry is an ornithologist, urban ecologist, and children’s author. She is also working on her PhD at North Carolina State University where she is studying the effects of light pollution on barn swallows. Murry and I start our conversation by defining light pollution and discussing some of its sources. We then talk about some of the different impacts it can have on birds, insects, and even us. During the conversation, Murry shares with us some of the findings from her research with barn swallows and how those results are likely to translate to other bird species. We also discuss some of the ways we can minimize light pollution, both at an individual scale and at larger community-wide scales. And while most of our conversation focuses on light pollution, we frequently interweave other stories and topics related to our mutual passions for wildlife and inspiring others to appreciate the nature around them. Links: Murry’s contact information: Email: mburges5@ncsu.edu Website: https://www.mlburgess.org/ Blog: http://notasnakedoctor.squarespace.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/murryloub/?hl=en Twitter: https://twitter.com/murryloub Backyard Ecology’s website: https://backyardecology.net Related Backyard Ecology episodes: Lightning bugs and Fireflies: A conversation with Lynn Faust, Part 1: https://www.backyardecology.net/lightning-bugs-and-fireflies-a-conversation-with-lynn-faust-part-1/ Lightning bugs and Fireflies – A conversation with Lynn Faust, Part 2: https://www.backyardecology.net/lightning-bugs-and-fireflies-a-conversation-with-lynn-faust-part-2/ Reconnecting with the Natural World at Night: https://www.backyardecology.net/reconnecting-with-the-natural-world-at-night/ My email: shannon@backyardecology.net Episode image: The Milky Way with sky glow on the horizon. Photo credit: EvgeniT, cc-0

Ruby-throated hummingbirds are common and much beloved summer visitors to yards and gardens throughout the eastern U.S. and Canada. In this episode of the Backyard Ecology podcast, we talk about ruby-throated hummingbirds, their northward migration, and how to make our yards more hummingbird friendly. We are joined in this conversation by Cyndi Routledge who is the CEO of Southeastern Avian Research (SEAR). When people think about attracting hummingbirds to their yards, the most common reaction is to put up a hummingbird feeder. However, making your yard more attractive to hummingbirds goes way beyond just putting up a feeder. Approximately, 80% of a ruby-throated hummingbird’s diet consists of soft-bodied insects. Hummingbirds also prefer natural nectar sources over sugar-water while they are nesting and raising young. Water sources and places to build nests or find shelter from storms are also important factors that hummingbirds look for when choosing their territories. Cyndi and I spend a significant amount of time discussing what makes good hummingbird habitats and how we can use this knowledge to make our yards more attractive to ruby-throated hummingbirds. Cyndi also shares with us the proper way to maintain our feeders if we choose to put up hummingbird feeders. As she points out, hummingbird feeders are for our enjoyment, not the hummingbirds’ survival. So, if we choose to put out feeders, then it is our responsibility to make sure that they aren’t going to inadvertently harm the birds. Other topics in our conversation include the ruby-throated hummingbird’s migration north, some common myths and folktales that we often hear, how hummingbirds are adapted to survive cold temperatures, the different roles of the male and female hummingbirds, and much more. Links: Southeastern Avian Research: Website: https://southeasternavianresearch.org/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/southeasternavianresearch/ Backyard Ecology’s website: https://backyardecology.net Related Backyard Ecology episodes: Winter Hummingbirds in the Eastern U.S.: https://www.backyardecology.net/winter-hummingbirds-in-the-eastern-u-s/ My email: shannon@backyardecology.net Episode image: Ruby-throated hummingbird drinking nectar from an obedient plant flower. Photo credit: USFWS Midwest Region, public domain

Grassland birds such as bobwhite quail, meadowlarks, sparrows, northern harriers, burrowing owls, and many others represent one of our fastest declining groups of birds. In many ways, this makes sense since grasslands are some of our fastest declining ecosystems, especially in the eastern U.S. Yet, many people don’t realize how rapidly grassland birds and the grassland ecosystems they depend on our disappearing. In this episode of the Backyard Ecology podcast, we talk with Jeremy French about grasslands and grassland birds. Jeremy is the Interior Low Plateau Ecoregion Coordinator for Quail Forever and the Southeastern Grasslands Initiative. Jeremey and I begin our conversation by talking about grasslands and the fact that many people don’t realize just how common grasslands were in the eastern U.S. Both of us share that we didn’t always know about our Eastern grasslands either. We may have known something about the grasslands in parts of Florida, but not for the rest of the eastern U.S. Yet, the plants, animals, and even historical accounts of the first European explorers to the area all provide hints of a very different and much more diverse landscape than the near solid forest that many of grew up thinking existed here. Our conversation then moves to the grassland birds that depend on the grassland ecosystems that are rapidly disappearing and have often been forgotten. We talk about some of the different types of grassland birds, how they are declining, and actions we can take on our own properties to help support grassland birds. We also share how important we both believe it is to learn about our grassland plants, grassland birds, and other organisms, as well as how some of the hardest and most eye-opening questions we’ve been asked have come from people just starting to learn about a topic. We wrap up with Jeremy telling us a little bit about the Southeastern Grasslands Initiative, Quail Forever, and ways that these two organizations can help our listeners. Links: Jeremy’s email: jfrench@quailforever.org Quail Forever Website: https://www.quailforever.org/ Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/quailforever Southeastern Grassland Initiative Website: https://www.segrasslands.org/ Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/southeasterngrasslands/ Backyard Ecology’s website: https://backyardecology.net Related Backyard Ecology episodes: A Conversation with Kyle Lybarger from the Native Habitat Project: https://www.backyardecology.net/a-conversation-with-kyle-lybarger-from-the-native-habitat-project/ Acorns, Birds, Reptiles, Amphibians, and More: Responses to Forest Disturbances: https://www.backyardecology.net/acorns-birds-reptiles-amphibians-and-more-responses-to-forest-disturbances/ Conserving our Southeastern Grasslands with Dwayne Estes: https://www.backyardecology.net/conserving-our-southeastern-grasslands-with-dwayne-estes/ My email: shannon@backyardecology.net Episode image: Eastern meadowlark on a fence post. Photo credit: USFWS Midwest Region, public domain

The spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula) is an invasive species of leafhopper (a type of insect) that was accidentally brought to the U.S. from Asia. It was first detected in Pennsylvania in 2014 and has spread to multiple states since then. This episode of the Backyard Ecology podcast is all about the spotted lanternfly and is a little different than most episodes, because I don’t just have one guest – I have four guests. Each of the guests on this episode represents a different part of the spotted lanternfly story and response. Erin Otto is the National Policy Manager for the spotted lanternfly and is with the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service or APHIS. She joins us to help us understand the overarching work and coordination at the national level in regard to spotted lanternflies. Dana Rhodes is the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture’s State Plant Regulatory Official. She brings with her the “been there, done that” wisdom, experiences, and lessons learned of a state that has been dealing with spotted lanternflies for several years now. Subba Reddy Palli is Kentucky’s State Entomologist and a Department Chair at the University of Kentucky. He represents those states that are on the leading edge, don’t have spotted lanternflies yet, and would like to keep it that way for as long as possible. Tracy Leskey is a Research Entomologist and Director at the USDA’s Appalachian Fruit Research Station. Tracy joins us to share some of the research going on related to spotted lanternflies. The researchers aren’t always the most visible individuals when it comes to emerging threats, but the work they do is vital to helping resource managers and others better understand the threat and ways to stop it, or at least manage it. Our conversation covers a wide range of topics including basic biology of the spotted lanternfly, information about its life cycle, the impacts caused by the spotted lanternfly, how it spreads, ways to manage it, current research, and much more. One of the points that came up over and over again in our conversation is how this is such a collaborative team effort. Federal agencies, state agencies, cities and local municipalities, universities, corporations, industries, and private individuals are all working together to address the spotted lanternfly. We all have a role to play when it comes to combatting this invasive species. Links: National Plant Board’s members page: https://www.nationalplantboard.org/members.html Penn State Extension spotted lanternfly page: https://extension.psu.edu/spotted-lanternfly Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture spotted lanternfly page: https://www.agriculture.pa.gov/Plants_Land_Water/PlantIndustry/Entomology/spotted_lanternfly/Pages/default.aspx Stop SLF website: https://www.stopslf.org/index.cfm USDA APHIS spotted lanternfly page: https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/resources/pests-diseases/hungry-pests/slf/ Backyard Ecology’s website: https://backyardecology.net My email: shannon@backyardecology.net Episode image: Spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula) winged adult and 4th instar nymph. Photo credit: U.S. Department of Agriculture, public domain

When it comes to planting for pollinators or gardening for pollinators, the traditional advice has always been to plant larger patch sizes or clumps of plants. The thought is that the larger patch sizes will be easier to see and more attractive to pollinators than smaller clumps or patch sizes. But saying that assumes that all pollinators are attracted to the same thing and that they respond to different species of plants in the same way. In this episode of the Backyard Ecology podcast, we talk with Tristan Barley. Tristan recently received his Masters degree from Miami University in Ohio, and is currently a PhD student in Entomology at the University of Illinois. The research that Tristan conducted for his Master’s thesis questioned the traditional advice. Tristan’s research looked at whether all pollinators prefer larger patch sizes and whether those preferences would vary not only based on the type of pollinator but also based on the type of plant. Perhaps, not surprisingly, he found that patch size preferences were different for some pollinators compared to others, specifically bumble bees and some of our tiny bees. He also found that the species of flower sometimes influenced the pollinator’s patch size preference. In addition, Tristan looked at how different patch sizes affected seed production in one of the plant species he studied. It was interesting to think about the influences of patch size from the plant’s perspective, and not just from the pollinator’s perspective. Our conversation discussed his research including what his findings meant from a practical standpoint and how we can apply his findings in our own pollinator gardens and pollinator plantings. We also talked about how many different types of animals visit flowers and how much happens on a flower. We both recommend taking time to just stare at a flower and enjoy getting to know everything that visits the flower. Links: Do Pollinators Prefer Dense Flower Patches? Sometimes Yes, Sometimes No: https://entomologytoday.org/2022/01/12/pollinators-prefer-dense-flower-patches-sometimes-yes-no/ The Effects of Flower Patch Density on Pollinator Visitation: https://etd.ohiolink.edu/apexprod/rws_etd/send_file/send?accession=miami1605828141532099&disposition=inline Bauer Lab at Miami University: https://jonathantbauer.com/ The Dolezal Bee Research Lab: https://publish.illinois.edu/dolezalbeelab/ Backyard Ecology’s website: https://backyardecology.net Related Backyard Ecology resources: Conserving our Southeastern Grasslands with Dwayne Estes: https://www.backyardecology.net/conserving-our-southeastern-grasslands-with-dwayne-estes/ My email: shannon@backyardecology.net Episode image: Rattlesnake master (Eryngium yuccifolium)growing in a prairie. Photo credit: Jason Johnson, Iowa NRCS, public domain

In 2021, Kyle Lybarger began creating TikTok videos about native plants and grassland ecosystems in Alabama. He quickly became a social media star and even gained the attention of more traditional media streams including The Weather Channel. Kyle is doing terrific work teaching about and raising awareness of native plants and grassland communities. He is also actively involved in multiple on-the-ground conservation and restoration projects. Kyle has been on my list of people to invite on the Backyard Ecology podcast for a while, but I couldn’t decide on the right topic. Well, if you follow his Native Habitat Project videos on any of his social media platforms, then you know that Kyle is a wealth of information on a variety of topics. He’s the type of person who would just be a lot of fun to go out in the field with or sit down and have a conversation with. So I decided, why not do that? Instead of trying to pick one specific topic to talk about, let’s just have a conversation and that’s what we did for this episode of the Backyard Ecology podcast. Like any good conversation, ours takes many different twists and turns. One topic we talked about in detail is how less than 1% of our native grasslands remain, but well over 90% of the eastern U.S. is privately owned. The result is that many of our remaining grassland ecosystem in the East are on private land. Often times, the landowners don’t know they have anything rare or special, because to them it is just “normal.” This can sometimes be true even in the middle of a neighborhood like with the Porter’s goldenrod story that he shared with us. Other topics we discussed included habitat management activities we are doing, how people can learn to identify plants or grassland remnants, and his goals for the Native Habitat Project. Links: Native Habitat Project: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/NativeHabitatProject Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nativehabitatproject/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NativeHabitatProject TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@nativeplanttok YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCISRiNeM7BACmSGq_dg-UJA Native Habitat Managers Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/224100792703827/ Tennessee Valley Natives (Kyle’s native plant nursery): https://www.facebook.com/TennesseeValleyNatives/ Kyle’s email: nativehabitatproject@gmail.com Backyard Ecology’s website: https://backyardecology.net Related Backyard Ecology resources: Conserving our Southeastern Grasslands with Dwayne Estes: https://www.backyardecology.net/conserving-our-southeastern-grasslands-with-dwayne-estes/ An Introduction to iNaturalist with Maddy Heredia: https://www.backyardecology.net/an-introduction-to-inaturalist-with-maddy-heredia/ My email: shannon@backyardecology.net Episode image: Field of native grassland flowers. Photo credit: USFWS

Sometimes you read or hear something that makes you say, “Wait a minute! What?” It was one of those moments that led to this episode. In this episode of the Backyard Ecology podcast, I talk with David Mason. David is a PhD candidate at the University of Florida who has been doing some really interesting work related to songbirds, seed dispersal, and disturbed areas. Open habitats such as grasslands, shrublands, and open woods are often very rich in bird diversity and abundance. Fires used to be a relatively common occurrence in these areas and would help them remain open instead of growing up into closed canopy forests. Many of these areas are adapted to fire, but we don’t always realize it because fires have been suppressed for centuries. Over the last few decades, however, the use of prescribed fires for maintaining open habitats has become increasingly common. Much of David’s research is focused on seed dispersal by songbirds after a prescribed fire. David shares this research with us including the types of seeds that birds are bringing to his research sites. We also talk about what he isn’t finding, which is actually why I wanted to have him as a guest on the podcast. We not only discuss his findings, but also the potential implications and applications of those findings. David’s research on songbird-mediated seed dispersal after prescribed fires is the main focus of our conversation. However, his broader interest is in seed dispersal after a variety of disturbance events – prescribed fire being just one type of disturbance and songbirds being just one method of dispersal. Towards the end of our conversation, we briefly touch on another branch of his seed dispersal research. This is a connection that I don’t know if I ever would have thought about on my own, but it raised some interesting questions for me and made me think about things a little differently. Links: David’s contact info: Website: https://davidmason.work/ Instagram: @ecograffito Twitter: @ecograffito email: masond@ufl.edu UF D.E.E.R Lab Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ufdeerlab/ Instagram: @ufdeerlab Twitter: @ufdeerlab Backyard Ecology’s website: https://backyardecology.net My email: shannon@backyardecology.net Episode image: Mockingbirds and other songbirds can be important agents for seed dispersal. Photo credit: Matt MacGillivray, CC-BY 2.0

Winter is often depicted as being dark and cold. A time to slow down and spend more time inside, than outside. But winter can be a really great time for observing nature and doing many habitat management activities. Habitat management activities that we can do in the winter is a topic that I get asked about frequently. So, I thought it might be helpful to share with you some of the things that we do on our farm at this time of year or that we recommend to others. In this episode of the Backyard Ecology podcast, we’re talking with Anthony Trimboli. You may remember Anthony from the trail camera episode he did with us several months ago. Anthony is a wildlife biologist and my husband. He also helps me with my nursery and habitat consulting business. Anthony and my conversation is very fluid. We cover a wide range of habitat management activities such as identifying and treating invasive species, identifying erosion issues that may need to be addressed in the future, cutting trees, and planting. Our conversation also frequently wanders from habitat management activities to more general activities related to observing nature. That only made sense to us, because being able to see and enjoy the nature on our property is one of the reasons why we do the habitat work that we do. Some of the nature observations we frequently like to do in the winter are search for cool native plants, look for vernal pools and observe the animals found there, look for shed antlers, and watch the birds. Hopefully, you enjoy are our conversation and find it helpful as you think about activities to do on your property this winter. Links: Backyard Ecology’s website - https://backyardecology.net Other relevant Backyard Ecology podcast episodes: NRCS Programs for Pollinators and Wildlife - https://www.backyardecology.net/nrcs-programs-for-pollinators-and-wildlife/ Trail cameras: A fun way to watch wildlife in your yard - https://www.backyardecology.net/trail-cameras-a-fun-way-to-watch-wildlife-in-your-yard/ More than a Mud Puddle: The Exciting World of Vernal Pools - https://www.backyardecology.net/more-than-a-mud-puddle-the-exciting-world-of-vernal-pools/ Other relevant Backyard Ecology blog articles: The Goldenrod Gall Fly: An Insect with a Fascinating Life History and Valuable Role in the Ecosystem - https://www.backyardecology.net/the-goldenrod-gall-fly-an-insect-with-a-fascinating-life-history-and-valuable-role-in-the-ecosystem/ Ground Cedar: A Unique Evergreen Groundcover of Eastern Forests - https://www.backyardecology.net/ground-cedar-a-unique-evergreen-groundcover-of-eastern-forests/ Cranefly Orchid: A cryptic native orchid - https://www.backyardecology.net/cranefly-orchid-tipularia-discolor-a-cryptic-native-orchid/ My email: shannon@backyardecology.net Episode image: A patch of goldenrod on our farm. Photo credit: Shannon Trimboli, all rights reserved

The first “real” episode of the Backyard Ecology podcast went live on December 3, 2020. (Technically that was episode 2, but I don’t count the introduction episode as a “real” episode because all I was doing was telling you that I was going to start the Backyard Ecology podcast.) This is episode 40, and we are fast approaching 25,000 total downloads. I am excited by how both the Backyard Ecology blog and the Backyard Ecology podcast have grown over the last year, and I am thankful to all my listeners and readers. In this episode of the Backyard Ecology podcast, I thought it would be fun to review the top 10 most downloaded episodes in 2021. Maybe you’ll find one that you missed, or be reminded of one that you wanted to listen to but then forgot about. Hopefully, you’ll also be reminded of some of the episodes that you really enjoyed. Also, let me know in the comments what your favorite episode was this year. Was it one of these? Or was it another one that didn't make the top 10 list? I know there were a lot of good episodes that didn't quite make the top 10 list. Top 10 most downloaded Backyard Ecology podcast episodes this year 10) NRCS Programs for Pollinators and Wildlife - https://www.backyardecology.net/nrcs-programs-for-pollinators-and-wildlife/ 9) Deer Ticks and Lyme Disease - https://www.backyardecology.net/deer-ticks-and-lyme-disease-why-is-lyme-disease-more-common-in-the-north/ 8) Winter Hummingbirds in the Eastern U.S. - https://www.backyardecology.net/winter-hummingbirds-in-the-eastern-u-s/ 7) Bats and Bat Houses - https://www.backyardecology.net/bats-and-bat-houses/ 6) Acorns, Birds, Reptiles, Amphibians and More: Responses to Forest Disturbances - https://www.backyardecology.net/acorns-birds-reptiles-amphibians-and-more-responses-to-forest-disturbances/ 5) Mysterious Bird Deaths of 2021 - https://www.backyardecology.net/mysterious-bird-deaths-of-2021-digging-deeper-into-the-bird-mortality-event/ 4) Growing Native Plants in Small Yards - https://www.backyardecology.net/growing-native-plants-in-small-yards/ 3) Growing Native Plants: Insights and Stories from 3 Native Plant Nurseries - https://www.backyardecology.net/growing-native-plants-insights-and-stories-from-3-native-plant-nurseries/ 2) A Conversation with the Co-Hosts of the Native Plants, Healthy Planet Podcast - https://www.backyardecology.net/a-conversation-with-the-co-hosts-of-the-native-plants-healthy-planet-podcast/ 1) Factors that Make Pollinator Gardens More Attractive to Pollinators - https://www.backyardecology.net/factors-that-make-pollinator-gardens-more-attractive-to-pollinators/ Bonus episode: Some people prefer listening to podcasts on YouTube, but YouTube views don’t count as downloads. So, for a bonus, I wanted to share the most viewed episode on YouTube. That episode is: Milkweeds in Urban and Suburban Monarch Waystations with Dr. Adam Baker -https://www.backyardecology.net/milkweeds-in-urban-and-suburban-monarch-waystations-with-dr-adam-baker/.

  Lichens are AMAZING organisms. You can find them practically everywhere from very urban areas to very rural areas. You can find them growing on trees, rocks, buildings, benches, and all kinds of different things. But many of us really don’t know a whole lot about lichens. In today’s episode of the Backyard Ecology podcast, I talk with Dr. James Lendemer. James is the lichenologist at the New York Botantical Gardens and a professor at the City University of New York. He also co-authored the book, Urban Lichens: A Field Guide for Northeastern North America. Our conversation dives into many different realms of the fascinating world of lichens. James and his colleagues say that “Lichens are a lifestyle,” because lichens don’t have a single common ancestor like you would find for all sunflowers or all oak trees. Instead, lichens have evolved multiple times in multiple different types of fungus. In some ways saying a fungus is a lichen is like saying an animal is an herbivore, carnivore, or parasite. It is simply describing a feeding style. We also talked about how lichens are made up primarily of a fungus and either an algal or cyanobacteria, but also include all kinds of other organisms. Each lichen is kind of like its own little ecosystem. It’s also the fungus that determines the species of lichen. Depending on the species of lichen, the individual lichens could all share the same species of algal or cyanobacteria or the individuals could contain different species of algae and cyanobacteria. It can get complicated, but very intriguing at the same time. James and my conversation covered many other topics including how most species of lichens in eastern North America can be identified in the field with a hand lens and a good field guide. The new book, Urban Lichens: A Field Guide for Northeastern North America, that he co-authored with Jessica Allen and Jordan Hoffman provides one such field guide. Urban Lichens was primarily written as a field guide to the lichens in New York City and other large urban areas in the northeast, but it isn’t good only in urban areas. Many of the species found in those areas are also the most common species found in yards throughout the temperate regions of eastern North America. That makes it a great option for those of us wanting to learn more about the lichens in our own yards and communities, regardless of whether we live in a large metropolitan area, a suburban area, or a more rural area. Links: James’ books Urban Lichens: A Field Guide for Northeastern North America * - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0300252994/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0300252994&linkCode=as2&tag=backyardecolo-20&linkId=ecd8e598790d4d007d3463fc00002488 Field Guide to the Lichens of Great Smoky Mountains National Park * - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1621905144/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1621905144&linkCode=as2&tag=backyardecolo-20&linkId=a4c3cb5df024e7516aaf65846c98a9e7 Other resources recommended by James Lichens of North America * - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0300082495/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0300082495&linkCode=as2&tag=backyardecolo-20&linkId=593214d1815f6555ea597d5a6415b902 Lichen Monitoring Curriculum: Middle School - https://www.nps.gov/grsm/learn/education/classrooms/lp-ncms-lichens.htm Lichen Monitoring Curriculum: High School - https://www.nps.gov/grsm/learn/education/classrooms/lp-nchs-lichens.htm Backyard Ecology’s website - https://backyardecology.net My email: shannon@backyardecology.net Episode image: Lichens growing on the trunk of a city tree. Photo credit: James Lendemer, all rights reserved

Wild turkeys are fascinating birds that are only found in North America. They are also a conservation success story – one which most people aren’t aware of because the turn-around was so successful. In this episode of the Backyard Ecology podcast, we talk with Dr. Bret Collier. Bret is a Professor of Wildlife Ecology at Louisiana State University who specializes in studying wild turkeys. If you ask a room of wildlife biologists to name our nation’s greatest conservation success stories, you are most likely to hear wild turkeys, white-tailed deer, and wood ducks come up frequently. It’s hard to believe now, but there was a time, not too long ago really, when wild turkeys, white-tailed deer, and wood ducks had been extirpated from many areas and were steadily declining in population numbers. Losing them would have been a distinct possibility. But massive conservation efforts turned those declines around. Now all three of those species are so common throughout much of their range that the conservation success stories they represent have been mostly forgotten. Bret and I discuss the wild turkey’s conservation success story because we both believe that it is a story worth telling and one that doesn’t need to be forgotten. We also talk about current turkey populations, because in the southeast we are seeing a decrease in turkey populations. There are hints that this might be starting to occur in other parts of the country too. As Bret said during our conversation, “Wild turkey conservation at a national level rests on the private landowners.” This is because so much of our land is privately owned, especially in the eastern U.S. So, in addition to talking about wild turkey populations, Bret shares with us the types of habitat that turkeys need and helps us understand some of the things we can do to make our properties a little better for turkeys. Links: Bret’s contact information email: bret@lsu.edu Twitter – https://twitter.com/drshortspur Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/drshortspur Bret’s webpage – https://www.lsu.edu/rnr/people/profiles/collier.php Wild Turkey Doc sites that Bret recommended Twitter – https://twitter.com/wildturkeydoc Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/wildturkeydoc Backyard Ecology’s website - https://backyardecology.net My email: shannon@backyardecology.net Episode image: Male wild turkey Photo credit: Alabama Extension, public domain

When it comes to gardening for monarchs, the most common thing you hear is “plant milkweeds.” Milkweeds are important, because they are the only thing that monarch caterpillars can eat. But they aren’t the whole story. In fact, having other types of flowering plants available can actually make your gardens more attractive to monarchs according to recent research from the University of Florida. In this episode of the Backyard Ecology podcast, we talk with Rebecca Nestle. Rebecca recently completed her Master’s degree at the University of Florida where she explored several different topics related to gardening for monarchs. Part of Rebecca’s research looked at how many eggs monarchs laid on focal milkweed plants in gardens composed only of milkweeds compared to gardens with several species that bloomed throughout the growing season. She also dove into another topic that relates to concerns we both often hear about monarch predators. In this part of her study, she compared the number of “natural enemies” (parasitoids and predators of monarchs) in mixed-species gardens compared to milkweed-only gardens. She then compared how well monarch caterpillars survived in each of those situations. Her results for all three of these studies were both surprising and exciting. Another part of Rebecca’s research that we discussed related to the effects of high nitrogen levels on swamp milkweeds (Asclepias incarnata). She again, conducted a study that compared monoculture stands of swamp milkweed and swamp milkweeds intermixed with other species. She then looked at the impacts of these treatments on monarch caterpillars. Once again, the results were a little surprising, and potentially a little comforting for people gardening for monarchs in urban environments, near golf courses, or in other heavily fertilized locations. Links Articles about Rebecca’s Research Study: For monarch butterflies, plant variety is the spice of life – http://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/news/2020/10/15/study-for-monarch-butterflies-plant-variety-is-the-spice-of-life/ Mixed-Species Gardens Increase Monarch Oviposition without Increasing Top-Down Predation – https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/11/9/648/htm Rebecca’s Thesis Investigating the Effects of Plant Diversity and Nutrients on Drivers of Monarch Fitness and Abundance – https://ufdc.ufl.edu/UFE0056937/00001 Backyard Ecology’s website - https://backyardecology.net My email: shannon@backyardecology.net Episode image: Monarch butterfly nectaring on a New England aster Photo credit: USFWS Northeast Region, public domain

Bats are often associated with Halloween and relegated to roles in scary movies, but they are so much more. Bats are very diverse and fascinating creatures that play an invaluable role in our ecosystem. I love the fact that more people seem to be recognizing this and wanting to do things like put up bat houses and make their yards more bat friendly. In this episode, I talk with Reed Crawford. Reed is a PhD student in Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation Biology at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He is studying bats and how they thermoregulate. His research has lots of implications for how we can make our bat houses safer for and more attractive to bats. Reed and I start out talking about some of the common myths we hear about bats and the many threats that bats face. We then move on to discuss how bats need roosting spots with different conditions depending on factors like the time of year and the reproductive stage of the bat. The temperature of the site throughout the day and night is one of those important conditions, especially for moms and their young (pups). Unfortunately, sometimes our bat houses can provide nice, warm, attractive conditions for mother bats to raise their young, but on our really warm summer days can get too hot and potentially kill the bats. Part of Reed’s research is looking at different modifications we can make to bat houses to make them safer for the bats. We talk about many of those modifications including a different style of bat house called a rocket box, that doesn’t look like the flat boxes that are commonly sold as bat houses. In addition to Reed’s research, we talked about suggestions for putting up a bat house and improving the bat habitat around our homes. One of the questions Reed and I both commonly get in regards to bat houses, is “Why aren’t bats using the bat house that I put up?” Unfortunately, there isn’t a simple answer to that question. It often depends on a number of different factors. But, hopefully Reed’s research and those of others pursuing similar questions, will help us give more solid answers to that question in the future. Links Reed’s email: reeddc2@illinois.edu Websites Reed Recommends: Tips for making bat boxes safer for bats - https://wildlife.nres.illinois.edu/tips-for-making-bat-boxes-safer-for-bats/ Human-Wildlife Interactions Lab - https://wildlife.nres.illinois.edu/ Center for Bat Research, Outreach, and Conservation - https://www.indstate.edu/cas/isubatcenter Bat Conservation International - https://www.batcon.org/ Research Papers Reed Recommends: Avoiding a conservation pitfall: Considering the risks of unsuitably hot bat boxes - https://conbio.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/csp2.412 In artificial roost comparison, bats show preference for rocket box style - https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0205701 Surface reflectance drives nest box temperature profiles and thermal suitability for target wildlife - https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0176951 Backyard Ecology’s website - https://backyardecology.net My email: shannon@backyardecology.net Episode image: Big brown bats (Eptesicus fuscus) Photo credit: USGS, public domain

  We always think of hummingbirds as being summer birds. But, did you know that we also have winter hummingbirds? They aren’t common, and they become less common the further you are from the southern coastal plains; however, they aren’t unique either. In the winter of 2011-2012, I was lucky enough to host one of these winter hummingbirds at my home in Kentucky. In this Backyard Ecology episode, I talk with Brainard Palmer-Ball about these winter hummingbirds. Brainard is a retired zoologist from the Office of Kentucky Nature Preserves. He’s also the person who captured and banded my winter hummingbird in 2011. In the eastern U.S., our winter hummingbirds aren’t the familiar ruby-throated hummingbirds that we see all summer. Instead, most of the hummingbirds that overwinter in the eastern U.S. are western species. There are a handful of western species that sometimes spend the winter in the eastern U.S., but the most common one is the rufous hummingbird. It is thought that we probably always had a few winter hummingbirds, but we just didn’t notice them. Then as hummingbird feeding increased in popularity in the 80s and 90s, more available food sources and more eyes watching those food sources meant that we became more aware of this phenomenon. These food sources aren’t drawing the winter hummingbirds or encouraging them to overwinter where they shouldn’t, but they are potentially improving survival chances during the worst parts of our winters. In our conversation, Brainard and I talk in more detail about our winter hummingbirds, how they aren’t “lost,” as was once thought, and how they survive through the winter. We also discuss the importance of feeders and tackle the question of whether leaving our feeders up, or putting them back out for late hummingbirds, is a good thing. In addition, we talk about banding hummingbirds and what can be learned from that process. Of course, Brainard also shares with us what we need to think about and do if we are lucky enough to have one of these winter hummingbirds show up at our homes. Links: Operation Ruby Throat Hummingbird Research, Inc. Southeastern Avian Research Report a bird band Hummer’s Heated Delight Backyard Ecology’s website My email: shannon@backyardecology.net Episode image: Rufous hummingbird that Brainard banded in Kentucky. Photo credit: Brainard Palmer-Ball, all rights reserved

What happens when you do a shelterwood cut, conduct a prescribed burn, or have some other natural or human-made disturbance event in oak hickory forests? What happens to the acorn crop? How do different types of wildlife respond? What about the other vegetation in the woods? In this Backyard Ecology episode I talk with Dr. Cathryn Greenberg. Katie is a Research Ecologist with the US Forest Service, Southern Research Station. She has been involved in multiple long-term studies looking at how different species, or groups of animals, respond to forest disturbances, both natural disturbances (wind, wildfires, etc.) and human-created disturbances (logging, prescribed burns, etc.). These forest disturbances can cause openings in the closed canopy of mature forests or may be more low-grade and not have much of an impact on the canopy. Two aspects that make Katie’s research unique are: she and her colleagues have taken more of an ecological approach and studied the responses of many different types of organisms instead of focusing on only one type, and her studies are long-term projects that in many cases last 10-20 years. We talked about a wide variety of topics including how forest disturbances such as shelterwood cuts can affect acorn production. We also discussed the impacts of different types of forest disturbances on breeding songbirds populations and diversity, as well as, on reptile and amphibian populations. We even took a side tangent to discuss a long-term study she and her colleagues have conducted looking at amphibian use of ephemeral pools in Florida. One important concept to recognize from her research is that forest disturbances don’t affect all species the same, even within the same general “group,” such as songbirds. Some may benefit from the disturbances; some not-so-much, at least temporarily. Like with anything else, there isn’t a one-size-fits- all answer. We wrap up with Katie reminding us how important it is to know our goals and what we are trying to accomplish with our land management. Links: Katie’s email: cathryn.greenberg@usda.gov Summaries / Compass Live articles about Katie’s research Books that Katie has edited Natural Disturbances and Historic Range of Variation: Type, Frequency, Severity, and Post-disturbance Structure in Central Hardwood Forests USA Hardcover * Kindle * Sustaining Young Forest Communities: Ecology and Management of early successional habitats in the central hardwood region, USA Hardcover * Kindle * Chapter 8: The role of young, recently disturbed upland hardwood forest as high quality food patches (free) Backyard Ecology’s website More than a Mud Puddle: The Exciting World of Vernal Pools My email: shannon@backyardecology.net Episode image: White oak acorns. Photo credit: Paul Wray, Bugwood.org, cc-by 3.0