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Today’s guest is Krystle Hickman. Krystle is a TEDx speaker, artist, photographer, and community scientist. However, it is her passion for native bees that has led her to appear on Nature’s Archive today.Krystle has combined her tenacity and photographic talent to make a number of discoveries about native bees. She’s determined to raise awareness about the decline of native bees and their habitats, and she was recently profiled in the LA Times for these efforts.Today, we embark on a journey of discovery with Krystle as she introduces us to our native bees.We will explore several genera of bees and delve into their habits and remarkable life histories. Krystle will also share her expertise on photographic techniques for bees and how to find them in the wild.Also, Krystle has just launched a Kickstarter campaign for a new project featuring photographic flashcards of 40 of the most common native bees, complete with interesting facts and identification techniques.To stay connected with Krystle and her work, you can find her at beesip.com, or follow @beesip on Instagram, or @beesiponline on Facebook and Twitter.FULL SHOW NOTESAdditional LinksBugGuide - one of the original online communities for insect enthusiasts to share, learn, and identify insectsDiscover Life - resource for learning about bees (and other organisms) Books and Other ThingsNote: links to books are affiliate links Bees of the World by Charles Michener Bumble Bees of North America: An Identification GuideKrystle's Kickstarter campaign for her native bee flashcardsMy Garden of a Thousand Bees - documentary The Bees in Your Backyard: A Guide to North America's Bees by Wilson and Carril The following music was used for this media project:Music: Spellbound by Brian Holtz MusicFree download: https://filmmusic.io/song/9616-spellboundLicense (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-licenseArtist website: https://brianholtzmusic.com Support the show

Are you ready to uncover the mysterious world of bats? Join us on an exciting journey as we explore the secrets of these enigmatic creatures with renowned wildlife ecologist and bat expert, Dr. Dave Johnston. Hailing all the way from Costa Rica, Dr. Johnston will guide us through the incredible diversity of bats, from tiny dragonfly-sized species to those with wingspans as large as eagles.  But that's just the beginning! We'll discover astonishing bat behaviors, from echolocation to singing bats to altruistic behavior. With so many different species filling various niches worldwide, we'll learn about the challenges bats face, from urbanization to wind turbines and the devastating white-nose syndrome. So, buckle up and get ready to unravel the mysteries of these extraordinary creatures on this captivating episode with Dr. Dave Johnston.You can find some of Dr. Johnston's work on research gate.FULL SHOW NOTESLINKS TO TOPICS DISCUSSED Bat Conservation InternationalBernal Rodriguez-HerreraBrock Fenton - Bat BiologistCalifornia Bat Working GroupCorky QuirkHigh frequency hearing test - the YouTube video I mentionedNorth American Society for Bat Research (nasbr.org)Western Bat Working GroupYouth Science Institute (YSI)Recommended BooksBats of British Columbia by Cori Lausen, Mark Brigham, et al. 2022.A Miscellany of Bats. M. Brock Fenton and Jens Rydell. 2023. The following music was used for this media project:Music: Spellbound by Brian Holtz MusicFree download: https://filmmusic.io/song/9616-spellboundLicense (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-licenseArtist website: https://brianholtzmusic.com Support the show

Snorkeling can be a life changing endeavor for those who take it up. A new world of aquatic life is revealed before your eyes - sometimes colorful, sometimes cryptic, and always changing.I’ll forgive you if you are thinking about ocean snorkeling, because as you’ll hear today, there’s magic waiting just beneath the surface of your nearby freshwater streams and rivers.Keith is a freshwater underwater naturalist, educator, writer and photographer. He has a BS in Environmental Biology and MS in Ecological Teaching and Learning. He is the author of multiple books, most recently “Snorkeling Rivers and Streams: An Aquatic Guide to Underwater Discovery and Adventure”, and is the owner of Freshwater Journeys, which organizes snorkeling trips to show people the amazing life in freshwater systems close to home.Today we discuss Keith’s own journey into freshwater systems, and then get into the ecology of these environments. If you are like me, this will serve as a great primer for the basics of these systems. And even if you are more advanced, Keith’s descriptions of river herring, trout, chubs, salmon, caddisflies, and more will have you longing to get into a nearby stream.And if you do decide to take the plunge, Keith tells us what equipment is needed and how to do it safely - both for you and for the ecosystem you are observing.What a fun conversation - you’ll hear Keith’s enthusiasm shine through. You can find Keith at freshwaterjourneys.com, and also on Facebook at freshwaterjourneys.FULL SHOW NOTESPeople and OrganizationsJeremy Monroe, Freshwaters IllustratedShannon White PhD - brook trout research [twitter]Dr. Shigeru NakanoFreshwater Journeys Books and Other ThingsNote: links to books are affiliate links Desert Solitaire, by Edward AbbeyDown the River, by Edward AbbeyRiverWebs movieSnorkeling Rivers and Streams: An Aquatic Guide to Underwater Discovery and Adventure, by Keith Williams Credits Emily Smith provided rough cut editing for this episode. The following music was used for this media project:Music: Spellbound by Brian Holtz MusicFree download: https://filmmusic.io/song/9616-spellboundLicense (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-licenseArtist website: https://brianholtzmusic.com Support the show

Are you ready for an in-depth look at the challenges and solutions of wildlife connectivity? The Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative, or Y2Y, is working on a grand scale to connect and protect habitats from Yellowstone to the Yukon, for the benefit of both people and nature.Today, we're joined by Kelly Zenkewich, Senior Communications and Digital Engagement Manager at Y2Y. We delve into the unique challenges of both the region and the scale of Y2Y’s vision.As you’ll hear, even if thinking about this area conjures up images of vast open spaces, there are still numerous highways, cities, fences, railroads, ranches, farms, and other human infrastructure that fragments the landscape.We discuss the charismatic animals of the area - from grizzly bears and wolverines to caribou and pronghorn - the diverse challenges faced by these animals, and the ways Y2Y is working to conserve them. We'll also learn about the unique approach of Y2Y, which works across 5 states, and 4 Canadian provinces and territories, as well as the territories of at least 75 indigenous groups. Kelly describes how they positively engage people across these communities using communication techniques such as asset framing and community-based social marketing.You can find more about Y2Y at y2y.net, and find them on instagram and facebook.FULL SHOW NOTESLINKSPeople, Animals, and OrganizationsAnat Shenker-Osorio - created approach similar to "Asset Framing"COP15 - recent biodiversity agreement was announced at COP15Doug McKenzie-Mohr - creator of community-based social marketingJodi Hilty, PhD - corridor ecology and connectivity expertMark Hebblewhite, PhD - studies ungulates including mountain caribouMichael Proctor, PhD - studying grizzly bear movements in BCPluie The WolfStoney Nakoda NationsTony Clevenger, PhD - wolverine researcherTrabian Shorters - creator of Asset Framing Books and ResourcesNote: links to books are affiliate linksArticle about the new Trans-Canada Highway wildlife overpass that Kelly mentionsBeth Pratt discussing P-22 and Wildlife Crossings (Nature's Archive Episode 38) The following music was used for this media project:Music: Spellbound by Brian Holtz MusicFree download: https://filmmusic.io/song/9616-spellboundLicense (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-licenseArtist website: https://brianholtzmusic.com Support the show

If you're listening to this, chances are that you have seen a snowflake, or perhaps a few billion covering the streets or ski slopes. Maybe you’ve even caught one on your tongue. But despite being such a common part of nature, until recently, snowflake formation largely remained a mystery.Today, I’m thrilled to be joined by Dr. Kenneth Libbrecht, a renowned expert in the field of snowflake physics.Dr. Libbrecht is a professor of physics at the California Institute of Technology, where he has been studying the mysteries of snowflakes for more than two decades. His research has helped to demystify some of the longstanding questions surrounding these complex and beautiful crystals. Dr. Libbrecht and his work has been featured on NPR, Scientific American, The New York Times, and many other publications. In addition to his work as a physicist, Dr. Libbrecht has authored multiple books about snowflakes, had his photos featured on US Postal Service stamps, and even served as a snowflake consultant for the popular Disney movie Frozen. In my conversation with Dr. Libbrecht, we explore the world of snowflake crystals, learn how they form and why they usually have 6 sides. Dr. Libbrecht discusses his discoveries and his innovative lab, and provides a primer for finding and photographing snowflakes. We also talk about snow in general, such as why some snow is light and fluffy, while other snow is heavy and dense, why a particular bacterium plays a role in artificial snow production at ski resorts, and what "diamond dust" is.And if you do nothing else, check out Dr. Libbrecht and his lab in the Veritasium video called “Why are snowflakes like this?” - it’s fascinating. You can find it on YouTube, or linked in the show notes.And if you are a naturalist stuck inside in the winter, or visiting somewhere cold, take a moment and go outside, catch some flakes, and see what you've been missing. And be sure to check Dr. Libbrecht’s website, snowcrystals.com, for photos, facts, science, projects and more!Get ready to learn about stellar dendrites!FULL SHOW NOTESLINKSPeople and OrganizationsSnowcrystals.com - Dr. Libbrecht's websiteUSPS Snowflake Stamps featuring Dr. Libbrecht's photosVeritasium Episode with Dr. Libbrecht - a must see! Books and Other ThingsKenneth Libbrecht's books on Amazon The following music was used for this media project:Music: Spellbound by Brian Holtz MusicFree download: https://filmmusic.io/song/9616-spellboundLicense (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-licenseArtist website: https://brianholtzmusic.com Support the show

Today’s episode is a special one. A few weeks ago I had the wonderful opportunity to fill in on the Strange By Nature podcast, and I’m cross-posting that episode here. Nature is amazing, and often a bit strange. And Strange By Nature presents curated stories of the weird and unbelievable side of nature.Kirk, Rachel, and Victoria, the hosts of Strange By Nature, are a ton of fun, and it shows in their production. In this episode, we cover such diverse topics as the demon core, poisonous birds, and nature’s genetic engineers. So be sure to check out their podcast on any podcast app, on their website, and on twitter. And the more traditional Nature’s Archive episodes will be back in two weeks! We have topics ranging from bats to snowflakes to landscape-scale connectivity coming soon! And one more thing. Nature’s Archive and Jumpstart Nature are starting work on a new podcast concept, and we need your help! We’re looking for stories about people who have had a sudden and unexpected connection with nature.  In particular, we’d like to hear about turning points, where someone was disconnected from nature - perhaps ignoring it, unaware, or simply taking it for granted. But then there was an event that suddenly opened their eyes. Perhaps it was a wildlife encounter, a career change, a health event, or meeting a particularly charismatic nature advocate. Whatever it was, we’d like to hear about these “a ha” moments that caused people to shift and become nature advocates.  Maybe it is your story. Or maybe you’d like to connect us to someone you know. If you can help, please email podcast@jumpstartnature.com with a summary of the story. We’ll read every submission, and we may be in touch to interview you! Thank you!FULL SHOW NOTESLINKSNote: links to books are affiliate links Book: Russo’s Western Galls bookWebinar: Plant Galls for the Curious Naturalist – Presented by Dr. Merav Vonshak and Michael HawkWebinar: Finding and Appreciating Bay Area Plant Galls – Presented by Dr. Merav Vonshak and Michael HawkPodcast: Dr. Doug Tallamy discussed incredible oak trees – Episode #26Podcast: Adam Kranz discussed plant galls – Episode #29 The following music was used for this media project:Music: Spellbound by Brian Holtz MusicFree download: https://filmmusic.io/song/9616-spellboundLicense (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-licenseArtist website: https://brianholtzmusic.com Support the show

No matter who you are or where you live, you depend on water. Often, water access is so reliable and ubiquitous that many of us rarely stop to consider the natural and human-made systems that capture, store, and transport water to where it is needed. But climate change and decades of growing consumption are forcing us to reconsider the ways of the past. Water management and hydrology are huge topics, and I couldn't have found a better guest than Dr. Sam Sandoval Solis to help us understand it. Sam is an assistant professor and cooperative extension specialist at UC Davis, and is involved in many water management education and outreach efforts. Today, Sam helps us understand landscape-scale water management. We discuss water storage and transport, including natural systems such as snowpack and rivers, and human made systems such as reservoirs and aqueducts. We discuss the importance of groundwater, and the dramatic subsidence, or land sinking, caused by overuse of groundwater.Sam also helps us understand why building more reservoirs is disproportionately costly and ineffective, and gives us insights into how and where our water is used.Despite our challenges, Sam is an optimist, and also provides solutions we can pursue, and helps us bust some water management myths.Water management could easily be a series of podcasts - and in fact, Sam and some colleagues host a podcast called Water Talk, so please check that out. Also, Sam's website, watermanagement.ucdavis.edu, is full of wonderful resources and webinars that anyone wishing to learn about hydrology will love. FULL SHOW NOTESLinks Human Right to Sanitation (no website yet)latinosforwater.orgwatermanagement.ucdavis.edu - Dr. Sandoval's website. Be sure to check out the cooperative extension section for numerous videos and resources!eflows.ucsdavis.edu - an interactive exploration of California's hydrologyWater Talk Podcast The following music was used for this media project:Music: Spellbound by Brian Holtz MusicFree download: https://filmmusic.io/song/9616-spellboundLicense (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-licenseArtist website: https://brianholtzmusic.com Support the show

Slime molds (Myxomycetes) are beautiful, weird, and amazing organisms. Often mistaken for fungi, they are actually single celled, yet they grow and efficiently move in search of food, can start and stop their life cycle based on environmental conditions, and even change colors several times during their brief life cycle. They can be beautifully colored, frequently iridescent, and can be ornately shaped. And better still, they can be found in much of the world - maybe even in your yard.My guest today, Alison Pollack, is a renowned slime mold photographer and unabashed enthusiast of slime molds and their habitats. If you follow nature photographers on Instagram, perhaps you count yourself as one of her nearly 50,000 followers.Today, Alison tells us what exactly a slime mold is - and no, it is not a mold or fungi. She describes a typical lifecycle, where they grow, and how to find them. Alison then tells us about her astonishing macro photography of slime molds - both in the field and in her home studio. She walks through her process, technique, and equipment she uses to create her acclaimed photos. If you do nothing else, follow her on Instagram @marin_mushrooms, or check the photos below to get a hint of the beauty of the slime molds, and Alison's artistic skill in capturing them.Find Alison on Facebook, and on iNaturalist at iNaturalist.FULL SHOW NOTESPeople, Groups, OrganizationsAlison's interview with Allan Walls and Rik LittlefieldThe Art of Mushroom Photography - Madeline Island School of the Arts photography class Alison is co-teaching with Alan RockefellerDamon Tighe - Episode 36 talking FungiNikon Small World 2022 WinnersSlime Mold Identification and Appreciation - Facebook Group Books, Camera Equipment, and Morelinks may be affiliate linksAll the Rain Promises and More by David AroraLaowa ultra macro lens - there are models for each major camera manufacturer.Les MyxomycètesMyxomycetes - A Handbook of Slime Molds by Steven StephensonNOVA Slime Mold episodeOlympus Tough TG-6 - highly recommended pocket camera for naturalistsRaynox DCR-250Where the Slime Mould Creeps by Sarah Lloyd The following music was used for this media project:Music: Spellbound by Brian Holtz MusicFree download: https://filmmusic.io/song/9616-spellboundLicense (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-licenseArtist website: https://brianholtzmusic.com Support the show

Today we're going to discuss an animal that can make wind sails, cast nets, produce its own antifreeze, and is an A-list impersonator. Well, it's not one animal, but a category of animals - spiders!And my guest today, Dr. Sarah Rose, is here to tell us all about it. Dr. Rose is the author of a spectacular new field guide, Spiders of North America from Princeton University Press, is chair of the American Arachnological Society's Common Names Committee, and has a PhD in Restoration Ecology from The Ohio State University.Today we discuss Sarah's journey to spiders, including her research into how spiders function as indicator species for habitats and ecosystems. Sarah tells us about the varied lifestyles of spiders, ranging from orb web weavers to sensing web weavers to ambush hunters, and more. We talk about different types of webs, spider guilds, profile some particularly interesting species such as the trash-line orb weaver, bolus spiders, and ant mimicking spiders, and much more.There is so much more that we could have discussed, so please let me know what else you'd like to hear, and perhaps we can have a part two!And be sure to check the full show notes on podcast.naturesarchive.com for links to what we discussed as well as Sarah's YouTube channel, which has lots of fun spider videos.FULL SHOW NOTESLinksAll Bugs Go To Kevin - Facebook groupAmerican Arachnological SocietyJack Pine ForestsLucas the Spider - a YouTube channel with a cute animated jumping spider. 3.5 Million subscribers!Spider Guilds - Cardoso et alSpiders of North America, An Identification Manual, by Darrell Ubick (Editor), Pierre Paquin (Editor), Paula Cushing (Editor), Nadine Dupérré (Illustrator)Spiders of North America, by Dr. Sarah Rose [Princeton University Press | Amazon]  Note: links to books are affiliate links The following music was used for this media project:Music: Spellbound by Brian Holtz MusicFree download: https://filmmusic.io/song/9616-spellboundLicense (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-licenseArtist website: https://brianholtzmusic.com Support the show

There are probably few better ways to learn about raptors, raptor behavior and migration, and identification than a hawk count!My guest, Allen Fish, Director of the Golden Gate Raptor Observatory, tells us all about their hawk count and banding operation, as well as some of the fascinating projects and partners that connect to this community science effort. These are things like satellite and radio telemetry and DNA barcoding.The GGRO is a long-term, community-science program of the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy, in cooperation with the National Park Service. The GGRO is the longest-running single-location community science program in any National Park.Allen has been with GGRO since its inception - nearly 38 years. He has a wealth of knowledge on raptor behaviors, habitats, and of course migration. Today, recorded from atop Hawk Hill just north of San Francisco, Allen tells us about many of the raptors they observe, why they migrate, and helps provide a broader context of migrations as they relate to geography and topography, weather, and climate. For example, did you know there are some east/west migrants? And get ready to brush up on zuhgunrohe and umwelt! It's fascinating!You might recognize Allen from the field guides episode back in May. He's a lot of fun to talk to, and you can tell that he lives raptors and nature with his deep insights. And Hawk Hill itself is also a wonderful character. Located in the famous Marin Headlands, which is in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area (a unit of the National Park Service), Hawk Hill offers wonderful panoramic views, unique topography, and unique history that Allen helps decipher. And while it was a foggy day - abnormal even for notoriously foggy San Francisco - we still had some close encounters with birds that we caught on the recording.Check the full show notes for a few pictures from the area, and things we saw during the recording.  Find the GGRO @goldengateraptors on instagram, or at ggro.org. FULL SHOW NOTESLinks DiscussedGolden Gate National Parks ConservancyGolden Gate Raptor ObservatoryHull Lab at UC-DavisVeracruz Rio de Rapaces BooksLinks may be affiliate links An Immense World by Ed YongHawks from Every Angle by Jerry LiguoriHawks at a Distance by Jerry LiguoriA Field Guide to Hawks of North America (Peterson Guide) by William Clark and Brian WheelerRelated PodcastsMy interview with Scott Whittle and Mike Lanzone discussed CTT's telemetry and tracking technologies The following music was used for this media project:Music: Spellbound by Brian Holtz MusicFree download: https://filmmusic.io/song/9616-spellboundLicense (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-licenseArtist website: https://brianholtzmusic.com Support the show

Hi everyone!This week's episode is not a traditional interview episode, but rather more of an update. But I still tried to pack some great nature content in it. Regular episodes return in two weeks,So what's on tap today? I have some fascinating updates and topics that I picked up from two nature conferences I attended over the last two weeks.  This includes:- Complexities of nitrogen deposition and their impacts on land and water- Wildfire ecology including using burn scars to measure fire history- DNA Barcoding revealing raptor prey- Summaries of the CNPS and California Naturalist conferences- Preview of upcoming podcast guestsAs I said, we'll be back to normal interview episodes in two weeks, with Allen Fish of the Golden Gate Raptor Observatory talking raptor migrations and raptor biology, counting, and banding. And I have some other wonderful guests with interviews in various stages of production, covering spiders, slime molds, and hydrology and water management.I also have a question for you all. What would you think if I changed to a "seasonal" release schedule? I explain my thought process in the episode, but the short story is I think I can increase my annual episodes released from 26 to 30 while providing more flexibility for scheduling challenges and I inevitably run into. As always, please send feedback to naturesarchivepodcast [at] gmail.com, and consider checking out @naturesarchive on the various social media platforms. Thank you!Links Mentioned in This EpisodeNature's Archive interview with Dr. Stu WeissField Guide Episode with Allen Fish and Cricket RaspetThe following music was used for this media project:Music: Spellbound by Brian Holtz MusicFree download: https://filmmusic.io/song/9616-spellboundLicense (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-licenseArtist website: https://brianholtzmusic.com The following music was used for this media project:Music: Spellbound by Brian Holtz MusicFree download: https://filmmusic.io/song/9616-spellboundLicense (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-licenseArtist website: https://brianholtzmusic.com Support the show

My guest today is Deb Kramer, founder and executive director of Keep Coyote Creek Beautiful. I’ve come to know Deb and her organization over the past couple of years, and I can’t believe it has taken me this long to have her on the podcast! Keep Coyote Creek Beautiful, in my opinion, is a model for how to start and grow a conservation organization.Today you’ll hear about Coyote Creek - a river that traverses open space, agriculture, and urban areas. In the San Jose area it is often overshadowed by more prominent rivers, and as a result, has been under appreciated and under used. Like so many waterways, it faces  pollution, invasive species, and impacts from damming and other management practices. We discuss the specific challenges facing Coyote Creek. I’m sure you have a waterway near where you live with similar challenges. Naturally, Deb and KCCB are changing this, advocating for the creek and making tangible improvements. As you’ll hear, there is thoughtfulness and purpose behind every decision they’ve made and activity they facilitate - from the organization's name, to their three pronged approach to engaging the public, to partnership development, and embracing fun and enthusiasm throughout. They’ve removed 272 tons of trash and have engaged over 9,000 volunteers, many of whom are regulars.There are so many useful insights and transferable lessons today that I hope you find useful, whether you are a volunteer, conservation leader, or someone who simply enjoys their local rivers and creeks. Connect with Deb and KCCB on instagram, facebook, and twitter @coyotecreeksj.FULL SHOW NOTESLINKSCadillac Desert by ReisnerGarbology by HumesPodcast with Dr. Merav VonshakBeautifySJBioblitz.clubKelley Park (San Jose)Mothers Out FrontOur City ForestPathways for WildlifePaul J. GonzalezSan Francisco Bay Bird ObservatorySan Jose Conservation CorpsSanta Clara Valley Audubon SocietyValley WaterVolunteerMatch The following music was used for this media project:Music: Spellbound by Brian Holtz MusicFree download: https://filmmusic.io/song/9616-spellboundLicense (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-licenseArtist website: https://brianholtzmusic.com Support the show

My guest today is Denise Lewis, Director of Programs and resident raptor expert at Fontenelle Forest in Bellevue, Nebraska. Today Denise gives me a tour of the Raptor Woodland Refuge, which is an incredible public facility at the forest. Just envision this - a densely wooded hillside with an elevated boardwalk. But every 10 or 20 meters, there is a structure, almost like a cabin, each housing incredible owls, hawks, vultures, and eagles! Denise and I discuss each of the species of birds at the refuge, including Swainson's Hawk, Ferruginous Hawk, Bald Eagles, Turkey Vultures, Gyrfalcon, Peregrine Falcon, Eastern Screech Owl, and more. You'll learn a bit about the natural history of each of these species, and get some behind-the-scenes insights into how they are cared for. All of these incredible raptors have been deemed un-releasable due to the injuries they sustained. But the wonderful people at Fontenelle Forest have given these birds a second chance through this wonderful education space. This is the second episode I recorded "in the field" at Fontenelle Forest . So as we walk through the raptor refuge you'll hear some wonderful vocalizations of these birds. You may also hear some vocalizations of some of the visitors, especially early in the episode. I hope you enjoy this tour as much as I did! I'm posting some photos and videos in the show notes at podcast.naturesarchive.com, as well as in my stories on my instagram, so please check them out! And be sure to follow Fontenelle Forest on twitter, instagram, and facebook.  And if you missed it, check out episode 53, where Michelle Foss and I walk the forest and discuss the habitats, management and stewardship practices, and some of the species and ecologies on the western extent of this eastern deciduous habitat. So without further delay, Denise Lewis and the incredible educational raptors of the Raptor Woodland Refuge.FULL SHOW NOTESFollow Nature's Archive on Instagram, Twitter, and FacebookLINKS Cornell's All About Birds - comprehensive and free resource covering all of the birds of North America Diane Guinn - Educator at the Woodland Raptor Refuge who made an appearance in the podcast.Fontenelle Forest My Podcast Episode with Michelle Foss - all about Fontenelle Forest's habitats and land management The following music was used for this media project:Music: Spellbound by Brian Holtz MusicFree download: https://filmmusic.io/song/9616-spellboundLicense (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-licenseArtist website: https://brianholtzmusic.com Support the show

I love getting feedback about the podcast, and within days of each other, I received some interesting and overlapping suggestions. One said "I enjoy the deep dives into different taxa or environments, but I also really enjoyed some of your earlier episodes where you had people with different ways of engaging with nature, such as the standup paddleboard guest". And a former guest gave me similar feedback, along the lines of wanting to hear from guests with "different relationships with nature". My guest today will make those listeners happy, and hopefully you, too. She's inspiring, she has a wealth of knowledge in environmental education and natural sciences, and has charted a unique path. My guest is none other than Parker McMullen Bushman, also known as Kweenwerk on social media!Today's discussion is very wide ranging. Parker tells us about her unique journey that led to getting a Master's degree of science and natural resources, focused on environmental education/interpretation. She's worked in marine sciences and was Vice President of Community Engagement, Education, and Inclusivity at the famous Butterfly Pavilion. Parker gives many examples of how she and her organizations reached people that had been thought to be difficult to reach. If you are a nature communicator - and I think nearly all of us are, even if only with our family and friends - you'll walk away from this episode with some new tools in your toolkit.  After 25 years in environmental education, Parker's personal and life experience led her to a bigger calling - founding The Inclusive Guide. It's an online crowdsourced review service, like Yelp, but focusing on safety, accessibility, and inclusion. The guide is for everyone, regardless of race or identity, and covers not only businesses but also parks, outdoor spaces, nature centers, and more. Check The Inclusive Guide, consider contributing to their gofundme. Reach the Inclusive Guide at hello@inclusiveguide.com, instagram or twitter. Parker's on TikTok, IG, Twitter and LinkedIn.And stay tuned until the end to hear about a roly poly the size of a football (video here)FULL SHOW NOTESBlack Nature: Four Centuries of African American Nature Poetry by DungyButterfly PavilionCrystal Egli Inclusive Guide cofounderThe Diverse Green ProjectEcoInclusiveThe Inclusive GuideOutdoor Afro The following music was used for this media project:Music: Spellbound by Brian Holtz MusicFree download: https://filmmusic.io/song/9616-spellboundLicense (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-licenseArtist website: https://brianholtzmusic.com Support the show

Today's episode is really exciting and was a new experience for me - a field interview! And I couldn't have asked for a better guest than Michelle Foss, Director of Resource Stewardship at Fontenelle Forest in Bellevue, Nebraska. Fontenelle Forest is not what most people would typically think of if they envisioned Nebraska. It is 2100 acres, with a mosaic of habitats. It's largely wooded, and much of it heavily forested. It is hilly, and also includes riparian spans, flood plains and hilltop prairies when considering the Neale Woods portion of the properties.For this episode, Michelle and I took a walk in the forest, with my goal to learn more about the ecology of this system and the stewardship that Michelle and the team at Fontenelle Forest oversee. You'll hear our footsteps, singing birds, and even evidence of the hills we were walking in the form of our occasional heavy breathing. And in a way this is like many of the nature hikes I lead, where we have a hike theme, but we give ourselves leeway to discuss and interpret fun things we happen upon along the way. So be prepared to learn about Bur Oaks, Loess soil and the Loess Hills, American Redstarts, the natural fire regime of this more eastern North America forest, how the team is working to restore more of the natural habitats, and much more.  You can follow Fontenelle Forest on twitter, instagram, and facebook.  FULL SHOW NOTESLinks To Topics DiscussedBiological "Rules" - interesting relationships seen in nature.Fontenelle Forest Nature Search (ffnaturesearch) - excellent catalog of living things found at Fontenelle ForestNebraska Natural Legacy Project - map showing Nebraska's 35 unique biological landscapesOther Nature's Archive Episodes You Might LikeIf you enjoyed this episode, you might also like these: Today we spoke a bit about prairies and wildfire. Check out my interview with Chris Helzer, The Prairie Naturalist, to learn more about prairie management. And check my interview with Rick Halsey on wildfires in the western USA. Today I pointed out leafminers and plant galls. Check out my interview with Charley Eiseman where leaf miners are covered extensively, or Adam Kranz for plant galls. Episode Ideas?Do you have an idea for an episode or a guest? Maybe it's you? Please contact me at naturesarchivepodcast AT gmail DOT com. Music CreditsOpening - Fearless First by Kevin MacLoedClosing - Beauty Flow by Kevin MacLoedBoth can be obtained from https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/ The following music was used for this media project:Music: Spellbound by Brian Holtz MusicFree download: https://filmmusic.io/song/9616-spellboundLicense (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-licenseArtist website: https://brianholtzmusic.com Support the show

Today's episode is a bit unique. As I mentioned in my monthly newsletter a couple months ago, I've been very impressed with a new podcast called Golden State Naturalist. I've had the pleasure of speaking with its creator, Michelle Fullner, a couple of times, and thought it would be fun to discuss her rapid success, and expose more people to her work. One of my goals with Nature's Archive was to find inspiring people charting unique ways to help the environment, and Michelle fits the bill! And at the same time I'm at a moment of transition. I hit 50 episodes and two years of Nature's Archive over the last few months, and I'm working hard to get my new nonprofit, Jumpstart Nature, launched. I also wanted to share more about this journey with all of you, too. I hope this gives you all insight into what makes me tick, and what I have in my pipeline. So Michelle and I agreed to interview each other about our podcasts, some of the fun, surprising, and dreadful things we've encountered, and what's next in our plans and metaphorical journeys.  If you haven't listened to Golden State Naturalist, Michelle gets out in the field with experts to discuss unique parts of California's nature. She's covered geology, giant sequoias, beavers, oak trees, and more. It's authentic, entertaining, and educational. And the more traditional Nature's Archive episodes continue in two weeks. I have a great set of topics recorded or in the queue, ranging from forest management to raptors to slime molds. What fun!You can find Golden State Naturalist on any podcast app, or by going to the website. Michelle is also on instagram, so be sure to check her out! FULL SHOW NOTESLinks To Topics Discussed California Naturalist Program informationEffie Yeaw Nature Center, Sacramento, CA [instagram]Golden State Naturalist PodcastSacramento Tree FoundationMusic:  Beauty Flow by Kevin MacLoed  The following music was used for this media project:Music: Spellbound by Brian Holtz MusicFree download: https://filmmusic.io/song/9616-spellboundLicense (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-licenseArtist website: https://brianholtzmusic.com Support the show

My guest today is Dr. Karlisa Callwood. Dr. Callwood is the director of the community conservation education and action program for the Perry Institute for Marine Science, and an expert on the coral reef fisheries of the Bahamas, and has a PhD in Ecosystem Science and Policy from the University of Miami in Florida. Today we talk about about the coral reef systems of the Bahamas, how they function, their overall health, and a couple important species that call the reefs home - spiny lobster (Panulirus argus) and parrot fish. In fact, Dr. Callwood's research and expertise goes well beyond these animals and their ecology, and into the social and cultural impacts of policy and fishing at the reefs. Dr. Callwood tells us how an emerging Parrotfish fishery adds new pressures to the coral ecosystem. And how the spiny lobster fishery, driven partly by few regulations for Bahamian citizens, has evolved to include new forms of fishing that are more productive for the fishers, but also put fishers in conflict with each other. And these new methods have unknown long term ecological impacts, as Dr. Callwood explains. As you'll hear, Dr. Callwood combines ecological knowledge with building trusting relationships with the people on the islands, allowing her to deeply understand the motivations and rationale of the fishers. This understanding allows her to assess and recommend policy responses that strike a balance between reef health and the needs and motivations of the people on the islands. You can find Dr. Callwood on twitter @Sci_in_Color and instagram @science_in_color. It's a fascinating set of topics today - please enjoy!FULL SHOW NOTES The following music was used for this media project:Music: Spellbound by Brian Holtz MusicFree download: https://filmmusic.io/song/9616-spellboundLicense (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-licenseArtist website: https://brianholtzmusic.com Support the show

Today's guest is Dr. Brian Brown, Curator of Entomology at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County. A native of Toronto, Canada, Dr. Brown did his undergraduate and masters work at the University of Guelph. During the latter, under the tutelage of well known entomologist Steve Marshall, Dr. Brown took up the study of the fly family Phoridae. This is a phenomenally diverse family of extremely interesting flies that, of course, we discuss at length today. In 1990, Dr. Brown obtained his doctorate at the University of Alberta in Canada, followed by a postdoctoral fellowship at the Smithsonian Institution and University of Maryland. In 1993 he took up his current position in Los Angeles. Today we discuss Dr. Brown’s work at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County - in particular, the scale and diversity of the collections, and the implications of that on the work that he does.  We pretty quickly delve into the aforementioned phorid flies. There are potentially as many as one million species of these flies, but to give you an idea of the diversity and scale of the work, only 4,500 have been described to date. Yes, you heard that right! Dr. Brown discusses the challenges of having so few people studying such an immense diversity of species, and approaches involved such as DNA barcoding. Even among the 4500 described species, there are many amazing natural history stories that we get into, ranging from the aptly named “Coffin Fly” to ant-decapitating phorids. We weave in and out of many fascinating subjects, from research in the Amazon canopy, to surprising discoveries in Los Angeles, to invasive ant species. You can find Dr. Brown through the museum’s website at nhm.org, on his blog at flyobsession.net, or his Phorid fly site at phorid.net. This discussion was full of surprises and a lot of fun, and I hope that you enjoy it as much as I did. FULL SHOW NOTESLinks To Topics Discussed Dan Janzen, ecologist cataloging Costa Rican biodiversity flyobsession.net - Dr. Brown's blog Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County The Nature Conservancy - conservation charity recommended by Dr. Brown Phorid.net - Dr. Brown's Phorid resource Rainforest Trust - conservation charity recommended by Dr. Brown The following music was used for this media project:Music: Spellbound by Brian Holtz MusicFree download: https://filmmusic.io/song/9616-spellboundLicense (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-licenseArtist website: https://brianholtzmusic.com Support the show

It’s mid-summer here in the northern hemisphere, and that means vacation season. So this week’s episode is a solo one, to give me a little space for my vacation. Don’t worry, regular episodes return next time, including topics such as Caribbean coral reef systems, the incredible diversity of flies (yes, flies are more incredible than even the experts know!), raptor ecology, and eastern North American deciduous forests. And that just covers episodes in various stages of development during the month of July! Before the main topic, be sure to check out my latest blog post that has more field guide recommendations from Cricket, Allen, and I. If you don't know what I'm talking about, listen to Episode 47 for an amazing discussion about an eclectic mix of field guides.The main topic today is Jumpstart Nature, my new non-profit! I'm making progress, and even have a new logo. See the FULL SHOW NOTES for a preview!Today's episode gives a few glimpses into my plans, and reveals a core element - The Ladder of Environmental Care.  The following music was used for this media project:Music: Spellbound by Brian Holtz MusicFree download: https://filmmusic.io/song/9616-spellboundLicense (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-licenseArtist website: https://brianholtzmusic.com Support the show

As cities grow further into wildlands and natural habitats, and as animals attempt to adapt to these urban environments, it is inevitable that people and wildlife will come into more contact. My guest today, Jessica Wolff, works to help people and wildlife when these interactions occur. She is an Urban Wildlife Coordinator for the Nevada Department of Wildlife. As an Urban Wildlife Coordinator, Jessica educates the public and fields calls from the public. These calls include questions about unexpected animals in people's yards and houses and reports of sick or injured wildlife in the city. And occasionally Jessica is dispatched to assess, capture, move, or otherwise help animals in distress. Today we discuss the most common wildlife encounters that Jessica handles, ranging from coyotes, to bats, to raccoons, to fledgling birds. And this allowed us to get into some of the natural history and urban adaptations that these animals have.  Jessica also answers listener questions about bat boxes and fox burrows, and adds some insights into some of my own backyard wildlife.  I know that I'm coming away from this conversation with a better perspective on what it means to offer resources - intentionally or unintentionally - to wild animals.  You can find Jessica at jawolff93 on instagram, and the Nevada Department of Wildlife on Facebook or their website.FULL SHOW NOTESLinks To Topics Discussed The Accidental Ecosystem, People and Wildlife in American Cities, Dr. Peter Alagona. See my podcast episode with him, too. BatCon International Bat House Resources Bats and Insecticides from BatCon International How do pesticides affect bats? – A brief review of recent publications, J. M. Oliveira, A. L. F. Destro, M. B. Freitas, L. L. Oliveira - from the Brazilian Journal of Biology Merlin Tuttle's Bat Conservation Nevada Department of Wildlife PBS "Nature" Coywolf Infographic Smithsonian Magazine article on "Coywolves" - Coyote and Wolf hybrids in Eastern North America The following music was used for this media project:Music: Spellbound by Brian Holtz MusicFree download: https://filmmusic.io/song/9616-spellboundLicense (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-licenseArtist website: https://brianholtzmusic.com Support the show