Nature Guys

Bob reads an email from a listener (Linda) with a question about eBird that inspired us to do a whole episode on eBird. Charles starts out explaining the capabilities and the value of eBird both to the user and the scientific community. He and Bob go on a virtual birding trip to demonstrate how you can use eBird. Related episodes: Merlin Magic and Merlin 2 Our source for this episode: eBird by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology

Greg explains some amazing traits of apple trees. Bob shares some of the fascinating facts about John Chapman better know as Johnny Appleseed. Related episode: Walnut Woods Our sources for this episode include: The Botany of Desire by Michael Pollan Johnny Appleseed Man and Myth by Robert Price

Bob chats with Gia and special guest Jonathan about old-growth forests. Learn ways they can make you feel small in the best way. Jonathan explains how he obtained old growth certification from the Old-Growth Forest Network for California Woods Nature Preserve. Related episode: Vernal Pools Visit old growth forests in greater Cincinnati: Cincinnati Park California Woods Nature Preserve, Rowe Woods at Cincinnati Nature Center Our sources for this episode include: Old-Growth Forest Network

Bob chats with Jim McCormac the co author with Chelsea Gottfried of Gardening for Moths: A Regional Guide. Find out why gardeners can and should attract specific moths species to their properties and how to do it. Our source for this episode is the book Gardening for Moths: A Regional Guide by Jim McCormac and Chelsea Gottfried. Related episodes: The Nature of Oaks with Doug Tallamy and Bats with Merlin Tuttle

Charles takes Bob on a deep dive into the fascinating world of Water Lilies. Our sources for this episode include: Nymphaeaceae Lotus Vs. Water Lilies, What’s The Difference?

Bob chats with Bill McKibben the author of We Are Better Together, his first children’s book. He is the author of the bestsellers The End of Nature, Eaarth, and Deep Economy. Bill is the founder of the environmental organization 350.org and recently Third Act, an organization that encourages people over 60 to take action on climate change. You can find out more about Bill McKibben on his website: BillMcKibben.com Find Bill's new children's book at: We Are Better Together

Bob chats with Katherine Hauswirth, the author of two inspiring books, The Book of Noticing: Collections and Connections on the Trail and her recent book the Morning Light the Lily White Daily: Dips into Nature and Spirit. Links to Katherine’s books, newsletter and blog: The Morning Light, The Lily White: Daily Dips into Nature and Spirit by Katherine Hauswirth The Book of Noticing by Katherine Hauswirth Loving the World e-newsletter signup First Person Naturalist blog

Want to learn more about a fairly easy sparrow to identify by sight and sound? Join Bob and Tina for a fascinating dive into the life and behavior of white-throated sparrows. You can find out more about Tina and Red Oaks Forest School at redoaksforestschool.org. Related episodes with Tina: A Can of Earthworms, Peregrine Falcon and What's Your Zugunruhe? Our sources for this episode include: Hear White-throated Sparrows Learning to Sing White-throated Sparrow is Not Just Another Little Brown Bird Andrea Boyer Effects of Winter Weather on White-throated Sparrows

Merlin Tuttle is a tremendous advocate for bats and has done amazing things throughout his career to help protect them and change people’s misconceptions and fears about them. His motto is “win friends not battles” and that’s been his approach throughout his 60+ years doing this work! Merlin shares with Bob some of his amazing bat adventures. Merlin will be the keynote speaker at the Arc of Appalachia’s Wildflower Pilgrimage in April of 2023. Related Episode: Bat in the House and Story: Bats! The Sequel I Never Wanted to Write from listener Jake Our sources for this episode include: Merlin Tuttle’s Bat Conservation Bat Conservation International Arc of Appalachia’s Wildflower Pilgrimage

How do you go from a city girl who likes being inside to the host of the BirdNote podcast Bring Birds Back? Tune in as Tenijah Hamilton shares her inspiring story. Thanks to Cincinnati Nature Center for sponsoring this episode. Visit www.CincyNature.org to register for February 2023 online classes and don’t forget to use promo code NATURE to get 25% off. Related episodes: Purple Martin, Whitebark Pine: The most important tree you have never heard of Our sources for this episode include: Bring Birds Back Podcast Feminist Bird Club

Bob and Gia chat about one very special bird. The etherial song of this bird is inspiring! Learn about Helen Black in this wikipedia article. Special thanks to Cornell Lab for the wood thrush audio clip (ML 29922711 Glen Chapman May 9, 2016).  Visit our web site to see Tam Teow's beautiful wood thrush art. Thanks to Cincinnati Nature Center for sponsoring this episode. Visit www.CincyNature.org to register for January 2023 online classes and don’t forget to use promo code NATURE to get 25% off. Related episodes: Merlin Magic, Merlin 2, What It’s Like to be a Bird with David Sibley Our sources for this episode include: Bird Songs All About Birds Wood Thrush Four Fun Facts about the Wood Thrush Wood Thrush Cornell Chronicle: Songbird population declines linked to acid rain, Cornell ecologists report

Bob welcomes Greg Torres back to revisit the eastern redcedar tree. Bill and Bob did an episode on this tree in 2017 and had some questions that Greg, our very own plant guru, has some thoughts on. Thanks to Cincinnati Nature Center for sponsoring this episode. Visit www.CincyNature.org – that’s C-I-N-C-Y-Nature.org – to register for January 2023 online classes and don’t forget to use promo code NATURE to get 25% off. Related Episodes: Why We Don’t Hug Eastern Redcedar Trees, Walnut Woods Our sources for this episode include: Eastern Redcedar Juniperus Virginiana Facts for Kids Eastern Redcedar Control on Range and Pasture The Pros and Cons of the Eastern Redcedar

Greg is excited to share all about a project he has been involved in for a number of years. We bring in some of the collaborators to explain their roles in this inspiring project. Tune in to learn how they turned ten acres of forgotten land into a Cincinnati City Park. Thanks to Cincinnati Nature Center for sponsoring this episode. Visit www.CincyNature.org – that’s C-I-N-C-Y-Nature.org – to register for January 2023 online classes and don’t forget to use promo code NATURE to get 25% off. Related episode: Invasive Plants Our sources for this episode include: Cincinnati Parks - Walnut Woods of Evanston Civic Garden Center Walnut Hills High School  

Bob opens with some thoughts on Thanksgiving. Many of us eat Cranberries around Thanksgiving. Charles joins Bob to share the unique ecology of this amazing plant. Related episodes: Mistletoe Our sources for this episode include: The Thanksgiving Tale We Tell is a Harmful Lie. As a Native American I’ve found a Better Way to Celebrate the Holiday by Sean Sherman The Sioux Chef’s Indigenous Kitchen by Sean Sherman (The Cranberry Sauce Recipe Beth adapted is on page 108) The Myths of the Thanksgiving Story and the Lasting Damage They Imbue by Claire Bugos The Vicious Reality Behind the Thanksgiving Myth (requires subscription to The New York Times) Cranberry Thanks to Christina Zorn for providing background research.

We have opened a can of worms with this episode! Join Tina and Bob as they discuss the common earthworm. They invite some kids to share their thoughts on earthworms. A big thanks to Ruth and Levi for inspiring this episode. Special thanks to the Cincinnati Nature Center for sponsoring this episode. You can find out more about Tina and Red Oaks Forest School at redoaksforestschool.org. Our sources for this episode include: Earthworm invaders alter northern forests (informative article suggested by Ruth) Deer, Worms and Invasives The American Robin hasn’t Always Gotten the Worm Earthworm

Hometown Nature Heroes are everywhere! Bob talks with Courtney Ryan a passionate advocate for getting kids outside. Special thanks to the Cincinnati Nature Center for sponsoring this episode. Courtney’s Recommended Resources: Sands Montessori Outdoor Campus Sands Montessori Partners: Native Roots Madison Tree Care and Landscaping Motz Turf Farms Sunbelt Rentals Books to Read:  Balanced And Barefoot: How Unrestricted Outdoor Play Makes for Strong, Confident, And Capable Children By Angela J. Hanscom  Vitamin N: The Essential Guide to A Nature-Rich Life By Richard Louv  Play The Forest School Way: Woodland Games and Craft For Adventurous Kids By Jane Worroll And Peter Houghton  There’s No Such Thing as Bad Weather: A Scandinavian Mom’s Secrets For Raising Healthy, Resilient, And Confident Kids By Linda Akeson Mcgurk  The Call of The Wild And Free: Reclaiming Wonder In Your Child’s Education By Ainsley Arment  Resources: Children and Nature Network Orange Is the New Green: Exploring the Restorative Capacity

Greg and Bob share a misunderstood plant that they both love to see in the fall. Find out why goldenrod takes the blame for sneezing in the fall. Our sources for this episode include: Sneezing? Don’t Blame Goldenrod! Five Golden Truths about Goldenrods How to Grow and Care for Goldenrod

Bob is joined by Peri, a science communicator with the National Park Service. Peri is part of a team that created season 2 of the Headwaters podcast on Whitebark Pine. Glacier National Park Conservancy funds the show.  Links: Glacier National Park Conservancy Headwaters in-depth storytelling podcast by Glacier National Park References in Headwaters show notes

In her position as Research Ecologist at Cincinnati Nature Center, Danie Frevola designed and implemented an innovative study on oak trees. Hear Danie’s inspiring story! Related Episodes: Northern Red Oak, The Nature of Oaks with Doug Tallamy and The Hummingbird Handbook with John Showy

Bob and Charles respond to a very important question about using bird sound playback from a listener. They also have a listener suggestion on a way to support Sara Dykman, the author of Bicycling with Butterflies. Related episodes: Merlin Magic, Nuttall’s Woodpecker, What It's Like to Be a Bird with David Sibley and Bicycling with Butterflies with Sara Dykman Our sources for this episode include: TEDxBozeman talk by Charles van Rees: A glance through nature’s playbook Merlin App by The Cornell Lab Proper Use of Playback in Birding by David Sibley Sara Dykman’s Go Fund Me Campaign: Counting Monarchs in Mexico