The Naturalist Podcast Episode 26: Nature Journaling with Marley Peifer

Lev and Sea had a chance to talk with Marley Peifer, an educator with The Occidental Arts and Ecology Center about nature journaling, cognition, and the roots of our interest in the world around us. Marley’s work can be found at http://marleypeifer.com

The Naturalist Podcast Episode 25: Awaiting Spring, and thinking about Warmer Weather

Lev and Sea have a chance to catch up and compare notes on spring. Lev talks about winter in the neotropics and the start of his guiding season with Humpback Whales, Ocellated Turkey, and upcoming trip to Ethiopia. Book review of Birds of Central America by Vallely and Dyer, and mention of several new ‘rediscoveries’ in the news.

The Naturalist Podcast Episode 24: Caves, Fishprints, and Conservation with Dante Fenolio

Sea and Lev have a chance to talk with Dante Fenolio, Vice President of Conservation and Research at the San Antonio Zoo.  Dante’s passionate approach to conservation takes him around the world from Appalachian streams to the huge cave systems of China.  Highlighting some of the many projects going on at the zoo, from Texas Horned Lizards to Amazonian Rainforest, the guys find lots of common ground in appreciation of global biodiversity, and the urgent need to find working conservation strategies.

The programs of the San Antonio Zoo can be found at:  https://sazoo.org

Dante’s Personal Site:  http://anotheca.com

Dante’s Most Recent Book:   http://lifeinthedark.net

The Naturalist Podcast Episode 23: Islands, Continents, and Squirrels with David Hembry

In this episode, Sea and Lev get a chance to talk with David Hembry, an Evolutionary Ecologist who works on island insect-plant mutualisms, and has wandered extensively around the central Pacific islands.  Between David’s islands and Lev about to travel to the Atlantic forests of Brazil, a comparison of island and continental faunas takes hold, as well as discussion of terrestriality in unexpected groups and lots of talk of squirrels.

David’s work can be found on his website here:  https://davidhembry.wordpress.com

Lev is now working with Rockjumper Birding Tours:  https://www.rockjumperbirding.com/about/bird-guides/lev-frid

And Sea is now the Special Initiatives Coordinator for the Natural History Section of the Ecological Society of America :  https://esanaturalhistory.wordpress.com

The Naturalist Podcast Episode 22: Rita talks flowers, sharks, and scallops

Lev and Sea have a chance to talk with Rita Steyn, a marine ecologist and science communicator newly in Florida by way of South Africa.  The conversation wanders from the change of seasons in North America and South Africa, the remarkable biodiversity and biogeography of the Cape Region, the recent shark attack off of Cape Cod, red tide along the coast of Florida, and the marvelous eyes of scallops.  Rita’s work can be found at scicommonground.com and @ritasteyn, where she shares her science writing and photography.

The Naturalist Podcast Episode 21: Tackling prickly issues with Anthony Porter

Lev and Sea are joined this week by Anthony Porter who is an environmental educator experiencing the first touches of fall in Minnesota.  Talk of kids, bears, wonder and flying squirrels.  And of course, Anthony’s porcupine friend Thistle.

Here is the link to Anthony’s video introduction to Porcupines:  https://youtu.be/F0F7S0g16GE

 

The Naturalist Podcast Episode 20: In the Pacific Northwest with Brendan McGarry

Our guest this episode is Brendan McGarry, a Naturalist living and working in the upper Skagit River Basin and the Cascade mountains.  We had a great conversation about the swifts living in his chimney, variability in wildflower season from year to year, his watershed ‘big year’, challenges and rewards in environmental education, and the remarkable behavior of crows.

Brendan’s blog can be found at https://wingtrip.org, and his photo catalog is located at https://www.brendanmcgarry.com

And here is the link to the fox-and-eagle video that Brendan mentions from out on San Juan Island, WA: https://youtu.be/MRZ6hl8xhtg

 

The Naturalist Podcast Episode 19: Summer Dragonflies, Reports from the Flow Edge, and Strong Feelings about Jurassic World

In this summer episode we wonder just how to define the season.  Dragonflies and damselflies prove to have more secret hiding spots in the Great Northern Boglands, as well as more common cousins to the south.  Lev fills us in on his adventures along the flow edge with Narwhal, Polar Bears, and Ross’ Gull.  Both Lev and Sea (but especially Lev) have issues with Jurassic World.

The Naturalist Podcast Episode 17: Arctic Natural History with David Shaw

In this episode we compare the East and West arctic regions of North America with Alaska naturalist, wildlife photographer, and guide, David Shaw.  Dave introduces us to the arctic coastal plain, Lev plans out the check list for the ‘flow edge’ region of Baffin Island, and the two discuss the mysterious Grey-headed Chickadee.

Dave’s website:  http://david-w-shaw.com

Dave’s Rusty Blackbird Article in Living Bird Magazine

https://www.allaboutbirds.org/rusty-blackbirds-are-rising-from-obscurity-but-falling-in-number/