Episode description

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.

• 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