Today our guest is Dr. Arline Bronzaft, an environmental psychologist from Quiet Communities who specializes in the effects of sound on animals like birds and people. She tells us about ways to make your yard a quiet oasis for birds and other critters. For more information, go to www.quietcommunities.org. Join Catherine Greenleaf, a certified wildlife rehabilitator with 20 years of experience rescuing and rehabilitating injured birds, for twice-monthly discussions about restoring native habitat ...
Jun 20, 2024•27 min•Season 5Ep. 106
Today we have as our guest Megan Stolen, a forensic wildlife scientist from Blue World Research Institute in Florida. Megan was recently called in to evaluate a rash of unusual and suspicious pelican injuries and deaths in Brevard County. The case led to an investigation by state authorities. To make donations to the Florida Wildlife Hospital of Palm Shores, Florida please go to https://floridawildlifehospital.org. To find out more about Blue World Research Insititute (BWRI) go to: https://bwri....
Jun 06, 2024•30 min•Season 5Ep. 105
ENCORE PRESENTATION: In today's episode, we speak with award-winning author Dr. Doug Tallamy about his new book The Nature of Oaks: The Rich Ecology Of Our Most Essential Native Trees. The native Oak tree is a keystone species and provides sustenance for hundreds of species of birds, butterflies and other creatures. Hear Doug explain the best way to plant an oak tree. For more information on Dr. Tallamy's work go to: homegrownnationalpark.org. Join Catherine Greenleaf, a certified wildlife rehab...
May 23, 2024•42 min•Season 5Ep. 104
Today our guest is Judith Schwartz, award-winning author of the incredible book, Water In Plain Sight: Hope For A Thirsty World. Judith explains to us how trapping, slowing down and absorbing water on your property contributes to healthy small-water systems and helps decrease out-of-control flood and drought cycles in your region. To read more about Judith and her book go to https://www.judithdschwartz.com. For further information on the work of hydrologist Michael Kravcik, go to Water For The R...
May 09, 2024•25 min•Season 5Ep. 103
Today's guest is Dave Crawford, creator of the marvelous new pet rescue app phar.org, as well as the wildlife rescue app animalhelpnow.org. Dave also tells us about the devastating wildfire that destroyed his home and his neighborhood during the Marshall Fire of 2021 and how he is rebuilding his lfe. Go to phar.org and/or animalhelpnow.org. For info on the book, Filling The Ark by Dr. Leslie Irvine, go to https://tinyurl.com/2w2dtdhb. Join Catherine Greenleaf, a certified wildlife rehabilitator ...
Apr 25, 2024•29 min•Season 5Ep. 102
Today our guest is Gina Kent, senior scientist with the Avian Research and Conservation Institute out of Gainesville, Florida. Gina tells us all about the Swallow-Tailed Kite. For more info on the Avian Research and Conservation Institute, go to ARCInst.org. For the ARCI Eyes On Kite program, go to: https://www.arcinst.org/eyes-on-kites. For more info on the Swallow-Tailed Kite go to https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Swallow-tailed_Kite/id#. Join Catherine Greenleaf, a certified wildlife rehab...
Apr 11, 2024•26 min•Season 5Ep. 101
Today we are joined by Catherine Quayle of the Wild Bird Fund, Christine Sheppard from the American Bird Conservancy and New York State Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal to discuss the phenomenon that was Flaco the Owl. We discuss this bird's celebrity status and how Flaco's death could have been prevented. State Senator Hoylman-Signal offers legislative solutions to glass windows, which kill one billion birds every year in the U.S. Did you know that 44% of all bird collisions with glass occur at your ...
Mar 28, 2024•34 min•Season 5Ep. 100
Today's guest is Phil Brown, Bird Conservation Director with the Harris Center for Conservation Education in Hancock, New Hampshire. Phil tells us all about a new program the Harris Center is spearheading to help boost Kestrel numbers in New Hampshire. For more information go to: harriscenter.org. For more information on the American Kestrel Partnership go to: https://kestrel.peregrinefund.org. For more information on Hawk Mountain Sanctuary go to: hawkmountain.org. To report a Kestrel sighting ...
Mar 14, 2024•31 min•Season 5Ep. 99
Today's guest is Tuscon, Arizona resident, gardener and photographer Martha Retallick. Martha has written a wonderful new book called City Nature. In the book she chronicles how she tackled the challenge of harvesting rainwater for her house and gardens -- and created an oasis for birds. For more info, go to her website at: westernskycommunications.com. Go to Texas Metal Tanks at: texasmetaltanks.com. Join Catherine Greenleaf, a certified wildlife rehabilitator with 20 years of experience rescui...
Feb 29, 2024•26 min•Season 5Ep. 98
Today we speak with avian rehabilitator Stephanie Ellis about her experiences hatching, raising and renesting orphaned Osprey chicks. Stephanie is the Executive Director of WildCare in Eastham, Massachusetts on Cape Cod. For more information, go to wildlifecarecapecod.org. Send your donations to: Wild Care Cape Cod, 10 Smith Lane, Eastham, MA 02642. Join Catherine Greenleaf, a certified wildlife rehabilitator with 20 years of experience rescuing and rehabilitating injured birds, for twice-monthl...
Feb 15, 2024•33 min•Season 5Ep. 97
Today we speak with Hardy Kern from the American Bird Conservancy about the latest scientific findings (2023) regarding insecticides, like neonicotinoids, and their impacts on birds. We also talk about what you can do to protect birds from deadly insecticides. For more information, go to: abcbirds.org/2023neonicsreport. For more information on imidacloprid go to: http://tinyurl.com/43vtuu4w. For more information at thiamethoxan go to: http://tinyurl.com/45ec89uz. For more information on clothian...
Feb 01, 2024•31 min•Season 5Ep. 96
In today's episode, we speak with renowned ecological landscape designer and gardening consultant Kathy Connolly about the best way to prepare your site and soil for a native garden. Plants mentioned in the show: Carolina Rhodedendron; low-growing Juniper; Northern Sea Oats; Big Bluestem; Little Bluestem; Switchgrass; Prairie Dropseed. Go to: The Magical World of Moss Gardens by Annie Martin at: https://www.amazon.com/Magical-World-Moss-Gardening/dp/1604695609. Conway School of Landscape Design:...
Jan 18, 2024•36 min•Season 5Ep. 95
Daniel Wilson joins us today from Tri-State Bird Rescue in Delaware to discuss the amazing process of rescuing and rehabilitating birds contaminated by oil spills. For more information go to www.tristatebird.org. Go to GOWRS or Global Oiled Wildlife Response Service at http://tinyurl.com/yfxjkr22. Go to Sea Alarm at https://www.sea-alarm.org/category/gowrs/. Go to Coast Guard National Response Center at https://www.epa.gov/emergency-response/national-response-center. Join Catherine Greenleaf, a ...
Jan 05, 2024•31 min•Season 5Ep. 94
Wishing you the happiest of holidays! In our final episode of the year, we invite you to join us for some festive cheer as we speak with legendary organic gardener and author Maria Rodale about her new book, Love, Nature, Magic: Shamanic Journeys Into The Heart Of My Garden. In her book Maria chronicles the shamanic journeys she undertakes to communicate with plants, animals and insects. She says it's time for all of us to learn to love life and our gardens just as they are. We also have a speci...
Dec 21, 2023•26 min•Season 4Ep. 93
Today we speak with Dorian Anderson, author of the new book, Birding Under the Influence: Cycling Across America in Search of Birds and Recovery. Dorian tells us about the rare birds he sighted as he pedaled thousands of miles across the U.S. -- and how he found himself and his sobriety along the way. Go to Warm Showers at: https://www.warmshowers.org/. Sage Grouse lekking behavior at: https://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/sage-grouse-display-lekking-behavior/12260/. Go to Alcoholics Anonymous at: www...
Dec 07, 2023•28 min•Season 4Ep. 92
Would you know what to do if you got lost in the woods while birdwatching or hiking? Today we speak with Cathy Tarr, founder and executive director of the Fowler-O'Sullivan Foundation, an organization dedicated to helping families find loved ones who have gone missing in the wild. Cathy gives some very good advice on how NOT to get lost, along with tips for survival in case you do. For more information, go to the Fowler-O'Sullivan Foundation at: https://fofound.org or call 1-877-467-3363. For mo...
Nov 23, 2023•33 min•Season 4Ep. 91
Flamingos in Wisconsin? Yes! In late August, Hurricane Idalia pushed dozens of Pink Flamingos northward, with some landing in Virginia and even Wisconsin! Today we speak with Threatened Species specialist Dan Lebbin from the American Bird Conservancy about how the Flamingos are doing and how things may go once the freezing cold weather arrives. For more information on the American Bird Conservancy, go to: https://www.abcbirds.org. To track the movement of the wayward Flamingos go to: https://ebi...
Nov 09, 2023•20 min•Season 4Ep. 90
Hugger, the Broad-Winged Hawk we are sponsoring with a tracking transmitter through Hawk Mountain Sanctuary, is migrating south and in the lead! Today we talk with Rebecca McCabe, a Broad-Winged Hawk biologist, about Hugger's flight south for the winter. As of this interview, Hugger has already flown over Chiapas, Mexico and seems headed to Guatemala for a second year in a row! For more on the Veracruz River of Raptors go to https://tinyurl.com/4rytca4y. For more info on Hawk Mountain Sanctuary ...
Oct 26, 2023•20 min•Season 4Ep. 89
Today we speak with Emily Baisden, Seed Manager at Wild Seed Project. She tells us all about the best native shrubs to grow to benefit birds and pollinators. You can order Wild Seed Project's new booklet, Native Shrubs For Northeast Landscapes by going to https://wildseedproject.net/. Native shrubs mentioned in this episode: Buttonbush; Winterberry; Highbush Blueberry; Bayberry; Sumac; Hazelnut; Spirea; Viburnum; Dogwood; Spicebush; Witch Hazel and Clethra. Join Catherine Greenleaf, a certified ...
Oct 12, 2023•28 min•Season 4Ep. 88
On today's show we talk about the importance of leaving your garden alone come the fall. Fall is also a good time to check for Asian Jumping worms. We also discuss the new buzz phrase: forest blocks. What are they and why is it so important to protect them? Finally, we speak with state representative Greg Hill (Merrimack County/Northfield, NH) about an important bill he is trying to pass to protect marine life along the New Hampshire coastline (House Bill 442). Join Catherine Greenleaf, a certif...
Sep 28, 2023•22 min•Season 4Ep. 87
Fall migration time is here. Unfortunately, millions of songbirds die during migration each year flying into glass windows. Today we have as our guest Dr. Daniel Klem, Jr., noted ornithologist from Muhlenberg College and the author of an important book on how to prevent bird collisions with glass. To order his book, go to: https://www.danielklemjr.org/. Go to: https://www.freeportwildbirdsupply.com/ to learn more about the Lovitch's model windows for birds. We will be brainstorming the question:...
Sep 14, 2023•32 min•Season 4Ep. 86
Today we speak with Marie Chieppo, award-winning horticulturalist and operator of the native plant consulting business, EcoPlantPlans.com, headquartered in Sagamore Beach, Massachsuetts. Marie spoke at the Cultivate 23 conference and will be telling us all about the latest innovations regarding the manufacturing of sustainable pots in the horticultural industry. Go to her websites at: https://ecoplantplans.com/ and https://sustainableplantpots.org/. Go to Cultivate 23 at: https://www.cultivateev...
Aug 31, 2023•31 min•Season 4Ep. 85
She's back! Heather McCargo, founder of Wild Seed Project in Portland, Maine, is back on BIRD HUGGER to answer your most pressing questions about growing native plants, shrubs and trees. On today's show, we discuss what natives to grow in shady areas. Go to Wild Seed Project at: https://wildseedproject.net/. Go to Native Seed Center at Turkey Hill Farm in Cape Elizabeth, Maine at: https://tinyurl.com/mt5xupvb. Go to Polly Hill Arboretum on Martha's Vineyard at: https://www.pollyhillarboretum.org...
Aug 17, 2023•37 min•Season 4Ep. 84
Today we speak with Dave Goulson, a biologist specializing in the ecology of bees and one of the world's greatest experts on the bumblebee. We talk about his new book, Silent Earth, and how each of us can help prevent a worldwide insect apocalypse. Books by Dave Goulson: Silent Earth: Averting The Insect Apocalypse; The Garden Jungle; A Sting In The Tale; A Buzz In The Meadow; Gardening For Bumblebees; Bumblebees: Behavior, Ecology and Conservation; and Bee Quest. Join Catherine Greenleaf, a cer...
Aug 03, 2023•28 min•Season 4Ep. 83
Today we speak with ornithologist Rebecca Heisman, author of the fascinating new book, Flight Paths. We discuss the theories ancient scientists held about bird migration and how modern-day scientists track bird flight today. Go to Merlin Bird App at: tps://tinyurl.com/5368xypj. Go to ebird app at: ebird.org. Join Catherine Greenleaf, a certified wildlife rehabilitator with 20 years of experience rescuing and rehabilitating injured birds, for twice-monthly discussions about restoring native habit...
Jul 20, 2023•25 min•Season 4Ep. 82
Today we speak with Lynne Parshall, avid native gardener and the project manager of the Utility Club in the town of Lyme in the Upper Valley region of New Hampshire. She tells us about the joys and challenges of organizing and creating a community pollinator garden for the town. Go to Pollinator Pathways at: https://www.pollinator-pathway.org. How to create a community pollinator garden at: https://tinyurl.com/3sw4ahmf. Join Catherine Greenleaf, a certified wildlife rehabilitator with 20 years o...
Jul 06, 2023•21 min•Season 4Ep. 81
IT'S NATIONAL POLLINATOR WEEK! AND WE'VE GOT A SPECIAL SHOW TO CELEBRATE. Today we talk with pollinator ecologist Alicia Houk of Thetford, Vermont. Alicia is founder and director of Wild Garden Alliance in Thetford, Vermont, an organization dedicated to reversing wildlife declines by planting natives. She believes native plants should be affordable to all Americans. In today's show, Alicia explains the economic roadblocks facing your average citizen who wants to garden native and she tell us how...
Jun 22, 2023•27 min•Season 4Ep. 80
On today's show, we speak with Marge Gibson, founder and executive director of Raptor Education Group Inc. (REGI) in Antigo, Wisconsin, a rescue and rehabilitation facility that treats over 1,000 injured wild birds each year. We will talk about the recent loon fallout in Wisconsin, in which dozens of loons dropped out of the sky when an ice event caused their wings to freeze. Is this event some type of anomaly or is it a common phenomenon? Could this type of event be worsening due to climate cha...
Jun 08, 2023•21 min•Season 4Ep. 79
Today we hear about the wonderful organization Grow Native Massachusetts and their gigantic native plant sale on June 2nd and 3rd! Executive Director Heather Pruiksma also tells us all about the educational opportunities the organization is offering to the public. Website: grownativemass.org. Info on Gray Birch at https://tinyurl.com/3kje9vfc. Info on Chokecherry at https://tinyurl.com/2apvjm54. Find inaturalist app at inaturalist.org. Find Picture This Plant ID app at picturethisai.com. Dichoto...
May 25, 2023•32 min•Season 4Ep. 78
Did you know seagulls evolved a loud and raucous cry so they could be heard over the crash of waves and surf? Or that grassland songbirds evolved a buzzing and trilling call so they could be heard through the turbulence and wind shear of the open prairie? Today, we speak with award-winning biologist David George Haskell, author of the critically acclaimed book, Sounds Wild And Broken, about the evolution of bird song. Join Catherine Greenleaf, a certified wildlife rehabilitator with 20 years of ...
May 11, 2023•38 min•Season 4Ep. 77
