Naturally Adventurous - podcast cover

Naturally Adventurous

Ken Behrens & Charley Hessewww.ken-behrens.com
Charley Hesse and Ken Behrens have travelled all over the globe, and accumulated a lifetime worth of adventure stories, in pursuit of wild places and wild creatures. Both are lifelong birding and natural history fanatics, and professional guides. Charley was born in the UK, but has spent his life living in Japan, Ecuador, South Africa, and now Thailand. Ken was born in the US, and has lived in South Africa and Madagascar for the last decade plus. Contact Ken and Charley: ken.behrens@gmail.com and cfchesse@gmail.com Photo Galleries: https://www.ken-behrens.com/naturally-adventurous-podcast
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Episodes

S6E28: Japanese Giant Salamanders with Richard Pearce

Charley chats with Richard Pearce about Japanese Giant Salamander conservation. Check out a YouTube video of Richard and the Salamanders https://youtu.be/OEWDx2EAJJs?si=6gzbbY3N7AUauw-e and his NPO website https://www.sustainabledaisen.org/en/home Ruddy Kingfisher recording courtesy of Peter Boesman, XC285936. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/285936. License Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 4.0 Please check out the website of our sponsor Tropical Birding: https://www.tropicalb...

Feb 08, 202645 minSeason 6Ep. 28

S6E27: Argentina with Andres Vasquez

Charley chats with regular guest Andres Vasquez about his recent trip to Argentina. Chaco Owl recording courtesy of Hans Matheve, XC965889. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/965889. License Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 4.0 Please check out the website of our sponsor Tropical Birding: https://www.tropicalbirding.com/ If you wish to support this podcast, please visit our Patreon page: https://patreon.com/naturallyadventurous?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&a...

Feb 01, 20261 hr 1 min

S6E26: Ken's weekend in Chiang Mai

Charley and Ken record another 'live from the field' episode, this time from Ken's short visit to Chiang Mai, Thailand last year. Spot-throated Babbler recording courtesy of Charley. Please check out the website of our sponsor Tropical Birding: https://www.tropicalbirding.com/ If you wish to support this podcast, please visit our Patreon page: https://patreon.com/naturallyadventurous?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=join_link...

Jan 25, 202643 min

S6E25: Seeing the World's Bird Families

Charley chat with Keith Barnes about seeing the world's bird families. Ken's photo gallery of 140/150 of the world's bird families: https://www.flickr.com/photos/kbehrens/albums/72177720330473375 Gray-winged Trumpeter recording courtesy of Peter Boesman, XC271781. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/271781. License ⁠ Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 4.0⁠⁠ Please check out the website of our sponsor Tropical Birding: https://www.tropicalbirding.com/ If you wish to support this pod...

Jan 18, 202656 minSeason 6Ep. 25

S6E24: Douglas McMeekin, a life of adventure in the Amazon

Ken talks with Douglas McMeekin, the founder of Yachana Foundation. Douglas has had a remarkable life, much of it spent in the Amazon, where he founded the Yachana Foundation, which uses for-profit ventures to fund its non-profit work in conservation and among local communities. Want to hear what it was like to travel in the Amazon in the 1960s?! Listen in! Piratic Flycatcher recordings courtesy of Marc Anderson, XC981651. Accessible at https://xeno-canto.org/981651. License: Creative Commons At...

Jan 11, 20261 hr 5 minSeason 6Ep. 24

S6E23: Rail-Babbler & Hypocolius bite the dust.

Charley tells Ken about his latest 2 new bird families. Malaysian Rail-Babbler recording courtesy of Ding Li Yong, XC987719. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/987719. License Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 4.0 Please check out the website of our sponsor Tropical Birding: https://www.tropicalbirding.com/ If you wish to support this podcast, please visit our Patreon page: https://patreon.com/naturallyadventurous?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign...

Jan 04, 202659 minSeason 1Ep. 23

S6E22: State of the Pod and 2025 Wrap-Up

Charley and Ken talk about the state of the podcast, after delivering weekly episodes for over five years (!). They chat about the results of the survey from earlier in the year, and wrap up 2025. Ken's photo gallery of 140/150 of the world's bird families: https://www.flickr.com/photos/kbehrens/albums/72177720330473375 Pallid Scops-Owl recording courtesy of Sven Normant, XC982497. Accessible at https://xeno-canto.org/982497. License Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 Plea...

Dec 28, 20251 hr 12 minSeason 6Ep. 22

S6E21: Oman Top 6 Highlights with Charley & Ken

Ken tells Charley about the top 6 experiences of his recent trip to the Arabian Peninsula country of Oman. CORRECTION / CLARIFICATION: Regarding Silverbills, the country of Saudi Arabia also has both Indian and African Silverbills, and of course much of East Africa has two species, though the Gray-headed Silverbill is in a different genus, and is quite unlike the African / Indian. Please check out the website of our sponsor Tropical Birding: https://www.tropicalbirding.com/ If you wish to suppor...

Dec 21, 202553 minSeason 6Ep. 21

S6E20: Rediscovering Lost Indian Birds with Harish Thangaraj

Charley talks with one of India's top birders, Harish Thangaraj, about some amazing rediscoveries he has made this year Jerdon's Courser recordings courtesy of P Jeganathan, XC294415. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/294415, and Harish Thangaraj, XC1038584. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/1038584. License for both: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 Please check out the website of our sponsor Tropical Birding: https://www.tropicalbirding.com/ If you wish to support this p...

Dec 14, 20251 hr 10 minSeason 6Ep. 20

S6E19: New Britain with Charley & Ken

Charley tells Ken about his recent trip to the island of New Britain in Papua New Guinea. Golden Masked-Owl recording courtesy of Charley Hesse. Please check out the website of our sponsor Tropical Birding: https://www.tropicalbirding.com/ If you wish to support this podcast, please visit our Patreon page: https://patreon.com/naturallyadventurous?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=join_link Intro by Jenna Pinchbeck https://www....

Dec 07, 202544 minSeason 6Ep. 19

S6E18: Myanmar with Charlie Harcourt

Ken chats with Charlie Harcourt about the country of Myanmar; it's biological and cultural riches, as well as its troubled history (and present). Charlie's organization for higher education access: https://www.myanmar-foundation.org Support for democracy and public assistance in Myanmar: https://www.mutualaidmyanmar.org Bird tours: https://www.myanmarbirding.com White-browed Nuthatch recording courtesy of Frank Lambert, XC80394. Accessible at https://xeno-canto.org/80394. Creative Commons Attrib...

Nov 30, 202555 minSeason 6Ep. 18

S6E17: Ken in Ecuador - Part 2

Ken tells Charley about the second half of his recent trip around northern Ecuador. It started with a wisdom tooth removal, but was all uphill from there! Please check out the website of our sponsor Tropical Birding: https://www.tropicalbirding.com/ If you wish to support this podcast, please visit our Patreon page: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/naturallyadventurous?fan_landing=true⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Intro by Jenna Pinchbeck https://www.jennapinchbeck.com/ Jennapinchbeck@gmail.com. Theme music by John...

Nov 23, 202552 minSeason 6Ep. 17

S6E16: Lebanon with Colin Conroy

Charley chats with Colin Conroy about birding in Lebanon. Syrian Serin recording courtesy of Barry Edmonston, XC721507. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/721507. License Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0. Please check out the website of our sponsor Tropical Birding: https://www.tropicalbirding.com/ If you wish to support this podcast, please visit our Patreon page: https://patreon.com/naturallyadventurous?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=c...

Nov 16, 202555 minSeason 6Ep. 16

S6E15: Indonesia with Charley & Ken

Charley and Ken chat about Indonesia, sitting in the Garuda lounge of Jakarta international airport, surrounded by clinking dishes and screaming kids (sorry about the abient noise). Sumatran Ground-Cuckoo recording courtesy of Daan Drukker, XC964067. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/964067. License Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 Please check out the website of our sponsor Tropical Birding: https://www.tropicalbirding.com/ If you wish to support this podcast, please vis...

Nov 09, 20251 hr 1 minSeason 6Ep. 15

S6E14: Ryan and Derek Sallmann - North American Top 5 Destinations

Ken chats with Ryan and Derek Sallmann about their top 5 North American birding destinations, how to start international travel, and more. These guys run the Badgerland Birding YouTube Channel (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPOxZjoHULhsO95SRN4ScPg) and Podcast (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-badgerland-birding-podcast/id1722771407). Theme music and outtro by John Behrens https://nashvilleaudioproductions.com/ Intro by Jenna Pinchbeck https://www.jennapinchbeck.com/ Jennapinchbeck@g...

Nov 02, 20251 hr 6 minSeason 6Ep. 14

S6E13: Ken in Ecuador - Part 1

Ken tells Charley about the first half of his recent trip around northern Ecuador. It was a sort of avian bioblitz around this incredibly diverse Tropical country! Please check out the website of our sponsor Tropical Birding: https://www.tropicalbirding.com/ If you wish to support this podcast, please visit our Patreon page: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/naturallyadventurous?fan_landing=true⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Intro by Jenna Pinchbeck https://www.jennapinchbeck.com/ Jennapinchbeck@gmail.com Feel free t...

Oct 26, 20251 hr 1 minSeason 6Ep. 13

NEWSFLASH: What's Happening in Madagascar?!

Ken and Charley chat about what has happened in Madagascar in recent months: protests, the flight of the president, and the installation of a transitional regime. Is this a classic African coup? Is it dangerous to visit right now? Is this a good or bad thing for the country? All these questions are addressed.

Oct 22, 202517 min

S6E12: Cuba with Mollee Brown

Ken chats with Mollee Brown about birding in Cuba. Covering this country is long overdue on the podcast! Check out Mollee's website, with information about her consulting services and tours that she guides: https://nighthawkagency.com/ Cuban Solitaire recording courtesy of GABRIEL LEITE, XC975391. Accessible at https://xeno-canto.org/975391. License Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 Intro by Jenna Pinchbeck https://www.jennapinchbeck.com/ Jennapinchbeck@gmail.comPlease ch...

Oct 19, 20251 hr 20 minSeason 6Ep. 12

S6E11: Georgia (the country, not the state) with Jackson Hagley

Charley chats with Jackson Hagley about birding in Georgia (the country, not the state) Caucasian Snowcock recording courtesy of Ding Li Yong, XC678207. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/678207. License Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 4.0 Intro by Jenna Pinchbeck https://www.jennapinchbeck.com/ Jennapinchbeck@gmail.comPlease check out the website of our sponsor Tropical Birding: https://www.tropicalbirding.com/ If you wish to support this podcast, please visit our Patreon page...

Oct 12, 202544 minSeason 6Ep. 11

S6E10: Photo Management

Charley & Ken chat about why they take photos, how they sort, manage, and backup these photos, and what they do with them. It's a big part of the life most travelling naturalists these days! Black Eagle recording courtesy of LIN Wen-Horn, XC539063. Accessible at https://xeno-canto.org/539063. License Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 Intro by Jenna Pinchbeck https://www.jennapinchbeck.com/ Jennapinchbeck@gmail.com Please check out the website of our sponsor Tropical B...

Oct 05, 202558 minSeason 6Ep. 10

S6E9: Charley in Micronesia

Charley tells Ken about his recent trip to Micronesia. Palau Nightjar recording courtesy of Todd Mark, XC113913. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/113913. License Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Please check out the website of our sponsor Tropical Birding: https://www.tropicalbirding.com/ If you wish to support this podcast, please visit our Patreon page: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/naturallyadventurous?fan_landing=true⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Feel free to contact us at: ken.behre...

Sep 28, 202547 minSeason 6Ep. 9

S6E8: Birding: Past, present and future, with Marshall Iliff

Charley chats with Marshall Iliff about Ebird, Merlin and Avilist. Check out Marshall's bio: https://www.birds.cornell.edu/home/staff/marshall-iliff/ ....and his ebird profile: https://ebird.org/profile/MzQ2MDM/world Learn more about Avilist: https://www.birds.cornell.edu/home/avilist-unified-global-checklist/ Hooded Warbler recording courtesy of Joseph Morlan, XC558114. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/558114. License Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 Please check out th...

Sep 21, 20251 hr 3 minSeason 6Ep. 8

S6E7: Ken in the Dominican Republic

Ken tells Charley about his (somewhat) recent trip around the Dominican Republic. Run-in with the police, long drives, little sleep, rental car company extortion, and yet a great time! Hispaniolan Lizard Cuckoo recording courtesy of Hans Matheve, XC963056. Accessible at https://xeno-canto.org/963056. License Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 4.0 Please check out the website of our sponsor Tropical Birding: https://www.tropicalbirding.com/ If you wish to support this podcast, pl...

Sep 14, 20251 hr 5 min

S6E6: What's in your bag?

Charley & Ken chat about some of the strange items they travel with. Sooty-headed Bulbul recording courtesy of Greg Irving, XC823878. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/823878. License Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 Intro by Jenna Pinchbeck https://www.jennapinchbeck.com/ Jennapinchbeck@gmail.com Please check out the website of our sponsor Tropical Birding: https://www.tropicalbirding.com/ If you wish to support this podcast, please visit our Patreon page: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠h...

Sep 07, 202537 minSeason 6Ep. 6

S6E5: Ken's Western US Roadtrip - Rockies and Great Plains

Charley & Ken chat about the final sector of the long western US road trip that Ken recently embarked upon. What was the biggest surprise, the biggest disappointment, the high point, and the low point?! Sprague's Pipit recording courtesy of Andrew Spencer, XC13750. Accessible at https://xeno-canto.org/13750. License Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.5 Please check out the website of our sponsor Tropical Birding: https://www.tropicalbirding.com/ If you wish to support this...

Aug 31, 20251 hr 20 minSeason 6Ep. 5

S6E04: Japanese Islands with Charley & Ken

Charley tells Ken about his recent Spring trip around several Japanese islands in search of endemic birds, mammals and herps. Amami Thrush recording courtesy of Peter Boesman, XC286175. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/286175. License Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 4.0 Please check out the website of our sponsor Tropical Birding: https://www.tropicalbirding.com/ If you wish to support this podcast, please visit our Patreon page: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/naturallyadve...

Aug 25, 202558 minSeason 6Ep. 4

S6E3: Ken's Western US Roadtrip - Pacific Coast

Charley & Ken chat about the Pacific sector of the long western US road trip that Ken recently embarked upon. What was the biggest surprise, the biggest disappointment, the high point, and the low point?! White-crowned Sparrow recording courtesy of Ed Pandolfino, XC445849. Accessible at https://xeno-canto.org/445849. License Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 Please check out the website of our sponsor Tropical Birding: https://www.tropicalbirding.com/ If you wish to s...

Aug 17, 20251 hr 4 minSeason 6Ep. 3

S6E02: Sicily Top 5 Fish

Charley gives Ken his top 5 fish from his recent trip to Sicily. Eastern Subalpine Warbler recording courtesy of Nicolò Grasso, XC986799. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/986799. License Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 Please check out the website of our sponsor Tropical Birding: https://www.tropicalbirding.com/ If you wish to support this podcast, please visit our Patreon page: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/naturallyadventurous?fan_landing=true⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Feel free to...

Aug 10, 202541 minSeason 6Ep. 2

S6E1: Ken's Western US Roadtrip - SW Deserts

Charley & Ken chat about the next sector of the long western US road trip that Ken recently embarked upon. What was the biggest surprise, the biggest disappointment, the high point, and the low point?! Canyon Towhee recording courtesy of Scott Olmstead, XC878011. Accessible at https://xeno-canto.org/878011. License Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 Please check out the website of our sponsor Tropical Birding: https://www.tropicalbirding.com/ If you wish to support thi...

Aug 03, 20251 hr 19 minSeason 6Ep. 1

S5E50: Venezuela with Diego Calderon

Diego Calderon tells Charley about Venezuela Crested Oropendola recorded by Bobby Wilcox, XC511504. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/511504. License Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0. Please check out the website of our sponsor Tropical Birding: https://www.tropicalbirding.com/ If you wish to support this podcast, please visit our Patreon page: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/naturallyadventurous?fan_landing=true⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Feel free to contact us at: cfchesse@gmail.com &a...

Jul 13, 202554 min
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