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

S2E49: Malaysia - Crossroads of Sundaland

Ken chats with Charley about his recent time in Malaysia, a southeast Asian country that Charley also knows well. It's a fascinating and complicated part of the world with excellent food, friendly people, and mega-diverse forest. What are the major divisions within Malaysian society? How do its politics work? What is the food like? What's the conservation situation? Just a few of the questions that they delve into. If you wish to support this podcast, please visit our patreon page at: https://ww...

Jul 17, 202252 minSeason 2Ep. 49

S2E48: European Habitats - Dale Forbes's Top 5 & Bottom 1

Charley & Ken continue the 6-part mini-series on Habitats of the world. In this episode, Dale Forbes tells Ken & Charley about his favourite 5 (and least favorite 1) habitats from the Palearctic region. Information about and a photo of a Grizzly x Polar Bear hybrid: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grizzly%E2%80%93polar_bear_hybrid For more information on our "Guide to Wildlife Habitats of the World": https://press.princeton.edu/books/paperback/9780691197562/habitats-of-the-world Rock Ptarm...

Jul 10, 202257 min

S2E47: Australasian Habitats - Iain Campbell's Top 5 & Bottom 1

Charley & Ken continue the 6-part mini-series on Habitats of the world. Today, Iain Campbell tells Ken & Charley about his favourite 5 (and least favorite 1) habitats from the Australasian region. For more information on our "Guide to Wildlife Habitats of the World": https://press.princeton.edu/books/paperback/9780691197562/habitats-of-the-world Crested Bellbird recording courtesy of Marc Anderson, XC688698. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/688698 . License: Creative Commons Attribution-...

Jul 03, 202253 minSeason 2Ep. 47

S2E46: Neotropical Habitats - Andres Vasquez's Top 5 Bottom 1

Charley & Ken continue the 6-part mini-series on Habitats of the world. Today, Andres Vasquez tells Ken & Charley about his favourite 5 (and least favorite 1) habitats from the Neotropical region. Howler Monkey vocalization courtesy of Andres Vasquez. If you wish to support this podcast, please visit our patreon page at: https://www.patreon.com/naturallyadventurous?fan_landing=true Feel free to contact us at: cfchesse@gmail.com OR ken.behrens@gmail.com Naturally Adventurous Podcast Trave...

Jun 26, 202254 minSeason 2Ep. 46

S2E45: Afrotropical Habitats - Ken's Top 5 Bottom 1

Charley & Ken continue a new 6-part mini-series on Habitats of the world. Today, Ken tells Charley about his favourite 5 (and least favorite 1) habitats from the Afrotropical region. Earlier episodes mentioned in those one: Mozambique Coutadas (monsoon forest habitat) - https://anchor.fm/dashboard/episode/e1b4v9l Marojejy Madagascar (Indian Ocean rainforest) - https://anchor.fm/dashboard/episode/em0ffa If you wish to support this podcast, please visit our patreon page at: https://www.patreon...

Jun 19, 202239 minSeason 2Ep. 45

S2E44: Nearctic Habitats - Phil Chaon's Top 5 Bottom 1

Charley & Ken start a new 6-part miniseries on Habitats of the world. Today, Phil Chaon tells Charley & Ken his favourite 5 (and least favorite 1) habitats from the Nearctic region. Lesser Prairie Chicken recording courtesy of Andrew Spencer, XC100768. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/100768. License Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.5 If you wish to support this podcast, please visit our patreon page at: https://www.patreon.com/naturallyadventurous?fan_landing=true F...

Jun 12, 202256 minSeason 2Ep. 44

S2E43: Indo-Malaya Habitats - Charley's Top 5

Charley & Ken start a new 6-part miniseries on Habitats of the world. Today, Charley tells Ken his favourite 5 habitats from the Indo-Malaya region. Himalayan Shortwing recording courtesy of Jelle Scharringa, XC646775. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/646775. License Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 If you wish to support this podcast, please visit our patreon page at: https://www.patreon.com/naturallyadventurous?fan_landing=true Feel free to contact us at: cfchesse@...

Jun 05, 202238 minSeason 2Ep. 43

S2E42: Texas

Our biggest and best episode EVER! Ken and Charley talk about their experiences in Texas, including a tour that Ken recently guided there. Whooping Crane recording courtesy of Sue Riffe, XC533637. Accessible at https://xeno-canto.org/533637. License Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 If you wish to support this podcast, please visit our patreon page at: https://www.patreon.com/naturallyadventurous?fan_landing=true Feel free to contact us at: cfchesse@gmail.com OR ken.behre...

May 29, 202241 minSeason 2Ep. 42

S2E41: Enigmatic Wildlife Tours with Keith Barnes

Special guest Keith Barnes and Charley share their exploits of searching for Spectacled Bear in Ecuador. Keith introduces his new concept of Enigmatic Wildlife Tours. https://www.tropicalbirding.com/enigmatictours Spectacled Bear photo courtesy of Sam Woods. Desert Rain Frog recording taken from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cBkWhkAZ9ds. If you wish to support this podcast, please visit our patreon page at: https://www.patreon.com/naturallyadventurous?fan_landing=true Feel free to contact us a...

May 22, 202240 minSeason 2Ep. 41

S2E40: Ghana highlights with Charley & Ken

Charley tells Ken about his top 5 highlights from his recent Ghana tour. Nkulengu Rail recording courtesy of Bram Vogels, XC404539. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/404539. License Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 If you wish to support this podcast, please visit our patreon page at: https://www.patreon.com/naturallyadventurous?fan_landing=true Feel free to contact us at: cfchesse@gmail.com OR ken.behrens@gmail.com Naturally Adventurous Podcast Travel Nature Adventure Bi...

May 15, 202256 minSeason 2Ep. 40

S2E39: Ghana conservation with Mark Williams.

Charley interviews Mark Williams, founder & owner of Ashanti African Tours, about their conservation projects and how he ended up there. Find out more about Rainforest Rescue Ghana at https://ashantiafricantours.com/ethical-travel/ White-necked Rockfowl recording courtesy of Peter Boesman, XC719390. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/719390. License - Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 4.0 If you wish to support this podcast, please visit our patreon page at: https://www.patre...

May 08, 202237 minSeason 2Ep. 39

S2E38: Costa Rica with Ken & Charley

Charley chats with Ken about his recent trip to Costa Rica. Resplendent Quetzal recording courtesy of Paul Driver, XC137766. Accessible at https://xeno-canto.org/137766 License: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 If you wish to support this podcast, please visit our patreon page at: https://www.patreon.com/naturallyadventurous?fan_landing=true Feel free to contact us at: cfchesse@gmail.com OR ken.behrens@gmail.com Naturally Adventurous Podcast Travel Nature Adventure Birdi...

May 01, 202240 minSeason 2Ep. 38

S2E37: El Salvador with Mollee Brown

Charley & Ken chat with Mollee Brown about her recent trip to El Salvador. Links: https://www.facebook.com/mollee.brown.3 https://nighthawkagency.com/ https://thebirdingcoop.org/ Bushy-crested Jay recording courtesy of Guillermo Funes, XC197652. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/197652. License Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 If you wish to support this podcast, please visit our patreon page at: https://www.patreon.com/naturallyadventurous?fan_landing=true Feel free ...

Apr 24, 202246 minSeason 2Ep. 37

S2E36: Israel with Ken and Charley (Part II)

Ken chats with Charley again about his recent trip to Israel. Tristram's Starling recording courtesy of Daniel Parker, XC126937. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/126937. License Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 If you wish to support this podcast, please visit our patreon page at: https://www.patreon.com/naturallyadventurous?fan_landing=true Feel free to contact us at: cfchesse@gmail.com OR ken.behrens@gmail.com Naturally Adventurous Podcast Travel Nature Adventure Birdi...

Apr 17, 202259 minSeason 2Ep. 36

S2E35: Israel with Ken and Charley

Ken chats with Charley about his recent time in Israel, a country that Charley also visited 10+ years ago. It's a fascinating part of the world with excellent food, good migration birding, a surprising diversity of wild places, and some very serious security protocols! Oz Horzine's site about all the bird families of the world: http://www.birdfamiliesoftheworld.com/ Western Rock Nuthatch recording courtesy of Cedric Mroczko, XC414087. Accessible at https://xeno-canto.org/613642 License Creative ...

Apr 10, 202235 minSeason 2Ep. 35

S2E34: Charley in California with Julian Hough

Charley recounts some highlights of his current California trip to regular guest Julian Hough. Sooty Grouse recording courtesy of Thomas Magarian, XC414087. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/414087. License Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 If you wish to support this podcast, please visit our patreon page at: https://www.patreon.com/naturallyadventurous?fan_landing=true Feel free to contact us at: ken.behrens@gmail.com or cfchesse@gmail.com Naturally Adventurous Podcast T...

Apr 03, 20221 hr 8 minSeason 2Ep. 34

S2E33: Malawi Microcosm - a chat with Dzalanyama manager Frackson Kachiwawa

This week we air an interview that Ken conducted several months back, during his time in Malawi. He chats with Frackson Kachiwawa, who is the manager of the Dzalanyama Forest Lodge, in the Forest Reserve of the same name. This is a well-known birding spot, one of the richest sites in the vast miombo broadleaf woodland biome of central Africa. They talk about forest conservation, how you get a comatose lodge guest into bed, and Frackson's unusual life trajectory. https://www.dzalanyama.net If you...

Mar 27, 202228 minSeason 2Ep. 33

S2E32: Ecotourism in Ecuador with Graciela Erazo & Keith Barnes

This week Charley interviews Graciela Erazo in Spanish about the creation of Wayra Reserve in Ecuador. Keith Barnes gives an general introduction about ecotourism in Ecuador. https://www.facebook.com/wayrareserve Rufous-breasted Wood-Quail recording courtesy of Andrew Spencer, XC47828. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/47828. License Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.5 If you wish to support this podcast, please visit our patreon page at: https://www.patreon.com/naturallyadven...

Mar 20, 202235 minSeason 2Ep. 31

S2E31: Charley and Ken Seychelles chat

This week Ken tells Charley all about his recent visit to the remote Indian Ocean Seychelles islands. They talk about the biogeography, habitats, people, food, and endemic birds. If you wish to support this podcast, please visit our patreon page at: https://www.patreon.com/naturallyadventurous?fan_landing=true Feel free to contact us at: ken.behrens@gmail.com or cfchesse@gmail.com Naturally Adventurous Podcast Travel Nature Adventure Birding

Mar 13, 202239 minSeason 2Ep. 32

S2E30: Hannah & Erik Go Birding in South Africa

This week Charley interviews Hannah Buschert & Erik Ostrander, hosts of the popular birding podcast Hannah & Erik Go Birding, about their recent trip to KZN, South Africa. Check out their website: https://www.gobirdingpodcast.com/ Livinstone's Turaco recording courtesy of Andrew Spencer, XC292663. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/292663. License Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 4.0If you wish to support this podcast, please visit our patreon page at: https://www.patreo...

Mar 06, 202247 minSeason 2Ep. 30

S2E29: Charley's Top 5 birds from N Colombia

This week Charley tells Ken all about his recent tour to northern Colombia including his top 5 birds. Santa Marta Screech-Owl recording courtesy of Bram Vogels, XC694176. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/694176. License Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 If you wish to support this podcast, please visit our patreon page at: https://www.patreon.com/naturallyadventurous?fan_landing=true Feel free to contact us at: ken.behrens@gmail.com or cfchesse@gmail.com Naturally Adventu...

Feb 27, 202245 minSeason 2Ep. 29

S2E28: Colombian Frontiers, an interview with Diego Calderon

This week is an interview with well-known and well-liked Diego Calderón-Franco, a bird researcher and guide in the mega-biodiverse South American country of Colombia. Early in his birding career, Diego was captured by FARC, but this experience didn't dampen his love for birding or adventure! You can find Diego on Instagram at www.instagram.com/diegocolbirding/ and his excellent show "The Birders Show" is found at www.youtube.com/TheBirdersShow Also check out two documentaries about Diego: The Bi...

Feb 20, 20221 hr 7 minSeason 2Ep. 28

S2E27: South(west) Pacific, an interview with Peter Kaestner - Part 2

This week is the second of a two-part interview with adventurous and accomplished world birder Peter Kaestner. He tells Charley and Ken some stories from his time in New Guinea and the Solomon Islands. If you wish to support this podcast, please visit our patreon page at: https://www.patreon.com/naturallyadventurous?fan_landing=true Feel free to contact us at: ken.behrens@gmail.com or cfchesse@gmail.com Naturally Adventurous Podcast Travel Nature Adventure Birding...

Feb 13, 202247 minSeason 2Ep. 27

S2E26: South(west) Pacific, an interview with Peter Kaestner - Part 1

Renowned world birder Peter Kaestner recounts his extraordinary experiences during his diplomatic tenure in Papua New Guinea. He describes an ambitious "big day" birding trip, a harrowing helicopter journey into remote territory, and a shocking encounter with locals engaged in tribal payback and cannibalism. Kaestner also shares a challenging alpine expedition with his brother, highlighting the diverse and sometimes dangerous nature of birding in this remote region.

Feb 06, 202241 minSeason 2Ep. 26

S2E25: Oceania with Lisle Gwynn

Charley chats with fellow Tropical Birding guide Lisle Gwynne about his exploits in Oceania. If you wish to support this podcast, please visit our patreon page at: https://www.patreon.com/naturallyadventurous?fan_landing=true Tongan Megapode recording courtesy of Huw Lloyd, XC63005. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/63005. License Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.5 Feel free to contact us at: ken.behrens@gmail.com or cfchesse@gmail.com Naturally Adventurous Podcast Travel Nat...

Jan 30, 202250 minSeason 2Ep. 25

S2E24: Herping with Kevin Hutcheson. Gators, haunted houses & fairies!?

Charley chats with herpetologist Kevin Hutcheson about his adventures in pursuit of snakes & salamanders. Check out Kevin's instagram https://www.instagram.com/culvert_kev/ If you wish to support this podcast, please visit our patreon page at: https://www.patreon.com/naturallyadventurous?fan_landing=true Alligator recording courtsey of US Fish & Wildlife Service. https://www.fws.gov/video/sound.htm Feel free to contact us at: ken.behrens@gmail.com or cfchesse@gmail.com Naturally Adventur...

Jan 23, 202242 minSeason 2Ep. 24

S2E23: Travel safety

This week Charley & Ken chat about safety and security while travelling. If you wish to support this podcast, please visit our patreon page at: https://www.patreon.com/naturallyadventurous?fan_landing=true Rufous-collared Sparrow recording courtsey of Javier, XC695592. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/695592. License Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 Feel free to contact us at: ken.behrens@gmail.com or cfchesse@gmail.com Naturally Adventurous Podcast Travel Nature Adv...

Jan 14, 202257 minSeason 2Ep. 23

S2E22: Top Namibian birds with Charley & Ken

Charley & Ken talk about their top 5 birds in Namibia and the amazing places they are found in. If you wish to support this podcast, please visit our patreon page at: https://www.patreon.com/naturallyadventurous?fan_landing=true Suothern Carmine Bee-eater recording courtesy of Derek Solomon, XC41604. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/41604. License Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.5 Feel free to contact us at: ken.behrens@gmail.com or cfchesse@gmail.com Naturally Adventur...

Jan 07, 202255 minSeason 2Ep. 22

S2E21: Red-breasted Nuthatch madness, a.k.a. the Woodstock of birding. Ken chats with Julian Hough about birding culture (Part 2)

Ken chats with good friend of the podcast Julian Hough, about birding culture. This week, Julian tells about the British "twitching" (rare bird chasing) scene when he was a young man. Need to see a bird that's 100s of miles away, but you have no car, no money, and you're on crutches? No problem! If you wish to support this podcast, please visit our patreon page at: https://www.patreon.com/naturallyadventurous?fan_landing=true Siberian Thrush recording courtesy of Marta Celej, XC666367. Accessibl...

Jan 03, 20221 hr 18 minSeason 2Ep. 21

S2E20: Stringing, Twitching, and Getting Gripped! Ken chats with Julian Hough about birding culture (Part 1)

Ken chats with good friend of the podcast Julian Hough, about birding culture. We explore modern birding compared with birding 20-30 years ago, as well as American versus British birding. Julian has some crazy stories about what people will do to climb their way up the birding hierarchy! If you wish to support this podcast, please visit our patreon page at: https://www.patreon.com/naturallyadventurous?fan_landing=true Siberian Thrush recording courtesy of Yann Muzika, XC664515. Accessible at htt...

Dec 27, 202157 minSeason 2Ep. 20
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