It’s a wonderful thing for birds to have water, both in the summer and winter. In this episode, John and Brian are sharing some fun facts that you won’t hear anywhere else when it comes to birds and water. For example, did you know that birds and dogs deal with water in the same way? Plus, offering a dependable source of water is probably the simplest step you can take to greatly increase the variety of birds in your yard. With the summer heat in full swing, now is the time to add a bird bath to...
Aug 12, 2021•30 min•Season 1Ep. 34
John and Brian are taking some much-needed time off this week. We didn’t want to leave you without an episode, so you get to hear from our producer, Evan—the guy behind the scenes that makes everything happen. Evan is sharing reviews, highlighting key episodes, and talking about what’s on the horizon for Nature Centered. You won’t want to miss it!
Jul 29, 2021•15 min•Season 1Ep. 33
It's that time of year, the birds are putting on a brand-new coat to get ready for migration or winter. In this episode, you’ll learn about the different kinds of feathers, what they do, what they’re for, and how to ID them. John and Brian are sharing all their fun feather facts with you!
Jul 15, 2021•30 min•Season 1Ep. 32
It’s summertime and vacation season is here. If you’re just in the backyard or taking a trip across the country, John and Brian are sharing resources to help you find birds wherever you are. Whether you’re looking for birding spots or need ID help, this episode will inspire you to go out and see more birds regardless of your location.
Jul 01, 2021•27 min•Season 1Ep. 31
In this episode, John and Brian are talking all about baby birds! With summer here and birds bouncing around your yard, can you tell which ones are babies? You'll learn what to do if you find a baby bird that's fallen out of its nest. They also discuss what the cicada event means for backyard birders.
Jun 17, 2021•25 min•Season 1Ep. 30
Father’s Day is on the horizon, so this episode is about award-winning bird dads. John and Brian are talking about all the cool things bird fathers do to help raise their young. You’ll be surprised at how some of these bird dads make mammal dads look like slackers.
Jun 03, 2021•27 min•Season 1Ep. 29
This episode is all about pollinators. John and Brian are discussing monarch butterflies and mason bees. These critters are so important to your backyard; they don’t just help your plants, but the birds as well. What’s bugging you? We hope it’s not the pollinators!
May 20, 2021•29 min•Season 1Ep. 28
It’s springtime, there’s a lot happening in our backyards. It doesn’t get much better than when you see that first hummingbird show up! In this episode, John and Brian will break down the different hummingbird and oriole species. They’ll also answer some FAQs when it comes to nectar feeding and how you can bring these birds to your yard.
May 06, 2021•28 min•Season 1Ep. 27
Spring is here, and you know what that means! New feathered visitors will be arriving soon. Do you have the right foods and features to bring in the most variety of these spectacular spring species? Don't worry, John and Brian are here to tell you about some of the easiest and best ways to get your yard ready so you and your birds can enjoy each other's company all season long.
Apr 22, 2021•25 min•Ep. 26
In this episode, John and Brian are joined by Naturalist David Mizejewski from the National Wildlife Federation. Together, they break down the components needed to make your backyard the ideal bird habitat. As stewards of our own backyards, we’ve never been more empowered to make a difference for wildlife.
Apr 08, 2021•28 min•Season 1Ep. 25
Join John and Brian as they introduce you to one of the coolest ways to experience the lives of a Barred Owl family. You’ll find out why so many people across the world are tuning in to watch this live owl nest cam. They also have a very special guest that will give you some fun background information and history of the owl cam.
Mar 25, 2021•22 min•Season 1Ep. 24
In this episode, John and Brian will open your eyes to a whole new perspective of what it’s like to be a baby bird or the bird parents raising a family. You will learn what to do and what not to do to help bring the next generation of birds to life in your backyard.
Mar 11, 2021•31 min•Season 1Ep. 23
Join John and Brian as they discuss one of the most common birds in the wintertime that most people seem to miss. In this episode, they're talking all things Junco. You'll learn why it's called the gray ghost and how you can bring it to your yard.
Feb 25, 2021•29 min•Season 1Ep. 22
Join John and Brian as they reveal the secret love life of birds, just in time for Valentine’s Day. They’ll share a few tidbits about birds and their lives together. You may start to look at the birds in your yard a little differently after this.
Feb 11, 2021•25 min•Season 1Ep. 21
In this episode, John and Brian break down the seven simple actions that you can take to help save the song birds. They also discuss a little bird feeding history, what has changed and where it’s going. Finally, we take some time to celebrate WBU’s 40th birthday!
Jan 28, 2021•26 min•Season 1Ep. 20
Join John and Brian in this episode as they dive into how you can be a hero for the birds by becoming a citizen scientist. They’ll talk about helpful tools you’ll need and an upcoming citizen science opportunity that you can be a part of.
Jan 14, 2021•27 min•Season 1Ep. 19
In this episode, John and Brian discuss their birding highs and lows of 2020. You’ll hear about woodpeckers, bluebirds, warblers, and more. Thanks for listening and have a happy new year everyone!
Dec 31, 2020•23 min•Season 1Ep. 18
Some countries have a beautiful tradition of encouraging kindness to birds during the holidays. One such belief is that if you spread birdseed outside your doorstep on Christmas morning, you will have good luck in the coming year. Listen as John and Brian explore different traditions from around the world that showcase our backyard friends.
Dec 17, 2020•17 min•Season 1Ep. 17
Feeding the birds isn't just about insect control, flower pollination or weed control. The simple act of feeding the birds expands far past the environmental benefits. Our customers share the most wonderful stories with us and we'd like to share them with you this holiday season! Join hosts John and Brian as they share the heartfelt stories of our customers. If you have a story you'd like to share, please reach out to us at podcast@wbu.com.
Dec 03, 2020•22 min•Season 1Ep. 16
Join John and Brian for this bonus episode with a special guest, Jim Carpenter. As the Founder and CEO of Wild Birds Unlimited, Jim has learned a lot over the past 40 years and has some great information to share about the hobby of backyard bird feeding. Be sure to check out his book, The Joy of Bird Feeding, to learn more!
Nov 25, 2020•36 min
Have you ever wondered how birds survive the cold weather? In this episode, John and Brian share how birds make it through the colder months and what you can do to help them.
Nov 19, 2020•28 min•Season 1Ep. 15
In this episode, John and Brian discuss the Winter Finch Irruption and the finches that are making their way through North America. You'll learn all about what they look like, sound like, and how you can attract them to your yard.
Nov 12, 2020•28 min•Season 1Ep. 14
Winter is coming! In this episode, John and Brian discuss how you can make your yard bird friendly and what you can do to help the birds prepare for the upcoming colder months.
Oct 29, 2020•27 min•Season 1Ep. 13
Do you know what makes an owl especially adapted to hunting at night? And how can you identify various owls just by hearing their calls? Learn these and other fun facts about one of the bird world's most fascinating species.
Oct 15, 2020•30 min•Ep. 12
Wild Birds Unlimited's Olivia McFadden tries to stump naturalists John Schaust and Brian Cunningham with questions from our audience about backyard bird feeding. Learn why you may be seeing bald birds at your feeders this time of year, why the goldfinches have disappeared and more.
Oct 01, 2020•26 min•Ep. 11
With birds flying hundreds or thousands of miles every year, migration truly is magical. Find out how the birds prepare and make their journey across North America.
Sep 17, 2020•27 min•Ep. 10
Wild Birds Unlimited naturalists John Schaust and Brian Cunningham talk about the elements of a bird-friendly habitat.
Sep 03, 2020•26 min•Ep. 9
Learn all about goldfinches from Wild Birds Unlimited naturalists John Schaust and Brian Cunningham. They share tips for how to improve your chances of attracting goldfinches by offering their favorite foods and by creating a favorable habitat.
Aug 20, 2020•27 min•Ep. 8
Wild Birds Unlimited’s Olivia McFadden joins naturalists John Schaust and Brian Cunningham to get the answers to common questions from our audience about backyard bird feeding.
Aug 06, 2020•24 min•Ep. 7
You'll learn how you can invite nesting bird families into your yard by providing the right kind of nesting boxes. Hosted by John Schaust and Brian Cunningham.
Jun 25, 2020•25 min•Ep. 6
