Gia and Bob are once again excited about the arrival of the 17 year periodic cicadas. In 2025 it is Brood XIV that we welcome back. We hope to inspire you to either love cicadas or maybe just hate them a little less. Bob and Gia share 17 cool things about cicadas. There is nothing to fear when the cicadas are here!

Related episodes: Cicadas are Kinda Cute, The Nature of Oaks with Doug Tallamy

Web sources for this episode include:

• Cicada Safari App created by Dr. Gene Kritsky 
• Cicada Mania – Cicada Insect News, Facts, Life Cycle, Photos …

Books about cicadas:

• When the Woods Hum by Joanne Ryder (out of print check your library)
• Cecily Cicada 2021 Edition By Kita Helmetag Murdock and Patsy Helmetag
• Periodical Cicadas The Brood X Edition by Gene Kritsky

Bob talks with John Seed who started working on saving rain forests in Australia in 1979. John explains how he learned about biodiversity and Deep Ecology.

To learn more about John Seed check out:

• The Rainforest Information Centre – organization founded by John Seed
• Thinking Like a Mountain – free PDF
• John Seed Deep Ecology – includes subscribing to John’s mailing list

Tina from Red Oaks Forest School joins Bob to explain Zugunruhe and the yellow warbler. Find out what the heck a warbler is and how you can see some during spring migration.

Related episodes: What’s Your Zugunruhe?, Merlin Magic

Our sources for this episode include:

• Songbird Journeys by Miyoko Chu (book recommended by Tina)
• Yellow Warbler Migration
• When will Yellow Warblers Return

Greg Torres, our plant guru, talks all about trees. Tune in to find out why trees have a special place in Greg’s heart.

Related episodes: Sit Spot, Mistletoe

Prayer of the Woods (Portuguese folk tradition)

“I am the heat of your hearth on the cold winter nights.
The friendly shade screening you from the summer sun,
and my fruits are refreshing draughts quenching
your thirst as you journey on.”

“I am the beam that holds your house.
The board of your table, the bed on which you lie
and the timber that builds your boat.”

“I am the handle of your hoe, the door of your homestead,
the wood of your cradle and the shell of your coffin.”

“I am the bread of kindness and the flower of beauty.
Ye who pass by listen to my prayer: “Harm me not.”

Carol Mundy, the host of the radio show Outdoor Life, collaborates on this second episode about cats. This episode focuses on feral cats and was inspired by an email from listener Steve Inglish.

Related episode: Cats

Our sources for this episode include:

• Cat Wars The Devastating Consequences of a Cuddly Killer by Peter P. Mora and Chris Santella
• The Lion in the Living Room How House Cats Tamed Us and Took Over The World by Abigail Tucker

Bob runs into a pet opossum with his grandson Drew and his friend Graeme in a city park. Poppy is very cute and inspired us to listen to a podcast Bob and Bill recorded back in 2017.

Related episodes: Bat in the House and Sick of Ticks

Our sources for this episode include:

• 10 things you didn’t know about opossums
• Wildlife Rescue: Opossums
• Opossums – killers of ticks
• The ‘Possum Pages: FAQs
• Opossum Defense Mechanisms

Bob joins Carol Mundy on her radio show Outdoor Life to discuss one of the most successful invasive species on the planet, the house cat.

Our sources for this episode include:

• Cat Wars: The Devastating Consequences of a Cuddly Killer by Peter P. Mora and Chris Santella
• The Lion in the Living Room: How House Cats Tamed Us and Took Over The World by Abigail Tucker

Bob and Tina record in front of a live audience to share stories about crows. This bird is easy to identify but its behavior is very complex. Find our why Tina is a crow lover and listen to some amazing stories about crows. If you have your own crow story share it on our website via speak pipe or in the comment section for this episode.

Related episodes: Peregrine Falcon, Coyote Love

Our sources for this episode include:

• Gifts of the Crow by John Marzluff and Tony Angela
• Birdology by Sy Montgomery

Caroline joins Bob to talk about her true passion Native Grasses. Learn how these grasses can add to the diversity of life in the landscapes of our neighborhoods.

Related episodes: Lawns, Boxwood Bash

Our sources for this episode include:

• Understanding Roots by Robert Kourik
• Benefits of Native Grasses in Urban Landscaping
• Beyond Flowers: Enhancing Wildlife Gardens with Native Grasses
• Establishing Early Successional Habitat for Wildlife

Bob and Greg delve into one of their favorite plants, the Prickly Pear Cactus. It has a range far beyond the dessert so you should be able to find it in your area.

Our sources for this episode include:

• US Forest Service Prickly Pear
• What Animals Eat Cactus
• 5 Facts About Prickly Pear Cactus
• Nine Interesting Facts about Prickly Pear