Cohost and Cofounder of Nature Guys Podcast sadly passed away in August 2020. Bill’s dream was for Nature Guys to continue connecting people to the natural world.

We updated our logo in 2020 with a Cooper’s hawk to honor Bill’s spirit. Listen to this episode to hear the story. Learn more about Cooper’s hawks in the episode Watch for the Cooper’s Hawk at Your Bird Feeder.

Click here to read Bill’s obituary.

Next time you pass by an old chimney keep your eye out for this amazing bird. They can eat three times their own weight every day. Special thanks to Judy Semroc for the amazing photos.

Our sources for this episode include:

• Chimney Swift Conservation Association (project directors Paul and Georgean Kyle)
  • “Chimney Swifts America’s Mysterious Birds above the Fireplace” by Paul and Georgean Kyle
  • “New Habitat for America’s Mysterious Birds” by Paul and Georgean Kyle
• Chimney Swift (Cornell)
• Chimney Swift (Audubon)
• Fun Facts About Cigars With Wings

People often put out Purple Martin houses to help control insects. In fact the Martins in the eastern United States could not exist without these houses. Special thanks to John Howard for the great pictures.

Our sources for this episode include:

• How to Attract Purple Martins
• Fun Facts About Purple Martins
• Interesting Facts About Purple Martins That Will Make You Go Wow
• Purple Martin Conservation Association

Find out the amazing story of how the House Finch made its way all the way across the United States. Special thanks to John Howard for the great pictures.

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Our sources for this episode include:

• House Finch
• Interesting Facts about House Finches
• House Finch or Purple Finch? Here’s How to Tell Them Apart
• Crossley Field Guide Books

It is challenging to be a bluebird. Learn what you can do to help this beautiful bird. Special thanks to John Howard for the great pictures.

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Our sources for this episode include:

• Eastern Bluebird (includes plans for how to build a nesting box)
• 8 Surprising Facts You Didn’t Know About Bluebirds
• Interesting Eastern Bluebird Facts
• Fun Facts About Bluebirds

Damselflies are beautiful creatures. Best of all they do not bite or sting. Special thanks to our friend and naturalist John Howard for the photos that show just how beautiful damselflies are.

Related episode: Dragonflies

Our sources for this episode include:

• Damselflies – Interesting Facts on These Beautiful Insects
• What is the difference between Dragonflies and Damselflies?
• 10 Things you may not know about Damselflies

Dragonflies are something you want to have around. They love to eat mosquitoes! Special thanks to our friend and naturalist John Howard for the photos that show just how beautiful dragonflies are.

Our sources for this episode include:

• Migratory Dragonfly Partnership
• 14 Fun Facts about Dragonflies
• 7 things you never knew about dragonflies
• Fun Facts about Dragonflies

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Native bees are incredibly efficient at pollinating plants and they are very docile.

Our sources for this episode include:

• 6 Amazing Facts About Mason Bees
• The Leafcutter Bee
• Crown Bees (where Bob got his bees)

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Bob learns that you can see this frog in the winter! Special thanks to John Howard for the excellent photos.

Related episodes: Green Frogs Sing the Blues, Gray Treefrogs Freeze,
Wood Frogs Quack It Up, Jeepers Spring Peepers

Our sources for this episode include:

• American Bull Frog (National Geographic)
• American Bull Frog (NatureMapping)
• American Bull Frog Facts

Bob has a conversation with Mark Kurlansky the award winning author of the book Salmon: A Fish, the Earth, and the History of Their Common Fate.

Our sources for this episode include:

• Mark Kurlansky (visit his web site at www.markkurlansky.com)
• Salmon: A Fish, the Earth, and the History of Their Common Fate by Mark Kurlansky
• The World Without Fish: How Kids Can Help Save the Oceans by Mark Kurlansky
• Cod: A Biography of the Fish that Changed the World by Mark Kurlansky