Nature Guys got a wonderful email from Kim who homeschools her children and wanted some advice. Her oldest son is hoping to do something in the field of nature. I also received this email from Charles Van Rees a Conservation Biologist and Naturalist offering to be a guest on the show.

“I want first and foremost to thank you for bringing your expertise, humor, warmth, and energy to a great podcast on natural history. I recently moved from a crowded city in Europe to rural Montana, and have been looking for good podcasts on natural history to keep my mind occupied during frequent, long drives. Your podcast has brought me a lot of joy, laughs, and learning during a tough transition and helped me get back in touch with North American nature. Thank you so much! On my way into work this morning I heard your ‘Welcome 2020’ podcast and your mention of wanting to feature more ‘humans’ on the show. In case you were looking for additional humans, I wanted to offer myself as a potential guest, since I absolutely adore the show and would love to give something in return. I’m a wetland ecologist and conservation biologist with expertise in freshwater biodiversity and ornithology, and currently work as a postdoctoral research scientist at Flathead Lake Biological Station in Polson, Montana. My past work has been on endangered water birds in Hawaii and migratory gulls in Seville, Spain. Aside from that, I’m a passionate student of natural history and have been trying to spend more time integrating nature study into my work as my career advances. I’ve been featured on a couple podcasts before and think it’s tremendous fun. If you’d like to learn more about me I’d be happy to chat anytime, or you can have a look at my website.”

I decided it would be a good idea to have Charles answer Kim’s email. What started as an email exchange evolved into doing a complete episode. If you know people who are interested in the natural world as a career please share this episode with them.

You can contact Charles and learn more about his activities via Charles Van Rees website or Twitter @Gulothoughts.

Special thanks to Cinfed Credit Union for sponsoring this episode.

Nature Guys Podcast spends lots of time connecting you to nature on this amazing planet. We are excited to have Dean Regas the astronomer for the Cincinnati Observatory, as a special guest on Nature Guys. After this episode I think you are going to be inspired to step outside and look up.

• 100 Things To See In The Night Sky by Dean Regas
• Looking Up podcast

Special thanks to Cinfed Credit Union for sponsoring this episode.

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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