Nature Guys

Charles suggests we do the whirligig – one of over 350,000 species of beetles. Find out about the amazing characteristics of this amazing beetle.

Check out Charles’ nature blog at Gulo in Nature. 

Related episodes: Water Striders Walk on Water and Vernal Pools

Our sources for this episode include:

• Whirligig Beetle Facts and Information Guide 2023
• Whirligig Beetles are Skimmers
• Whirligig Beetles Missouri Department of Conservation
• Experimental Studies and Dynamics Modeling Analysis of the Swimming and Diving of Whirligig Beetles (Coleoptera: Gyrinidae)

Tina suggests we do an episode on milkweed beetles. Bob is confused because he thought they were bugs. Tune in to find out what we discovered.

You can find out more about Tina and Red Oaks Forest School at redoaksforestschool.org.

Related episode: Mighty Milkweed

Our sources for this episode include:

• Milkweed Bugs
• Common Milkweed Insects
• Milkweed Bug

Milkweed beetle or bug? (from Bob’s yard)

Bob reads an email from a listener (Linda) with a question about eBird that inspired us to do a whole episode on eBird. Charles starts out explaining the capabilities and the value of eBird both to the user and the scientific community. He and Bob go on a virtual birding trip to demonstrate how you can use eBird.

Related episodes: Merlin Magic and Merlin 2

Our source for this episode: eBird by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology

Greg explains some amazing traits of apple trees. Bob shares some of the fascinating facts about John Chapman better know as Johnny Appleseed.

Related episode: Walnut Woods

Our sources for this episode include:

• The Botany of Desire by Michael Pollan
• Johnny Appleseed Man and Myth by Robert Price

Bob chats with Gia and special guest Jonathan about old-growth forests. Learn ways they can make you feel small in the best way. Jonathan explains how he obtained old growth certification from the Old-Growth Forest Network for California Woods Nature Preserve.

Related episode: Vernal Pools

Visit old growth forests in greater Cincinnati: Cincinnati Park California Woods Nature Preserve, Rowe Woods at Cincinnati Nature Center

Our sources for this episode include:

• Old-Growth Forest Network
• Old-Growth Forest Network: California Woods

Bob chats with Jim McCormac the co author with Chelsea Gottfried of Gardening for Moths: A Regional Guide. Find out why gardeners can and should attract specific moths species to their properties and how to do it.

Our source for this episode is the book Gardening for Moths: A Regional Guide by Jim McCormac and Chelsea Gottfried.

Related episodes: The Nature of Oaks with Doug Tallamy and Bats with Merlin Tuttle

Charles takes Bob on a deep dive into the fascinating world of Water Lilies.

Our sources for this episode include:

• Nymphaeaceae
• Lotus Vs. Water Lilies, What’s The Difference?

Bob chats with Bill McKibben the author of We Are Better Together, his first children’s book. He is the author of the bestsellers The End of Nature, Eaarth, and Deep Economy. Bill is the founder of the environmental organization 350.org and recently Third Act, an organization that encourages people over 60 to take action on climate change.

You can find out more about Bill McKibben on his website: BillMcKibben.com

Find Bill’s new children’s book at: We Are Better Together

Bob chats with Katherine Hauswirth, the author of two inspiring books, The Book of Noticing: Collections and Connections on the Trail and her recent book the Morning Light the Lily White Daily: Dips into Nature and Spirit.

Links to Katherine’s books, newsletter and blog:

• The Morning Light, The Lily White: Daily Dips into Nature and Spirit by Katherine Hauswirth
• The Book of Noticing by Katherine Hauswirth
• Loving the World e-newsletter signup
• First Person Naturalist blog

Want to learn more about a fairly easy sparrow to identify by sight and sound? Join Bob and Tina for a fascinating dive into the life and behavior of white-throated sparrows.

You can find out more about Tina and Red Oaks Forest School at redoaksforestschool.org.

Related episodes with Tina: A Can of Earthworms, Peregrine Falcon and What’s Your Zugunruhe?

Our sources for this episode include:

• Hear White-throated Sparrows Learning to Sing
• White-throated Sparrow is Not Just Another Little Brown Bird
• Andrea Boyer Effects of Winter Weather on White-throated Sparrows