Nature's Archive

The Joshua Tree is perhaps only rivaled by the saguaro cactus as the icon of the desert southwest. Featured on U2's classic album cover, and now the backdrop of countless instagram glamor shots, its unique, almost alien look is unmistakable.But for decades the Joshua Tree was looked at with disdain - even loathing and hatred. Today, our guest is Barret Baumgart, author of the new book, “Yuck: The Birth & Death of the Weird & Wondrous Joshua Tree”. Barret explores the history of the Joshua Tree, in a book that can be considered part history, part natural history, part cultural criticism, and part ecology.Today, we delve into the strange and winding tail of the Joshua Tree and its history of evading human preconceptions and assumptions. Living on the edge, it faces a potentially bleak future, but perhaps it will thwart us once again, against all odds.Be sure to check out Barret on instagram, and on his Substack called Dumpster Fires.FULL SHOW NOTESLINKSBarret's Website, including speaking engagementsBuy YUCK - The Birth & Death of the Weird & Wondrous Joshua Tree, Yucca brevifolia from bookshop.orgSupport Us On Patreon!Buy our Merch!Music: Spellbound by Brian Holtz MusicLicense (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-licenseArtist site: https://brianholtzmusic.com Discover the Jumpstart Nature Podcast - entertaining and immersive, it's the nature fix we all need.Check past Nature's Archive episodes for amazing guests like Doug Tallamy, Elaine Ingham, and Rae Wynn-Grant, covering topics from bird migration to fungi to frogs and bats!

We love native plants and habit-friendly yards at Nature's Archive, and I have a few exciting updates from my yard: spoiler: native plants are working! And stay tuned for a re-air of a classic episode with Leslie Inman from Pollinator Friendly Yards. There are plenty of useful insights for both habitat-friendly yard practices, and community building. Afterall, we need everyone to not only take action, but spread the word.And we have new episodes around the corner, too. It's been incredibly busy these last couple of months, so thanks for your patience as we work to keep all of the proverbial plates spinning!On to the episode...I started Nature's Archive podcast in an effort to understand the stories of people making a difference for the environment. I needed to be inspired, wanted to learn how they did it, and share that inspiration and knowledge with anyone willing to listen.While we haven't strayed too far from those initial aspirations, I do have many more topic-centric episodes than I did at the start.Today's episode is a “back to my roots” episode. My guest is Leslie Inman, the founder of the wildly popular Pollinator Friendly Yards group on Facebook. With 184,000 members, it is perhaps the top spot for people to discuss sustainable personal landscaping. And even if you are not on Facebook, it's pretty likely you've seen her images and infographics. Leslie's story is an amazing example of how a little curiosity can be converted into a hugely impactful movement. Today, we discuss not only how the group formed, but the lessons that she has learned along the way. This includes how to “reach” people who may be skeptical about inviting insects to their yards, how to make it easy to get started, and more.Leslie also has two books - Your Yard is Nature and The Butterfly Egg and the Little Tree.FULL SHOW NOTESLinksPollinator Friendly YardsDave GoulsonDoug Tallamy & Homegrown National Park (TikTok)Doug Tallamy appeared on Nature's Archive Podcast Episode #26Leslie's Books - Your Yard is Nature and The Butterfly Egg and the Little TreeMary Reynolds, We Are The ArkNancy Lawson, The Humane Gardener [Book]Travis Longcore (light pollution ecologist)Wild Ones Support Us On Patreon!Buy our Merch!Music: Spellbound by Brian Holtz MusicLicense (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-licenseArtist site: https://brianholtzmusic.com Discover the Jumpstart Nature Podcast - entertaining and immersive, it's the nature fix we all need.Check past Nature's Archive episodes for amazing guests like Doug Tallamy, Elaine Ingham, and Rae Wynn-Grant, covering topics from bird migration to fungi to frogs and bats!

Today's episode is about one of the coolest plants that I can think of - both figuratively and literally! Stick with me for a moment. When you think of a parasite, what comes to mind? Maybe mosquitoes, ticks, tapeworms. Probably nothing you want to invite into your house or property.But there are parasites that are super beneficial to ecosystems.The parasite I'm speaking of is also the cool plant I alluded to. Well, it's actually a large category of parasitic plants. In fact, they've separately evolved on five different occasions. What are they?Well, mistletoes, of course! Dr. David Watson joins us all the way from Australia to talk about these spectacular plants. Today you'll learn why mistletoes are beloved by birds, provide food for many other animals, are key to nutrient cycling, and why they are literally cool plants.There are even mistletoes that grow on, get this, other mistletoes!Find Dr. David Watson on Bluesky. FULL SHOW NOTES including photos!Support Us On Patreon!Buy our Merch!Music: Spellbound by Brian Holtz MusicLicense (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-licenseArtist site: https://brianholtzmusic.com Discover the Jumpstart Nature Podcast - entertaining and immersive, it's the nature fix we all need.Check past Nature's Archive episodes for amazing guests like Doug Tallamy, Elaine Ingham, and Rae Wynn-Grant, covering topics from bird migration to fungi to frogs and bats!

Have you ever wondered why some rainshowers turn into thunderstorms? Just what happens in the atmosphere to create these dynamic, exciting, and sometimes damaging storms?I find it fascinating, because so many interesting principles are at play - things we often overlook. Like, did you know that the sun doesn't actually directly warm the air? Yes, you heard that right.Today we take a look at how thunderstorms develop, how they can turn tornadic, and of course, I tie this back to ecology. We discuss the three ingredients needed for thunderstorms - moisture, lift, and instability - and how sometimes even that is not enough. And then there is the fourth ingredient needed to create tornadic thunderstorms.You may know that I've been a weather nut since I was a kid. Back in grade school, I was so obsessed with tornadoes that I decided I'd write a book about them. My mom would take me to the library so I could check out every weather book I could find. Then I'd head home, pull out my dad's old typewriter, and create my own newsletter — Weather Extra. My subscriber list? Just me. But I was hooked.So I hope you enjoy this topic, a bit different than our typical episodes!FULL SHOW NOTESLINKSExample Forecast Discussion available on your National Weather Service website.Soil Moisture and Convection: https://journals.ametsoc.org/view/journals/apme/49/4/2009jamc2146.1.xmlSupport Us On Patreon!Buy our Merch!Music: Spellbound by Brian Holtz MusicLicense (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-licenseArtist site: https://brianholtzmusic.com Discover the Jumpstart Nature Podcast - entertaining and immersive, it's the nature fix we all need.Check past Nature's Archive episodes for amazing guests like Doug Tallamy, Elaine Ingham, and Rae Wynn-Grant, covering topics from bird migration to fungi to frogs and bats!

When we think about habitats, it's easy to picture the rich diversity on land—vast prairies, scorching deserts, lush forests, and intricate wetlands. But what if I told you the ocean is just as diverse, filled with ecosystems as unique and vital as any on land? The only difference? We can't see them as easily—but that doesn't make them any less important.Today's guest is Dr. Judith Gobin, joining us all the way from Trinidad and Tobago. Judith is a recently retired professor of Marine Biology from the University of the West Indies. And she's here to tell us about tropical marine habitats, such as mangroves, sea grass, and coral reefs. She has a particular interest in deep sea habitats, such as cold methane seeps and even whale falls. It's a bit morbid, but weighing up to 300,000 pounds, in the case of a blue whale, a dead whale literally creates its own habitat.To my surprise, I learned that the ocean floor more than 200 kilometers away from national coast lines is basically a free-for-all for exploration and resource extraction. Judi tells us about a new treaty that aims to better control these operations, which can disproportionately harm island nations such as Trinidad and Tobago.It's a deep dive into ocean science, conservation, and awe-inspiring ecosystems.FULL SHOW NOTESLinksBiodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction TreatyDeep Sea Videos mentioned by Dr. GobinDr. Diva AmonDr. Robert BallardThe E/V NautilusLamellibrachia judigobiniSupport Us On Patreon!Buy our Merch!Music: Spellbound by Brian Holtz MusicLicense (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-licenseArtist site: https://brianholtzmusic.com Discover the Jumpstart Nature Podcast - entertaining and immersive, it's the nature fix we all need.Check past Nature's Archive episodes for amazing guests like Doug Tallamy, Elaine Ingham, and Rae Wynn-Grant, covering topics from bird migration to fungi to frogs and bats!

Today's guest is the brilliant Dr. Wendy Bohon, an earthquake geologist who has a passion for making the complexities of our planet accessible and engaging. Dr. Bohon is known for her dynamic science communication - in fact, you may have seen her viral videos through her Dr Wendy Rocks channels on YouTube and other social media.Today, Dr. Bohon delves into the fascinating world of geology and earthquakes, exploring their impact on our environment and society.In this episode, you'll discover how earthquakes occur, how earthquake geologists figure out how often faults rupture through fascinating paleoseismology, and what terms like magnitude and epicenter really mean, and how they can mislead us, too!And did you know that the Richter Scale is actually no longer used? In fact, it began phasing out of use in the 1980s! What's replaced it? Check in around 49 minutes to hear the story. In fact, it turns out that earthquake magnitude is a pretty poor way of understanding earthquake impacts. Dr. Bohon has some excellent metaphors to help us visualize what really happens to a fault during an earthquake rupture.Dr. Bohon also tackles common myths about earthquakes, from breaking down the misconception of earthquake weather to clarifying the real risks of seismic events. For example, did you know that in some respects, people in the eastern United States face greater potential impacts from earthquakes? We discuss how you can prepare.And can people cause earthquakes? The answer is a resounding yes. But can we use that power to release pressures in fault systems and avoid “the big one?” - well, you'll have to listen to find out. Today's episode was one of the most fun ones that I've done in a long time.You can find Dr. Wendy Bohon at wendybohon.com, and DrWendyRocks on YouTube, Instagram, and BlueSky, and DrWendyRocksIt on TikTok. I promise you - her content is great, so check her out.FULL SHOW NOTESLINKSEarthquakes in All The States - Dr. Bohon's YouTube seriesLESSONS FROM COVID-19 LOCKDOWNS WITH RASPBERRY SHAKESLisa WaldMy Shake App - free earthquake warning appPutting Down Roots in Earthquake Country - a great FREE resource for anyone with earthquake hazards (i.e. nearly everyone)Raspberry Shake - make your own at-home seismometerSupport Us On Patreon!Buy our Merch!Music: Spellbound by Brian Holtz MusicLicense (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-licenseArtist site: https://brianholtzmusic.com Discover the Jumpstart Nature Podcast - entertaining and immersive, it's the nature fix we all need.Check past Nature's Archive episodes for amazing guests like Doug Tallamy, Elaine Ingham, and Rae Wynn-Grant, covering topics from bird migration to fungi to frogs and bats!

Dr. Jonny Hanson is an environmental social scientist, conservationist, and former community farmer. He's also the author of Living with Lynx, Sharing Landscapes with Big Cats, Wolves, and Bears.He spent months traveling Europe and the United States learning about the real-life challenges of reintroducing apex predators to landscapes, and how to make coexistence successful for everyone involved.Today, we discuss Jonny's travels, stories, and lessons learned. And of course, we begin with “why reintroduce apex predators in the first place”. As an environmental social scientist, Jonny spends much of his time learning how to bridge the gaps in how different communities consider living with predators, and by the time we were done, I felt more confident than ever that we can and should allow these magnificent animals back into our landscapes. This episode is full of amazing insights, and Jonny seems to be a quote machine. There were so many well stated tidbits throughout that I know I'm going to use in the future.Not only that, but you'll get to hear how Jonny actually bred mosquitos for money, and how that influenced him. And if you stick around to the end, you'll also get to hear about his experience with concentrated bobcat urine. If you can't tell, this is a nutrient dense episode, but with plenty of fun stories, too.Be sure to check out Jonny at jonnyhanson.com, and on facebook, instagram, youtube, and tiktok.FULL SHOW NOTESLinks:Dr. Hanson's New Book - Living With LynxCoexisting with Carnivores - Dr. Hanson's TEDx TalkJoanna LambertTrailer for Dr. Hanson's Snow Leopard documentaryWildlife Friendly Enterprise NetworkSupport Us On Patreon!Buy our Merch!Music: Spellbound by Brian Holtz MusicLicense (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-licenseArtist site: https://brianholtzmusic.com Discover the Jumpstart Nature Podcast - entertaining and immersive, it's the nature fix we all need.Check past Nature's Archive episodes for amazing guests like Doug Tallamy, Elaine Ingham, and Rae Wynn-Grant, covering topics from bird migration to fungi to frogs and bats!

Today's episode is very timely. Our guest is Margo Robbins, cofounder and Executive Director of the Cultural Fire Management Council. Margo advocates for the return of cultural burning practices as a way to strengthen community, support biodiversity, and mitigate out of control fires that plague so many areas.But before I get further into the details of today's episode, I want to note that it was recorded just a few days prior to the tragic and devastating wildfires that affected the Los Angeles area in January. We've had numerous interviews on Nature's Archive with wildfire and prescribed burning experts, so if you've heard any of those, you know that fire frequency, intensity, and management practices vary dramatically depending on what habitats and climates we're talking about. Los Angeles is predominantly shrubland and chaparral, which has been invaded by numerous invasive grass species, further enhancing fire risk.Today's episode focuses largely on the forested lands of Northern California, specifically, Yurok tribal lands. So while the topics discussed here may apply to other habitats, the specifics will vary.Despite all of the past episodes relating to wildfire, we've had a notable gap - that is, no one has been able to speak to traditional indigenous use of fire. That is, until today.So today you'll hear why cultural fire is so important across so many dimensions of life. You'll hear how cultural fire can be safely practiced, and how it has strengthened the Yurok community. If the idea of purposeful fire being beneficial to the land is new to you, I invite you to check out episode #89 with Lenya Quinn-Davidson - it's one of our most popular and provides good baseline information for today's episode. In fact, we have several other episodes that discuss wildfire, prescribed burning, and more - all are listed below.I was incredibly grateful for Margo spending the time with us today. I hope you enjoy this episode as much as I did.FULL SHOW NOTESLinksCultural Fire Management CouncilIndigenous Peoples Burning Network (IPBN)Tending the Wild by M. Kat AndersonRelated Nature's Archive Episodes#89: Burning Questions: Understanding Fire Management with Lenya Quinn-Davidson#82: Amanda Monthei – Life with Fire#24: Justin Angle – On The Fireline -Wildfires in the Western USAENCORE: Rick Halsey – Wildfire Ecology in the Chaparral and the American WestSupport Us On Patreon!Buy our Merch!Music: Spellbound by Brian Holtz MusicLicense (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-licenseArtist site: https://brianholtzmusic.com Discover the Jumpstart Nature Podcast - entertaining and immersive, it's the nature fix we all need.Check past Nature's Archive episodes for amazing guests like Doug Tallamy, Elaine Ingham, and Rae Wynn-Grant, covering topics from bird migration to fungi to frogs and bats!

As a nature lover, I'm often asked about my favorite plants, animals, and insects. And I always struggle to answer those questions, because I have so many favorites, and they are context dependent. But when it comes to birds, woodpeckers often come to mind first. They're often colorful, charismatic, and have such an amazing set of adaptations that let them drill into trees, excavate insects from bark, and some even fly catch on the wing. One of the most interesting woodpecker species is the Acorn Woodpecker, found in much of the west and southwest. They live in large groups, are loud, have a clown face, and can store thousands of acorns in specially drilled holes that are just acorn sizes.Today's guest is Dr. Walt Koenig, who has spent several decades studying these birds, in affiliation with the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and UC Berkeley. Today we'll learn about their behaviors, why you don't find acorn woodpeckers in the east, despite a nice variety of oak trees, and get this - acorns aren't even their preferred food! Dr. Koenig has studied their breeding behaviors and group compositions, which is perhaps the most fascinating part of the interview, and I can't do it justice in a short intro - so you'll just have to listen.And if one studies acorn woodpeckers, it follows that one studies acorns, too. So we also discuss the phenomenon of masting - that is, when oak trees produce bumper crops of acorns, in synchrony across wide geographic ranges! In fact, this past year was a mast year for some oak species in California. So if you are interested in what causes masting, you might want to jump to the last 23 minutes or so of the interview.FULL SHOW NOTESLINKSAcorn Woodpeckers at All About BirdsDr. Koenig's WebsiteSupport Us On Patreon!Buy our Merch!Music: Spellbound by Brian Holtz MusicLicense (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-licenseArtist site: https://brianholtzmusic.com Discover the Jumpstart Nature Podcast - entertaining and immersive, it's the nature fix we all need.Check past Nature's Archive episodes for amazing guests like Doug Tallamy, Elaine Ingham, and Rae Wynn-Grant, covering topics from bird migration to fungi to frogs and bats!

Slime molds (Myxomycetes) are beautiful, weird, and amazing organisms. Often mistaken for fungi, they are actually single celled, yet they grow and efficiently move in search of food, can start and stop their life cycle based on environmental conditions, and even change colors several times during their brief life cycle. They can be beautifully colored, frequently iridescent, and can be ornately shaped. And better still, they can be found in much of the world - maybe even in your yard.My guest today, Alison Pollack, is a renowned slime mold photographer and unabashed enthusiast of slime molds and their habitats. If you follow nature photographers on Instagram, perhaps you count yourself as one of her nearly 60,000 followers.Today, Alison tells us what exactly a slime mold is - and no, it is not a mold or fungi. She tells us about their fascinating lifecycle, where they grow, and how to find them. Alison then tells us about her astonishing macro photography of slime molds - both in the field and in her home studio. She walks through her process, technique, and equipment she uses to create her acclaimed photos. If you do nothing else, follow her on Instagram @marin_mushrooms, or check the photos below to get a hint of the beauty of the slime molds, and Alison's artistic skill in capturing them.You can also find Alison on Facebook at AlisonKPollack, and on iNaturalist at alison_pollack.FULL SHOW NOTESLinks To Topics DiscussedFrom Macro to Micro: The Art of Fungi Photography with Alison PollackDamon Tighe - was on Episode 36 talking FungiNikon Small World Master of MicroscopySlime Mold Identification and Appreciation - Facebook GroupAll the Rain Promises and More by David AroraLaowa ultra macro lens - there are models for each major camera manufacturer.Les MyxomycètesMyxomycetes - A Handbook of Slime Molds by Steven StephensonNOVA Slime Mold episodeOlympus Tough TG-6 - this seems to be the most recommended pocket camera by naturalists of many typesRaynox DCR-250Where the Slime Mould Creeps by Sarah LloydSupport Us On Patreon!Buy our Merch!Music: Spellbound by Brian Holtz MusicLicense (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-licenseArtist site: https://brianholtzmusic.com Discover the Jumpstart Nature Podcast - entertaining and immersive, it's the nature fix we all need.Check past Nature's Archive episodes for amazing guests like Doug Tallamy, Elaine Ingham, and Rae Wynn-Grant, covering topics from bird migration to fungi to frogs and bats!

I spent several hours assembling the highlights of the 24 episodes we produced in 2024, all packaged in this nice short recap. It was a lot of work, so I hope you like it!If you want to hear any of these episodes in their entirety, simply check our feed or naturesarchive.com. And for easy reference, the full year's episodes are listed below.And I'd love your feedback on Nature's Archive in general! I made a short survey (probably only takes 1 minute). Please fill it out:https://naturesarchive.com/survey#106: Why Ants Might Be the Most Interesting Creatures on Earth with Chloe Jelley#105: From Fear to Fascination: Kevin Wiener on His Journey at All Bugs Go to Kevin#104: Wasting Away: The Battle to Save Sunflower Sea Stars and Kelp Forests with the Sunflower Star Lab#103: Exploring Wildlife Forensics with Ashley Bray#102: Sophie Osborn – From the Brink: Reintroducing Endangered Birds#101: Connecting Climate, Carbon, Tree Leaf Phenology and Genetics with Dr. Hanna Makowski#100: The Biggest Nature Lesson I've Learned from 100 Nature's Archive Episodes#99: Into the Wild: Snow Leopards and Wildlife Photography with Jake Davis#98: Ocean's Green Giants: The Vital Role of Kelp with Tristin Anoush McHugh#97: How to Love a Forest with Ethan Tapper#96: From Rattles to Kings: Unraveling the Secrets of Snakes With Dr. Emily Taylor#95: The Rare 2024 Cicada Double Emergence with Dr. Chris Simon#94: Secrets of the Octopus with Sy Montgomery and Warren Carlyle#93: Dr. Rae Wynn-Grant – Carnivore Ecology, Wild Life, and Environmental Justice#92: Secrets of Beautifully Fuzzy Velvet Ants with Dr. Joseph Wilson (and a bit about native bees, too!)#91: Examining Tree Physiology with Dr. Lucy Kerhoulas: Insights into Drought Adaptation and the Carbon Smoking Gun#90: From Invasive Species to Allergenic Pollen with Allasandra Valdez (The Happy Botanist Podcast) and Dr. Daniel KatzSupport Us On Patreon!Buy our Merch!Music: Spellbound by Brian Holtz MusicLicense (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-licenseArtist site: https://brianholtzmusic.com Discover the Jumpstart Nature Podcast - entertaining and immersive, it's the nature fix we all need.Check past Nature's Archive episodes for amazing guests like Doug Tallamy, Elaine Ingham, and Rae Wynn-Grant, covering topics from bird migration to fungi to frogs and bats!

I love discovering overlooked plants and animals that play outsized roles in the environment. I'm also fascinated by complex systems, especially when they're easy to observe.And nothing ticks all three of those boxes better than ants.One estimate says that for every human on earth, there may be as many as 2.5 million ants. And these ants form complex societies with unique roles. They communicate in mysteriously complex ways, and can range in size from almost microscopic to an inch and a half long.Ants can build colonies in acorns, hollow twigs, leaf baskets, massive tree branches, and of course, in the ground. The largest super colonies stretch for hundreds of miles - and by the way, you can find such super colonies in California and in southern Europe. They can farm fungi, and ranch aphids.My guest today helped unveil all of this and more. Chloe Jelly is a graduate researcher at Cornell University in the Moreau lab. She particularly enjoys outreach, which made her an ideal guest for today's episode.People sometimes say that viruses and microbes rule the world, but after today's discussion, you'll see that ants aren't very far behind.Find Chloe on her website, at the Moreau Lab, and on BlueSky.Check our Full Show Notes for photos and videos that were discussed today.Links Discussed In The ShowChloe's website, and Chloe on BlueSkyChloe Jelley's papers (Google Scholar)In the Shadow of Man by Jane GoodallMoreau Lab at CornellSupport Us On Patreon!Buy our Merch!Music: Spellbound by Brian Holtz MusicLicense (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-licenseArtist site: https://brianholtzmusic.com Discover the Jumpstart Nature Podcast - entertaining and immersive, it's the nature fix we all need.Check past Nature's Archive episodes for amazing guests like Doug Tallamy, Elaine Ingham, and Rae Wynn-Grant, covering topics from bird migration to fungi to frogs and bats!

Do you love spiders and insects? Or perhaps you are more apprehensive of them - or even suffer from arachnophobia. In either case, today's discussion is for you.Join me for an enlightening journey into the world of insects and arachnids with Kevin Wiener. Kevin is an environmental educator and founder of the thriving 'All Bugs Go To Kevin' community. In this episode, Kevin shares his inspiring path from pest control to becoming a passionate advocate for arthropods. Explore the crucial roles insects play in our ecosystem, debunk common myths about animals like the Brown Recluse spider, and learn about sustainable pest control methods - including what you can do in your own home.Kevin also discusses his experiences with arthropod pets, the importance of community support in overcoming fears, and the joys of integrating photography into environmental education and personal discovery. Whether you're a seasoned nature enthusiast or just curious, this episode offers fascinating insights and practical tips for fostering a balanced ecosystem in your own backyard. Don't miss this chance to transform fear into fascination and discover the often overlooked beauty of bugs.You can find Kevin at allbugsgotokevin.com, and of course, if you're on Facebook, consider joining the All Bugs Go to Kevin group. It's one of the bright spots of social media.FULL SHOW NOTES on jumpstartnature.comLINKSAll Bugs Go To Kevin - websiteAll Bugs Go To Kevin - Facebook GroupBrown Recluse Spider by Richard VetterTravis McEnery's Brown Recluse DocumentarySpiders of North America by Sarah RosePodcasts MentionedKevin Wiener on the Bugs Need Heroes podcastJumpstart Nature's Cicada Episode (Kevin is featured)Sarah Rose on Nature's Archive (spiders!)Support Us On Patreon!Buy our Merch!Music: Spellbound by Brian Holtz MusicLicense (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-licenseArtist site: https://brianholtzmusic.com Discover the Jumpstart Nature Podcast - entertaining and immersive, it's the nature fix we all need.Check past Nature's Archive episodes for amazing guests like Doug Tallamy, Elaine Ingham, and Rae Wynn-Grant, covering topics from bird migration to fungi to frogs and bats!

Today we're discussing perhaps the most important 24 armed creature you quite possibly have never heard of before. Each arm has eyes, or more accurately, eyespots on the ends, and they have thousands of tube feet that they closely coordinate to move. It's a keystone species which used to have populations around 6 billion. And in a matter of a couple of years, about 5 billion of those vanished, melting away, literally turning to goo. Or at least that's how SCUBA divers and biologists described it. It almost sounds like an alien science fiction story, but I assure you, it's real.Maybe you've figured out what I'm talking about. And if you listened to my kelp forest interview with Tristin McHugh, we briefly mentioned this creature. It's the Sunflower Sea Star, an amazing creature whose disappearance has caused havoc in marine systems.I traveled 45 minutes from my house to meet with Reuven Bank and Andrew Kim from the inspiring and innovative Sunflower Star Laboratory in Moss Landing, California - right in the middle of the coast of the world famous Monterey Bay.It's a small bustling town full of marine research institutes, fishers, and ecotourism.This episode has two parts rolled into one - it's a sit-down interview, right on the Moss Landing Harbour. And then we go on a mini-field trip - a tour to learn how the Sunflower Star Lab is an important driver in recovering this incredible species.As you'll hear in the recording, we had a lot of…ambiance, from sea lions to raucous gulls patrolling the harbor, and the hums of pumps and water you'd expect in an aquaculture facility.Yes, that's my way of saying this was a bit of a challenging episode to record and edit. But despite a few rough spots, I think it turned out quite well.Reuven is chairman of the board for the Sunflower Star Lab. He's also an interpretive diving ranger for the National Park Service, though his work at the lab is independent from that. And Andrew is the lead aquaculture research technician at Moss Landing Marine Labs, a member of the Sunflower Star Lab board, offering his expertise on aquaculture to the lab. Oh, and we also had a brief discussion with Vincent Christian while he was working in the lab. As you'll here, Vincent is the reason why the lab even exists.Check the Sunflower Star Lab at sunflowerstarlab.org and on Facebook and Instagram.FULL SHOW NOTESLINKSBirch Aquarium at ScrippsPycnopodia Recovery Working GroupRoadmap to Recovery for the Sunflower Sea StarSunflower Star LaboratorySupport Us On Patreon!Buy our Merch!Music: Spellbound by Brian Holtz MusicLicense (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-licenseArtist site: https://brianholtzmusic.com Discover the Jumpstart Nature Podcast - entertaining and immersive, it's the nature fix we all need.Check past Nature's Archive episodes for amazing guests like Doug Tallamy, Elaine Ingham, and Rae Wynn-Grant, covering topics from bird migration to fungi to frogs and bats!

Have you ever thought about how or why natural areas, like state or county parks, open space, or wildlife refuges were set aside and saved? Sometimes it seems amazingly unlikely that these places exist.And it's too easy to assume that there is no land left to set aside. But today we're telling the story of Coyote Valley, a land adjacent to the hustle and bustle of Silicon Valley. I don't want to spoil the story, but I will tell you it is inspiring and shows just what can happen with the right combination of ingredients. And it turns out those ingredients probably exist wherever you live, too.This episode was actually aired on our Jumpstart Nature podcast last month.The Jumpstart Nature podcast is a little different than Nature's Archive. It's an immersive narrative style, hosted by Griff Griffith. Our goal with Jumpstart Nature is to not only inspire existing nature lovers, but to reach beyond the choir, so to speak.Here are the show notes from Jumpstart Nature:On a 1983 morning, Steve Jobs scouted Coyote Valley for Apple's new headquarters. Despite his plans, Coyote Valley remains one of the most important undeveloped landscapes near Silicon Valley.This episode tells the story of its conservation through unexpected alliances, resilience, and the invaluable ecosystem services it provides. From critical wildlife connectivity to indigenous cultural significance, discover how perseverance and community action can protect cherished landscapes.Join host Griff Griffith and our guests, Andrea Mackenzie, Amah Mutsun Chairman Valentin Lopez, Megan Fluke, Nick Perry, and Dr. Stuart Weiss as they provide unique and inspiring perspectives as they explore how to protect and steward unique lands like Coyote Valley, whether near Silicon Valley or your own backyard.FULL SHOW NOTESLINKSAmah Mutsun Land TrustAmah Mutsun Tribal BandCars, Cows, Checkerspot Butterflies – Dr. Stuart Weiss's paperCreekside ScienceGreen FoothillsObi KaufmannP-22, The Mountain Lion of HollywoodSanta Clara Valley Open Space AuthorityWallis Annenberg Wildlife CrossingRELATED PODCAST EPISODESThe Age of ConnectivityDr. Stuart Weiss – Of Checkerspots, Cars, and CowsCreditsThis podcast episode was written and produced by Michael Hawk. Our host and co-writer is Griff Griffith.The Support Us On Patreon!Buy our Merch!Music: Spellbound by Brian Holtz MusicLicense (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-licenseArtist site: https://brianholtzmusic.com Discover the Jumpstart Nature Podcast - entertaining and immersive, it's the nature fix we all need.Check past Nature's Archive episodes for amazing guests like Doug Tallamy, Elaine Ingham, and Rae Wynn-Grant, covering topics from bird migration to fungi to frogs and bats!

I've been looking forward to today's episode for a really long time - and for two great reasons. One, it's about wildlife forensics, which is an immense field that requires knowledge of everything from wildlife behavior and morphology, to DNA, to crime scene investigation, to policy and the law. I've always been a bit of a generalist who likes to deep dive into topics on occasion…so this is a field true to my heart.And the second reason I've been looking forward to it is the guest - forensic wildlife biologist Ashley Bray. As you'll hear, Ashley - in addition to being a forensic wildlife biologist - is also a podcaster. And her podcast is a slant on human/wildlife conflict - with - as you might expect from a forensic biologist - with a true crime twist. Oh - it's called Get Out Alive - be sure to check it out.Today we take a broad look at what forensic wildlife biology entails, and the surprising connections it reveals, such as the connection between wildlife crimes and drug and human trafficking - and organized crime in general.Ashley has a few nice case examples that we review. And hold tight - you're going to learn about a super cute animal called a vaquita.So, get ready for a wide ranging discussion with forensic wildlife biologist Ashley Bray. And you can find Ashley on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook!FULL SHOW NOTES (Includes Photos!)LINKSAn Immense World by Ed YongCITES Treaty informationSea of Shadows documentarySea Shepherd Conservation SocietyUniversity of Florida's Wildlife Forensics ProgramRELATED PODCAST EPISODES#102: Sophie Osborn - From the Brink: Reintroducing Endangered BirdsSupport Us On Patreon!Buy our Merch!Music: Spellbound by Brian Holtz MusicLicense (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-licenseArtist site: https://brianholtzmusic.com Discover the Jumpstart Nature Podcast - entertaining and immersive, it's the nature fix we all need.Check past Nature's Archive episodes for amazing guests like Doug Tallamy, Elaine Ingham, and Rae Wynn-Grant, covering topics from bird migration to fungi to frogs and bats!

What do parasitic plants, 600 year old oak trees, salmon, and hoverflies have in common? Well, they are some of Griff's, Michelle Fullner's and my favorite wild organisms! Today's episode is a fun conversation with Michelle Fullner, Griff Griffith, and myself, Michael Hawk, where we advocate for our 10 favorite animals and plants. We each bring three species to the conversation…well, not physically. And we had a bit of a game to decide who got to pick the 10th one. All I'm saying is that I still think that aphids would be good at soccer, but you'll have to listen to hear what that's about.This idea was all Michelle's - and if you don't know Michelle, she's the host and producer of the Golden State Naturalist podcast, which is a fun and entertaining California-centric nature podcast. Her fourth season is about to launch, and she plans to cover topics that I know you'll love - wildlife crossings, coastal wetlands, red-legged frogs, and much more. Be sure to check out her podcast and follow her social media, too.And looking ahead, Jumpstart Nature is in the late stages of three new episodes for this fall, covering invasive species, outdoor cats, and an inspiring land conservation story that succeeded against all odds. And if you're listening to this on the Nature's Archive feed, well, we have plenty of fun episodes coming too - covering topics ranging from wildlife forensics to ants!FULL SHOW NOTES (be sure to check it for some great photos!)LINKSSnakes with Emily Taylor - Nature's ArchiveNewt PatrolSupport Us On Patreon!Buy our Merch!Music: Spellbound by Brian Holtz MusicLicense (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-licenseArtist site: https://brianholtzmusic.com Discover the Jumpstart Nature Podcast - entertaining and immersive, it's the nature fix we all need.Check past Nature's Archive episodes for amazing guests like Doug Tallamy, Elaine Ingham, and Gabe Brown, covering topics from bird migration to fungi to frogs and bats!

Have you ever wondered what it takes to bring a species back from the brink of extinction? Today, we're diving into the front lines of one of the most challenging and inspiring conservation efforts of our time, with Sophie Osborn as our guide. This episode unravels the incredible stories of the Peregrine Falcon, Hawaiian Crow, and California Condor—three iconic birds with a common thread of survival against the odds.We'll explore the daunting threats these birds have faced, and surprisingly, how those same dangers continue to impact us all. Take lead ammunition, for instance—it's a well-known hazard to wildlife like the Condor. But did you know that the tiny fragments left behind in game can be ingested by people, leading to serious health risks? You'll find a striking X-ray image in our show notes that drives this point home.But this isn't just a tale of challenges—it's also a story of hope. Sophie shares the hard-won successes and the relentless dedication of biologists who are making a difference. Sophie discussed all of this and much more in her new book, ‘Feather Trails'. It's a beautifully crafted narrative that blends humor and suspense, along with Sophie's personal journey alongside these remarkable species. Trust me, it's well worth the read.Be sure to check out Sophie's work at wordsforbirds.net, and her Substack blog, ‘Words for Birds.' FULL SHOW NOTES with photosLinks from Today's EpisodeFeather Trails: A Journey of Discovery Among Endangered Birds - Sophie Osborn's most recent bookSchool for Field StudiesSophie's Substack Blog: Words for BirdsSophie's website: wordsforbirds.netVocalizations of the Hawaiian CrowNote: links to books are affiliate links to Bookshop.org. You can support independent bookstores AND Jumpstart Nature by purchasing through our affiliate links or our bookshop store.Related Podcast EpisodesPlant Your BirdfeederCondors with Tiana Williams-Claussen (Golden State Naturalist Crossover!)CREDITS:Thanks to Kat Hill for editing help with this episode!Support Us On Patreon!Buy our Merch!Music: Spellbound by Brian Holtz MusicLicense (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-licenseArtist site: https://brianholtzmusic.com Discover the Jumpstart Nature Podcast - entertaining and immersive, it's the nature fix we all need.Check past Nature's Archive episodes for amazing guests like Doug Tallamy, Elaine Ingham, and Gabe Brown, covering topics from bird migration to fungi to frogs and bats!

Have you ever wondered how biologists figure out how plants respond to drought, heat, cold, and other environmental factors? One way is to study phenology. That's a fancy word that accounts for seasonal and cyclical growth patterns of plants and animals. Researchers can look at various attributes, like when a plant flowers, leafs out, drops leaves, and more, and then see how that correlates to environmental factors, weather, climate, and genetics.Today, our guest is Dr. Hanna Makowski, and she tells us all about her research at Black Rock Forest in New York - and why she's had to become proficient with a shotgun!Dr. Makowski shares her work on understanding the variations in leaf-out and leaf-drop phases among trees, the genetic and environmental factors driving these changes, and the broader implications for biodiversity and climate change adaptation.Black Rock Forest is a special place for this kind of research, because it is at a transition zone where southern species and northern species meet. I know that I want to visit if I ever find myself in that part of New York.Dr. Makowski's findings could be helpful for tree conservation efforts and predicting forest resilience in the face of global climate shifts.You can find Dr. Makowski on her website at www.hannamakowski.com, on twitter @hannamakowski, and on LinkedIn.FULL SHOW NOTESLINKSBlack Rock ForestHillary Cooper - Dr. Makowski referenced Hillary Cooper's study on Fremont Cottonwood phenologySarah Fitzpatrick of Michigan StateThe Yard of the Future PodcastSupport Us On Patreon!Buy our Merch!Music: Spellbound by Brian Holtz MusicLicense (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-licenseArtist site: https://brianholtzmusic.com Discover the Jumpstart Nature Podcast - entertaining and immersive, it's the nature fix we all need.Check past Nature's Archive episodes for amazing guests like Doug Tallamy, Elaine Ingham, and Gabe Brown, covering topics from bird migration to fungi to frogs and bats!

Nature's Archive has published 100 episodes now. Well, actually over 100, because I normally don't count solo episodes.This week, I wanted to share one of the most important lessons I've learned from these past four years and 100 episodes. Spoiler: it's an angle on how 'everything is connected', and a deeper, more profound understanding of ecosystem services.Regular interview episodes return in two weeks, so stay tuned! FULL SHOW NOTESLINKSCadillac Desert by Marc ReisnerWildfire with Lenya Quinn-DavidsonHydrology and Water Management with Sam Sandoval Support Us On Patreon!Buy our Merch!Music: Spellbound by Brian Holtz MusicLicense (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-licenseArtist site: https://brianholtzmusic.com Discover the Jumpstart Nature Podcast - entertaining and immersive, it's the nature fix we all need.Check past Nature's Archive episodes for amazing guests like Doug Tallamy, Elaine Ingham, and Gabe Brown, covering topics from bird migration to fungi to frogs and bats!

Have you ever watched Planet Earth and wondered how they get that amazing footage of elusive and wild animals? Get ready to learn about that and much more.Wildlife photographer Jake Davis shares his incredible journey from a 10-year-old with a disposable camera to capturing stunning footage for Planet Earth. Jake dives into the challenges and triumphs of filming elusive snow leopards in the Gobi Desert, including the technical intricacies of setting up camera traps. He also recounts dramatic encounters with Alaskan brown bears and the unique experience of placing a GoPro in a wolf den. Throughout, Jake emphasizes the importance of persistence, deep observation, the need to thoroughly understand wildlife behavior, and he even shares his connection between nature and mental health.You can find Jake on instagram @revealedinnature, or on his website jakedavis.tv.FULL SHOW NOTESLINKSFind Jake on instagram revealedinnature, or on his website jakedavis.tv.America's National Parks on Disney PlusCognisys (camera traps)Planet Earth 1Planet Earth 3Voyageurs Wolf ProjectSupport Us On Patreon!Buy our Merch!Music: Spellbound by Brian Holtz MusicLicense (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-licenseArtist site: https://brianholtzmusic.com Discover the Jumpstart Nature Podcast - entertaining and immersive, it's the nature fix we all need.Check past Nature's Archive episodes for amazing guests like Doug Tallamy, Elaine Ingham, and Gabe Brown, covering topics from bird migration to fungi to frogs and bats!

Have you seen all of the scary headlines about massive venomous Joro spiders invading the eastern USA? Well, as you might imagine, these headlines are designed to drive clicks so that individuals and media can monetize their content.Dr. Sarah Rose helps set the record straight, and also answers some questions about spider mating rituals, which turn out to be complex and fascinating!And after that short Q&A, we play the full interview with Dr. Rose from Episode 58. Here is the introduction from that episode:Today we're going to discuss an animal that can make wind sails, cast nets, produce its own antifreeze, and is an A-list impersonator. Well, it's not one animal, but a category of animals – spiders!And my guest today, Dr. Sarah Rose, is here to tell us all about it. Dr. Rose is the author of a spectacular new field guide, Spiders of North America from Princeton University Press, is chair of the American Arachnological Society's Common Names Committee, and has a PhD in Restoration Ecology from The Ohio State University. We discuss Sarah's journey to spiders, including her research into how spiders function as indicator species for habitats and ecosystems. Sarah tells us about the varied lifestyles of spiders, ranging from orb web weavers to sensing web weavers to ambush hunters, and more. We talk about different types of webs, spider guilds, profile some particularly interesting species such as the trash-line orb weaver, bolus spiders, and ant mimicking spiders, and much more.And be sure to check Sarah's YouTube for lots of fun spider videos. Check the full show notes (link below) for some amazing spider photographs. FULL SHOW NOTESLINKS All Bugs Go To Kevin – Facebook groupAmerican Arachnological SocietyJack Pine ForestsJoro Spider Post by Dr. RoseLucas the Spider – a YouTube channel with a cute animated jumping spiderSpider Guilds – Cardoso et alBooksCommon Spiders of North America by Richard Bradley and Steve Buchanan (illustrator)Spiders of North America, An Identification Manual, by Darrell Ubick (Editor), Pierre Paquin (Editor), Paula Cushing (Editor), Nadine Dupérré (Illustrator)Spiders of North America, by Dr. Sarah Rose [Princeton University Press | Amazon] Support Us On Patreon!Buy our Merch!Music: Spellbound by Brian Holtz MusicLicense (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-licenseArtist site: https://brianholtzmusic.com Discover the Jumpstart Nature Podcast - entertaining and immersive, it's the nature fix we all need.Check past Nature's Archive episodes for amazing guests like Doug Tallamy, Elaine Ingham, and Gabe Brown, covering topics from bird migration to fungi to frogs and bats!

The ocean's surface is a bit like the cover of a book. We have a title - the ocean - which gives us a hint about what it is. And we probably have some preconceived ideas about it based on the cover graphics or author.But we can't see inside to truly understand the stories it wants to tell. One of those stories is about a forest - yes, an underwater forest that serves multiple critical purposes for life on earth. I'm talking about kelp forests, which generates oxygen, stores carbon, balances chemical cycles critical to life, and supports amazing biodiverse habitats.But kelp are in trouble. In fact, 96% of the kelp forests in today's guest's region have disappeared in just a few years, and the reasons are multiple and solutions unclear.And that guest is Tristin Anoush McHugh, the Kelp Project Director for The Nature Conservancy in California. I knew I had to meet Tristin after seeing a wonderful short film called Forests Above and Forests Below, which was written and narrated by Tristin. It's a powerful 6 minute film - check the show notes for a link.And Tristin didn't disappoint! Today Tristin helps us understand what kelp are and why they are in trouble. We discuss the complex relationships they have with sea otters, purple urchins, and sunflower sea stars.We also discuss the dramatic impacts of sea star wasting disease, as well as how warming oceans might be disrupting kelps ability to reproduce.I found the conversation to be incredibly enlightening, and extremely important. Oceans are disproportionately important to our climate and life in general, yet we all too often keep that book closed and on the shelf.You can find Tristin at Tristin.McHugh(at)TNC(dot)org. FULL SHOW NOTESLINKSForests Above and Forests Below Friday Harbor Labs, Jason Hodin - an article about his research on sea star wasting disease Reef Check is looking for diving volunteers The Bay Foundation - restoring Santa Monica Bay Kelp Forest Alliance Thanks to Erica Zador for editing help!Support Us On Patreon!Buy our Merch!Music: Spellbound by Brian Holtz MusicLicense (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-licenseArtist site: https://brianholtzmusic.com Discover the Jumpstart Nature Podcast - entertaining and immersive, it's the nature fix we all need.Check past Nature's Archive episodes for amazing guests like Doug Tallamy, Elaine Ingham, and Gabe Brown, covering topics from bird migration to fungi to frogs and bats!

Forestry is incredibly interesting and important, and it really speaks to me personally, because it's one of these fields that is inherently interdisciplinary. You have to understand how things relate and connect to create a healthy, sustainable system. But traditionally, forestry was all about resource extraction, which often is done at the expense of long term sustainability.And my guest today, Ethan Tapper, is just the person to help us understand how forestry is changing. Ethan is a professional forester, and has incredibly unique personal experiences, which have helped him gain a compelling perspective on what makes for a “healthy” forest, and the trade-offs involved in getting there.Ethan personally manages a tract of forest called Bear Island in Vermont, and has had to deal with expanses of invasive species, disease, mismanagement, and much more to turn the tides and make the forest healthier.Today, we discuss exactly how Ethan defines what a healthy forest is, the trade-offs he considers when facing challenges such as invasive species and disease, the use of herbicides and forest thinning, and much more.And by the way, Ethan has packaged his personal journey into a book, due out in September 2024 called How to Love a Forest. And you can find him on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. Also find Ethan at ethantapper.com, and his new consultancy, Bear Island Forestry.FULL SHOW NOTESLINKSBraiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall KimmererBringing Nature Home – by Doug TallamyThe Hidden Forest Biography of an Ecosystem by Jon R. Luoma [Amazon Link]Nature's Best Hope – by Doug Tallamy, Dr. Tallamy's 2020 releaseThe Nature of Oaks: The Rich Ecology of Our Most Essential Native Trees – by Doug Tallamy, 2021Runes of the North by Sigurd Olsen Previous Podcast Episodes MentionedDoug Tallamy on Nature's ArchivePeople and OrganizationsGriff Griffith TikTok / Facebook and Redwoods Rising TikTok / FacebookKyle Lybarger at The Native Habitat ProjectTom GrovesSupport Us On Patreon!Buy our Merch!Music: Spellbound by Brian Holtz MusicLicense (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-licenseArtist site: https://brianholtzmusic.com Discover the Jumpstart Nature Podcast - entertaining and immersive, it's the nature fix we all need.Check past Nature's Archive episodes for amazing guests like Doug Tallamy, Elaine Ingham, and Gabe Brown, covering topics from bird migration to fungi to frogs and bats!

Snakes are the perfect topic for Nature's Archive. They are often over-generalized to fit a worst-case stereotype, but they are critically important to our food webs and ecosystems. And like so much of what we discuss, once you start learning just a bit about them, you see how amazing and diverse they are.And there are few better suited to guide us through the world of snakes than Dr. Emily Taylor. Dr. Taylor is a professor of biological sciences at California Poly San Luis Obispo and has been studying mating systems and physiology of rattlesnakes for 25 years. She's also founder of Project RattleCam, which monitors a huge Prairie Rattlesnake rookery in Colorado, founder of Central Coast Snake Services, and an author. In fact, her latest book California Snakes and How to Find Them comes out on May 7 2024, which is literally tomorrow from the original release date of this podcast.Today, we discuss the diversity of snakes across the United States - and I have to say, I kept saying United Snakes as I tried to read this the first time. And of course, how to find snakes, just like in the title of her book.We discuss what different snakes eat, why the Kingsnake is named kingsnake, why live animals can't simply claw their way out of a snake's belly, and what it's like to be surrounded by dozens of rattlesnakes all rattling at the same time.Of course, we also discuss how snakes contribute to our ecosystems, and the threats that they face.Dr. Taylor can be found on Instagram, Twitter, and Threads as @snakeymamaYou can check emilytaylorscience.com for events she is attending and much more.FULL SHOW NOTESLINKSAdvocates for Snake PreservationCalifornia Snakes and How to Find Them - the NEW book!Central Coast Snake ServicesDr. Christina Zdenek - Australian snake researcher, IG, TwitterFree Snake Relocation DirectoryMarissa Ishimatsu - major photographic contributor to Dr. Taylor's new book. Check Marissa's instagram for incredible snake and nature photographyProject RattleCamRaptors Are The Solution - resources for dealing with rodents that don't harm snakes, birds, and petsSave the SnakesSupport Us On Patreon!Buy our Merch!Music: Spellbound by Brian Holtz MusicLicense (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-licenseArtist site: https://brianholtzmusic.com Discover the Jumpstart Nature Podcast - entertaining and immersive, it's the nature fix we all need.Check past Nature's Archive episodes for amazing guests like Doug Tallamy, Elaine Ingham, and Gabe Brown, covering topics from bird migration to fungi to frogs and bats!

2024 is going to be another year of the cicada, with the emergence of two periodical cicada groups, or broods (Brood XIII and Brood XIX), at the same time, roughly in late April to early May.Now, throughout much of the world, cicadas serenade us in summer afternoons - you might be familiar with that, and wonder “what's the big deal”.But in a few special locations, periodical cicadas emerge on a specific cycle, every 13 or 17 years. These emergences are like clockwork - somehow these insects know exactly when to emerge from the ground, in synchrony with each other, across a vast geography.But it gets better still. Multiple species of cicada emerge together, sometimes in massive numbers approaching 1.5 million per acre of land.And weirder still, these same species might emerge on a totally different schedule, offset by years, in areas a few hundred miles away.What's going on here? Well, this is just the start when it comes to the amazing aspects of cicadas. And today's guest, Dr. Chris Simon, is perhaps the world's expert on Cicadas. She joined me for an incredible wide-ranging discussion all the way from New Zealand.Dr. Simon has been studying cicadas for decades. She is a Professor in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, and has a list of accolades so long that I could spend several minutes reading them.So get ready to learn why these broods of cicadas emerge as they do, how glaciation influenced their locations, why 13 year cicadas tend to occur further south than 17 year cicadas, and of course, how you can see them too. You can find more about Dr. Simon at cicadas.uconn.edu. And if you are interested in helping contribute to research on cicadas, download the cicada safari app from Apple or Google. More on that in the episode.FULL SHOW NOTESLINKSUniversity of Connecticut Cicada Website that includes the recordings heard in today's episode.Cicada Mania has more information on cicadas!Cicada Safari AppGene Kritsky's book "A Tale of Two Broods: The 2024 Emergence of Periodical Cicada Broods XIII and XIX"Scissors Grinder (an annual cicada we mentioned)The Queen of Trees DocumentaryTumble Science Podcast for Kids has an episode with Dr. Simon Thanks to Kat Hill for editing help this week.Thanks to the University of Connecticut and Dr. John Cooley for use of the cicada recordings heard in today's episode, found on cicadas.uconn.edu.Support Us On Patreon!Buy our Merch!Music: Spellbound by Brian Holtz MusicLicense (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-licenseArtist site: https://brianholtzmusic.com Discover the Jumpstart Nature Podcast - entertaining and immersive, it's the nature fix we all need.Check past Nature's Archive episodes for amazing guests like Doug Tallamy, Elaine Ingham, and Gabe Brown, covering topics from bird migration to fungi to frogs and bats!

When it comes to understanding nature, it often seems like the ocean surface - that undulating reflective layer of water - is more like an impenetrable curtain than just a layer of water. There is just so much we don't know about, and are too quick to dismiss, all because we can't easily observe what's going on down there.Thankfully, octopuses are having a renaissance in popular culture, and as a result, serve as sort of an ambassador to the oceans. And this is in no small part due to the efforts of my guests today, Sy Montgomery and Warren Carlyle.Sy Montgomery is the author of Soul of the Octopus and Secrets of the Octopus, among her many works.And Warren Carlyle is the founder of OctoNation, a nonprofit octopus fan club boasting over a million members, and they have information on and photos and videos of nearly every octopus species on Earth.Today we discuss just how incredible octopuses - and I admit, standard words like amazing and incredible just seem to fall short when describing these creatures. They can contort and fit through tiny holes, change their color and texture in the blink of an eye, they can reason, some can use tools, and they are incredibly strong. They range in size from a kernel of corn to 300 pounds.We cover a range of topics, but we delve deepest into exploring their intelligence. This, coupled with their distinctive lifestyle, physiology, and abilities, often leaves us humans astounded.Sy and Warren had a new book, Secrets of the Octopus, released on March 19 2024, and are contributing to an exciting three part National Geographic TV series coming out on Earth Day 2024.You can find Sy at symontgomery.com, and check out Warren's efforts at octonation.com and @octonation on most social media platforms.Get ready for a jaw-dropping and mind bending discussion about octopuses with Sy Montgomery and Warren Carlyle.FULL SHOW NOTESLinksBig Eye Jellyhead video ballooning like a parachuteOctoNation (and Octopedia) - Instagram , Facebook, TikToksecretsoftheoctopus.com - The new book!www.symontgomery.comDr. Alex SchnellWarren on Social Media: IGSy on Social Media: IGSupport Us On Patreon!Buy our Merch!Music: Spellbound by Brian Holtz MusicLicense (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-licenseArtist site: https://brianholtzmusic.com Discover the Jumpstart Nature Podcast - entertaining and immersive, it's the nature fix we all need.Check past Nature's Archive episodes for amazing guests like Doug Tallamy, Elaine Ingham, and Gabe Brown, covering topics from bird migration to fungi to frogs and bats!

My guest today is Dr. Rae Wynn-Grant. Dr. Wynn-Grant is the co-host of Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom, is a wildlife ecologist and affiliated researcher at the UC Santa Barbara Bren School of Environmental and Science Management. She's also an author, with her new memoir entitled “Wild Life” coming out on April 2.Today we discuss Dr. Wynn-Grant's unique and inspiring personal journey into wildlife ecology, her awakening to the world of environmental justice, triggered by Hurricane Katrina, as well as some of her active research pursuits, including her work with bears and mountain lions that seem to have a propensity for visiting the beach.I really enjoyed both the book and the conversation today, because Dr. Wynn-Grant has so many facets of her story that I can relate to, and that I find inspiring, and I think you will too.Find Dr. Wynn-Grant on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, or her website.FULL SHOW NOTESLINKSDangermond PreserveGoing Wild PodcastMapping Environmental JusticeWild Life - Finding My Purpose in an Untamed World - by Rae Wynn-GrantThanks to Kat Hill for editing help on this episode.Support Us On Patreon!Buy our Merch!Music: Spellbound by Brian Holtz MusicLicense (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-licenseArtist site: https://brianholtzmusic.com Discover the Jumpstart Nature Podcast - entertaining and immersive, it's the nature fix we all need.Check past Nature's Archive episodes for amazing guests like Doug Tallamy, Elaine Ingham, and Gabe Brown, covering topics from bird migration to fungi to frogs and bats!

Have you ever seen a fuzzy looking ant? Maybe it looked like a little pipe cleaner with fuzzy red or yellow hair? If so, you probably saw a velvet ant. And here's the thing - it's not even an ant at all. They're wingless wasps, and they often turn up along hiking trails, roadsides, and sometimes even in your backyard! And if you haven't seen one, hit pause and check out the show notes on naturesarchive.com for a few photos.What's more, these wasps have quite the reputation and an amazing natural history.With me today is Dr. Joseph Wilson, an evolutionary ecologist and associate professor of biology at Utah State University. Dr. Wilson is also the co-author of the new book, Velvet Ants of North America, as well as the wildly popular The Bees in Your Backyard. I reached out to Dr. Wilson because I've always been fascinated with velvet ants, but found precious little information about them. I purchased the book and reached out to Dr. Wilson, and he graciously agreed to share some of his knowledge. For example, did you know that some velvet ants have an auditory warning? And half of velvet ants are nocturnal? We discuss why we seem to usually see velvet ants deterministically wandering near trails, why they are often - and inaccurately - called cow killers, and more.But I couldn't have a chat with Dr. Wilson and not talk bees, so we kick things off with some discussion of bees, buzz pollination and more before transitioning to velvet ants.Find Dr. Wilson on The Bees in Your Backyard, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.FULL SHOW NOTESMORE LINKSAlso check out our interview with Krystle Hickman (episode #66) - about finding and photographing native bees.The Bees in Your Backyard by Olivia Messinger Carril and Joseph WilsonCommon Bees of Western North AmericaCommon Bees of Eastern North AmericaVelvet Ants of North America by Williams, Pan, and WilsonNote: books are affiliate links to Bookshop.org. Support independent bookstores AND Jumpstart Nature by purchasing through these links or our bookshop store.Other Insect-oriented PodcastsJust BugsBug BanterBugs Need HeroesMusic: Spellbound by Brian Holtz MusicLicense (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-licenseArtist website: https://brianholtzmusic.comSupport Us On Patreon! .Get inspired with the Jumpstart Nature Podcast - entertaining and immersive, it's the nature podcast we all need.Check past Nature's Archive episodes for amazing guests such as Doug Tallamy, Elaine Ingham, and Gabe Brown. And topics ranging from bird migration to fungi to frogs and bats!

In nature, tree physiology is like the engine that keeps forests running smoothly, similar to how human physiology keeps our bodies going. Just as we study how our bodies' metabolism, respiratory systems, and other systems work to keep us healthy, biologists can look at tree physiology to understand how trees grow, use energy, and cope with challenges in their environment.Today's guest, Dr. Lucy Kerhoulas, is an Associate Professor of Forest Ecophysiology at Cal-Poly Humboldt. She specializes in the forest physiology of northwestern California, which includes redwoods, Douglas fir, oaks, and more. Today Dr. Kerhoulas explores various aspects of forest physiology including how they  adapt to different conditions such as fire and drought. She delves into the scientific tools used to study how trees respond to environmental changes, including measuring carbon isotopes in tree tissues to assess impacts of drought. And this understanding of carbon isotope preferences provides interesting insights into historical atmospheric carbon levels, dating back hundreds of years. In fact, this is sometimes called “the smoking gun”, because it provides strong evidence of fossil fuel contributions to atmospheric carbon.Dr. Kerhoulas also discusses how trees can share resources and signal each other during times of stress, possibly creating a cooperative environment within a forest. This was a jam-packed discussion, and I hope you enjoy it.FULL SHOW NOTESLinks to Topics MentionedBigfoot Trail AllianceCDFWCNPSCZU Complex Fire MapKerhoulas Forest Physiology LabMichael Kauffmann in Nature's Archive Episode #41 discusses conifer trees and the Klamath Mountains Thanks to Kat Hill for editing help in today's episode..Music: Spellbound by Brian Holtz MusicLicense (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-licenseArtist website: https://brianholtzmusic.comSupport Us On Patreon! .Get inspired with the Jumpstart Nature Podcast - entertaining and immersive, it's the nature podcast we all need.Check past Nature's Archive episodes for amazing guests such as Doug Tallamy, Elaine Ingham, and Gabe Brown. And topics ranging from bird migration to fungi to frogs and bats!

You're in for a treat today - it's like two episodes in one.My guest today is Allasandra Valdez, a botanist working on her PhD in plant physiology in  Cornell University's Ecology and Evolutionary Biology department. Allasandra also has a background studying invasive species, and is the creator and host of The Happy Botanist podcast.Today's wide-ranging discussion touches on everything from studying plants' response to climate change through looking at carbon 13 isotopes, to invasive species including the Hemlock wooly adelgid, to the surprising behaviors of an invasive grass called Johnson Grass.We also discuss Allasandra's work in science communication and her podcast, The Happy Botanist. As you know, my Jumpstart Nature organization seeks to amplify great work being done by others, and after meeting Allasandra and learning about her work and her vision, I felt that she fit the bill. So the last 30 minutes or so of today's episode is a re-share of one of her episodes with Dr. Dan Katz. Dr. Katz studies airborne pollen - specifically allergenic pollen. If you've ever wondered why some pollen causes so much havoc, or if those pollen forecasts you sometimes see on the local weather are accurate, stay tuned to learn more.Find Allasandra on Instagram and TikTok, and her podcast is on all of the usual podcast services, and the web at The Happy Botanist podcast.FULL SHOW NOTESLinksDaniel Katz: https://www.thekatzlab.com/The Happy Botanist podcast.Music: Spellbound by Brian Holtz MusicFree download: https://filmmusic.io/song/9616-spellboundLicense (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-licenseArtist website: https://brianholtzmusic.comSupport Us On Patreon! .Get inspired with the Jumpstart Nature Podcast - entertaining and immersive, it's the nature podcast we all need.Check past Nature's Archive episodes for amazing guests such as Dr. Doug Tallamy, Dr. Elaine Ingham, and Gabe Brown. And topics ranging from bird migration to fungi to slime mold!

Many of you might recall the dramatic 2020 fire season in the western USA. In California alone, close to 4 million acres burned. Cities were clouded with smoke and unhealthy air for many weeks. I had ash fall at my home in San Jose, CA on several occasions.But did you know that based on pre-colonial historical estimates, 4 million acres burned would be considered “below average”. How can that be? Does that mean that every summer in the 1700's had smoke filled air and devastating fires? Spoiler alert: the answer is no.In today's episode, we reconcile how it was possible for more acres of land to burn every year, but with less dramatic impact. In fact, that historical fire was largely beneficial to the land.Our guest today, who helps us decipher historical fire and how we can add more beneficial fire back to the landscape is Lenya Quinn-Davidson.And when you have a guest who's first name literally means “firewood” in Spanish (alternative spelling), you know you've found the right person to discuss wildfire management. But Lenya Quinn-Davidson's qualifications extend well beyond her name. She's the Director of the FIRE network for the University of California's Agriculture and Natural Resources organization. She focuses on the various ways humans connect with fire, including the use of prescribed fire for habitat restoration, invasive species control, and ecosystem and community resiliency. She's actively engaged in local and national prescribed fire communities, and is an advocate for increasing diversity in the world of wildfire. A quick aside before we get into the interview. Obviously, climate change is a huge component for why we see bigger fires. Heat has a disproportionate impact on fire intensity. So while we don't talk about climate change much today, it is absolutely an amplifying factor in wildfire intensity and frequency.You can find Lenya at LenyaQD on twitter.FULL SHOW NOTESLinksCalifornia Prescribed Burn AssociationsDixie FireScott Stephens  - wildfire reconstructions from UC BerkeleyUCANR Fire AdvisorsWTREX - Women-in-Fire Prescribed Fire Training ExchangesThanks to Kat Hill for editing help in this episode.Music: Spellbound by Brian Holtz MusicFree download: https://filmmusic.io/song/9616-spellboundLicense (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-licenseArtist website: https://brianholtzmusic.comSupport Us On Patreon! .Get inspired with the Jumpstart Nature Podcast - entertaining and immersive, it's the nature podcast we all need.Check past Nature's Archive episodes for amazing guests such as Dr. Doug Tallamy, Dr. Elaine Ingham, and Gabe Brown. And topics ranging from bird migration to fungi to slime mold!

I bet you've heard of the National Park Service. Or the US Forest Service which manages all of our National Forests. But did you know that there is another land management agency that manages more public land than either the National Parks or National Forests? This overlooked agency is the Bureau of Land Management, or BLM.Josh Jackson has become one of the BLM's top enthusiasts, with a huge following on his forgottenlandscalifornia instagram. He's also a writer and conservationist, and is working on a new book all about BLM lands.Today we dig into what turned Josh on to these fascinating places. He gives us a nice overview of what they're like, the amazing sites and plants and animals you may see, and how you can enjoy them too.  We also learn about his upcoming book, to be published with Heyday Books. It sounds intriguing , and aims to fill a major gap in the literature. You can find volumes about national and state parks and national forests - but try to find similar literature on BLM lands. Good luck on that!I strongly suggest you follow Josh on his forgottenlandscalifornia instagram to see and hear about some of these amazing places.FULL SHOW NOTESLINKSPeople and OrganizationsBaba DioumBureau of Land Management's visitors websiteHeyday BooksObi KaufmannBooks and Other ThingsCalifornia Desert Plants, by Kauffmann, Rundel, and GustafsonFederal Land Policy and Management ActIn Defense of Public Lands, by Steven DavisSand County Almanac, by Aldo LeopoldThese American Lands: Parks, Wilderness, and the Public Lands, by Zaslowsky and WatkinsThe Trouble With Wilderness - William Cronon's essay.Music: Spellbound by Brian Holtz MusicFree download: https://filmmusic.io/song/9616-spellboundLicense (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-licenseArtist website: https://brianholtzmusic.comSupport Us On Patreon! .Get inspired with the Jumpstart Nature Podcast - entertaining and immersive, it's the nature podcast we all need.Check past Nature's Archive episodes for amazing guests such as Dr. Doug Tallamy, Dr. Elaine Ingham, and Gabe Brown. And topics ranging from bird migration to fungi to slime mold!

Today's episode is all about California Condors with Tiana Williams-Claussen, the director of the Yurok Tribe's wildlife department. This episode is actually from my friend Michelle Fullner of the Golden State Naturalist podcast. If you don't know Golden State Naturalist, I think this episode is pretty indicative of Michelle's work. She travels around California to meet and interview interesting people in the field. There is a definite advantage to in-person interviews, and I wish I could do more. Even though this episode is about California Condors, and the podcast is California-centric, today's episode is still broadly applicable. California Condors historically lived in a large chunk of the western North America, from southern Canada to northern Mexico. And the challenges facing Condors, and the efforts to reintroduce and sustain them have many parallels.Now, I don't want to take away from Michelle's introduction for this episode coming shortly. But I do want to tell you why I wanted to cover Condors on Nature's Archive.Right off the bat, condors are huge - boasting a 9 foot wingspan. They're also critically endangered, which is why Tiana Williams-Claussen is such a great guest - she's leading a reintroduction program with the Yurok Tribe in northern California.As long time listeners know, I particularly enjoy covering overlooked and misrepresented flora and fauna. And for today, I'm going to lump condors and vultures together. In fact, in North America, vultures and condors are in the same family of birds, and occupy similar ecological roles.And what role is that? Well, the textbooks say “scavengers”. And if you are like most people, you might have an unconscious negative bias towards scavengers. Why? So much of our human-centric perspective is based on how we live, and casts a negative light towards other evolved lifestyles, such as parasitism, or in this case, scavenging. To scavenge - that is, eat already dead animals - one must have some pretty amazing adaptations. Afterall, the moment an animal dies, bacteria starts to take over. And the fact the animal died in the first place might indicate that it was already diseased, especially if it didn't die as roadkill.If a diseased carcass remains on the landscape for an extended period of time, it can become a disease vector. But vultures and condors are special. Their acidic stomachs and unique immune systems help protect them. I heard a great reframing of the role condors and vultures play - instead of scavengers, they are nature's immune system. By rapidly clearing dead animals, they prevent and halt disease spread. And there are examples around the world where vultures had died off for various, usually human-caused reasons, and this resulted in significant increases in diseases in other animals - including rabies.FULL SHOW NOTESMusic: Spellbound by Brian Holtz MusicFree download: https://filmmusic.io/song/9616-spellboundLicense (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-licenseArtist website: https://brianholtzmusic.comSupport Us On Patreon! .Get inspired with the Jumpstart Nature Podcast - entertaining and immersive, it's the nature podcast we all need.Check past Nature's Archive episodes for amazing guests such as Dr. Doug Tallamy, Dr. Elaine Ingham, and Gabe Brown. And topics ranging from bird migration to fungi to slime mold!

Double the nature content in the same amount of time as a typical Nature's Archive? Well, I think we've come close today, and no, we're not playing an interview at double speed.Here's your chance to hear two episodes of the Jumpstart Nature podcast from our pilot season, covering the topics of treating your yard like a habitat  (The Yard of the Future Full Show Notes), and how shifting baseline syndrome affects our perception of the health of the environment (We Live in a 10% World Full Show Notes).You might recognize bits and pieces of these episodes, because I aired a couple of the interviews in their entirety on Nature's Archive. But there is lots of new content that hasn't aired here.I hope you enjoy this format! Jumpstart Nature brings multiple perspectives to topics we cover, and ties it together with an entertaining and inspiring narrative from Griff Griffith.Let me know what you think! And if you like it, please subscribe to Jumpstart Nature on your favorite podcast app.Guests in this double feature include Dr. Doug Tallamy, Mary Phillips, Leslie Inman, Dr. Loren McClenachan, Dr. Alison Whipple, Ben Goldfarb, and Francisco Saavedra Jr.And regular Nature's Archive interview podcasts will be back in two weeks!LinksThe Yard of the Future Full Show NotesWe Live in a 10% World Full Show NotesSubscribe to the Jumpstart Nature PodcastOn AppleOn SpotifyOn OvercastOn Other AppsAdditional Music Used in this Project:Music: Sunny Morning by MusicLFiles Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/7813-sunny-morning License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license Music: Horde Of Geese by Alexander Nakarada Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/9835-horde-of-geese License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-licenseMusic: Lofi Prairie by Brian Holtz MusicFree download: https://filmmusic.io/song/9247-lofi-prairieLicense (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license.Music: Spellbound by Brian Holtz MusicFree download: https://filmmusic.io/song/9616-spellboundLicense (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-licenseArtist website: https://brianholtzmusic.comSupport Us On Patreon! .Get inspired with the Jumpstart Nature Podcast - entertaining and immersive, it's the nature podcast we all need.Check past Nature's Archive episodes for amazing guests such as Dr. Doug Tallamy, Dr. Elaine Ingham, and Gabe Brown. And topics ranging from bird migration to fungi to slime mold!

Let's dive into the enchanting world of hidden wonders that come to life after dark! Our guests today are Charles Hood and José Martínez-Fonseca, authors of the new book “Nocturnalia: Nighttime Life of the Western USA" from Heyday Books. Charles is an author, poet, birder, and world traveler, and as you'll hear, an exceptional naturalist, too. Jose has a PhD in Bat Ecology, and as a result, has extensive experienced studying animals of the night.Today we uncover the intriguing behaviors of nocturnal creatures such as nectar-feeding bats and vampire bats, scorpions that glow under UV light, and the often ignored but fascinating small owls - we're talking owls the size of a American Robin - or even smaller! Observe how even the familiar environment of urban backyards transform into arenas of ecological discovery when the sun goes down. Tailored for nature enthusiasts and curious minds alike, this conversation is a gateway to a world less explored - the intriguing and overlooked world of nocturnal nature.FULL SHOW NOTES (with photos!)LINKSA Salad Only The Devil Would Eat, by Charles HoodCharles Hood's WebsiteJose Martinez-Fonseca on Instagram, and his photography websiteNature's Archive episode about Bats with Dr. Dave JohnstonMusic: Spellbound by Brian Holtz MusicFree download: https://filmmusic.io/song/9616-spellboundLicense (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-licenseArtist website: https://brianholtzmusic.comSupport Us On Patreon! .Get inspired with the Jumpstart Nature Podcast - entertaining and immersive, it's the nature podcast we all need.Check past Nature's Archive episodes for amazing guests such as Dr. Doug Tallamy, Dr. Elaine Ingham, and Gabe Brown. And topics ranging from bird migration to fungi to slime mold!

Weather is like your mood, and climate is like your personality. Those are the words of today's guest, Dr. Marshall Shepherd (Twitter,  Facebook and Instagram).Despite the clear differences between these two concepts, there are many topics of confusion that persist. For example, is El Nino, which we discussed a few weeks ago on this podcast, a climate condition or a weather condition? And how can forecasters be confident in their long term climate predictions when it is so hard to predict weather 10 days out?Dr. Shepherd is just the person to help us understand these concepts. He is the Director of the Atmospheric Sciences program at the University of Georgia. He's also host of the Weather Channel series Weather Geeks, previously a research meteorologist for NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, and has had multiple popular TED talks.Today we talk about climate and weather and how they are predicted. We discuss the computer models used for both, how they differ, how they've improved, and  where they still need improvement.He also shares some of his research on how urban areas affect and change weather, and several other fascinating topics.This episode might sound different than a typical Nature's Archive interview. That's because we were planning to use this conversation in an upcoming Jumpstart Nature podcast. So, you might hear a few terms and concepts mentioned without explanation - but stick with it, because we end up defining everything later.Check these past episodes for more information on topics discussed today: episode #80 on oceans and El Nino and episode #62 on snowflake and precipitation genesisFULL SHOW NOTESDr. Shepherd's PublicationsEd Lorenz and Chaos TheoryExample Forecast Discussion available from the National Weather ServiceHurricane OtisSix America's StudyTED Talks: 3 kinds of bias that shape your worldview (2018); Slaying the "zombies" of climate science (2013).Music: Spellbound by Brian Holtz MusicFree download: https://filmmusic.io/song/9616-spellboundLicense (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-licenseArtist website: https://brianholtzmusic.comSupport Us On Patreon! .Get inspired with the Jumpstart Nature Podcast - entertaining and immersive, it's the nature podcast we all need.Check past Nature's Archive episodes for amazing guests such as Dr. Doug Tallamy, Dr. Elaine Ingham, and Gabe Brown. And topics ranging from bird migration to fungi to slime mold!

There are living trees in the United States that are approaching 5000 years old - and I'm not talking about trees that clone (I'm looking at you, aspen). Imagine if those trees could talk! Well, in a way, they can!That's where dendrochronologists like Dr. Grant Harley come in.And it turns out that the science of dendrochronology is so much more far reaching than I ever imagined. Dr. Harley tells us how he reads the trees, inferring things like climate patterns, wildfire history, and community ecology. But this unique science even allows for dating artifacts, such as coffins, cabins, shipwrecks, and other wooden objects. We cover all of this and more, including how tree rings are assessed without killing the tree.  And how technology is used to make these assessments. Dr. Harley also answers why trees in the western US make better specimens for assessing historical climate. And just what is the medieval climate anomaly and why is it important to us today?I feel like Dr. Harley could make a series of podcasts out of dendrochronology, the history it tells us, and the mysteries it helps us solve. Find Dr. Harley on Twitter @dendrotrog.FULL SHOW NOTESLinks To Topics DiscussedNote: links to books are affiliate linksFundamentals of Tree Ring Research by James SpeerThe Fellowship of the Tree Rings RadioLab episode that Dr. Harley appeared onNorth American Dendroecological FieldweekThanks for Michelle Balderston for editing help this week.Music: Spellbound by Brian Holtz MusicFree download: https://filmmusic.io/song/9616-spellboundLicense (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-licenseArtist website: https://brianholtzmusic.comSupport Us On Patreon! .Get inspired with the Jumpstart Nature Podcast - entertaining and immersive, it's the nature podcast we all need.Check past Nature's Archive episodes for amazing guests such as Dr. Doug Tallamy, Dr. Elaine Ingham, and Gabe Brown. And topics ranging from bird migration to fungi to slime mold!

As you all know, I find wildfire to be fascinating. It's complex, simultaneously necessary and at times devastating, and wildly misunderstood. And the landscape of fire is rapidly changing - literally and figuratively. So, I hope to continue to bring a variety of voices and perspectives on wildfire - including today.Have you ever wondered what it is like to be on the fire lines with a wildfire crew? Or what it takes to join a crew? Or the differences between crews, such as engine crews, hand crews, and hot shot crews? And how do they actually manage active wildfires? And where does prescribed and cultural burning fit into the picture? Today's guest, Amanda Monthei, helps us get some answers. Amanda is a former wildland firefighter, having participated in a variety of crews, including a hot shot crew. She is now a writer, host of the Life with Fire podcast where she interviews a wide variety of people involved with wildfire, and she's an occasional public information officer on wildfires.In addition to her podcast, you can find Amanda at lwf_pod on twitter, lifewithfirepodcast on Facebook, and lifewithfirepod on instagram.I hope you enjoy today's episode - and be sure to check out the show notes on podcast.naturesarchive.com to see the video we referenced, and links to everything we discuss, including Amanda's social media accounts!FULL SHOW NOTESLinks to Topics DiscussedLife with Fire Podcast (Amanda's Podcast)Good Fire PodcastHigh Country NewsRelated Nature's Archive PodcastsJustin Angle - On the FirelineRick Halsey - Wildfire Ecology of the Chaparral and the American WestMusic: Spellbound by Brian Holtz MusicFree download: https://filmmusic.io/song/9616-spellboundLicense (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-licenseArtist website: https://brianholtzmusic.comSupport Us On Patreon!

Dr. Emma Greig is a behavioral ecologist who has been leading Project FeederWatch, a multi-decade community science effort led by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and Birds Canada.Today's discussion could be broadly characterized as "how to take care of the birds that visit your yard" - and you might be surprised at some of the recommendations.Our discussion begins in Australia, where Dr. Greig did her dissertation. Her work studied the amazing behavior of the splendid fairywren, a small and colorful Australian bird, who literally sing in the shadows of a predator. From there, we get into Project FeederWatch and the practice of bird feeding in general. Project FeederWatch has collected an immense dataset that reveals a lot about birds that visit feeders and people's yards in general. We discuss some of the findings, and how you can participate. It's easy!It's a wide ranging discussion, including topics like - does feeding birds affect their migration routes or timing, or their geographic ranges? How to minimize pests getting into your feeders? Does widespread feeding birds impact populations or the composition of bird communities?We also talk about best practices for feeding birds. Yes, we're taking on a responsibility of caring for wild animals, so there are several important things we need to do, such as paying attention to disease spread.Dr. Greig gets into all of this and more. So if you feed birds or are considering feeding birds, this is an important episode to listen to.Find Project FeederWatch on Twitter.Check out Jumpstart Nature's podcast episode #2, "Plant Your Birdfeeder", for more from Dr. Greig and other experts on birds and their habitats.FULL SHOW NOTESLinks To Topics DiscussedFeederWatch Scientific DataKilling with kindness: Does widespread generalised provisioning of wildlife help or hinder biodiversity conservation efforts? - scientific paper by Jack Shutt and Alex LeesPreventing Window StrikesProject FeederWatch - Begins on November 1!.Music: Spellbound by Brian Holtz MusicFree download: https://filmmusic.io/song/9616-spellboundLicense (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-licenseArtist website: https://brianholtzmusic.comSupport Us On Patreon!

Have you heard of El Niño? Some people call it the single biggest influence on winter weather in North America. But what is it, and how does it work? And we're in an El Niño event this year, and it's going to affect our weather (and ecology!)There is always much confusion about El Niño, what it is, why it occurs, and how it might alter our weather in the coming seasons. Today's episode looks at El Niño, which is one part of the El Niño Southern Oscillation, or ENSO. Consider this a primer - an accessible look at some of the mechanisms and impacts of El Niño, and how and why it can impact weather from India to California and beyond. And we also include a few ecological tidbits here and there.In order to give El Niño its due, we also cover some of the basics of how oceans influence weather.I tried hard to pack a lot of information into 50 minutes, along with a lot of analogies to help reinforce some of the points. Let me know how I did! And of course, these are very complex systems, so there is much that I couldn't cover.Looking ahead, we will have an expert climatologist later this year, so this episode will serve as good background for some of that conversation. I also have interviews with a dendrochronologist (tree ring expert!), a wildfire episode with an ex-firefighter, and an episode on nocturnal animals. So be sure to subscribe to the podcast in your favorite app to ensure you don't miss future releases.FULL SHOW NOTESLinks To Topics DiscussedDaniel Swain - Weather West, YouTube Office HoursJet Steam BasicsJet Stream Alignment in ENSO ScenariosNational Weather Service CPC ENSO Report (PDF)Rossby WavesMusic: Spellbound by Brian Holtz MusicFree download: https://filmmusic.io/song/9616-spellboundLicense (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-licenseArtist website: https://brianholtzmusic.com Support the show

I started Nature's Archive podcast in an effort to understand the stories of people making a difference for the environment. I needed to be inspired, wanted to learn how they did it, and share that inspiration and knowledge with anyone willing to listen.While we haven't strayed too far from those initial aspirations, I do have many more topic-centric episodes than I did at the start.So today's episode is a “back to my roots” episode. My guest is Leslie Inman, the founder of the wildly popular Pollinator Friendly Yards group on Facebook. With 184,000 members, it is perhaps the top spot for people to discuss sustainable personal landscaping. And even if you are not on Facebook, it's pretty likely you've seen her images and infographics. Leslie's story is an amazing example of how a little curiosity can be converted into a hugely impactful movement. Today, we discuss not only how the group formed, but the lessons that she has learned along the way. This includes how to “reach” people who may be skeptical about inviting insects to their yards, how to make it easy to get started, and more.Oh, and Leslie also has two books - Your Yard is Nature and The Butterfly Egg and the Little Tree.FULL SHOW NOTESLinks To Topics DiscussedPollinator Friendly YardsDave GoulsonDoug Tallamy & Homegrown National Park (TikTok)Doug Tallamy appeared on Nature's Archive Podcast Episode #26Leslie's Books - Your Yard is Nature and The Butterfly Egg and the Little TreeMary Reynolds, We Are The ArkNancy Lawson, The Humane Gardener [Book]Travis Longcore (light pollution ecologist)Wild Ones - Wild Ones promotes environmentally friendly, sound landscaping to preserve biodiversity through the preservation, restoration, and establishment of native plant communitiesMusic: Spellbound by Brian Holtz MusicFree download: https://filmmusic.io/song/9616-spellboundLicense (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-licenseArtist website: https://brianholtzmusic.com Support the show

Ever wondered how scientists unravel the ecological mysteries of bygone eras, long before systematic record-keeping? Believe it or not, one part of the answer is in pirate journals.And no, I'm not joking.Today, I have the privilege of hosting Dr. Loren McClenachan, an Associate Professor of Environmental Studies and History, and a Canada Research Chair in Ocean History and Sustainability at the University of Victoria. Throughout her career, Dr. McClenachan has been delving deep into historical marine ecology, unearthing ingenious ways to examine past ecosystems.Our focus today? The intriguing concept of shifting baseline syndrome, a topic that we've only grazed the surface of in previous Nature's Archive conversations. In 2009, Dr. McClenachan authored a pivotal paper examining the dwindling sizes of recreational trophy fish off the Florida Keys. This study unveiled what seasoned anglers had long grasped—the once-plentiful colossal fish had become elusive.Shifting Baseline Syndrome arises when your first interaction with an environment establishes your baseline—a perceived "natural" or "normal" state. Yet, this baseline could markedly differ from your grandparents'. And here's where the surprise sets in: the implications span conservation and society alike.Dr. McClenachan helps explain these implications through a variety of eye-opening examples. And yes, you'll even discover how pirates play a part in this narrative.FULL SHOW NOTESPeople, Papers, and Organizations3 billion birds lostAll of Dr. McClenachan's publicationsAnecdotes and the Shifting Baseline Syndrome of Fisheries (Pauly)Daniel Pauly's TED TalkDocumenting Loss of Large Trophy Fish from the Florida Keys with Historical Photographs (McClenachan)Dr. McClenachan's WebsiteEcology. Globalization, roving bandits, and marine resourcesUniversity of Victoria – history website; environmental studies websiteBooks and PodcastsNature's Archive #57: Allen Fish – Raptor Migration from Hawk HillMusic: Spellbound by Brian Holtz MusicFree download: https://filmmusic.io/song/9616-spellboundLicense (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-licenseArtist website: https://brianholtzmusic.com Support the show

It's hard to imagine a time without roads that connect us, facilitate commerce, allow us to reach hospital schools, family, and friends. And in plain sight, they grow in width, link density and traffic volume slowly and continually. Amidst to the sprawling network that shapes our lives. There's a realm often overlooked, but equally profound. A domain where the intersection between humanity and nature takes an unforeseen twist. Our guest today has Ben Goldfarb, author of the new book "Crossings: How Road Ecology is Shaping the Future of Our Planet". You might remember Ben from a past episode where he discussed his book on beavers appropriately titled eager. And in typical Ben form, he reveals a hidden world in plain sight, full of surprises. From rapid adaptation by some animals to the intractable ways that 70 mile per hour traffic hack many animal's ability to cope. Ben's book will be released on September 12th. You can find more details at bengoldfarb.com.FULL SHOW NOTESLINKSbengoldfarb.comInstagramTwitterCrossings by Ben Goldfarb - Ben's new bookNature's Archive #30: Dr. Jaret Daniels – Butterflies, Creating Habitat in Overlooked Landscapes, and Leveraging Creative OutreachNature's Archive #35: Ben Goldfarb – Eager Beavers, The Quintessential Keystone SpeciesNature's Archive #38: Beth Pratt – The Age of Wildlife CrossingsSandra Jacobson - A behavior-based framework for assessing barrier effects to wildlife from vehicle traffic volumeWare et al. - A phantom road experiment reveals traffic noise is an invisible source of habitat degradationMarcel Hauser - Dutch road ecologistMusic: Spellbound by Brian Holtz MusicFree download: https://filmmusic.io/song/9616-spellboundLicense (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-licenseArtist website: https://brianholtzmusic.com Support the show

Griff Griffith is former host of Animal Planet's Wild Jobs, current spokesperson for Redwoods Rising, and he's a volunteer for Jumpstart Nature. Griff has dedicated his career to honing his expertise in effectively communicating and motivating people to care about the environment. From the youth he led in the California Conservation Corps, to people he engaged with at State Parks, to the 4 million people that watch his videos on TikTok. He's also been on CNN, NBC Nightly News, Kelly Clarkson, and more, so he knows a thing or two about engaging people.And if you are like me, you care for nature, and want to share your love of nature with others.So today, Griff shares his secrets to success in ways that can work for anyone, regardless of your personality or approach.One of Griff's messages is that you have to always make things relevant to your audience, so we try to do that today by including lots of specific examples, including stories like you just heard, discussion of goose pen trees (what? Yes goose pen, like goose like the honking bird), invasive clams, and the magic of photosynthesis. You'll learn about analyzing an audience, being authentic, dealing with doubters, and more.So if you talk about nature with family and friends, lead walks or trips, or want to talk nature on Tik Tok or Instagram, we've got you covered.Follow Griff on TikTok and Facebook, or Redwoods Rising on TikTok or Facebook.FULL SHOW NOTESLinks To Topics DiscussedGriff's Past Appearance on Nature's ArchiveKeith Williams talking river snorkeling on Nature's ArchiveAlexis Nicole Nelson (The Black Forager)Native Habitat Project (Kyle Lybarger)Music: Spellbound by Brian Holtz MusicFree download: https://filmmusic.io/song/9616-spellboundLicense (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-licenseArtist website: https://brianholtzmusic.com Support the show

Today we hear from Dorian Anderson, who you might recognize from episode #1 of Nature's Archive.Dorian has been a prominent figure in the birding world since 2014, when he bicycled nearly 18000 miles across the USA in what is known as a Big Year - an attempt to see as many bird species as possible.Dorian loves a challenge, so his Big Year was much more than just trying to find lots of birds. His was a bicycle powered trip that didn't use fossil fuels. He maintained a strict budget, built community as he went, and continued his personal journey of overcoming substance abuse. Amidst the trials of essentially being an extreme endurance athlete, Dorian also faced the inherent safety challenges of cycling on roads not necessarily designed with bicyclists in mind.And today we have some exciting news - Dorian's memoir, weaved into the story of the Big Year, is about to be released as a book titled “Birding Under the Influence”, which by the way is available for pre-sale now.So in this episode we recap the Big Year, discuss the book and all that went into that, and how the Big Year launched a new career for Dorian as an international birding guide.Dorian has some new stories to share. And if you aspire to be a bird guide, or just want to get some productive birding in on your next vacation, Dorian has some excellent advice and practical tips.As for the Big Year itself, we chronicled much of this exciting story in episode 1, and the last 40 minutes or so of this episode are excerpts from that first discussion so that you can get the full story.Find Dorian on Instagram or his photography website.FULL SHOW NOTESLinksPeople, Websites, OrganizationsChelsea Green PublishingDorian Anderson Photography - Dorian's photographic website.The Speckled Hatchback - Dorian's BlogTropical BirdingBooksNote: links to books are affiliate linksBirding Under the Influence: Cycling Across America in Search of Birds and Recovery by Dorian Anderson [Bookshop.org link]Awe: The New Science of Everyday Wonder and How It Can Transform Your Life by Dacher KeltnerPodcastsEpisode #1 of Nature's Archive, with Dorian! Notes that most of episode 1 is appended to this episode.Music: Spellbound by Brian Holtz MusicFree download: https://filmmusic.io/song/9616-spellboundLicense (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-licenseArtist website: https://brianholtzmusic.com Support the show

Have you heard about the Anthropocene? Well, we're living in it right now, but that's not necessarily a good thing. Joining us is paleoethnobotanist, Dr. Anya Gruber, whose expertise uniquely positions her to guide us through the human relationship with the environment. We begin by learning about Dr. Gruber's world, where she skillfully utilizes plant remains to reconstruct the environments of bygone eras and decipher human interactions with nature. Building on this foundation, our conversation shifts towards the Anthropocene—the epoch that places humanity under scrutiny for its pervasive and often detrimental impact on the Earth. Dr. Gruber helps us understand the concept's essence, its definition, and the methodologies employed to assess its effects. Within the context of the Anthropocene, we confront the uncomfortable reality of our collective responsibility for the environmental challenges we face. We also explore the nuances of distributional impacts, acknowledging that the burden is not evenly shared across all individuals. I hope today's episode serves as a good introduction to the Anthropocene, and that by comprehending the profound implications of the Anthropocene, we can ignite a transformative drive towards a more harmonious relationship with our planet. You can find Dr. Gruber on Instagram @anyagruber, or on her website at anyaegruber.com. FULL SHOW NOTESLINKSPeople and Organizations SAPIENS Anthropology Magazine – https://www.sapiens.org/ Atlas Obscura – https://www.atlasobscura.com/ Upcoming article about the queer history of the Henry Wadsworth Longfellow house.Books and Other ThingsNote: links to books are affiliate links Finding Mrs. Jackson Sapiens Podcast Episode Two of Dr. Gruber's recent articlesSAPIENS | Can Digitizing Gravestones Save History?Atlas Obscura | Burial Hill's Historic Gravestones Are Coming to Your ScreenMusic: Spellbound by Brian Holtz MusicFree download: https://filmmusic.io/song/9616-spellboundLicense (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-licenseArtist website: https://brianholtzmusic.com Support the show

I've been really lucky to have some amazing guests on Nature's Archive. Guests who open my eyes, and hopefully yours as well, to new ways of seeing nature. Today's guest opens our eyes to agricultural practices that work in harmony with our ecosystems.Why is this important? Well, by some estimates, as much as 44% of the land in the United States is used for some form of agriculture. And the principles of regenerative agriculture serve as a great primer for understanding important aspects of soil health and the carbon and nitrogen cycles.We discuss the impacts of soil disturbance on soil biology, the importance of fungi and microorganisms, nitrogen fixing, and much more.Our guest and guide today is Gabe Brown, author of Dirt to Soil: One Family's Journey into Regenerative Agriculture, which by the way has 1500 Amazon reviews, and not one below 3 stars. Gabe has been called a pioneer of the soil health movement, and his personal story of migrating his 5000 acre property to regenerative practices is both inspiring and a great education tool.Today we discuss Gabe's story, and dig into the 6 principles of soil health, and how they drive four ecosystem processes. Gabe's also working to spread regenerative farming to more people, and he's working to make it easier for consumers to locate and purchase foods grown with regenerative practices. You can even apply these practices in your own garden.You can find more about Gabe and his work at UnderstandingAg.com and soilhealthacademy.org. And you can find UnderstandingAg on Twitter.FULL SHOW NOTESLINKSRelated Podcast EpisodesDr. Elaine Ingham - The Soil Food WebTom Biebighauser - WetlandsPeople and OrganizationsRegenifiedSoil Health AcademyUnderstand Ag Books and Other ThingsNote: links to books are affiliate linksDirt to Soil: One Family's Journey into Regenerative Agriculture by Gabe BrownThanks to Michelle Balderston for editing assistance.Thanks to Jess Hasenplaugh for production assistance this episode.Music: Spellbound by Brian Holtz MusicFree download: https://filmmusic.io/song/9616-spellboundLicense (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-licenseArtist website: https://brianholtzmusic.com Support the show

Have you ever been surprised to discover that something you thought you knew, like a milkweed or a bumblebee, actually encompasses a vast array of distinct species? Well, today we're diving into a world that's equally diverse and captivating: viruses. They may not be as readily observable as plants and animals, but they're an essential part of our natural world.Joining us today is Dr. Robert David Siegel, a renowned professor of microbiology and immunology at Stanford University. With his extensive expertise in virology, Dr. Siegel sheds light on how viruses fit into the broader ecological landscape. We'll explore their types, diversity, and the intriguing ways they infect their hosts and evolve.Ever wondered why some viruses have the ability to infect multiple species or make astonishing jumps from one species to another? We'll delve into this topic, with a focus on well-known examples like influenza and coronaviruses.And let's not forget our own immune system, the incredible shield protecting us from viral invaders. Dr. Siegel takes us on a journey through the basics of our immune response, including insights into the innate and adaptive systems. And did you know that the reaction we get from poison oak and poison ivy is actually an immune response? If you think you are immune to these plants, I suggest you listen.And of course, we can't conclude our discussion without addressing the promises and myths surrounding mRNA vaccines—a vital aspect of virus control.But that's not all! Dr. Siegel, a nature lover and accomplished photographer, shares his tales of chasing and photographing every order of birds in the world. Prepare to be inspired by his remarkable nature endeavors, which he graciously recounts during the final part of our conversation.Get ready to embark on an enlightening and awe-inspiring journey into the world of viruses, their ecological significance, and the wonders of our immune system.FULL SHOW NOTESLINKSWebsitesiNaturalistViralZone WebsiteBooks and Other ThingsNote: links to books are affiliate linksAn Immense World - by Ed YongBreathless: The Scientific Race to Defeat a Deadly Virus - by David QuammanDarwin: The Origin of Species | The Voyage of the BeagleThe Demon in the Freezer: A True Story - by Richard PrestonThe Hot Zone: The Terrifying True Story of the Origins of the Ebola Virus - by Richard PrestonMicrobe Hunters: The Story of the Microscopic Discoveries that Changed the World - by Paul de KruifSome of Dr. Siegel's nature photography and writing in Punch MagazineMusic used for this media project:Music: Spellbound by Brian Holtz MusicFree download: https://filmmusic.io/song/9616-spellboundLicense (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-licenseArtist website: https://brianholtzmusic.com Support the show

Wetlands are phenomenally important to biodiversity, water quality, and flood control. Yet they are often overlooked and dismissed.The voice you heard a moment ago was Tom Biebighauser, my guest today. Tom is perhaps the most enthusiastic wetland advocate that you'll ever encounter. He's been restoring and designing wetlands since 1979, and is widely regarded as one of the worlds experts in these endeavors.Today Tom sets the record straight for wetlands. We discuss the many types of wetlands that naturally occur, including my personal favorite, vernal pools, and what makes each of them distinct, including the plant and animal communities they support.Tom tells us about the benefits of wetlands, and why so many wetlands were drained over the years.The good news is that many land managers are recognizing the critical importance of wetlands, and are now working to restore them. But there is much more work to be done. Tom and his organizations offer books, training, and support for individuals and for organizations considering building or restoring wetlands. Did you know you can even create one in your own yard? And no, they won't be mosquito magnets.It was a pleasure to speak with Tom, and I hope you enjoy this discussion as much as I did. FULL SHOW NOTESPeople and OrganizationsSheltowee Environmental Education CoalitionWetland Restoration and Training LLCBooksNote: links to books are affiliate linksEager: The Surprising, Secret Life of Beavers and Why They Matter - Ben GoldfarbWetland Restoration and Construction A Technical Guide - Tom BiebighauserWetland Drainage, Restoration, and Repair - Tom BiebighauserPodcast Episodes We ReferencedBeavers with Ben GoldfarbSave the Frogs with Dr. Kerry KrigerThanks to Michelle Balderston for editing help in this episode.Music used for this media project:Music: Spellbound by Brian Holtz MusicFree download: https://filmmusic.io/song/9616-spellboundLicense (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-licenseArtist website: https://brianholtzmusic.com Support the show

Today's episode is a crossover episode from the Talaterra feed. Talaterra is a podcast for and about environmental educators, and host Tania Marien recently interviewed me about my tech background and how I've transitioned to form Jumpstart Nature.Jumpstart Nature is forming its first board of directors, just launched It's All Connected, our bi-weekly newsletter, and now has 10+ volunteers helping in a variety of ways. And we're hard at work on our inspiring short-form narrative podcast!Thanks to Tania for hosting me, and be sure to check out Talaterra on your podcast apps!And be sure to stay tuned for upcoming episodes on viruses in nature, wetlands and wetland restoration, and even the Harpy Eagle!The following music was used for this media project:Music: Spellbound by Brian Holtz MusicFree download: https://filmmusic.io/song/9616-spellboundLicense (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-licenseArtist website: https://brianholtzmusic.com Support the show