What Were You Thinking - All about exotic pets & animals you can keep as a pet - Pets & Animals on Pet Life Radio (PetLifeRad

In response to a rude email from a listener, Book Character Bill Holm sits out his annual trip to Magee Marsh with Feather Brained author Bob Tarte. In between discussing the birds that Bob isn’t seeing on the famous Magee Marsh boardwalk during a lackluster migration impeded by cold weather, he and Bill lament the lack of support from What Were You Thinking? listeners. The upshot? You folks had better straighten up if you want Bob and Bill to continue producing the only supposedly humorous birding podcast in the entire known universe. And that’s a singularity. Questions or Comments? Email Bob at: bob@petliferadio.com More details on this episode MP3 Podcast - Special Magee Marsh 2017 Listener Depreciation Day Podcast with Bob Tarte

How much wood would a Woodcock chuck if a Woodcock could chuck wood? Feather Brained author Bob Tarte and Book Character Bill Holm may not answer the perennial question, but they see a Woodcock doing the Pee-Wee Herman dance and nearly get run over by a pair of yoga pants while birding at Island Lake State Recreation Area in Brighton, Michigan. All of your favorite birding features are on tap, including "Just the Birds, Ma’am," "Photographer’s Corner," and “The Fermentation Nook." Questions or Comments? Email Bob at: bob@petliferadio.com More details on this episode MP3 Podcast - ‘Tequila’ Birding at Island Lake State Recreation Area with Bob Tarte

The Giant Silkworm Moths may be masters as public speaking, but Bob Tarte shows he’s no sow’s-ear slouch, either, as he and Book Character Bill Holm extol the virtues and shortcoming of Bob’s latest book, Feather Brained. This is part two of a patience-straining nearly-one-hour talk about birds, birding, and flimflamming the general public on a sunny June afternoon at the Degraaf Nature Center in Holland, Michigan. For pity’s sake, listen to part one first! Questions or Comments? Email Bob at: bob@petliferadio.com More details on this episode MP3 Podcast - Giant Silkworm Moths vs. the Feather Brains, Part Two with Bob Tarte

Two doors leading into the Degraaf Nature Center in Holland, Michigan, were each marked with a sign. Visitors had their choice of seeing 'Giant Silkworm Moths' or hearing a 'Feather Brained Talk' by author Bob Tarte and Book Character Bill Holm. Bob and Bill were fortunate enough to catch the overflow crowd from the silkworm moths. This laugh-filled riot of a talk on Bob’s book, Feather Brained, is divided into two parts to keep your sides from splitting and tears from clouding your vision. Questions or Comments? Email Bob at: bob@petliferadio.com More details on this episode MP3 Podcast - Giant Silkworm Moths vs. the Feather Brains, Part One with Bob Tarte

Surrounded by vocal House Wrens, Baltimore Orioles, Brown Thrashers, Yellow Warblers, and disgruntled park visitors, Feather Brained author Bob Tarte and Book Character Bill Holm try their birding luck at Michigan’s Tawas Point State Park on Lake Huron. Bob recounts an important communication from a listener while Bill hosts an installment of the popular Motel Corner feature. Bob also offers hints on how to tell a Spotted Sandpiper from an Emu or other similar-looking birds. It’s a laugh-filled show that either ends too soon or drags on and on, depending on your tolerance for pain. Questions or Comments? Email Bob at: bob@petliferadio.com More details on this episode MP3 Podcast - Pointless Nayanquing Point and Tawas Point Birding, Part Two with Bob Tarte

After years of wasting your time with birding podcasts that go nowhere, Feather Brained author Bob Tarte and Book Character Bill Holm achieve a rare success. At Nayanquing Point Wildlife Area on Saginaw Bay, they score a close encounter with the rare-in-Michigan Yellow-headed Blackbird, and you get to hear it, too! They also see the secretive American Bittern and Least Bittern plus numerous Marsh Wrens. Added to that are your favorite “What Were You Thinking?” features: Photography Corner, Photographer’s Corner, Doesn’t That Rock?, and What’s New with Bill? Miss it or be square! Questions or Comments? Email Bob at: bob@petliferadio.com More details on this episode MP3 Podcast - Pointless Nayanquing Point and Tawas Point Birding, Part One with Bob Tarte

It’s a total turnaround as Bob and Book Character Bill Holm enjoy a wind-free, warbler-filled new morning of birding at Magee Marsh. If that’s not enough excitement, listen closely to a slice of audio verite for a chance encounter with the esteemed author of The Warbler Guide, who had no idea he was being recorded – because Bob and Bill had no idea who he was. Pay close attention as Mr. Tom Stephenson validates an ID by Bob that another birder had just disputed. It doesn’t get any better than this! But please listen to the podcast anyway. Questions or Comments? Email Bob at: bob@petliferadio.com More details on this episode MP3 Podcast - Special Delayed Feather Brained Magee Marsh Show from 2016 Part Two with Bob Tarte

Sure, it’s almost a year late. But the jokes are as timeless as the birding observations when Bob Tarte and Book Character Bill Holm dragged themselves to Magee Marsh in northern Ohio for the annual May warbler migration. High winds nearly ruin the birding, but Bob and Bill’s high spirits blow away potential misfortune in this unique, radio-simulcast episode that’s just begging for a Part Two. Plus you get the skinny on Bob’s new book about birding, Feather Brained. Questions or Comments? Email Bob at: bob@petliferadio.com More details on this episode MP3 Podcast - Special Delayed Feather Brained Magee Marsh Show from 2016 with Bob Tarte

Shamelessly promoting his new book about birding, Feather Brained, Bob Tarte shares birding tips with reluctant birder Bill Holm at Muskegon Wastewater System in a bold January 2017 winter expedition. The pair actually spot some nice birds this time, including a rare Glaucous Gull, whose habits require some delicacy to describe. Tune in for a shocking Enslaved by Ducks movie teaser, too. Questions or Comments? Email Bob at: bob@petliferadio.com More details on this episode MP3 Podcast - Special Feather Brained Muskegon Wastewater Something-Something Show with Bob Tarte

Do they or do they not stumble upon a breeding warbler that’s rare in Michigan? Feather Brained author Bob Tarte and Book Character Bill Holm follow careful online instructions and still manage to get discombobulated as they search the vast, foreboding, and slightly muddy Allegan State Game Area (or at least a very small part of it) for this small, elusive bird. Please don’t reveal the special surprise ending to any of your friends! Questions or Comments? Email Bob at: bob@petliferadio.com More details on this episode MP3 Podcast - The Quest for the Worm-eating Warbler with Bob Tarte

In Part Two of a Two Part Show, appropriately enough, Bob Tarte and Bill Holm share tips on writing a memoir for publication with the Mid Michigan Word Gatherers Writing Group. Although the tips are for memoir writing in general, pet book author Bob bases the tips on techniques he used writing his published memoirs Enslaved By Ducks, Fowl Weather, Kitty Cornered, and his newest book, Feather Brained. Questions or Comments? Email Bob at: bob@petliferadio.com More details on this episode MP3 Podcast - Tips for Writing Your Pet Memoir, Part 2 with Bob Tarte

In this Golden Archive Show from August 2014, available to the public for the first time, Bob and Book Character Bill Holm brave the gathering storm clouds in Tawas City, Michigan, to search for shorebirds – or any birds, for that matter. Bob is posting this Golden Archival Birding Show not only because it is pure gold, but also for the opportunistic reason that his new book about birding, “Feather Brained,” comes out in April 2016. Questions or Comments? Email Bob at: bob@petliferadio.com More details on this episode MP3 Podcast - Long Legs, Long Beaks with Bob Tarte

Wall Street Journal Best-selling author Bob Tarte shares tips on writing a memoir for publication, aided and abetted by Bill Holm, who also shares tips on becoming a character in someone else’s memoir. The two will also discuss humor writing in dull, unfunny terms in part one of this presentation for the Mid Michigan Word Gatherers Writing Group. Although the tips are for memoir writing in general, pet book author Bob swears by them when he isn't swearing at Book Character Bill, and they are derived from his publishing success with Enslaved By Ducks, Fowl Weather, and Kitty Cornered. Questions or Comments? Email Bob at: bob@petliferadio.com More details on this episode MP3 Podcast - Tips for Writing Your Pet Memoir, Part 1 with Bob Tarte

How bad is part two of World’s Worst Birding Show? So bad that Bob Tarte and Bill Holm burn up the first 15 minutes apologizing for how bad the show is. Things get brighter in the second half, recorded live from the Estuary Trail at Magee Marsh, Ohio. A Gray Catbird, a Yellow Warbler, and other birds add their voices as Bob and Bill somehow manage to run into three birders even grumpier than they are. It's all a bolt of blazing sunshine compared to the first half of the show - another nugget of comedy birding gold from the author of the forthcoming book FEATHER BRAINED. Questions or Comments? Email Bob at: bob@petliferadio.com More details on this episode MP3 Podcast - World’s Worst Birding Show, Part 2 with Bob Tarte

You may never read this description of the World’s Worst Birding Show, Part 1, because this podcast might never make it online due to the need for certain minimum quality standards. It’s the usual content-free rambling from Bob Tarte and Book Character Bill Holm about their annual birding trip to Ohio for the warbler migration plus breaking news about Bob’s forthcoming book Feather Brained. Tough to sit through. But comedy gold for start to finish as Bob and Bill analyze mysterious doings at Magee Marsh. Questions or Comments? Email Bob at: bob@petliferadio.com More details on this episode MP3 Podcast - World’s Worst Birding Show, Part 1 with Bob Tarte

In the long awaited sequel to Part 1, your hosts Bob and Book Character Bill Holm find more birds in the parking lot of Tawas State Park in northern Michigan than most people find in a zoo that has an aviary containing more birds than the Tawas State Park parking lot! On their return to Nayaquing Point, Bill outbirds Bob yet again. But Bob turns the spotlight back onto himself with his impression of Irish actor/singer Richard Harris’ performance on the Jimmy Webb Sessions recordings, while Bill shares his unique method of locating birds. it’s birding humor at its most featherbrained! Questions or Comments? Email Bob at: bob@petliferadio.com More details on this episode MP3 Podcast - Lake Huron Birding Bliss with Bob & Bill - Part 2 with Bob Tarte

Bob interviews animal communicator Kate Sitka, who lives in Tofino, Vancouver Island, British Columbia. Kate talks about discovering and developing her abilities to make a psychic link with both wild and domesticated animals - though another form of animal communication is simply becoming more sensitive to your pet’s needs. She describes a chicken’s psychedelic view of the world, what it’s like to be a whale, and how her cat loves to tattle on her dog. She also has suggestions for improving Bob’s relationship with his pet ducks and geese. Questions or Comments? Email Bob at: bob@petliferadio.com More details on this episode MP3 Podcast - The Tofino Psychic with Bob Tarte

In the first Pet Life Radio show ever to be recorded live from a platform, Bob Tarte and Book Character Bill Holm embark upon another epic birding quest. They begin the adventure on an observation platform near the Ferguson Bayou Trail at Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge near Flint, Michigan. As a Common Tern flies overhead, Bill shows uncommon erudition in a discourse about the Shakespearean sonnet poetic form. Then, atop an observation platform at Nayanquing Point State Wildlife Area, Bill calls first dibs on the species they’d journeyed to Nayanquing to see, the Yellow-headed Blackbird. A spirited discussion of birding by ear leads to Bill’s desire for spirits of another kind as part one of a two-part extravaganza grinds to a halt. Questions or Comments? Email Bob at: bob@petliferadio.com More details on this episode MP3 Podcast - Lake Huron Birding Bliss with Bob & Bill - Part 1 with Bob Tarte

Author Cayr Ariel Wulff (Born Without a Tail, Circling the Waggins, and more) likes to talk about her rambunctious dogs. But she surprises Bob by talking about her partner Dalene's rambunctious hermit crabs, whose proper care demands a carefully controlled environment. Learn about proper housing and whether Leroy the crab will eat honey on a cracker. Thrill to tales of crab escape artists and the crab who had two shells. Questions or Comments? Email Bob at: bob@petliferadio.com More details on this episode MP3 Podcast - Crabville with Bob Tarte

In part two of the birding show that took a full year to produce, Book Character Bill Holm blows the lid off the fraud that he considers ‘birding by ear’ to be and Bob defends the practice as they recap the 19 warbler species seen the previous day at Magee Marsh in Ohio. Then they set out with open ears if not open minds for day two, though they were spoiled by so many birds on day one, they don’t bird nearly as hard. Bill wows the boardwalk crowd with his Swainson’s Thrush expertise while Bob wonders if he brought enough one-dollar bills, since a very cooperative Prothonotary Warbler was obviously angling for a tip. What a migration! What a show! Questions or Comments? Email Bob at: bob@petliferadio.com More details on this episode MP3 Podcast - The Full-Year-in-the-Making Birding Show, Part Two with Bob Tarte

Host Bob Tarte had no idea what Kelly Meister-Yetter was talking about when she told him she wanted to do an episode about 'bomb-proofing a horse.' Kelly, author of the book Crazy Critter Lady, explains the meaning of the term and her very patient work with a skittish horse named Bit in a highly entertaining interview. Questions or Comments? Email Bob at: bob@petliferadio.com More details on this episode MP3 Podcast - How to Bomb-Proof a Horse with Bob Tarte

It took Bob a full year to prepare for this birding show, working every single minute of the day, seven days a week. But it was worth it for his annual return to Magee Marsh with 'don’t call me a birder' Bill Holm, who contributes a report of his own recent birding trip to Cape May, New Jersey. Will the Magee Marsh trip be another bust, as chronicled in last year’s two-part podcast? Or will Bob and Bill babble happily about their huge success in another memorable non-pet Pet Life Radio show? Don’t miss this mildly amusing audio event! More details on this episode MP3 Podcast - The Full-Year-in-the-Making Birding Show, Part One with Bob Tarte

Bob Tarte and Book Character Bill Holm experience what one birder terms the worst spring migration day in 13 years at Magee Marsh in northern Ohio, and the paucity of birds is mind boggling. Nevertheless, they manage to see a few noteworthy species - like a White-eyed Vireo and a pair of nesting Prothonotary Warblers - and to their surprise they realize that they had a great time after all. Even more astoundingly, Bill admits to having enjoyed his interactions with birders, who were so desperate for something to look at this year that they flocked around turtles and frogs. Questions or Comments? Email Bob at: bob@petliferadio.com More details on this episode MP3 Podcast - The Biggest Week in American Podcasting, Part 2 with Bob Tarte var ACE_AR = {Site: '845738', Size: '468060'};

Bob Tarte and Book Character Bill Holm discuss their plans to attend The Biggest Week in American Birding for the third year in a row and ‘borrow’ the Biggest Week title for their own series of podcasts. Bob shocks Bill by boldly coming out as a birder. Then things get fast and furious as the pair tries to decide how best to present their trip to Magee Marsh this time around without repeating the same tired podcast they’ve done the last two years. Bob and Bill also prepare for an author-and-book-character talk at an Ann Arbor-area library and predict that it will turn into the usual disaster. Questions or Comments? Email Bob at: bob@petliferadio.com More details on this episode MP3 Podcast - The Biggest Week in American Podcasting, Part 1 with Bob Tarte var ACE_AR = {Site: '845738', Size: '468060'};

Bob’s guest is Lauren Scheuer, author of Once Upon a Flock - Life with my Soulful Chickens. This unique book uses hundreds of illustrations and photos by Lauren to help bring the stories of Lucy, Hatsy, Li’l White, and her other charming backyard chickens to life - delving deeply into the big personalities, friendships, and rivalries of her flock. At the center of it all is Lucy, a Barred Plymouth Rock hen who survives an illness that is usually fatal in chickens and becomes a friend and occasional guardian to the other hens. Questions or Comments? Email Bob at: bob@petliferadio.com More details on this episode MP3 Podcast - Once Upon a Flock with Bob Tarte var ACE_AR = {Site: '845738', Size: '468060'};

Bob gets excited about two gadgets that he’s found for taking photos of critters in your yard that you might not even know are visiting. The BirdCam2.0 is a motion activated camera that Bob uses for checking to see if predators are sneaking into his barn. It’s fun for bird feeder photography, too. He also describes a device for digital cameras that lets you automatically take time lapse shots. In the second half of the show, Linda talks about the recent spring flooding and two of their favorite pets. Questions or Comments? Email Bob at: bob@petliferadio.com More details on this episode MP3 Podcast - Backyard Wildlife Photography Gadgets with Bob Tarte var ACE_AR = {Site: '845738', Size: '468060'};

Missy Hill, host of the New Age podcast Galactic Earth Fusion, talks to Bob about a very unusual cat from her cross-country trucking days named Soda. Most cats hate to ride in a moving vehicle of any sort, but Soda was very different and loved to lounge in the cab. Missy also tells Bob about her experiences as an animal communicator connecting with everything from zoo critters to North Carolina’s answer to Punxsutawney Phil. And she explains why 'wild animals that are in zoos are actually there to teach humans' in this very fun and fast moving show. Questions or Comments? Email Bob at: bob@petliferadio.com More details on this episode MP3 Podcast - Travels with Soda with Bob Tarte

Carolyn Jourdan, author of the national bestseller Heart in the Right Place, shares tips with Bob about how her new self-published Kindle book Medicine Men achieved stellar success right off the bat. (It helped that her funny and heartwarming book about ‘extreme Appalachian doctors’ is brilliant, too.) Aspiring pet book authors who want to break into print shouldn’t miss this show. Plus Carolyn tells some hilarious animal stories from her two books, including a tale about a groundhog that will leave you slack-jawed. Questions or Comments? Email Bob at: bob@petliferadio.com More details on this episode MP3 Podcast - Kindle Secrets from Carolyn Jourdan - and a Groundhog Story with Bob Tarte

Thanks to Linda’s brainstorm, Bob and Linda manage to snag a pet sitter and get out of town and away from the critters for a full three days. But some vacations are better than others. They get locked out of their cabin site, strange loud noises assail them during their stay, and they come home to a leaky roof – and soon a brand new waterfall in the bathroom. In other words, it’s just another typical period in Bob and Linda’s lives. But their ducks, geese, and hen end up happier than ever. Questions or Comments? Email Bob at: bob@petliferadio.com More details on this episode MP3 Podcast - Cabin Fever with Bob Tarte var ACE_AR = {Site: '845738', Size: '468060'};

Bob can barely contain his glee when author Cayr Ariel Wulff starts telling stories from her latest book, Circling the Waggins: How 5 Misfit Dogs Saved Me from Bewilderness. Wulff talks about canine genius Waldo, who went from impossible-to-train puppy to a hero who saves another dog’s life, Rocket Boy, the intellectually challenged bundle of irrepressible energy, Lammy Lamb, who enjoys dressing up in onesies, and other bringers of chaos. It’s a fun time with an extremely talented writer and tireless advocate for animal rights. Questions or Comments? Email Bob at: bob@petliferadio.com More details on this episode MP3 Podcast - Circling the Waggings with Bob Tarte var ACE_AR = {Site: '845738', Size: '468060'};

Bob and Linda refuse to get bogged down despite recording their show at Saul Lake Bog away from their cats, parrots, and other pets. They spot 17 Sandhill Cranes right away, but this isn't a birding show. Linda describes the harrowing experience of getting trapped inside our new mink-proof duck pen for two hours, while Bob talks about an ugly raft that washes up on their river bank - plus a highly unusual wild bird that shows up at their suet feeder. Questions or Comments? Email Bob at: bob@petliferadio.com More details on this episode MP3 Podcast - Saul Lake Bog Show with Bob Tarte

They're away from home. They're birding. They're seeing lots of warblers. They're even mistaken for experts by other birders. So why are Bob Tarte and Book Character Bill Holm their typically glum selves? Catch the buzz (and the buzz kill) in a fun-filled you-are-there podcast recorded live on the boardwalk at Magee Marsh in northern Ohio. Questions or Comments? Email Bob at: bob@petliferadio.com More details on this episode MP3 Podcast - The Biggest Week in American Birding (Part Two) with Bob Tarte

The two biggest losers in birding, Bob Tarte and Bill Holm, visit Magee Marsh in Ohio for the huge spring migration event known as "The Biggest Week in American Birding." Listen and marvel over the fact that despite seeing more good birds in a few hours than they usually see in 18 months, the pair still find something to complain about. Questions or Comments? Email Bob at: bob@petliferadio.com More details on this episode MP3 Podcast - The Biggest Week in American Birding (Part One) with Bob Tarte

Bob and Linda expound giddily about the completion of the brand new mink-proof duck pen. Finally the ducks, geese, and hen can be outside for more than an hour at a time and without Bob or Linda doing sentry duty. Also Bob chortles over the so-far success of his new book, Kitty Cornered, which made the independent bookstores bestseller list in its first two weeks and bagged a review in USA Today. Questions or Comments? Email Bob at: bob@petliferadio.com More details on this episode MP3 Podcast - The Mink-Proof Pen with Bob Tarte

It's deja vu all over again as Bob and Linda once again battle mice and minks. But both the house rodents and the riverbank predators are back this time with a vengeance. Hear how Bob and Linda dealt with their latest batch of pet problems and in the process met an actual vet who makes house calls. Bob also talks about his new book, Kitty Cornered, which hits the shelves in April 2012 to some very good advanced reviews. More details on this episode MP3 Podcast - Of Mice and Minks with Bob Tarte

Bob and Linda think they've got problems caring for 30-some animals. But that's peanuts compared to what Ken Jones dealt with in the 1990s when he managed the Tropical Rainforest Museum in California with its nearly 1000 exotic animals. Ken even got to meet the late Steve Jobs while giving a Jungle Party for Steve's son, Reed. Ken also tells Bob about his new podcast for PetLifeRadio called The Prince of Ponds, which shares must-know information on ornamental water features, from fish to flora to waterfalls. And he's a real prince of a guy! More details on this episode MP3 Podcast - The Prince of Ponds with Bob Tarte

Just in time for Halloween 2011, Bob and Linda Tarte present their 'mystery show.' Is it fittingly spooky for the season, like last year's 'ghost cat' episode? Not in the least. But the topic of the podcast is a complete mystery to Bob, because Linda's running the show. Tune in for details about a spate of summer disasters around the house, plus Linda's neat solutions to a skittish stray cat, a noisy African grey parrot, and an aged parakeet. You'll also get the latest news on Bob's new book, Kitty Cornered. More details on this episode MP3 Podcast - The Mystery Show with Bob Tarte

Indefatigable animal welfare advocate Kelly Meister takes time out from her work with ducks and horses to talk about her new book, Crazy Critter Lady. She also offers tips on Print On Demand publishing for authors who want to avoid the hassles of getting a book on the shelves via agents and publishers. Visit her website www.crazycritterlady.com. More details on this episode MP3 Podcast - The Crazy Critter Lady Book with Bob Tarte

It took host Bob Tarte so long to say the title of the show, "Not a Non-bird Birding Show, Take 2," that it wouldn't fit it into a single podcast. So Bob and Book Character Bill Holm are back for the second half of their trip to Magee Marsh in northern Ohio, where they lose themselves among a flurry birds and birders. Did they make it through the experience with their sanity intact? Does an ostrich have wings? More details on this episode MP3 Podcast - Not a Non-Bird Birding Show, Take 2 (Part 2) with Bob Tarte

Six weeks ago, Bob Tarte and Book Character Bill Holm visited the usually ‘birdy’ Muskegon Wastewater facility to record the "Not a Non-Bird Birding Show," but the lack of birds doomed the podcast. This time they traveled to Magee Marsh in Ohio at the height of the warbler migration for a not-a-non-bird birding podcast that’s, well, not too bad. They ended up with such extensive on-the-scene reporting and so much baseless complaining especially from Bill, that "Not a Non-Bird Birding Show, Take 2" ended up as a two-parter. Get an up-close, you-are-there aural glimpse at birder frenzy at its best and worst. And find out why Bob packed his dress shoes. More details on this episode MP3 Podcast - Not a Non-Bird Birding Show, Take 2 (Part 1) with Bob Tarte

Bob and Linda talk about a pesky shrew that makes itself at home inside their house in a most improbable location. Shrewdly enough, they discuss other topics, too, such as Linda’s success in ferreting out pet book author Bradford Brown plus a staggeringly rare species of duck that shows up on the Grand River in downtown Grand Rapids. More details on this episode MP3 Podcast - Shrew Show with Bob Tarte

Bob and Linda finally shake of the winter doldrums long enough to do a topic-filled show. It begins with big news about the German-language version of Bob’s book Enslaved by Ducks called Das Landneurotiker (The Rural Neurotic) and then glowingly describes Bill Volkart’s charming children’s book about a blind duck, Meep Finds His Way. Bob talks about the hubbub that ensued when he took bantam chickens Julia and Julius to see the vet, while Linda describes the early February blizzard and the clever survival tactics of a Carolina Wren. Bob and Linda close the show by talking about their newest favorite pet book author, Maine vet Bradford B. Brown, author of While You’re Here, Doc and Just One More Thing, Doc. More details on this episode MP3 Podcast - Winter Doldrums Show 2011 with Bob Tarte

Just in time for the holidays, any holidays, Bob and Linda Tarte talk about their favorite books about animals. And, no, this isn’t just an excuse for Bob to plug the brand new Kindle edition of Enslaved by Ducks and Fowl Weather, though he does accidentally mention the fact. Fortunately 99-percent of the show is spent gushing over other people’s must-read books about pets and various wild critters. (For a list of books discussed on the show, click the Episode Info link.) More details on this episode MP3 Podcast - Animal Books for the Holidays with Bob Tarte

Just in time for Halloween, Bob and Linda talk about a mysterious 'extra' cat that both of them have seen and heard running down the basement stairs. Is their basement haunted? Shifting to less scary topics, Linda describes recent improvements to the outdoor barn pen to keep the snow and ice from flattening it every year. She also discusses the oversize ego of tiny bantam rooster Julius. More details on this episode MP3 Podcast - The Ghost Cat with Bob Tarte

It's supposed to be the peak of the shorebird migration. But when Bob Tarte and Book Character Bill Holm visit Muskegon Wastewater System on a birding expedition, they come up a little short in the sightings department. Not to mention the intelligence and common sense departments as well. They do manage to spot a pair of Peregrine Falcons and a few other migrating birds, but not enough of anything to come away with any trace of dignity. Don't miss this underwhelming you-are-there audio experience! More details on this episode MP3 Podcast - Shore No Shorebirds with Bob Tarte

Bob and Linda have been busy this summer with bird rehab. Okay, Linda has been busy, but Bob helps a little bit. Our author and his long-suffering wife talk about starting the season with a big batch of raucous starlings, and then ending the summer raising and releasing one of their favorite birds, the Cedar Waxwing. About 14 of them, to be more or less exact. Linda also discusses a visiting pair of House Wrens that nested in the yard and Bob makes weak excuses about why it’s been so long between podcasts. More details on this episode MP3 Podcast - House Wrens and Cedar Waxwings with Bob Tarte

Bob’s guest on this episode is the dynamo of duckdom, Kimberly Link, founder of the Majestic Waterfowl Sanctuary in Lebanon, Connecticut and author of The Ultimate Pet Duck Guidebook. Unlike other duck care books which include a duck recipe section in the back, Kim’s book treats your ducks as pets instead of holiday entrees. It’s packed full of information on everything from day-to-day care to serious medical issues, and covers essential tips on food, housing, flock management, enrichment, and more. It’s also fun to read, thanks to lots of entertaining anecdotes about Kim’s life with her flock. Kim’s a blast to talk to, too. Visit her website at www.majesticwaterfowl.org and contribute by buying a copy. More details on this episode MP3 Podcast - The Ultimate Pet Duck Podcast with Bob Tarte

We've never done a jumbo podcast before. But this time we're definitely doing a shrimpy episode. Expert aquarist Rus Wilson tells host Bob Tarte about the pet shrimps that he keeps as pets. He has shrimp that live in freshwater, brackish water, and saltwater environments. Some dance, some can live in excess of 20 years, and all sound like interesting additions to the household. Visit Rus' website www.aquarimax.com for shrimpy facts and photos, plus various podcasts. More details on this episode MP3 Podcast - A Shrimpy Podcast with Bob Tarte

In the show’s first telephone call to the bottom of the globe, Australia pet sitter Karen Riddell describes her experiences as a professional pet sitter taking care of every kind of creature from house rabbits to axolotls. She discusses chilling out with bearded dragons to get them comfortable enough to eat and trying to convince a flock of spoiled chickens to go into their coop for the night. Karen also has excellent suggestions for helping folks choose a sitter for their critters. Bob wonders how soon she can come to Michigan. More details on this episode MP3 Podcast - Downunder Critter Sitter with Bob Tarte

Don’t look at this as yet another off-topic podcast about birding. Look at it as a special bonus addition of the show. It marks the precise one-year anniversary, give or take a few days, weeks, or months, of host Bob Tarte and Book Character Bill Holm’s acclaimed "Quest for Crossbills" winter birding podcast. This time around, the hapless duo roll to Muskegon Wastewater to search for ducks with results that should have been predictable. But stay with our bumbling pair for a few unexpected twists and a lunch of cheap Chinese food as they find themselves next to the submarine SS Silversides only to find... Well, you’ve got to hear it for yourself. More details on this episode MP3 Podcast - Bonus Winter Birding Show with Bob Tarte

With their formidable beaks and attitudes, parrots and geese can make intimidating pets. So imagine owning a rambunctious bird that stands six-feet tall. Cheryl McAtee’s ostrich-like South American rhea named Myrhea thankfully had a pleasant personality (as long as Cheryl was careful to dress in gray). He loved to pluck blueberries from her hand. Cheryl tells Bob about raising Myrhea from an 18-inch-tall youngster and watching him grow a half-an-inch a day. She talks about his humming song, mating dance, and fear of airplanes, plus other charming peculiarities. She also discusses Tomi, an affable cat she found injured on her farm who turned out to be fifty-percent bobcat, and who guarded her family like a watchdog. More details on this episode MP3 Podcast - Blame It On Rhea with Bob Tarte