Podcast appearances and mentions of phoenix valley

From Clinical Need to Market: How Medical Devices Are Built w/ Stuart Broyles of MDM2 - AZ TRT S07 EP06 (288) 3-29-2026       What We Learned This Week:  Medical devices can take a decade to reach patients Bringing a medical device to market isn't quick. Phoenix is quietly becoming a major MedTech hub The Valley has a growing cluster of medical technology companies including: The biggest risk in medical innovation is building something doctors don't need One of the most common failures in MedTech is creating technology without validating the clinical problem first. Universities often invent the technology—but companies bring it to life Many medical device ideas originate in research labs. The future of healthcare innovation depends on collaboration Successful medical device innovation requires an ecosystem     Guest: Stuart Broyles, PhD LKIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stuart-broyles-phd/   Stuart builds connections that move ideas forward—from university research to real-world MedTech solutions. He was at WL Gore & Assoc. for nearly 3 decades working in MedTech at various levels and helped bring 13 devices to market. Also includes, university advisory roles, early-stage venture coaching, and innovation ecosystem development. Organization: MDM2 (Medical Device Manufacturing Multiplier)   Summary:  Medical devices can take a decade to reach patients Bringing a medical device to market isn't quick. While some devices can launch in six months to a year, many take five to ten years once clinical trials and regulatory approvals are involved. That's why early testing and feedback are critical. Phoenix is quietly becoming a major MedTech hub The Valley has a growing cluster of medical technology companies including: ·         Medtronic ·         Abbott Laboratories ·         Dexcom ·         West Pharmaceutical Services Add in research from Arizona State University and University of Arizona and the region is building a strong bioscience ecosystem. The biggest risk in medical innovation is building something doctors don't need One of the most common failures in MedTech is creating technology without validating the clinical problem first. Organizations like MDM2 (Medical Device Manufacturing Multiplier) are working to connect startups directly with clinicians early in the process so companies can refine their products before investing millions. Universities often invent the technology—but companies bring it to life Many medical device ideas originate in research labs. Universities typically own the patents and license the technology to startups or companies that can develop and commercialize the product. Programs like the ASU Skysong Innovation Center and Tech Launch Arizona help bridge the gap between research and business. The future of healthcare innovation depends on collaboration Successful medical device innovation requires an ecosystem: • clinicians who identify real problems • engineers who build solutions • investors who fund development • manufacturers who scale production Arizona is building that ecosystem through groups like MDM2 (Medical Device Manufacturing Multiplier) and the Phoenix Bioscience Core.       Podcast Show Notes Guest: Stuart Broyles, PhD LKIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stuart-broyles-phd/   Stuart builds connections that move ideas forward—from university research to real-world MedTech solutions. He was at WL Gore & Assoc. for nearly 3 decades working in MedTech at various levels and helped bring 13 devices to market. Also includes, university advisory roles, early-stage venture coaching, and innovation ecosystem development. Organization: MDM2 (Medical Device Manufacturing Multiplier) Episode Topic: How Medical Devices Move from Clinical Need to Market   Interview recorded: March 2026 Segment 1 – The Medical Device Industry What Are Medical Devices? Medical devices include a wide range of technologies used to diagnose, monitor, or treat patients. Common examples include: ·         Coronary stents used to treat blocked arteries in the heart ·         Artificial limbs and prosthetics ·         Implantable devices used in cardiology ·         Monitoring technologies such as glucose sensors A well-known example is the glucose monitoring technology produced by Dexcom, which operates in the Mesa, Arizona area. Medical devices also include technologies used to treat circulation issues in arms and legs, along with remote monitoring tools used in modern healthcare. History of the Industry Medical devices began emerging in the 1950s, but the real acceleration occurred between the late 1970s and the 1980s. This era introduced breakthroughs such as: ·         Coronary stents ·         Artificial hearts ·         Prosthetic limbs Over time, the technologies have become: ·         safer ·         more durable ·         more precise Phoenix as a MedTech Hub The Phoenix metro area has developed into a significant medical device and bioscience ecosystem. Major companies with a presence in the region include: ·         Medtronic ·         Abbott Laboratories ·         Dexcom ·         West Pharmaceutical Services This sector is particularly important in the Phoenix Valley, which has a rapidly aging population, increasing demand for medical technology and healthcare innovation. Importance of Clinical Partnerships Successful medical device development requires close collaboration with clinicians and hospitals. In the Phoenix ecosystem, companies often partner with: ·         HonorHealth ·         Mayo Clinic Universities also play a major role in research and collaboration, including: ·         Arizona State University ·         University of Arizona Clinicians provide feedback during development, helping companies ensure devices actually solve real-world clinical problems. How Long It Takes to Bring a Device to Market Development timelines vary widely: Typical timelines: ·         6 months – fastest case observed ·         1 year – simple device pathways ·         Up to 10 years – complex devices requiring clinical trials Segment 2 – Stuart Broyles' Career Stuart Broyles spent nearly 30 years at W. L. Gore & Associates (1995–2024). During that time he worked on multiple divisions developing cardiovascular and medical technologies. Key accomplishments include: ·         Participating in the commercialization of 13 medical devices ·         Working at the team member and leadership levels ·         Bringing complex devices through development and into the market Transition to Mentoring and Innovation After retiring in 2024, Broyles: ·         Did consulting and investing ·         Returned to the startup ecosystem ·         Became an Entrepreneur-in-Residence at Arizona State University He now works with startups through MDM2 (Medical Device Manufacturing Multiplier) helping early-stage companies navigate the development and commercialization process. Many of the companies he works with range from: ·         very early-stage startups ·         teams of just two or three founders ·         companies developing new medical manufacturing technologies MDM2 also partners with HonorHealth to help startups engage with clinical partners. Phoenix Innovation Infrastructure Several organizations contribute to the Valley's health technology ecosystem: Research and innovation hubs ·         Phoenix Bioscience Core ·         Flinn Foundation Startup programs ·         WearTech Center ·         ASU Skysong Innovation Center Medical device and engineering companies ·         PADT (3D printing and product development) ·         BD (Becton Dickinson) Wearable Technology Innovation The WearTech Center in central Phoenix supports startups building wearable medical technologies. Examples include companies such as: ·         Gravitrex ·         Hemasense One demonstration project includes a mock apartment designed to test monitoring systems for independent living seniors, helping companies validate technology in real-world environments. WearTech also hosts quarterly demo days where startups present their technologies to investors and industry partners. Segment 3 – Clinical Trials and Product Development The Need for a "Clinical Innovation Sandbox" A major challenge for startups is access to clinicians who can provide meaningful feedback during early development. MDM2 is working to create a system where: ·         startups can regularly meet clinicians ·         products can be demonstrated in person ·         real clinical feedback is gathered early This helps companies determine whether a product actually solves a meaningful healthcare problem. Continuing Medical Education (CME) Forums MDM2 is developing CME forums that allow clinicians to: ·         learn about emerging medical technologies ·         discuss product concepts ·         provide guidance during early development These sessions also create opportunities for honest feedback before expensive trials begin. One of the first sessions included collaboration with: ·         HonorHealth ·         Hemasense Clinical Trials Outside the United States Clinical trials in the U.S. can be complex and slow due to regulatory requirements. As a result: ·         many companies run trials in Europe or Asia ·         approval processes may be faster ·         testing costs may be lower Improving regulatory efficiency in the U.S. remains a challenge for medical device innovators. Intellectual Property and Universities Many medical technologies originate in universities. In these cases: ·         the university typically owns the intellectual property ·         companies license the technology to commercialize it Technology transfer organizations help bridge the gap between research and commercialization. Programs supporting this in Arizona include: ·         ASU Skysong Innovation Center ·         Tech Launch Arizona These programs help connect professors with entrepreneurs who have experience bringing products to market. Segment 4 – The Future of Medical Device Innovation in Phoenix Phoenix and Arizona are increasingly positioned as a national hub for bioscience and medical device innovation. Key advantages include: ·         strong manufacturing capabilities across the state ·         major university research centers ·         growing healthcare systems ·         startup accelerators and incubators New startups frequently spin out of larger companies like: ·         W. L. Gore & Associates ·         Medtronic These larger companies sometimes help fund and mentor new ventures. Building a Strong Innovation Ecosystem A successful innovation ecosystem requires collaboration among: ·         universities ·         hospitals ·         manufacturers ·         investors ·         startups Arizona is actively building this network to support long-term growth in the medical technology sector. Advice for Entrepreneurs For founders looking to build a medical device startup: 1.    Work with clinicians early in development 2.    Validate the problem you are solving 3.    Understand the regulatory pathway 4.    Build partnerships with universities and hospitals 5.    De-risk the concept before large investments Ultimately, success depends on proving value to three key stakeholders: ·         clinicians ·         investors ·         patients Organizations Mentioned Medical Device Manufacturing Multiplier MDM2 (Medical Device Manufacturing Multiplier)https://www.mdm2.org/ MDM2 works to strengthen Arizona's medical device manufacturing ecosystem through partnerships with universities, hospitals, and startups. WearTech Center WearTech Centerhttps://www.azweartech.org/projects Focus areas include: ·         wearable health technologies ·         remote monitoring systems ·         aging-in-place innovations   If you want to learn more about the growing medical device ecosystem in Arizona, visit the website for the MDM2 (Medical Device Manufacturing Multiplier) and explore how they're helping startups move innovations from the lab to the patient.     Tech Topic: https://brt-show.libsyn.com/category/Tech-Startup-VC-Cybersecurity-Energy-Science  Best of Tech: https://brt-show.libsyn.com/size/5/?search=best+of+tech   'Best Of' Topic: https://brt-show.libsyn.com/category/Best+of+BRT      Thanks for Listening. Please Subscribe to the AZ TRT Podcast.     AZ Tech Roundtable 2.0 with Matt Battaglia The show where Entrepreneurs, Top Executives, Founders, and Investors come to share insights about the future of business.  AZ TRT 2.0 looks at the new trends in business, & how classic industries are evolving.  Common Topics Discussed: Startups, Founders, Funds & Venture Capital, Business, Entrepreneurship, Biotech, Blockchain / Crypto, Executive Comp, Investing, Stocks, Real Estate + Alternative Investments, and more…    AZ TRT Podcast Home Page: http://aztrtshow.com/ 'Best Of' AZ TRT Podcast: Click Here Podcast on Google: Click Here Podcast on Spotify: Click Here                    More Info: https://www.economicknight.com/azpodcast/ KFNX Info: https://1100kfnx.com/weekend-featured-shows/  

Send us a text and chime in!Upon the retirement of our beloved Artistic Director, Dennis Houser, the Board of Directors of the Prescott Chorale is excited to announce the hiring of our Artistic Director Designate, Ms. Danya Tiller, commencing June 1, 2026. Danya Tiller has been performing, conducting, and teaching in the Phoenix Valley for the past 25 years. Ms. Tiller has conducted and taught choirs of all age ranges and levels, working with numerous adult and children's community and church choirs, coaching and conducting professional choral ensembles, and serving as conductor/clinician for workshops and honor choirs nationwide. For 10 years, Ms. Tiller was the Artistic... For the written story, read here >> https://www.signalsaz.com/articles/prescott-chorale-names-new-artistic-director/Check out the CAST11.com Website at: https://CAST11.com Follow the CAST11 Podcast Network on Facebook at: https://Facebook.com/CAST11AZFollow Cast11 Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/cast11_podcast_network

On this episode of Success is Subjective, Joanna brings you another story from our special former participant series where she extends the opportunity for former participants to share their journey with others.Growing up in a small Arizona town, Alex Carey “had good grades and a ton of friends,” but by her mid-teens the party culture and a move to the Phoenix Valley accelerated risky choices that culminated in an adolescent placement at a residential treatment program—an experience she describes as shame-based and traumatizing, leaving her more wounded than helped. After returning home, Alex spiraled: a DUI at 17, mounting alcohol use, surgeries that introduced her to opioids, and several “summer vacation” trips to adult treatment that didn't stick because she was still performing rather than telling the truth. Everything changed in 2017—after a relapse, an overdose, and waking up from life support—when Alex walked into treatment committed to radical honesty about her pain and needs. That honesty became the turning point: she embraced recovery, rebuilt from nothing, and later sought deeper healing through intensive trauma work, including EMDR. Today, approaching eight years sober at the time of recording, Alex is a married mom to a two-year-old, a photographer at heart, and a treatment professional connecting people to trauma-informed care at Pinnacle Peak Recovery. In this conversation, she contrasts coercive adolescent models with adult treatment that respects autonomy, shares grounded advice for parents and inspires hope in young adults who fear treatment will always look like it did when they were kids. Alex's story is a testament to what becomes possible when recovery is honest, individualized, and trauma-informed.NOTE: The podcasts in this series can include sensitive subjects such as suicide, self-harm, substance abuse, hospitalizations, psychotic episodes, and other traumatic experiences which include parts of the treatment journey. No topic is off limits and not all stories are positive but they are real, raw, and transparent.*Listener discretion is advised*Alex's Resources:Pinnacle Peak Recovery Instagram: @pinnacle.peak.recovery Facebook: Pinnacle Peak RecoveryTikTok: Pinnacle Peak RecoveryConnect with Joanna Lilley  Therapeutic Consulting AssociationLilley Consulting WebsiteLilley Consulting on Facebook Lilley Consulting on YouTubeEmail joanna@lilleyconsulting.com#TherapeuticConsulting #LilleyConsulting #Successful  #TherapeuticPrograms #Therapy #MentalHealthMatters #Podcast #PodcastCommunity #TheJourney #SuccessIsSubjectivePodcast #TheUnpavedRoad #PFCAudioVideo #EmotionalHealing #TraumaRecovery #Sobriety #Addiction #Recovery #AddictionRecovery #RecoveryIsPossible #PinnaclePeakRecovery

AOL Dial-up Finale is News AF - August 12, 2025 Rob Cesternino, Tyson Apostol, and Danny Bryson are back with another entertaining episode of News AF, where they dive into the week's most peculiar and amusing stories. This week Rob, Tyson and Danny talk through the week's most newsworthy stories. Get ready for another episode of News AF! Your hosts Rob Cesternino, Father Nature and pickleball's top influencer Tyson Apostol, and Danny Bryson, are here to break down the wildest headlines for the week of August 12th, 2025! Tyson kicks off by recounting his survival of Phoenix Valley's record-breaking 118-degree heat on August 7th. He also shares the bizarre reason he couldn't get his summer buzz haircut. The guys then commemorate the imminent end of an internet era as AOL dial-up service shuts down on September 30th. Remember those agonizingly slow 56 kilobits per second speeds, taking two days to download a single South Park episode in low resolution? Tyson even proposes a futuristic system where fast internet hotspots move, encouraging people to walk to find them. Prepare for some truly unconventional animal news! The Department of Agriculture is now playing audio of Scarlett Johansson and Adam Driver fighting from "Marriage Story" to scare wolves away from cattle in Oregon. The "cringe" factor is real, even for wildlife! Plus, hear about the disastrous Pokemon Happy Meal promotion in Japan that led to massive food waste, with resellers buying meals just for the cards and throwing away the food. And for the grand finale, a study reveals that 57% of people trust AI for dating advice more than their best friends, even for conversation starters and writing dating bios! Don't miss the shocking tale of a NASA intern who stole $21 million in lunar rocks to create an "on the moon" romantic experience for his girlfriend. Tune in to News AF for all these unbelievable stories and more! Be sure to subscribe to our new YouTube channel! Be sure to check our some great offers from our sponsors! Need to catch up on more Actual Factual news?Archive of News AFSubscribe to News AF on iTunesView the News AF ArchiveNews AF on YoutubeGroup AF Facebook Page Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Send us a textIt was my pleasure to host Robbie, get to know him better and I was amazed at how many of the historic events around Tucson he had been a part of. I'd be lying if I denied that the little whisper in the back of my head didn't save me on a number of occasions. Robbie describes the same phenomenon and absolutely attributes this :Guardian Angel" to his faith.We only made it through his police career int his episode, but I must say I'm intrigued to hear about his years as a prosecutor in the Phoenix Valley, keep your eyes peeled for future episodes.So, with all due respect, please give a warm welcome to the newest member of The Squad and let's get this show started!!!Come see me on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/choir.practice.94 or on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/cp_sfaf/

Send us a textMy good buddy, and multiple time guest, Bill Hanson arranged the meeting between Randy and I!We met, I gave him a hard time about being a second responder, but he was such the gracious guest. He chose the fire service after he had an interaction with Firefighter/ paramedics early in his life which sealed his destiny! Many years later, he rose to the ranks of The Chief and he continues to serve in retirement.On a serious note, I appreciate his authenticity and willingness to share the story of his son Aaron. Aaron was an EMT in the Phoenix Valley early in his adult life. He saw some things that made a deep impression on him, some that he could not shake. He went on to become a firefighter for Golder Ranch, but not without some demons which ultimately caught up to him.Randy, thanks again for sharing your story, creating this legacy, and continuing to serve. Squad, you know what to do...lift him up, enjoy the episode and thanks for tuning in.  Come see me on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/choir.practice.94 or on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/cp_sfaf/

In this Topical Tuesday episode, I spoke with Anita Verma-Lallian who is a real estate developer and CEO/Founder of Arizona Land Consulting, where she provides full concierge services for land seekers and developers of all types of sites and assists investors in discovering viable properties in the Phoenix Valley. Be sure to tune in if you're interested in learning about: Discovering the strategy behind acquiring land positioned in Phoenix's path of growth. How Anita's firm is working with investors to secure high ROI on land investments, including in tech-driven sectors like data centers. The rising demand for industrial and multifamily developments in Arizona, driven by tech companies expanding into the region. To your success, Tyler Lyons Resources mentioned in the episode: Anita Verma-Lallian Website LinkedIn Instagram Interested in learning how to take your capital raising game to the next level? Meet us at Capital Raiser's Edge. Learn more here: https://raisingcapital.com/cre

Drive about 45 minutes southwest of the Phoenix Valley, and you will reach an expanse of the Sonoran desert with a long, rich history. The Gila River runs through this area, which was once lush with flora and fauna. Now, with the river dammed up, the water doesn't always flow. Nonetheless, the region is still home to an abundance of people, wildlife and historical treasures. These three aspects are what locals, archaeologists, and biologists hope to preserve as a national monument. The Great Bend of the Gila, as the monument would be named, is a network of braided rivulets. These streams join into the Gila River, which cuts through prehistoric lava fields and flows past nearby mountain ranges before joining the Colorado River near the Sea of Cortez. Respect Great Bend of the Gila is the campaign pushing President Joe Biden to sign this area into national monument status. The campaign includes local tribes, wildlife biologists and archeologists. The proposed monument boundaries are about 70 miles of the Gila River corridor and approximately 370,000 acres of public land. In this episode of Valley 101, we hear from representatives of each of these groups. They share the history, discoveries and importance of the Gila River region to Arizonans and the nation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this Topical Tuesday episode, I spoke with Conor Devereux who oversees CoStar's analytic coverage of Phoenix and its environs as Director of Market Analytics. Using CoStar's unique commercial real estate research platform, Devereux is responsible for providing insight and market analysis to help clients formulate strategies, raise funds and close deals. Be sure to tune in if you're interested in learning about: The current state of the Phoenix multifamily market, highlighting key trends and changes in rent growth and occupancy rates. An in-depth look at cap rate trends for Class A, B, and C properties in Phoenix, including significant shifts from their all-time lows. The exploration of major corporate investments and job growth areas in the Phoenix Valley, including the impact of TSMC's massive investment. The identification of top areas in the Phoenix Valley with high concentrations of white-collar jobs, such as Camelback Corridor, North Scottsdale, and Tempe. To your success, Tyler Lyons Resources mentioned in the episode: Connor Devereux Link to previous episode LinkedIn Website Interested in investing with Asym Capital? Check out our webinar.   Please note that investing in private placement securities entails a high degree of risk, including illiquidity of the investment and loss of principal. Please refer to the subscription agreement for a discussion of risk factors. Tired of scrambling for capital?  Check out our new FREE webinar -  How to Ensure You Never Scramble for Capital Again (The 3 Capital-Raising Secrets). Click Here to register.   CFC Podcast Facebook Group

In this episode of the Econ Dev Show Podcast (https://podcast.econdevshow.com), Dane Carlson (https://www.linkedin.com/in/danecarlson/) sits down with Ken Chapa (https://www.linkedin.com/in/kenchapa/), the Director of Economic Development and Tourism for the City of Avondale, Arizona (https://avondaleedge.com), a thriving community in the Phoenix metropolitan area. Ken Chapa shares his journey and passion for economic development, highlighting his strategic vision for Avondale. With extensive experience in the field, Ken discusses the innovative approaches he has implemented to foster growth and sustainability in Avondale. He delves into the dynamic economic landscape of the city, emphasizing the importance of strategic planning and collaboration with various stakeholders to attract and retain businesses. Throughout the conversation, Ken addresses the unique challenges and opportunities that come with managing economic development in a fast-growing urban area. He provides insights into key projects and initiatives that have significantly contributed to Avondale's economic success, including the development of the Avondale City Center, efforts to enhance infrastructure, and the attraction of healthcare and technology companies to diversify the economic base. Ken also explores the role of technology and data in shaping economic development strategies. He shares examples of how Avondale leverages data-driven decision-making to identify trends, optimize resources, and create a business-friendly environment. Additionally, Ken emphasizes the significance of community engagement and partnerships in driving economic development. He highlights the importance of building strong relationships with local businesses, educational institutions, and community organizations to create a holistic approach to growth and development. By showcasing the innovative work being done in Avondale, this episode provides valuable insights and practical strategies for economic developers and community leaders looking to drive positive change in their regions. Ken's passion for economic development and his commitment to making Avondale a thriving and sustainable community make this episode a must-listen for anyone interested in the field. Like this show? Please leave us a review here (https://econdevshow.com/rate-this-podcast/) — even one sentence helps! Actionable Insights for Economic Developers: Focus on Unique Strengths: Identify and leverage the unique aspects of your community to stand out. For Avondale, this included its young population and investment in amenities that cater to younger families and professionals. Develop Mixed-Use Projects: Consider developing mixed-use projects like the Avondale City Center to create vibrant, multi-functional spaces that attract residents and businesses alike. Invest in Parks and Recreation: Invest heavily in parks, recreation, and community spaces to enhance the quality of life for residents and make your community more attractive to newcomers. Foster Strong Educational Partnerships: Build strong partnerships with local schools and universities to support education and workforce development, ensuring a skilled talent pool for local businesses. Engage with the Community: Actively engage with residents to get their input on projects and initiatives. This helps build a sense of ownership and pride in the community. Leverage Data for Decision-Making: Use data-driven decision-making to identify trends, optimize resources, and create a business-friendly environment. Attract Diverse Industries: Diversify the economic base by attracting a variety of industries, such as healthcare and technology companies, to ensure economic stability and growth. Improve Infrastructure and Connectivity: Work on transportation and infrastructure projects to improve connectivity and accessibility within the community, making it easier for people to live, work, and play. Promote a Business-Friendly Environment: Create policies and initiatives that support local businesses and make your community attractive for new investments. Manage Sustainable Growth: Focus on managing growth in a sustainable way that maintains the quality of life for residents and preserves the unique characteristics of the community. Other Sponsors

Discover the remarkable journey of Manu Srivastava, a prominent figure in the Phoenix Valley known for his strict Hindustani classical music teaching style, Manu is the Chief Revenue Officer at White Fox, an anti-drone company. Unveiling his multifaceted identity, Manu is also the founder of Phoenix Gharana and channels his passion for bodybuilding. In this special Pride Month episode, we delve into Manu's courageous narrative of embracing his true self as a gay human. From poignant childhood anecdotes to the inner struggles of self-discovery and the complexities of coming out, Manu candidly shares his transformative experiences. Hailing from a conservative Indian background and navigating his formative years in Canada, he sheds light on the arduous yet enlightening path towards self-acceptance. Supported unwaveringly by his ex-wife and son, Manu navigated the dissolution of his marriage to eventually find love and companionship with Adam, his life partner whom he married in 2023. Through compelling storytelling, Manu challenges societal norms, explores impactful parenting approaches, and advocates for LGBTQ rights with fervor on social media. Join us in commemorating Pride Month 2024 as we amplify Manu Srivastava's voice, stand in solidarity with the LGBTQ community, and champion inclusivity and acceptance., don't forget to check out Manu's instagram account for more of his stories on the topics we discussed. Other Soul in the Game episodes on: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0Ujrnj4DwVPBFc6ROaOekN YouTube: https://youtu.be/w9lnDhDr-hg Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as legal or health or professional advice. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/soulinthegame/message

You guys are in for a super special treat today because we have actual Yum Mums here to share their experience with you. So if you need a little inspo or a seed of possibility, this podcast is going to give you that.Jana is a mother and grandmother living in the Phoenix Valley. She's lost 40 pounds in Yummy Mummy.Lindy is also a mother and grandmother who lives in California and she's lost 30 pounds so far.Susan is a mother of 5 living in Wyoming and is down 30 pounds since joining Yummy Mummy.Their backgrounds might be different, but there are many things these women have in common: They had tried all the things… Meal replacements, weight loss challenges, and diets. Watching the scale go down and then back up, over and over. Feeling stuck. Feeling doomed to the cyclical weight loss/weight gain experience forever, whether due to genetics or feeling helpless to change.They used all those crappy past results (which were not their fault) as evidence that they couldn't do it. And that's what they believed, until the Yummy Mummy Experience (YMX) showed them another way.Now Jana, Lindy, and Susan have the mindset tools AND the practical day-to-day tools to help them avoid emotional eating, to embrace a well-lived life, and to free themselves from food worry so they can be more present with their families. That's what the YMX delivers - food freedom and the option to lose weight for the last time.Because it IS an option. You get to choose it. And YMX guarantees you will succeed. So get this episode in your ears and get the inspo you need to explore YOUR weight loss possibilities.The April round of Yummy Mummy is kicking off TODAY, so be sure to get your booty over PRONTO to join the April 2024 YMX cohort! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Join Dr. Jasser as he looks at 14 years of Obamacare and the descent of American medicine and healthcare into essentially full blown socialized medicine. As a primary care provider in the Phoenix Valley, and a national leader in organized medicine and private practice, Zuhdi looks at the 14th anniversary of Obamacare and how President Biden, Obama 3.0 and the rest of the predators in the healthcare market exploited the pandemic to further destroy small business medicine. Last, Dr. Jasser reflects on a Rasmussen study about the election corruption rotting the elite of the Democrat liberal establishment revealed in a recent Rasmussen study. If correct, it does not bode well for our democracy.       Keywords: Zuhdi Jasser, Healthcare, Obamacare, socialized medicine, primary care, private practice, doctor, physician, elite, establishment, corruption, elections, election integrity  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, Alan and Alex are joined on the show by Rachel and Cale, owners and operators of the Electric Bat Arcade in Tempe, Arizona.  We discuss the Phoenix Valley pinball scene, the history of the Bat, their legendary Tuesday night league that regularly draws 100+ players, operator pet peeves, splits, tokens, and much more.Join us for this in depth look at another very cool operator and listen to us talk about the pinball operating business and compare some regional differences between our scenes....we are adults, we swear sometimes.

Summary: Finches visit Arizona in the winter. Join Cheryl and Kiersten to find out which finches may visit us in winter.   For our hearing-impaired listeners, a transcript of this podcast follows the show notes on Podbean.   Show Notes: “Arizona's Winter Finches,” by Charles Babbitt The Cactus Wren-Dition Winter 2023   Transcript   Cheryl-Intro          Some finch species are highly prone to irruptions-which are occasions when large numbers of birds take flight and regularly move hundreds of miles beyond their normal winter ranges in response to food scarcity especially cone and seed crop failures.  Kiersten and I did a podcast last year about irruption in the bird world so check out that podcast to get more information.           In the winter of 2022-2023 was such a situation when Evening Grosbeaks, Cassin's Finches, Red Crossbills, Pine Siskins, and Lawernce Goldfinches were reported in large, unprecedented numbers at many locations around the state of Arizona.  These are the nomadic winter finches of Arizona. Kiersten-Red Crossbills The Red Crossbills are the oddest of the group.  When you get a close look at their bill you will see what looks like a deformed beak with the lower mandible crossing under the upper mandible.  This allows the crossbill o pry open tightly closed cones to extract the seeds, an evolutionary adaption that gives them access to a unique food source.  Red Crossbills are resident breeders in much of Arizona's upper elevation forests.  In flight years, however, irruptions can bring roving flocks from out of the state swelling numbers in mountainous areas and sometimes bringing these boreal invaders into the lowlands such as the Phoenix Valley. Cheryl-Pine Siskins          Pine Siskins are one of the smaller winter finches often confused with the House finch.  These little birds are year-round residents in Arizona's high country they are famous for their periodic irruptions.  Movements are irregular and sporadic with birds being quite common some years and entirely absent other years.           Pine Siskins have sharp narrow bills they use to extract seeds from the cones of a variety of conifers. In winter, flocks are often seen at feeders, with the Lesser Goldfinch and the House finch, or in weedy fields.  These birds are quite personable and a person can get quite close to them before they will take flight.    Pine Siskins are recognized by their steaky breasts and the bright yellow markings on their wings.  In flight they show a distinctive yellow wing stripe. Kiersten-Evening Grosbeaks          Of the winter finches, Evening Grosbeaks are the most striking.  These stocky birds have evolved massive cream-colored beaks which are unmistakable and which are used like nutcrackers to feed on a variety of large seeds, catkins and even small fruit pits.  In northern Arizona these birds might be seen feeding in winter on Russian olive fruits and juniper berries.          Male Evening Grosbeaks are yellow and black with a distinct yellow forehead and eye brow and large white patches.  Females are mostly gray with a yellowish-green collar and black and white wing markings.          In Arizona Evening Grosbeaks breed very locally in the high country.  In the winter they form large noisy flocks.  Like the other winter finches Evening Grosbeaks have irruptive years, and when they do these birds delight bird watchers and the bird feeding hobbyists by crowded around seed feeders to eat sunflower seeds. Cheryl-Cassin's Finch          Cassin's Finches are restricted to northern Arizona mostly the regions of the Kaibab Plateau and higher elevations of the Hopi and Navajo tribal lands.  In the summer you are most likely to see them in pine and mixed conifer forests on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon.  Males are easily recognized by their bright raspberry red caps and rosy tinged faces and breasts.  Females are plainer with streaked breasts.           Cassin's finches are migratory and irruptive with great variability in distribution and abundance.  In some winters they can be quite common and be found in the low foothills of the phoenix Valley. When they are around, they visit finch feeders, often mixing with Pine Siskins, and other local finches.  As spring warms the foothills you can spot these hardy finches gathered in trees where they sing incessantly. Kiersten-Lawrence's Goldfinches          Some years Arizona is visited by winter finches not by the north but from the west.  These are Lawrence's goldfinches, colorful birds whose breeding range is mostly the coastal ranges and foothills of the Sierra Nevada of California.  There these birds occupy a variety of habitats including dry foothills, open woodlands and adjacent grasslands.  In sporadic and unpredictable flight years some depart their breeding range, heading eastward in the southern part of Arizona.          Lawrence's Goldfinches are a soft gray color with gold markings on the wings and chest.  Males have black faces with contrasting pink bills while females tend to be less colorful.          Lawrence Goldfinches are seed eaters.  As with the other winter finches, seed crop failures due to drought or even more recently, massive wildfires are probably the principal driver of this birds' periodic movements into Arizona.  Cheryl-Closing          The question has been asked if scientists will ever be able to predict winter finch irruptions.  Maybe.  East of the Mississippi River, with the data compiled and the network of observers, the bird world enthusiasts attempt predictions of which winter finch will have a flight year.  But in the west and especially the southwest with our mountainous terrain, diverse and widely separated habitats, and the lack of a network of observers, predictions are unlikely.  Truly the unpredictability of the Arizona's winter finches is what keeps the mystery and excitement in the sightings of these birds when they appear.

It was episode 25, way back in January 2020, when Tim last joined us to talk about Athalonz. A lot has changed with the shoe company based in the Phoenix Valley. After they did a fantastic job getting their shoes into the hands of some of the best athletes on the planet, when it comes to the Champions Tour and Long Drive competitions, a little thing called Covid happened. There were a lot of small brands, like Athalonz, that didn't make it through Covid. But as a smaller, direct-to-consumer shoe company with some outstanding tech, they were able to weather the storm.Several years later, they've launched a new shoe, the Mana Mangrove Pro, and have a second version of their successful EnVe line coming.But that might not be the most significant news regarding Athalonz.  Some of you might not know that Tim Markison is a successful, no, VERY successful Patent Attorney with hundreds of patents. Many of which are involved with Athalonz. And one of the major brands in the shoe business is using their patented technology in their shoes. This was incredibly interesting, and we are eager to hear the outcome of the litigation when it starts in March. We'll be sure to have Tim back on after the ruling so he can tell us more about it.If you enjoy learning about smaller brands and how they are doing their part to bring advancements to the tech we use to play golf, this will be a great listen. We want to thank Tim for taking the time out of his busy schedule to chat with us about what's new with Athalonz, and we're looking forward to seeing what they accomplish with their new shoes in 2024.Links for the Episode:Athalonz: https://www.athalonz.com/Athalonz on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/athalonz/Athalonz on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/athalonz/Bernhard Langer: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernhard_LangerIf you haven't checked out our NEW YouTube channel, please do and hit that Subscribe Button for us! More content is coming to that channel as Matt learns the ins and outs of making better videos. Each week, we're posting the show on there as well.https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCU6nN8pqtQrhmgBgPbkkDwAWe have a new partnership with The Golf Stop. Be sure to stop by their new facility and check it out! It's a great spot to get in some practice, hang out, and get in some swings with the boys or the fam!https://thegolfstop.com/Please check out one of our show supporters, FN3P Golf. You can save some money using our code "CDPODCAST" at checkout.https://bit.ly/3yWe9plAs was mentioned earlier, we've moved our show from Riverside to StreamYard and are excited about the future. If you like what you're seeing, here's a link to check out the software:  CDP STREAMYARD REFERRAL LINKhttps://streamyard.com/pal/c/4We hope you enjoy this week's episode, and if you do, please consider leaving us a review on either Spotify or iTunes. Thank You!

Summary: What is MOTUS? It's the next step in bird migration science. Join Cheryl and Kiersten to find out how this is putting the Phoenix Valley on the map!   For our hearing-impaired listeners, a transcript of this podcast follows the show notes on Podbean.   Show Notes: MOTUS: https://motus.org “What is MOTUS?” by Rebecca Stephenson. Desert Rivers Audubon Magazine, Winter 2023. As of the recording of this podcast, we have not been able to find a link with volunteer information for MOTUS but the article on this site tells you how to reach out if you're interested: https://sonoranjv.org/building-capacity-motus/   Transcript   Cheryl:  Intro It has been a constant challenge for scientists to study migrating birds.  They do not stay in one place for long.  Where these birds go, stop over, and end up on their journeys? What scientists would love to have available to them s a way to fly along with these birds so they have a complete picture of how these birds live.  This complete picture is what an amazing wildlife tracking system called Motus does.   Kiersten: What exactly is Motus? Well, it was started by the non-profit Birds Canada in 2014.  Motus is Latin for movement and the system seeks to track the precise travels of birds and other winged creatures, like bats, bees, and monarch butterflies through digital radio telemetry.  This is how it works; birds and other winged animals are carefully fitted with a small, lightweight transmitter, called a nanotag.  These nanotags are attached using minimalistic harnessing or glue.  Then the animals are released.  There is no need to recapture them to obtain the data collected, instead the transmitter on the bird sends back a unique ping out into the atmosphere on a shared radio frequency.  The pings transmit in a 12-mile radius around the bird as it goes about its life.  The motus tower stations tuned to this frequency then picks up the pings and relays the data to the database headquarters in Canada, where it is processed, analyzed, and shared with researchers. Cheryl: When tracking wildlife with automated radio telemetry over vast distances, the challenge of deploying enough receivers to detect the tracking information grows exponentially. To be able to share this information between researchers MOTUS remedies that so basically everyone is sharing the same data.  This greatly expands the potential to track birds with high temporal and geographic precision over great distances which put Motus so far ahead of the more commonly used tracking methods. These methods Kiersten and I have talked about in one of our migration podcasts.  There's the GPS or geolocator tracking device, this device stores data over time or as you may have seen on TV a person following an animal with a handheld receiver.  In order for stored data to be useful it has to be recovered.  This involves recapturing the animal/bird and removing it.  A lot of variables at play, and long hours for the researchers.  Like anything in life things don't always go as planned even with Motus.  There are the transmitters, the large ones are solar-powered, this eliminates the need to change batteries, but the smaller ones, these fit on small songbirds, hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies must rely on battery power.  Once the battery goes dead the transmitting of data stops, there's also nature getting in the way like a bird dies, or the transmitter falls off. Kiersten: Then there are the tower stations. The tower stations for Motus are just small antennae connected to a receiver and power supply.  Each station detects pings from any transmitter within a nine-mile radius of it, in optimal conditions.  As impressive as that may be, it is still limiting as far as being a wide-ranging migration tool.  To effectively track wildlife in real time requires a lot of stations.  The stations have to be installed, then diligently maintained, which can be a difficult job considering that they are often placed in remote locations, subjected to environmental havoc such as lighting strikes, or sometimes rendered in operable by an animal's teeth.  But it is all so worth it, because through the data collected by Motus scientists get a complete picture of a bird's migration journey: where it goes, how fast it travels, where it stops to rest and for how long, and where it ends up.  This information can help scientists to know how birds migrate, such as what areas they rly on during stopovers, how long they stay at each spot, when and where they begin their journey, and where it ends.  This information also, expands on the nuances of migration and what specific populations do. As of 2023, over 1,500 Motus tower stations have been deployed in a total of 31 countries, including Canada and the United States. Mexico, Australia, the United Kingdom, and Chile. Cheryl:  Motus is growing. Even though Motus is still in its infancy, it is growing rapidly through the international conservation communities.  Motus has shed light on the lives of endangered birds such as the Pacific Red Knot, Snowy Plover, Tricolored Blackbird, and grassland birds, and the mysterious Lewis Woodpecker. A third of migrating bird species in North America are on the verge of extinction.  That is alarming, but with this powerful conservation tool we can learn about the potential problems birds face at both ends of their full annual range.  Motus collects the kind of data that ells biologists precisely how each and every bird survives year to year-what waterways, or other landscapes birds are using to make their survival happen.  Motus also shows us what areas birds are not using or avoiding.  This data will help researchers to know what areas need to be protected to help birds survive and thrive. Kiersten:  Arizona on the map. As of 2023, Arizona only had a modest handful of three Motus tower stations, including one attached to a defunct windmill-now that is changing.  There are plans to currently build more towers, with the possibility of one being placed at the Gilbert Riparian Preserve and outfitting more birds with transmitters.  Arizona had its first Motus Tag application certification training course to teach volunteers how to safely handle and tag birds in February of 2023.  There are plans to host many more in the coming months.  Running Motus takes volunteers, and experts working together. Cheryl: Closing So, the more volunteers, the more transmitters that are airborne, the more transmitters that get deployed, and the more towers there are to move the data the bigger, and more complete the picture of bird migration patterns will be.  As the saying goes the more the merrier… it's true with Motus.

Matt was out of town, so Joe took over once again, and he brought in one of our new golfing homies, Jameson France, from Blind Squirrel Golf. In this Soulful Golf episode, the guys talk about some of the current events taking place in the golf world, Tigers return, Charlie Woods,  and ponder if Tiger is going to Greyson and much more. Joe was in the Phoenix Valley over the weekend and got in some golf at the stunning Ak-Chin Southern Dunes and then made a visit to our buddy Rhoden over at New Level Golf.Jameson was kind enough to hang out for the entire episode, and later on in the episode, they dive into how Blind Squirrel got started and what's going on with hjis brand. Kick back and hang with the guys in this Not at all Holiday Episode filled with enough golf talk for even Brandel Chamblee!Links for this episode:Blind Squirrel Golf: https://www.instagram.com/blindsquirrelgolf/Angel Cabrera: https://www.golfdigest.com/story/angel-cabrera-pga-tour-domestic-violence-2023Ak-Chin Southern Dunes: https://www.akchinsoutherndunes.com/New Level Golf: https://newlevelgolf.com/If you haven't checked out our NEW YouTube channel, please do and hit that Subscribe Button for us! More content is coming to that channel as Matt learns the ins and outs of making better videos. Each week, we're posting the show on there as well.We have a new partnership with The Golf Stop. Be sure to stop by their new facility and check it out! It's a great spot to get in some practice or hang out and get in some swings with the boys or the fam!Please check out one of our show supporters, FN3P Golf. You can save some money using our code "CDPODCAST" at checkout.If you're starting a new podcast or have one and want to make some changes to better your show, we highly recommend RIVERSIDE.FM. Use our affiliate link below to check out the software and do your part to make a better product for your listeners.If you like how the show looks and sounds lately, check out RIVERSIDE.FM, their software is legit.We hope you enjoy this week's episode, and if you do, please consider leaving us a review on either Spotify or iTunes. Thank You!

Summary: Another way to attract birds to your backyard is to provide nesting possibilities. Join Kiersten and Cheryl as they talk about what kinds of nest boxes you can provide for your backyard birds.   For our hearing-impaired listeners, a transcript of this podcast follows the show notes on Podbean.   Show Notes: Birdhouse Features: Features of a Good Birdhouse: https://nestwatch.org/learn/all-about-birdhouses/features-of-a-good-birdhouse Find the birds near you and the best house for them: Right Bird, Right House:  https://nestwatch.org/learn/all-about-birdhouses/right-bird-right-house/ Nest Box designs by species: https://nestwatch.org/learn/all-about-birdhouses Troubleshooting birdhouses for landlords: https://nestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/nest_box_troubleshooting_20110126_final.pdf Winter Roost Boxes: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/news/will-birds-use-nest-boxes-to-roost-in-for-warmth-during-the-winter/   Transcript  Kiersten: Intro: We started The Feathered Desert to inform listeners in the southwest about how to feed wild birds successfully and responsibly. We wanted our listeners to know what kind of food to feed to attract the kinds of birds you wanted to see in your backyard. It occurred to me the other day that Cheryl and I have yet to talk about the other way to attract birds to the backyard and that is using nest boxes. So, today's episode is all about the nest box.   Cheryl: Just like bird feeding, putting up birdhouses in your yard has evolved over the years to incorporate seasonal bird behavior and new scientific discoveries. To truly give the birds outside the best chance at surviving our constantly changing world, there are new guidelines for putting up birdhouses. It's not a one size fits all device any more. You don't just put up something that looks great to you and has a hole with a perch under it and see what happens. By observing bird behavior in the wild we've determined the best ways to offer birds a safe and secure home for raising young. Following these guidelines is the best way for you to attract even more birds to your yard and enjoy them for generations to come.   Kiersten: First of all, let's start off with features of a good birdhouse. These features are specific to birdhouses used for nesting, also referred to as nest boxes. There are a few important features for usable nest boxes and they apply to a box you make yourself or one that you purchase. First make sure the wood is untreated and unpainted. The best woods to use are cedar, pine, cypress, or for larger boxes, non-pressure treated CDX exterior grade plywood. Second, use galvanized screws for construction. These hold up better than nails and are easier to remove when repairs are needed. Third, make sure the roof is sloped and hangs over the main body of the house by 2-4 inches over the opening and 2 inches along the sides. This will help keep out rain even when it gets heavy and the wind is whipping wildly and will also help defend against predators. Adding ¼” cuts under all three edges of the roof will help funnel water away from the house, like rain gutters on our own houses. Fourth, a recessed floor helps keep the nest dry and prolongs the life of the box. Drainage holes on the floor are important, just in case water gets in. You can cut away the corners of the floor if you're making it yourself or drill 4 holes approximately 3/8” to ½” in diameter on the floor of a premade box. Sixth, to regulate the temperature the walls should be at least ¾” thick. We also want ventilation holes in both side walls, this is especially important in the heat of the southwest. There should be two holes at the top of each wall with 5/8” diameter.   Cheryl: Seventh, predator prevention. Predators are something that birds have to deal with naturally, but remember we are offering them a house that they are not making themselves. When they make their own nest, they disguise it from the predators such as snakes, raccoons, chipmunks, and outdoor domestic cats. The box that we're offering can stick out like a sore thumb so we need to take a few precautions. First, no perches under the opening! The birds don't need them and it's like a welcome mat for predators. Add baffles to the structure where you've mounted the nest box. Using collar baffles or stovepipe baffles work great on poles and smaller trees. Noel guards, a wire mesh tube attached to the front of the house, is a good way to protect an opening on a box mounted on a tree that is too large for a baffle. Eight, make sure the opening of the box is the correct size for the birds you want to attract. Remember before when I said there are no one size fits all birdhouses? This is where some of our new information comes in to play. Each species of bird desires a specific size hole for their house. It is very important that the hole in the house is the correct size for the species of bird you want to attract. For example, an American Kestrel needs a hole 3” in diameter, a Northern Flicker needs a hole 2 ½” in diameter, and chickadees need a hole 1 1/8” in diameter. Hole size is also important in deterring non-native birds such as European Starlings and House Sparrows. Nine, rough up the interior wall beneath the opening. Rough walls help the chicks get out when it's time to fledge. You can use course sandpaper or cut long horizontal grooves into the wood below the opening. Tenth, make sure the back is slightly extended above and below the box to give you room to easily mount it on your pole or tree. Eleventh, last but not least you want one side to be hinged so it can be opened after nesting season for easy cleaning access. Now, we know this is a lot to remember but we'll share a link in our show notes so you can look up this list later.   Kiersten: That's a perfect segue way into cleaning! This is also new and different from when we used to put up those cutesy birdhouses many moons ago. Do you need to clean your nest box out in between seasons? Yes! It's very important to clean out old nesting material every year. That why we're making one of the walls hinged. Removing old nesting material makes sure bacteria and detrimental insects are not passed from one family to the next. Typically, just opening the side panel and removing any plant matter that you find inside is enough, but if you had some especially dirty tenants, using a little warm water and plant-based soap (something like Simple Green or Seventh Generation) to remove poop is a good idea. Clean out your nest box after the last fledgling has left and you don't see any activity around the box for about ten days. When cleaning remember to protect yourself, as well. Use a dust mask and gloves to prevent any zoonotic disease transfer.     Cheryl: Speaking of seasonal activities, when should I put out my nest box? In the southwest have your nest box mounted and ready for visitors by mid-February. This is typically when our year-round residents begin looking for nesting sites and when our part-time residents are migrating in.             You can leave your nest box up year-round once you've found the perfect spot. To prevent unwanted guests such as European Starlings, bees, wasps, or squirrels from taking up residence in the off season you can close up your house. Plug up the opening and cover the ventilation holes like you might do for a cabin you only use in the spring or summer. To prevent honey bees or wasps from colonizing the nest box spray some non-stick cooking spray on the inside of the top of the box. This makes it too slippery for the insects to climb on. When it comes time for nesting season again, open everything up and give it a quick spring cleaning.   Kiersten: Where should I put my nest box?             This all depends on what bird species your box is made for. Every species has a preferred habitat. To help you decide which species you may want to attract go to nestwatch.org (I'll put the link in our show notes) and they have an interactive page called Right Bird, Right House. This is so cool! You put in what region you live in and what habitat surrounds your house. I put in the Southwest and the desert and it showed me which birds are in my area, where to attach my house, and what kind of house to build or buy. It tells you everything you need to know such as when they nest, how high the box should be, which direction it should be facing, and if they are in decline in your area. Some of the birds they show for the desert southwest are the barn owl, the Bewick's wren, brown-crested flycatcher, the elf owl, and the Say's Phoebe. If you live in the White Mountains or summer in a cabin you might put up a house for the black-crested titmouse, the bridled titmouse, the mountain bluebird, or the pygmy nuthatch.             Now a note of caution in the Phoenix Valley, in the severe heat that we get here you need to be extra careful with where you put up a nest box. It should be in an area that is shaded almost all day. If you don't have any area like that or you can't put up a device to add shade, you may not want to place a nest box in your yard.   Cheryl: If you put up a nest box but no one seems to be moving in, be patient. It can take up to a year for a nest box to be noticed and used. If you see some interested parties that just aren't buying, maybe you've put it in the wrong place or maybe mounted it too high or too low. There could be other things wrong that we don't see but the birds do. Nest Watch from The Cornell Lab of Ornithology has a trouble-shooting guide for nest box landlords that you can access online. And we'll post that link in our show notes.   Kiersten: One last thing about nest boxes that I didn't even think about until I did the research for this episode. The question came up as to whether birds would use a nest box to roost in the winter? I'd never even thought about that, but as we just discussed we should be closing them up outside of breeding season.  So… you can actually have a roosting box for your overwintering birds! What's the difference between a nest box and a roosting box? The design of each box is vastly different. A well-designed roost box prevents the birds' body heat from escaping, so it will have fewer ventilation holes than a nest box. The entrance hole will be near the bottom of the box to prevent the rising warm air from escaping which is opposite of the nesting box. Inside the roosting box there will be several perches to allow multiple birds to roost as opposed to an open area in a nest box where a nest can be made. Staggering the perching will allow for everyone to have their own spot but still be close enough to snuggle for warmth. Roughing up the sides is a great way to encourage clinging birds such as woodpeckers or creepers to use the box. Roosting boxes are usually larger than a single-family nest box to accommodate species that huddle in the winter. Hinging the top panel allows for easy cleaning after the winter season. This could be a great option for our Phoenix Valley residents who can't use a nest box because their yards are short on shade. These are not as readily available to purchase already made, but we'll post a few links that have blueprints for making your own.   Cheryl: Just like feeding birds, placing nest and roost boxes in your yard should only be done if you are willing to take the time to do it right. You must have the time and motivation to use the correct products, place it in the best place, provide predator prevention, and be willing and able to clean it properly. If this is not something you can do in your own yard, reach out to your local birding groups and see if there are any community nest projects you could help with. Schools and daycares often get students to create nest boxes and mount them near their facilities. Maybe you can offer to help them out.             If you do decide to put up a nest box, consider taking the next step and joining Project Nest Watch at Cornell. This is a citizen scientist program that teachs you how to monitor nest boxes for scientific studies. The data you record watching the birds you're already watching can help further our understanding of bird behavior.   Kiersten: That's Nest Boxes in a nutshell. If you're interested in putting one up in your yard please check out our show notes and use the links we've provided to get more information to help you successfully offer your backyard birds a great place to raise a family. A future note: We will be taking a break in September 2023 but we'll be back with new  full-length episodes in October!

Summary: It is hot, hot, hot! How do birds deal with the increasing heat we're currently experiencing? Join Cheryl and Kiersten as they talk about how birds keep cool in the summer heat.   For our hearing-impaired listeners, a transcript of this podcast follows the show notes on Podbean.   Show Notes: www.audubon.org/news/how-to-help-birds-beat-the-heat/ www.audubon.org/news/the-many-ways-birds-beat-the-heat/ www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/11/201112144038.htm www.birdlife.org/news/2023/08/02/what-ongoing-heatwaves-could-mean-for -bird-populations/ www.audubon.org/news/when-it-gets-too-hot-phoenixs-lovebirds-turn-air-conditioning/   Transcript Cheryl: Intro:          Extreme temperatures add stress to an already fragile existence yours, mine and our birds. Heat extreme is threatening bird populations, with the hottest July on record here in Phoenix behind us let's look at how birds handle the heat, wildfires, and how we may help. Kiersten: The adaptions birds have to keep cool.          Birds in general are well insulated and just like us they heat up when they exercise.  Imagine wearing a down jacket all the time, even when you exercise.  Yep! That's a bird.  Wild birds are always, in a way, exercising, so birds have to be careful not to overheat. Anatomical adaptions: Shorebirds wade in cool water, this helps their bodies to release heat. Waterfowl also use water to regulate their body temperature.  Dark Plumage can actually be cooler than white or light-colored feathers. It may seem counterintuitive that so many birds in hot climates are black or darker colored, but studies have found that there are advantages to having these drabber colors. 1)Darker feathers do get hotter than white feathers, but because these feathers provide such good insulation very little heat reaches the bird's skin. 2) Dark feathers absorb light and heat at the surface, where it can easily radiate back to the air.  Dark feathers are more resistant to wear and help block UV radiation, dark feathers also allow birds to be more inconspicuous when resting in the shade, but visible to their flock mates. Birds don't sweat, they generally cool off by panting. Gular flutter Desert birds have evolved to avoid exertion during the hottest part of the day. Many desert bird species have long-term pair bonds and maintain year-round territories, reducing the need for energetic displays. Fighting is relatively rare.  And there are many mechanisms to shelter eggs and chicks from the heat and to provide water.   Cheryl: Heat and baby birds          Extreme heat in the southwest can be devastating to young birds.  Baby birds will jump from nests to find relief from the heat.  Sometimes they find something soft to break their fall, other times not.  A nestling's tiny body is still in development, and the tiny bird struggles to regulate its temperature-which is one reason why parents sit on their young, to help buffer the cold and the heat. Not only are baby birds less efficient at relieving heat stress, but they also have limited mobility, and this can lead to nestlings in open nests like hawks, some owls, even our curve-billed thrasher babies exposed to direct sunlight.  This sometimes, leads to these birds leaving the nest too early because they are too hot.          Birds don't sweat, they pant instead.  Unfortunately, panting is an active process that requires a lot of muscle movement.  So, it is a double-edged sword; to offload heat by panting, birds basically have no choice but to produce heat.  Scientists are concerned that chronic heat stress is going to lead to nest failures.  This could risk the future of 389 North American bird species.   Kiersten:  Wildfires           Wildfires are becoming hotter, more numerous, and fiercer with the warming of the climate, we can see that with the most recent wildfire on Maui.  A wildfire refers to an unintentional, uncontrolled fire.  How do wildfires impact wildlife and their habitats?  After a wildfire in Flagstaff, two porcupines were seen walking slow and funny, more so than they usually do.  They were picked up by wildlife rescuers.  It was discovered that these animals had burns on their feet from walking on the hot coals.  So, what is happening in the aftermath of fires -just animals having a hard time and being pushed into areas they are not traditionally in.  Birds, if they can fly, will fly away from the fire, but young birds like nestlings cannot fly, and are left to perish.  Wildlife rehab centers are filled with birds that have had their feathers singed, or melted from the heat of wildfires when flying overhead to get out of the way.  Scientists are studying the effects of climate change wildfires to better understand how birds and other wildlife manage once their homes have been burned.     Cheryl: Pros and Cons of the effects of fire on wilderness areas. Cons: Burn and damage vegetation communities, such as rainforests and deserts that take up to hundreds of years to recover. Kill or injure individual plants and wildlife, including birds. Causes erosion and subsequent sedimentation of creek and wetlands. Open up areas to the impacts of weed, invasive plants, and feral animal invasion as well as human access and vandalism. Pros: Heats the soil, cracking seed coats and triggering germination. Triggers woody seed pods held in the canopy to open, releasing seed onto a fresh and fertile ash bed. Clears thick understory reducing competition for seedlings. Encourages new growth that provides food for many animals. Creates hollows in logs and trees that can be used by animals for nesting and shelter. Native animals can escape fire by fleeing to “unburnt islands” within a burn area or to surrounding unburnt vegetation.  Insects, reptiles, and small mammals may be unable to hide underground, and animals that live in trees can move to treetops and escape low to moderate intensity fires.  Birds are the least impacted by fire as they can fly away, but their babies and the eggs can be impacted depending upon the season of the fire or heatwave.  There have been “events” where a large mass of birds has suffered and been lost due to fire.  Several years ago, migratory birds were falling out of the sky over New Mexico due to smoke damage, and starvation. Kiersten:  Lovebirds and the Phoenix heat.          Rosy-faced lovebirds are pet trade escapee's native to southwestern Africa that were first documented in the 1980's in the Phoenix Valley.  They have flourished in the city where they nest in cavities of ornamental plants and cacti.  Their population is now estimated at more than 2000 individuals.  But the parrots haven't ventured far outside the city's urban areas.  This suggests that these birds relay on humans to survive in a desert hotter and drier than their home turf.           Phoenix lovebirds have figured out a creative way to beat the heat, by perching on buildings near air-conditioning vents, or swamp cooler vents taking advantage of the cool air that is leaking out through the cracks.  These parrots find their water sources at golf courses, bird baths, fountains and parks with ponds or lakes.  Phoenix's lovebirds' inventive adaptions to extreme heat are an example of how birds, and wildlife in general, is going to have to change their behavior to cool in the heat. Cheryl:  How can we help birds to beat the heat? Offer water. The higher the air temperature is the more water they have to evaporate, and the more frequently they have to drink.  Birds cool down by bathing.  The water directly lowers their temperatures and absorbs heat energy as the liquid evaporates from their skin. Provide shade. In addition to panting and bathing birds beat the heat simply by avoiding it.  Many species will stop foraging during the hottest part of the day, choosing instead to shelter in cooler, shady spots. Supply food. Native plants provide plenty of seeds, berries, and fruit, as well as hosting insects-food resources that can become scarce during periods of extreme heat. Heat waves typically happen during breeding season, when 96 percent of native North American bird species depend on butterfly and moth caterpillars to feed their young. You can help those birds feed their babies when temperatures spike by cultivating native plants. For some species, bird feeders can also help supplement food resources. Take action. Advocating for native plants in parks, and municipal landscapes.  Work with in your community for change to lower temps in your city.   Closing: Humans are impacted by extreme heat just as birds are.  If we make it more comfortable…more survivable for birds on Earth, then humans benefit too.

The saguaro cactus is perhaps the most iconic symbol of our state. You can find it everywhere from coffee cups to murals to tattoos. People love saguaros but we know surprisingly little about them. The Desert Botanical Gardens in Phoenix and other researchers are trying to fix that. The first step is to count as many of the saguaros growing in the Valley as possible. "Naively, we call this the Saguaro Census because we thought we were going to be capable of counting every single saguaro in the city. We clearly overestimated our capabilities because the Phoenix Valley is huge," Tania Hernandez says. She works as a research scientist at the Desert Botanical Gardens. For help with this task, the Gardens are turning to the public for help. In this episode of Valley 101, in conjunction with The Lab, we're exploring two questions: why does the saguaro cactus only grow in the Sonoran Desert? And how many are there? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The saguaro cactus is perhaps the most iconic symbol of our state. You can find it everywhere from coffee cups to murals to tattoos. People love saguaros but we know surprisingly little about them. The Desert Botanical Gardens in Phoenix and other researchers are trying to fix that. The first step is to count as many of the saguaros growing in the Valley as possible. "Naively, we call this the Saguaro Census because we thought we were going to be capable of counting every single saguaro in the city. We clearly overestimated our capabilities because the Phoenix Valley is huge," Tania Hernandez says. She works as a research scientist at the Desert Botanical Gardens. For help with this task, the Gardens are turning to the public for help. In this episode of The Lab, in conjunction with Valley 101, we're exploring two questions: why does the saguaro cactus only grow in the Sonoran Desert? And how many are there? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Summary: Wrens are some of the most charismatic families of songbirds! Join Cheryl and Kiersten as they introduce you to some found in the Southwest.   For our hearing impaired listeners, a transcript of this podcast follows the show notes on Podbean.   Show Notes: www.allaboutbirds.org “Western Chatterboxes” by Ken Keffer, Birds and Blooms Magazine pg 26-32. Background bird song:  Naturescapes Backyard Birds www.naturescapes.com   Our email address, please reach out with comments, questions, or suggestions:  thefeathereddesert@gmail.com   Cheryl: Intro Wrens are small birds but what they do not have in size they make up for in personality, chatter, and curiosity.  Our Sonoran Desert has several wrens flit through our desert and urban landscapes. Kiersten:  Cactus Wren          The Cactus wren is a large, chunky wren with a long heavy bill, a long rounded tail, and short, rounded wings.  The Cactus wren is the largest wren in the U.S. It also has the distinction of being the state bird of Arizona.           This wren is a speckled brown bird with bright white eyebrows that extend from the bill across and above their red eyes to the sides of the neck.  They have pale cinnamon sides and a white chest with dark speckles.  The back is brown with heavy white streaks, and the tail is barred white and black.  Males and females look alike.           Unlike other wrens that typically hide in vegetation, the cactus wren seems to have no fear.  They perch a top cacti and other shrubs to announce their presence and forage out in the open.  These birds do not cock their tails over their back the way other wrens do.  Instead, Cactus wrens fan their tail feathers, flashing white tail tips.          Cactus wrens, as we have mentioned in previous podcasts, make more than one nest a year, its spherical, with males and females occupying different nests through out the year.  Cactus Wren is an insect eater.  When feeding its nestlings it will pull the wings of the grasshopper before it feeds it to its baby.  That's a lot of wings because one Cactus Wren nestling eats 14 grasshoppers a day.          Cactus Wrens live in desert, arid foothills, coastal sage scrub and urban areas of the southwest.  They especially love areas with thorny shrubs like the Cholla and Prickly pear. Cheryl: Rock Wren          Medium-sized wren with a long tail and thin bill.  Pale brown above and whitish below with slight buffy or peachy wash on the lower belly. Back and wings are finely speckled.  Underpants are finely streaked, but often look whitish.           The small industrious Rock Wren constantly hops around rocks, investigating crannies for insects and spiders, which they extract with their delicate bill.  This resourceful species thrives even in bleak desert settings occupied by few other birds.  The rock wren is not known to drink water but instead gets all it needs from its food.          Male Rock wren is a truly remarkable singer and can have a large song repertoire of 100 or more songs, many it has learned from its neighbors.          Rock Wrens are on of the few bird species that uses landscapes significantly altered by industry or tother human activity.  Nesting is road cuts, railroad tunnels, gravel pits, clearcuts, coalmine spoils, and refuse heaps. Kiersten: Canyon Wren          A tiny bird with a big voice, the Canyon Wren, sings a gorgeous series of sweet, cascading whistles that echo off the rocky walls of its canyon habitat.  Canyon Wrens are incredibly agile birds that hunt for insects mostly among rocks, scaling cliff faces and using their long slender bills to probe into crevices with surgical precision.          They are a warm cinnamon -brown with a salt and pepper pattern on their head, and neat white throat patch.  The vertebral column of the Canyon Wren is attached higher on the skull than it is on most birds.  This modification, along with a slightly flattened skull, allows a Canyon Wren to probe for food in tight crevices without bumping its head.  Canyon Wrens sometimes steal insects trapped in spiderwebs or stowed in wasp nests. Cheryl: Bewick's Wren-pronounced Bu-ick's          The Bewick's Wren is a medium-size brown wren with a long tail that is often held up.  The bill is long and slightly curved.  Note the white eyebrows and dark barring on the tail.  These are boisterous and curious birds.  Their plumage varies regionally from rusty-brown in humid areas to grayish- brown in drier regions.          Bewick's Wrens are noisy, hyperactive little birds.  They are master vocalists that belt out a string of short whistles, warblers, burrs, and trills to attract mates and defend their territory, or scold visitors with raspy calls.   A young male Bewick's wren learns to sing from neighboring adult males while he is coming of age in his parents territory.  The songs he develops differ from his father's, with a note changed here or a syllable there.  The melodious signature he acquires between the ages of about 30 and 60 days will be his for life. These wrens are common in much of the western North America.  Bewick's wrens eat insects, but will eat fruits, seeds and other plant matter especially in winter.  Bewick's wrens build their nests in cavities or on ledges about 30 ft off the ground. Kiersten:  House Wrens          The house wren is a small, nondescript brown bird with a short tail, thin bill and dark barring on wings and tail with a paler throat.  House wrens have a effervescent voice and is a common visitor to backyards.  Spending its time zipping through shrubs and low tree branches snatching at insects.   Because they are cavity nesters, house wrens thrive around buildings, yards, farms, and other human habitations with their many nooks and crannies.          House wrens eat a variety of insects and spiders, including beetles, caterpillars, earwigs and daddy long legs, also small snails for the grit to aid in digestion and calcium.           The house wren has on of the largest ranges of any song bird in  North or South America because it breeds from Canada through the west indies and Central America, southward to the southern most point of South America.  Generally, Bewick's wrens and House wrens will not nest in the same areas.  So you can imagine the pressure the Bewick's wren is under with the success of the House wren. Cheryl: Closing These amazing small birds are full of personality and big voices so it is a joy to spend time with them here in the Phoenix Valley where it is  home to a variety of these wrens.  

Summary: Spring migration in the Southwest is a wonderful time to get out there with your binoculars and see some fly-through visitors as a special treat. Join Cheryl and Kiersten as they highlight a few birds that visit the southwest only during spring migration.   For our hearing impaired listeners, a transcript of this podcast follows the show notes on Podbean.   Show Notes:   Background bird song:  Naturescapes Backyard Birds www.naturescapes.com   Our email address, please reach out with comments, questions, or suggestions:  thefeathereddesert@gmail.com   Transcript Host Voice: Welcome to the Feathered Desert a podcast all about desert bird feeding in the Southwest region of the United States.  (bird calls and songs play)   Kiersten: Intro – This episode will be posted during spring bird migration and Cheryl and I thought we'd discuss a few birds that pass through the southwest and phoenix valley area that you should be on the lookout for!   Cheryl – To clarify, spring migration in the southwestern United States begins at the end of March through April and even into the beginning of May. The birds we're going to discuss today are ones that will fly through from Central and South America to their summer breeding grounds in Northern United States and Canada. We are lucky enough that in the southwestern United States and the Phoenix Valley we're in their flight path.   Kiersten – Let's start off with some flashy visitors that we've been lucky enough to see the last few years, orioles! Two species of orioles are commonly seen in the Phoenix valley as they migrate through to California, Oregon, and Washington state. The Hooded Oriole and the Bullock's Oriole are both seen in the Southwest during spring migration. The hooded oriole male will be either a bright sunset orange or yellow with a deep black throat patch and black wings and tail. The female is yellow with gray wings and no throat patch. They are attracted to tubular flowers, like ocotillo, and sugar water feeders. You can put out sugar feeders made specifically for orioles or just use your hummingbird feeder. The Bullock's Oriole male will have an orange face with a bright yellow body, black on the head and small black bib under the beak. They have a wide white wing bar with black shoulders and a yellow and black tail. The female has a paler yellow face and body with dark gray wings. Both species of orioles will have sharp, thin beaks that allow them to get inside tubular flowers and to peck at the bottom of flowers to get to the nectar. When you're out hiking or just running errands and you see a medium size bright yellow bird with a long beak and long tail, you're probably looking at an oriole.   Cheryl - Hummingbirds             In Arizona we can see 16 different species of hummingbirds at some point during the year. Many of them will over summer with us in the White Mountains and the Sky Island Mountains and, of course, we have two to three species that live in the southwest, especially Arizona, all year.  But one species only migrates through on their way to California and the upper states. This is the Rufous Hummingbird. This hummer gets its name from the orange color that dominates the male's coloration. Males are orange on their head, back, tail, and chest with green on their shoulders. Their gorget feathers are reddish-orange. Females are green on the head, back, and wings with orange on their flanks and upper tail. Their chest is white with a tiny patch of red on the chin. They're a smaller size hummer at 3.75 inches but they are big on attitude. Keep an eye out for them during spring migration at you feeders or blooming plants. If you see a streak of orange the size of a hummingbird you've just seen a Rufous Hummingbird.   Kiersten – Wilson's Warbler             Our next songbird is a small flash of yellow that overwinters in Central America and can breed as far north as the boreal forests of Newfoundland, Ontario, and Nova Scotia. Males and females look virtually the same with bright yellow faces, chests, and bellies. The top of the head is black with olive green on the neck, back, and wings. This little one is just under 5 inches and consumes mainly insects. They like wooded areas around streams and can be seen refueling in places where insects are plentiful.             If you have a bird bath in your back yard and have a pesticide free yard with native plants that attract insects you very well may see this songbird visiting as they fly through. Sometimes they can be seen eating mealworms offered in an open feeder or maybe taking advantage of some easily seen suet.                Keep watch for a bright flash of yellow as you're bird watching this spring and you may spot the Wilson's Warbler. A great place to look for them in the Phoenix Valley could be the Gilbert Riparian Area in the city of Gilbert.   Cheryl – Solitary Sandpiper             This is our first water bird. This sandpiper overwinters in lower Central America and breeds in Northern Canada. They migrate through the United States in spring and fall. This is a long, yellow legged water bird with a long beak and medium sized body. Their belly is bright white while the rest of their body is a mottled brown and white with an eye-pleasing spotted pattern.             They migrate at night, individually or in small groups. They are not easily seen during migration but you might be able to catch a glimpse of them at a local pond or lake. They can be found at almost any body of water including brackish ponds, freshwater ponds, and woodland streams. You'll see them wading in the water dipping their beaks under the surface of the water searching for aquatic insects and crustaceans. A great place to find them in the Phoenix Valley will be the Gilbert Riparian Area if they make a stopover here in Arizona.   Kiersten – Lazuli Bunting             This beautiful blue songbird overwinters in western Mexico and breeds in the northwestern United States. Some can be found in Northern Arizona during the spring and summer but they mostly fly through during spring migration. The Lazuli Bunting male is a brilliant, almost aquamarine blue on the head, back, and tail with a rusty brown chest. The female is a dusty brown all over. They have a small beak that helps them eat small seeds from weeds and trees.              At almost six inches this bird can be seen in various types of landscapes including brushy areas as well as pasture. They don't stay here in the Phoenix Valley during the summer but might take a quick refueling break in an inviting backyard with a birdbath or seed feeder. You may also see them in one of our natural parks. Keep your eyes open for a pop of blue this spring and you might catch a glimpse of this amazing bunting.   Cheryl – Olive-sided Flycatcher             This is a large flycatcher at 7.5 inches and is essentially olive colored from head to tail. The chin is bright white while the belly is more of a buff color. It has a small crest on the head. This flycatcher has the longest migration of any North American flycatcher migrating from southern central America to the boreal forest of Canada and Alaska.             They prefer forested areas where they catch insects on the wing. With such as long migration, they will make several stops to refuel on their long journey. We do have two other flycatchers that over summer with us in Arizona. The Olive-sided flycatcher is two inches larger that the Dusky flycatcher and is darker in coloring than the Ash-throated flycatcher. These tips can help you identify this spring visitor.   Kiersten – Now these are not all the migratory birds that you can see here in the southwestern US and the Phoenix Valley, but these are a few that you can put on your bird list this year. A great resource to find out what migratory birds may be near you is eBird. You can download the app or check out the website developed and run by Cornell University's Lab of Ornithology. It uses real time information downloaded by birders to identify where they are seeing birds. What great motivation to grab your binoculars and get out there!  

Summary: Have you ever stopped to really look at a Saguaro cactus? Do you know how many birds use this great plant as a hotel, water source, and food source? Join Cheryl and Kiersten to find out!   For our hearing impaired listeners, a transcript of this podcast follows the show notes on Podbean.   Show Notes: https://www.nps.gov/sagu/index.htm https://www.npa.gov/sagu/learn/nature/birds.htm   The Arizona Republic Sunday, March 12, 2023 "Why saguaro is so important to Arizona" by Sarah Lapidus   The Arizona Republic, Sunday, June 21, 2020 "So Long, Saguaro?" by Debra Utacia Krol   Background bird song:  Naturescapes Backyard Birds www.naturescapes.com Our email address, please reach out with comments, questions, or suggestions: thefeathereddesert@gmail.com   Transcript Host Voice: Welcome to the Feathered Desert a podcast all about desert bird feeding in the Southwest region of the United States.  (bird calls and songs play) Cheryl: Intro We have all seen these iconic cacti as we travel through the Phoenix Valley.  Maybe you done think twice about it, but you should because this huge tree-like cactus is a vital part of the desert we live in.          Kiersten:  Saguaros have ecological importance to all species that live near them including us.  The saguaro is important to the survival of desert species: everything from Big Horn sheep to native bees; from coyotes to the countless birds that depend on it.          Now, most of us are aware that the Gila Woodpecker and the Gilded Flicker excavate their nests in the saguaro cactus.  What you may not be aware of is that these birds do not harm the cactus.  Since these birds make a new hole/nest each year.  Last year's excavated hole is prime real estate to a long list of desert birds such as: Elf owls, Ferruginous Pygmy owl, Purple Martins, Brown-crested, and Ash-throated flycatchers.          Now, Harris hawks, Great horned owls, Red-tail hawks, and White-winged doves build nests among the arms of these tall cacti.          Cheryl:  Saguaro cactus provides a buffet during the toughest part of the year in our desert-summer.          The saguaro is a keystone species that provides food many desert animals, Saguaros have hundreds of flowers that bloom several per day from late April to early June.  The flowers open at night and close the following afternoon.  Saguaros synchronize their blooming so the giant cacti are not blooming all at the same time.           Lesser Long nosed bats visit the flowers at night.  Birds like the white-winged dove and the Gila Woodpecker visit the flowers the following morning.           Kiersten:  that's not all for this buffet table… The fruit of the saguaro cactus is mature in June and early July.  The rind splits open into 3-4 sections that peel back to expose the juicy red pulp embedded with up to 2,000 tiny seeds.  1 out of a million seeds will become a cactus with arms.  The fruit ripen during the peak of drought in early summer and are about the only moist food source for many birds, mammals, and insects during this part of the year. Cheryl:  How the saguaro helps us-humans Saguaros and other cacti photosynthesis at night to reduce water loss.  This large cactus takes in carbon dioxide and holds in for its whole life.   When you see an expired cactus-saguaro and it looks ashy- that's because of the stored carbon dioxide it pulled out of the air so that people can breathe cleaner air. Kiersten:  Challenges facing this giant. Climate change-Saguaros ae not freeze tolerant, nor do they handle high night time temperatures very well.  Because they take so long to grow, a lot of younger saguaros don't make it. Wildfires, invasive plants that suck up water, drought, extreme temps, and a reduction in nurse plants.  Saguaros seedlings require species such as mesquite, palo verde, and ironwood trees to make it through those first critical decades.  Nurse trees create a microenvironment that is more conducive for the seedlings to survive.  But fewer and fewer of these woody plants are on the landscape for the saguaro to grow under due to cattle ranching and woodcutting. Cheryl: Closing          This amazing plant does it part to better the desert community it thrives in.  So many birds check into its massive high rise to setup house to raise their babies. Because, of its importance to our desert the Saguaro is protected by Arizona law.  Next time you are driving across town take a second look at this beautiful, stately cactus.  It deserves it.  

Summary: Ground feeding can be quite controversial. Join Cheryl and Kiersten as they tackle this topic talking about the good and bad, and giving s few tips on doing it responsibly.   For our hearing impaired listeners, a transcript of this podcast follows the show notes on Podbean.   Show Notes: Seed Block Recipe: Bird Seed Block Recipe Ingredients                                                    Tools 5 cups birdseed                                             Large mixing bowl ½ cup Bark Butter (optional)*                     Whisk or Fork 1 cup warm water                                         Spoon 2 packets unflavored gelatin                        Mold-muffin tin No sugar added dried fruit (optional)                                   Directions Arrange dried fruit in tin in desired pattern. (optional) Place warm water in mixing bowl. Sprinkle in gelatin. Whisk until dissolved. Whisk in Bark Butter until mostly dispersed (may have few chunks). Mix in birdseed and more dried fruit if desired. Stir until well combined. Spoon mixture into mold and press. Let sit for 24 hours. Gently flip over mold to release cakes. Let sit another 24 hours to dry completely. Store in dry area. Place on flat, heavy plate or flat paving stone. Enjoy watching your birds! *Please do not substitute peanut butter for Bark Butter. Peanut butter has too much sugar and peanut oils which are not good for the birds. Bark Butter is formulated specifically to give birds balanced high protein nutrition with added calcium. You do not need to add it if you don't like. Background bird song:  Naturescapes Backyard Birds www.naturescapes.com   Our email address, please reach out with comments, questions, or suggestions: thefeathereddesert@gmail.com   Transcript Host Voice: Welcome to the Feathered Desert a podcast all about desert bird feeding in the Southwest region of the United States.  (bird calls and songs play)   Kiersten – Intro: Today's Feathered Desert episode is about a slightly controversial topic and that is ground feeding birds. We're going to talk about should we do it or should we not. It is a very polarized issue especially in the Phoenix Valley where many areas have bans on bird feeding.   Cheryl- First let's start off with a definition of what ground feeding birds is. When we talk about ground feeding birds, we mean putting food on the ground to intentionally attract birds to a specific area. Whether that is loose seed, block seed, or bread (which we do not recommend), if you are placing it on the ground or in a dish on the ground, this is considered ground feeding.   Kiersten – The title of the episode is Ground Feeding: Yah or Nah so let's look at some of the Yah first. When you do ground feed you will get a lot of birds. So, if your goal is to attract birds to your yard, you will definitely do it with ground feeding. The types of birds you can attract in the Phoenix Valley will include House Sparrows, Mourning Doves, Inca Doves, Collared Doves, and Rock Pigeons when you ground feed. If you live in the right area, you could attract Gambel's Quail as well. That's all I've got for the Yah, honestly.   Cheryl – Let's move on to the Nah's, then. The first Nah is that you'll attract a lot of House Sparrows, Mourning Doves, Inca Doves, Collared Doves, and Rock Pigeons when you ground feed.  These are the types of birds that most people don't want to attract to their yards. They are large, eat a lot of food and leave behind a lot of poo.   Kiersten – Speaking of poo that leads us to Nah number two. When you ground feed, you're encouraging birds to walk through their own, and other birds', feces. Birds are actually very clean animals. They do not want to get their feet or feathers soiled because that directly affects their health and ability to fly well. In the wild, they do not walk through their own feces to get to food nor do they overcrowd an area with a limited amount of food. When we offer them a resource that they cannot turn down, such as a large quantity of food in one place it attracts too many birds that will stay too long and come in contact with a lot of poo. Coming in contact with this poo facilitates the transmission of diseases.  Disease transmission is Nah number three. Ground feeding birds can transmit diseases like avian flu, aspergillosis, salmonellosis, avian pox, and mycoplasmal conjunctivitis aka House Finch Eye Disease. These diseases can spread between birds easily at a ground feeding site because it attracts a lot of birds to one area that might not encounter each other in the wild. The other problem it that many of these diseases are zoonotic which means they can be transmitted from birds to people. People with a compromised immune system are especially susceptible.   Cheryl – Nah Number 4 is how much your neighbors are going to hate you. The larger doves and pigeons that you will be attracting to our yard with ground feeding will not just stay in your yard. They will sit on your neighbor's roof, fence, or trees just as they will do in your yard. When they begin to poo in large quantities or make a lot of noise, your neighbors may get a it upset. Also depending on where you live, the city may have a ban on ground feeding birds. If your neighbor complains the city will get involved.  So…our recommendation is to avoid ground feeding. Using feeders that hang, either tube feeders or cylinder feeders, reduces the number of birds that can eat in one area at one time and limits the amount of food they have access to at one time. Birds that forage on the ground will have access to some of this food also because some of the food will fall on the ground as birds eat. When using hanging feeders, you will attract fewer ground feeding birds.   Kiersten – Now we know some of you really like ground feeding, especially when you have quail that visit your yard, so we have a few tips to allow you to continue enjoying your bird feeding hobby while keeping the birds and yourself healthy and keeping your neighbors happy, too.             One thing you can do is use a good quality food with no fillers or shells that attract nothing but doves and pigeons. Something like a No-Mess food, carried by Wild Birds Unlimited or other specialty bird feeding stores, that contains shelled black oil sunflower seeds, peanut chips, and a bit of millet or a No-Mess Quail Blend that is shelled millet, a tiny amount of cracked corn, and some shelled black oil sunflowers. When you use this food only sprinkle a handful at a time, not the entire 20-pound bag at once. This will limit the resource which in turn limits the number of birds that will visit the area at one time, but you'll still get to see the birds that you love to see.   Cheryl - Another way to responsibly ground feed is to use smaller seed blocks than what are typically sold in stores. The ground feeding blocks typically sold are usually about 4 pounds of seed and attract too many birds. Either break down the larger blocks and use only small pieces at a time, or make your own using a recipe with good quality seed, unflavored gelatin, and Bark Butter. We'll include a recipe in our show notes that is easy to make and healthy for the birds! Put your small, muffin sized seed blocks out when you know the quail will be visiting. This will let the quail eat the block and prevent too many doves and pigeons from showing up.   Kiersten – It think we both side on the side of Nah for ground feeding birds. There is definitely more cons than pros, so we will encourage all our listeners to use hanging feeders when feeding the birds. For a good discussion of tube feeders versus cylinder feeders check out our episode by that name. For those of you who just can't give up ground feeding please consider our tips and check out the recipe for seed blocks in our show notes.    

The Phoenix Valley was packed with visitors for Super Bowl LVII, but does a packed city equal extra economic activity? Janaé Bradford interviews Kelly Phillips Erb, an expert on tax law who has written for and been interviewed by a variety of media outlets. She is currently a tax contributor for Forbes and a Tax Counsel for White & Williams, LLP. Phillips Erb breaks down how local taxpayers contribute to big sporting events but may not be seeing the dividends they were promised. From tax offsets and exemptions, there are a lot of ways that sporting leagues negotiate with local districts before awarding an Olympic, World Cup, or Super Bowl bid. To keep up with Phillips Erb's work, visit taxgirl.com and read her recent work for Forbes titled 'The Super Bowl doesn't always produce super-sized revenues for local taxpayers.'

Thanks for tuning in! Check out our latest episode on Selling Real Estate with Kelly Cook, with a special guest Tee Sawhney! Tee is the Transaction Manager for Cook & Associates Real Estate Advisors and is one of the BEST in the Phoenix Valley! Today, we're going to be talking about Transaction Coordination and all that it entails. As an agent on a Team, a Transaction Coordinator can take over any tasks related to the transaction, so that you can spend your time finding more business. As a single agent, you may spend a ton of time, money, and stress trying to navigate the transaction process and making it as smooth as possible for your client. However, it may be time for you to hire out the service of transaction coordination! At Cook & Associates we offer that and MORE! Even if you're not looking to join the team, we may be able to offer you transaction and listing coordination, so take a listen and let us know what you think! If you have any questions regarding our 5-Star Transaction and Listing Services, please reach out to me using the contact information below! Stay tuned! LET'S GO! Want to be a guest on our podcast? Email marketing@cookandassociatesaz.com OR kelly@cookandassociatesaz.com Selling your home? Get a free Home Price Evaluation http://www.myhomevaluecalculator.com Kelly Cook, MBA Cook & Associates, PC REAL Broker 14201 N Hayden Rd, Ste C-4 Scottsdale, AZ 85260 480-442-9868 kelly@cookandassociatesaz.com CookandAssociatesAZ.com

Summary: Kathleen Scott, Orphan Care Coordinator from Liberty Wildlife, joins Cheryl and Kiersten to talk about hummingbird rehab in the Phoenix Valley!   Show Notes: If you have a bird that needs help, please take them to Liberty Wildlife at: 2600 E Elwood St. Phoenix, AZ 85040 Intake Window Hours are 8am – 6pm daily   Liberty Wildlife Hotline: 480-998-5550, hours 8am-830pm daily   They are always looking for volunteers: https://libertywildlife.org   For more information about hummingbird friendly native plants, check out our podcasts on Gardening for Wildlife.

Summary: In this episode we tackle some listener questions at the end of 2022.   For our hearing impaired listeners, a transcript of this podcast follows the show notes on Podbean.   Show Notes: Liberty Wildlife: https://libertywildlife.org Wild at Heart: https://wildatheartraptors.org Parrots as pets: https://naturalencounters.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/companion-parrots-final.pdf https://avalonaviary.com/is-a-parrot-right-for-you.aspx High Quality Bird Food: www.wbu.com/mesa   New Podcast: tenthingsilikeabout.podbean.com; or search Apple podcast and Spotify for Ten Things I Like About...   Background bird song:  Naturescapes Backyard Birds www.naturescapes.com   Our email address, please reach out with comments, questions, or suggestions: thefeathereddesert@gmail.com   Transcript Host Voice: Welcome to The Feathered Desert's What's That Bird? A three-minute glimpse into the birds we share this amazing desert landscape with.   Kiersten - Hello everyone! We thought we'd end the year with a listener questions episode. These are some questions we've heard several times from different listeners. We're going to jump in feet first with Cheryl and our first question.   Cheryl – Can I buy an owl as a pet here in Phoenix?               We know it sounds crazy but we have had more than one person ask us this. You cannot legally buy any bird protected under the Migratory Bird Act as a pet in the United States. That includes Barn Owls, Screech Owls, Great Horned Owls, or any other owls naturally found here in Arizona. It is a federal offensive to own the birds or house them in your home without proper permits from Arizona Game and Fish and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. If you are seeing advertisements or have heard from people that it's legal, you are being misinformed. People who are trying to sell them to you are breaking the law and have most likely taken them out of the wild illegally, as well. Besides being illegal, it's also a great disservice to these beautiful animals to take them away from their homes.               Beyond this being illegal, we don't really know why someone wants an owl in their house as a pet. You have to feed them mice, baby chicks, and ground up horse meat to provide them a well balanced diet. If you do not, they can develop metabolic bone disease which makes their bones brittle and is a terrible way to slowly die. We know this is a harsh topic but we want to make it very clear why having an owl as a pet is a bad idea.               Remember these birds are also called raptors for a reason. They have large, sharp talons on their feet that they use to catch prey. Those don't stop being sharp or dangerous just because you decided to keep them as a pet.               There are so many other reasons why they make bad pets. Basically, we wanted to let you know that owls as pets are illegal and are an extremely bad idea, as well as unfair to the bird. If you see advertisements for owls for sale here in the Phoenix Valley, please report it to Arizona Game and Fish so they can get these birds back to where they need to be. If you are interested in working as a rehabilitator for owls you can help at organizations such as Liberty Wildlife and Wild at Heart and become a licensed rehabber. We will list contact information in our show notes.   Kiersten – Do the wild lovebirds found in the Phoenix Valley make good pets?               The answer to this is definitely no. Our resident lovebirds do descend from pet birds but they have lived in the wild for many generations and have re-wilded themselves. They are now wild birds that have no interest in living in our homes nor do they need our help to survive. They know just how to make it on their own out there in the desert. It is completely okay to offer supplementary bird feeding stations in your yard as many WBU customers do.               We have had some reports that people may be capturing wild lovebirds and selling them as pet birds. There is no law against this as there is with the owls because these lovebirds are not native to North America. They are native parrots of Africa that were released in small numbers about 35 years ago here in the Valley. But they are still wild animals that do not deserve to be taken out of the wild and forced to live out the rest of their lives in a cage in someone's house.               If you are interested in lovebirds as pets, please seek out a reputable breeder who breeds captive born lovebirds responsibly. These will make better pets because they are used to people interacting with them closely and have never experienced life in the wild. Capturing wild individuals will stress them to the point that it can impact their health, leaving them open to disease and shortening their lives. To make sure you are purchasing from a breeder on the up and up, ask to see their breeding setup and the parents of the birds you will be purchasing. You should see obvious signs of the birds pairing with each other such as living in a cage together, making their own nests, and even raising the young themselves. If the person you are buying from refuses this request move on to someone else. Also, if the price of the birds is too good to be true, it probably is someone who is capturing them from the wild and wants to sell the birds as soon as possible.               Choosing to have a bird for a pet is something that is not for every household. I know there are a ton of social media videos that make it seem like it's easy and super fun to have birds living in your house, but it's not for everyone. Please do your homework before you chose this animal as a pet. We will post some links in our show notes to a few insightful websites that can help you make an informed decision.   Cheryl – What should I do about my bird feeders when it rains?               This is a great question but not often one we have to think about outside of monsoon season here in the Phoenix Valley. If the day calls for light, passing showers you don't have to do much of anything. Both tube feeders that hold loose seed and cylinders that are exposed to the rain will be fine, if it is only light rain. After the weather has settled, go out and shake your tube feeders with the loose seed. If the seed shakes and does not clump, no moisture has gotten inside and the seed will be fine for the birds to continue to eat. If you have clumping seeds, you need to throw those seeds out, clean your feeder and put fresh seed in. This will help prevent the growth of mold that can be detrimental to the bird's health and yours.                 If we have a heavy rain or rain that lasts all day, cylinders made with seeds and gelatin will dissolve. Plan ahead and take those feeders in or you will have a messy, goopy clump of food on the ground the next day that no one wants to eat. For tube feeders, it depends on where you have them hanging. If they are under a tree or awning that gives them some shelter from the weather, they will probably be fine. Just check them once the weather calms down as we discussed before. The same advice goes for your suet feeders. If they are in an area where the rain will get to it, the suet will crumble out of the feeder. Purchasing a weather guard for use during monsoon season can also be a great way to shelter food if you have a pole system in the middle of your yard.               Do not worry about the birds during the rain. Most often they are hunkering down in a tree somewhere waiting out the rain themselves.               While we are on the subject of cleaning, after a rain you should also clean out and refill your bird baths. In case something has washed off a roof or trees that might have chemicals in them that are bad for the birds, you don't want them drinking that or bathing in it.   Kiersten – What is the difference between Wild Birds Unlimited seed and seed I find at the grocery store or hardware stores?               Cheryl and I have gotten this question a lot over the years. We both use seed from Wild Birds Unlimited and as many of our longtime listeners know we are both currently employees of a WBU store. Having said that, we both used seed from WBU before we began working at a store because they have a no-waste guarantee and use human grade seed in their mixes.               So, the difference is that WBU does not allow any seed that will not readily be eaten by songbirds in the seed they sell. Other stores, and by other stores I mean stores that do not focus on outdoor bird feeding, because there are other specialty stores out there besides WBU that carry excellent seed as well, other stores do not care how much inedible seed is in their mixes. Seeds such as milo, cracked corn, wheat, and canary seed are all items that the songbirds we want to attract will not eat. They will just sit at the feeder and toss it to the ground digging through the mix for the handful of seeds they will eat.               Then this attracts doves and pigeons which most of us do not want flocks of in our yards.               The seed at WBU will be more expensive but you are paying for seed that they birds will eat and not filler they will not eat.               Let's talk specifically about Nyjer seed, now. This is the small black seeds that fit in finch feeders and are often sold inside socks already at other stores. Is WBU Nyjer better than other stores? Without any bias on my part, the answer is yes. WBU imports Nyjer from India which is where this aster plant grows natively. The plants are healthy there and abundant which makes their seeds robust and full of nutrients. Some farmers have figured out how to grow this seed in NA in large enough fields to make it worth their while and birds will eat these seeds but the aster plant does not grow as well here, so the seeds lack some of the nutrients of the India seeds. If you give the finches a choice between the India seeds and the NA seeds they will pick the India seeds. I've seen this in my own backyard!   Cheryl – Why do the birds in the city eat French fries and potato chips but the ones in my yard leave that stuff alone and only eat the seeds I offer in my feeder?               This was a question from one of our co-workers and such an insightful one we thought it demanded a bit of discussion. We believe there are two reasons for this difference. One is that many of the birds that have adapted to living in the city are grain eating birds such as House Sparrows, Grackles, and Starlings. In the wild, these birds will eat different types of grains as well as seeds. French fries and potato chips are only a hop, skip, and jump away from a grain.               Many of us do have house sparrows at our backyard feeders but why would they eat poor quality food, like French fries, when they have the high-quality stuff, like black oil sunflowers seeds, that is in the feeder.               A second reason is probably cultural. The city birds learn to eat French fries and potato chips from their parents, while the backyard birds learn to eat from our native plants and our bird feeders.   Kiersten – Closing – We hope this episode has answered a few questions for all our listeners and as we say goodbye to 2022, we hope you'll keep enjoying the birds in 2023 by getting outdoors to watch our feathered friends, maybe join a citizen scientist group or two, and keep listening to The Feathered Desert.               Before we sign off Cheryl, do you mind if I make a shameless plug for the other podcast I started at the end of this year?               For those of you who like learning new things about all types of nature, I've started a podcast called Ten Things I Like About…and it's all about unknown or misunderstood wildlife. I'll be talking about the pangolin, the vaquita, and many other animals you've probably never heard of. Each topic consists of ten-episodes that are ten-minutes a piece and Cheryl occasionally co-hosts with me! So, check it out in 2023.

Tempe's Moblo Cabinetry (602-607-5026) is proud to be the best cabinet and countertop contractors, installers and designers in the Phoenix Valley area. Go to https://moblocabinetry.com to find out more.

It's the season of giving so why not give to local charities near and dear to those in our community. Scottsdale resident, Laura Bonner started Wish Upon a Book. This non-profit helps low-income students learn the confidence of reading. We also have Birdcall at the table with us. Eat Birdcall is all about giving back. From locally sourced food to school involvement , community outreach and more. Hear how they are giving back to Scottsdale this holiday season and beyond.  Calendar of Events Brought you by Notre Dame Prep    Wish Upon a BookHelp fill a teacher's needs this holiday season. There is a whole list of Phoenix Valley teachers who need your help.    The Nutcracker @ Scottsdale Center for Performing Arts Thursday, Dec 15 @ 7pm come and watch a classic play during the holiday season. The talented performers are one night only so get your tickets while they last.  Holiday Lights @ McCormick-Stillman RRBe sure to buy your tickets in advance for this family friendly treat. You can get your picture taken with Santa, ride the train around multiple times and even get a hot chocolate for your carousel ride.  ScottsdazzleOf course plenty of events to hit up at Scottsdazzle still. So be sure to check out that episode from Nov 20 or their website for more details

It's the season of giving so why not give to local charities near and dear to those in our community. Scottsdale resident, Laura Bonner started Wish Upon a Book. This non-profit helps low-income students learn the confidence of reading. We also have Birdcall at the table with us. Eat Birdcall is all about giving back. From locally sourced food to school involvement , community outreach and more. Hear how they are giving back to Scottsdale this holiday season and beyond.  Calendar of Events Brought you by Notre Dame Prep    Wish Upon a BookHelp fill a teacher's needs this holiday season. There is a whole list of Phoenix Valley teachers who need your help.    The Nutcracker @ Scottsdale Center for Performing Arts Thursday, Dec 15 @ 7pm come and watch a classic play during the holiday season. The talented performers are one night only so get your tickets while they last.  Holiday Lights @ McCormick-Stillman RRBe sure to buy your tickets in advance for this family friendly treat. You can get your picture taken with Santa, ride the train around multiple times and even get a hot chocolate for your carousel ride.  ScottsdazzleOf course plenty of events to hit up at Scottsdazzle still. So be sure to check out that episode from Nov 20 or their website for more details

Summary: This is a special What's That Bird? episode about the long-running citizen scientist project from Audubon called the Christmas Bird Count. Listen and find out how you can make this one of your holiday traditions!   For our hearing impaired listeners, a transcript of this podcast follows the show notes on Podbean.   Show Notes: Audubon Christmas Bird Count Maps: https://audubon.maps.arcgis.com/apps/View/index.html Audubon Christmas Bid Count Home: https://www.audubon.org/science/christmas-bird-count Phoenix Valley Christmas Count Sign-up: Kathy and Rowyn Balman nerdyforbirdies@gmail.com Nerdy for Birdies: https://educatingchildrenoutdoors.com/nerdy-for-birdies ***Due to unforeseen personal matters Mo Walters will be handling The CBC for Phoenix Area this year. You can reach her at Molina.Walters@asu.edu.***** Transcript   Host Voice: Welcome to The Feathered Desert's What's That Bird? A three-minute glimpse into the birds we share this amazing desert landscape with.   Kiersten: Hello, Feathered Deserts listeners. This is Kiersten and I wanted to talk to you about the Audubon Society's Christmas Bird Count. It's a citizen science project that you can participate in right here in the Phoenix Valley!               The Audubon's Christmas Bird Count is the nation's longest running community science bird project. It began in the late 1800's as an event called the Christmas “Side Hunt”. Groups of participants would choose sides and whoever came back from the hunt with the largest pile of feathered, or furred, animals won. This was the time that conservation was in its infancy but naturalists were already beginning to understand that populations of some animals were in decline in the wild. So, in 1900 an ornithologist named Frank M. Chapman, an early officer of the Audubon Society, proposed a different holiday tradition, a Christmas Bird Census! Instead of shooting birds, they would count them!               Thus began the Christmas Bird Count! Each Year this project runs from December 14-January 5 and is open to anyone that wants to help count bids! When you participate in this bird count all the information you gather about the birds you are seeing in your chosen locations goes to Audubon to be compiled. This data provides ornithologists and scientific researchers with information about the long-term populations of birds in North America. According to the Audubon website, “To date over 300 peer-reviewed scientific papers have resulted in analysis done with Christmas Bird Count data.”               That's a lot of papers and that's a lot of research about birds!               This season the 2022-2023 Christmas Bird Count in the Phoenix Metro Area will be coordinated by Educating Children Outdoors, Nerdy for Birdies, and the Maricopa County Parks Master Naturalists. There is a 15-mile circle that has been chosen for the count including Mesa, Chandler, Gilbert, and Tempe. They will be offering three zoom meetings about how and where to count before the count officially starts and will also offer a Question and Answer day. Kathy and Rowyn Balman are in charge of distributing information about how to participate in our area and can be reached via email at nerdyforbirdies@gmail.com.  If you do not live in the area but would still like to participate, you can always take a day trip to one of the sites in the radius or check out the Audubon Christmas Count Website, go to the maps page, and look for a radius near you. There are active sites all over the Phoenix Valley.               Check out the show notes for this episode for a list of all the websites. We have perfect winter weather for birding in Arizona so grab your binoculars and get out there!

Summary: Laws protecting birds can be confusing but Cheryl and Kiersten take a moment to make it all clear. Join your Feathered Desert co-hosts as they talk federal, state, and city laws that protect our birds.   For our hearing impaired listeners, a transcript of this podcast follows the show notes.   Show Notes: https://www.fws.gov/law/migratory-bird-treaty-act-1918 https://www.audubon.org/news/migratory-bird-treaty-act https://www.fws.gov/media/list-birds-protected-migratory-bird-treaty-act-2020 https://cals.arizona.edu/yavapai/anr/hort/byg/archive/wildlifelegalstatus.html https://www.lawserver.com/law/state/arizona/az-laws/arizona_laws_17-236 https://azdot.gov/adot-blog/nesting-birds-are-protected-during-construction https://phoenix.municipal.codes/CC/8-7.02 https://www.foxnews.com/us/new-law-bans-feeding-ducks-in-arizona-city https://www.mesaazpolice.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/43871 https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/tempe/2018/05/05/tempe-regulation-takes-aim-overfeeding-birds/574426002/ Background bird song:  Naturescapes Backyard Birds www.naturescapes.com Our email address, please reach out with comments, questions, or suggestions: thefeathereddesert@gmail.com   Transcript Host Voice: Welcome to The Feathered Desert a podcast all about desert bird feeding in the Southwest region of the United States. (Various bird calls play)   Kiersten – Intro – Today we're talking about laws that protect birds. We'll look at federal laws and state regulations and then we'll discuss some controversial bird feeding bans that affect our local Valley area. Cheryl is going to start us off with one of the most important bird laws!   Cheryl – Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918             Most people don't even know that there are federal laws protecting birds in this country. The Migratory Bird Treaty Act is such a law and it applies to the entire United States, every state must abide by this law.  You go Migratory Bird Treay Act!   Kiersten – Yes!   Cheryl - I know that seems redundant to say but it never hurts to repeat something important.             What exactly is the Migratory Bird Treaty Act?             This Act implements four international treaties that the US entered into with Canada in 1916, Mexico in 1936, Japan in 1972, and with Russia in 1976. It ensures the sustainability of populations of all protected migratory bird species. What this means is that it prohibits the taking of migratory bird species without proper and prior authorization from the Department of Interior U.S Fish and Wildlife service.  It sounds sooo important!   Kiersten – It does.   Cheryl - A quote from the US Fish and Wildlife Service “The MBTA provides that it is unlawful to pursue, hunt, take, capture, kill, possess, sell, purchase, barter, import, export, or transport any migratory bird, OR any part, nest, or egg of any such bird, unless authorized under a permit issued by the Secretary of the Interior. Take is defined as: pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture, or, collect, or attempt to pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture, or collect.” I think that covers everything!   Kiersten – Yes! (laughs)   Cheryl - Who does the law protect?             There is a list of bird species generally based on bird families and individual species that are protected. There are three criteria that a species must meet to be included. It must occur in the United States or U.S Territories by natural biological or ecological processes. That means that it is native to the country or territory or that its natural migratory path brings it through the US or its territories. It must be in a family that is currently or previous included in a treaty or revised taxonomy rolls it into a protected family.   Kiersten – They are constanstyl revising taxonomy. That means the family and genera that they are in.   Cheryl- I was just going to clarify that. Thanks! 3.New evidence has arisen that proves the bird species or family is native to the US and US territories. Like Kiersten said they are always clarifying and revising. In a nutshell, it protects any bird that is or was found here without the help of human transport. For example, the Inca dove is native to the SW United States so they are protected; whereas, the rock dove, AKA pigeons, are not native to this country and are not protected by this law. Kiersten did I cover everything?   Kiersten – I think you go it! Over the years the Treaty has been updated and expanded and the government is required to release a list of all species protected under the law. The last revision was in 2020 and that is the most current list of protected animals.             Some of you may be thinking that this is just a law, what has it really done to help birds in reality. Since its inception it has actually saved many species from extinction at the hands of humans. Some examples include the Snowy Egret, that was being hunted for its pretty feathers the Wood Duck, that was being hunted for sport and the Sandhill Crane, that was also being hunted for feathers and spot. An example right here in our own backyard is the Burrowing Owl. Without its designation of a protected species the city of Phoenix would not have had to take all the extensive steps to protect them from the sprawl of housing construction.             One last thing I want to reiterate about this law is that it also makes it illegal to own feathers, bones, beaks, claws, nests, and eggs from these birds, as well. That does apply to any of these items being found on the ground in your front yard or on a hike or anywhere. You cannot legally own them.             “But I didn't kill the bird to get it, I just found it on the ground!” I have heard that argument a lot, but you have no way of proving it to USFWS and people who are not honest can go out and kill the bird for those things and they'll use the same argument. So, this law applies to everyone.             Now there are some exceptions, but these are only valid with permitting. People who help birds to recover from injuries or illness are licensed rehabilitators. Liberty Wildlife, East Valley Wildlife, Wild at Heart are all licensed rehabbers. They get permitting through the state and federal agencies after taking hours and hours of classes and working as an apprentice. You cannot take a bird into you home with the intention of nursing them back to health and re-releasing them without these permits.             Falconers, people who hunt with a bird of prey, are also licensed to do so. You cannot house raptors without permission from USFWS and only after working with a licensed falconer for years. Generally five years. You will also have to have visits from inspectors to determine if the housing you are providing meets regulations. And those regulations are strict. Then there are all the rules you must follow such as catching males versus females and how long you are allowed to keep them and hunt with them. All of this is to protect the sustainability of the species. Cheryl – I find is so interesting that falconers have a limited time to work with them and then release them.   Kiersten – Yes! That's why you have to work with a Master falconer for so many years. These birds have to know how to hunt on their own and beable to teach their young. For a bit more on how the Migratory Bird Treaty Act came to be, please listen to our first episode of Groundbreaking Women of Ornithology and learn how a few fashion forward women influenced the creation of this life saving law.   Cheryl – State Laws I got state laws! Our state laws follow the federal laws and can be found under Arizona Laws Title 17, Chapter 2, Article 3, 17-236. These laws do take it a step further in saying that you cannot intentionally harass a protected bird or intentionally destroy a nest of a protected bird. Which includes woodpecker!   Kiersten – Yes! It does include a lot of birds that people are annoyed with. (laughs) I forgot to put this one in here. ADOT, Arizona Department of Transportation had a question from a jogger near the 101 that asked about the cliff swallow nests. ADOT takes care to not disturb the nests while the birds are nesting but, once the birds have fledged they knock down the nests to encourage them to nest elsewhere. They only do it when the nests are no longer is use or before the nests are complete. ADOT has a Biologist that inspects projects before they get started for nests. It's okay to do that before a nest is in use.   The other state laws involving birds are mainly based around hunting. There is a specific hunting season for birds that are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and you must have a hunting license to hunt during this season.   Arizona Game and Fish is in charge of distributing these permits. The regulations for each year can change because they are always assessing the population size of a species approved for hunting. Each season has a maximum bag number for how many individuals you can kill and they have strict regulations about hunting outside of specified seasons. I know we have Dove hunting and quail hunting.             Kiersten – Our next topic is one that Cheryl and I have kind of avoided talking about for some time. I mean we're doing a podcast about bird feeding, so this one is a bit counter-intuitive to what we talk about each episode. It's important but it's also a bit controversial. I think the time has come and we're going to have to just rip the band-aid off and get to it.             And that is City Bans on bird feeding.             The main cities in the Phoenix Valley we'll discuss today are Mesa, Tempe, Scottsdale, and Phoenix. These are the ones that have officially passed bans at the recording of this podcast, but other cities out there may be considering them.             Let's look at Mesa first. In 2019, the Mesa city council approved an amendment to the city's nuisance code prohibiting feeding wild birds. Many customers of the Wild Birds Unlimited store in Mesa that sells products specifically to feed wild birds were pretty concerned, but you need to dig a little deeper into the code to get the whole story.             This change was certainly inspired by people feeding wild birds and attracting too many pigeons and doves. I am now quoting from a Code Compliance brochure from the Mesa police website that states “It is a violation in the City of Mesa to feed pigeons and doves on private or public property. An exemption is provided for feeding of other species of birds from a feeder intended to prevent pigeons and doves from feeding.” End quote.             The key here is that you can still feed the birds as long as you are doing it with a feeder that prevents large bird from taking over. You can get just the right feeder and the correct food that will cut down on the number of larger birds, such as pigeons and doves, that you attract. This is essentially what we preach with the podcast as well. Responsible bird feeding.             Tempe. In 2018, the city of Tempe did essentially the same thing. Their ordinance was aimed at reining in people who were putting out large amounts of bird seed and attracting flocks of pigeons and doves. Some feared they wouldn't be able to put out bird feeders anymore but Councilman Kolby Granville was quoted by the AZCentral as saying “We're not talking about a bird feeder, we're talking about a bag of food a week.” End quote.   Cheryl – Let's talk about Phoenix. In the Phoenix City Code Section 8-7.02 it states that feeding pigeons is prohibited. It states “It is unlawful for any person to feed pigeons within the City. The prohibition does not prohibit the feeding of other birds using practices or devices designed to prevent pigeons from obtaining food.”             Once again, this city is trying to cut down on larger birds like pigeons and doves coming in droves to food but is not opposed to smaller birds coming to appropriate feeders.             Scottsdale - Now Scottsdale's ban is a bit different. In 2014, the city of Scottsdale banned the feeding of ducks and other birds at public parks. It seems that people were bringing whole loaves of bread, sometimes garbage bags full of stale bread, to the park and dumping them on the pathways or in ponds. I think Kiersten and I are both onboard with this ban since bread is terrible food for ducks, birds, and any wildlife. It has no nutrition in it and is not a natural food for them to eat. When you break it down like this it's not scary and it's what we want our bird feeding enthusiasts to do anyway! Feed responsibly. Kiersten – I have to admit I'm kinda on board with all of these bans, really. They all help protect our birds by limiting the amount if food available, which cuts down on the number of birds in one place at one time, which decreases the likely hood of spreading diseases. It also encourages people to use hanging feeders and not ground feed which is another way to cut down on spreading diseases.  Laws are not scary and are here to help protect our birds and ourselves.  

Have you ever felt like you have been hidden in the dark and you are searching for a way to come out into the light?  I am sure all of us have had moments like this. Ones that have shaped us and allowed us to forge ahead. Today we are in the final installment of our collaboration with the Baton Pass called Unleashing Your Story.We sat down with co-founders Lana and Loraine of Out of the Dark as they seek to help women heal from abuse and become who they were created to be.  They share a little bit of their journey of how they desire to provide justice, healing, and hope to women suffering from abuse.  Plus, they discuss how this partnership and organization came to be.  Because they unleashed their stories, they have the privilege of walking alongside other women who are facing similar parable stories.  Throughout this experience together, they have seen how much God has worked within them as well."God, why did you let all this stuff happen to me? And God said to my heart, 'You don't know how much I kept from happening to you.'  And that changed my life. - Lana JanoThe Baton Pass does an amazing job of creating a safe space to hear, be encouraged, and walk away renewed. We will all be at their upcoming Chicagoland event, join us at There's More to the Story, there are a few tickets left. Or if you are in the Phoenix Valley, join Angela and Kelly at this next event, Game Changer to hear how God flips the script. Reflection QuestionsIs there someone you know that can help you better unpack your story with? What would be your next step in doing that?What is something that needs to come out of the dark? Possibly, experience, emotion, trauma, etc... How can you release that and move forward into the life God desires for you?Connect with Out of the Dark | Lana and LoraineWebsite | FaceBookUpcoming Baton Pass EventsGame Changer Event on November 13, 2022, in Chandler, AZThere's More to the Story on November 6, 2022, in Barrington, ILConnect with the Baton PassWebsite | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube How to support The Parable Podcast: #1 Subscribe or Follow the show so you don't miss the next episode of The Parable Podcast through your favorite podcast app (i.e. iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher). #2 Share this show with a friend, this is a perfect opportunity to start your own Parable Conversation together. #3 Are you in need of a speaker for your Church, Women's Group, or event? ...

Summary: Did you know that Arizona is home to 13 different species of owls? Join Cheryl and Kiersten as they talk about these amazing feathered residents.   For our hearing impaired listeners, a transcript of this podcast follows the show notes.   Show Notes: www.avibirds.com/owls-of-arizona/ www.a-z-animals.com/blog/true-owls-vs-barn-owls-what-are-the-diffrences/ Owling: Enter the World of the Mysterious Birds of the Night, by Mark Wilson   Liberty Wildlife: (480)998-5550 2600 E Elmwood St. Phoenix, AZ 85040 https://Libertywildlife.org Background bird song:  Naturescapes Backyard Birds www.naturescapes.com Our email address, please reach out with comments, questions, or suggestions: thefeathereddesert@gmail.com   Transcript   Host Voice: Welcome to The Feathered Desert a podcast all about desert bird feeding in the Southwest region of the United States. (Various bird calls play)   Cheryl-Intro:  Welcome to The Feathered Desert! Arizona is a haven for birdlife.  It is a state with a multitude of diverse landscapes that range from deserts to conifer forests, to incredibly very different types of landscaped mountain ranges.  It has breathtaking canyons, riparian areas with cottonwoods and willows very much untouched by man.  This landscape diversity supports a very diverse selection of birdlife including (are you ready) thirteen different owls. I was floored! I thought maybe six species but no it's thirteen. That's why it's in two parts.   Kiersten: Few general facts: Owls live in a variety of habitats.  For every type of bird habitat there is an owl that fits into it. Owls are nocturnal raptors, specialized for hunting in the dark, and are equipped with excellent night vision; but there are a few owls that are active during the day. There is always an exception to the rule! To be more specific: Diurnal-by definition diurnal means happening or active during the daytime.  Animals that are diurnal are usually awake and active during the daytime. Burrowing Owls, Short-eared Owls, Snowy Owls Crepuscular-cre-pus-cu-lar: means relating to twilight, referring to animals that are active in the twilight—active at dawn and dusk.  A few of our owls that do that are Northern Pygmy Owl and Ferrugious Pygmy Owl Nocturnal-done, occurring, or active at night. Northern Saw-whet Owl, Barn Owl, Boreal Owl One of my favorite things about owl is that they all have specialized feathers for silent flight.  That mean you will not hear them ehThat being said: the tiny Elf owl is the nosiest when in flight.  That is saying quite a lot. You'll probably just barely hear him as he flies overhead. Which is interesting because it hunts insects, and some insects can hear. It begs the question of why this owl evolved to be a little bit louder than other owls but is so small.   Cheryl: I don't know but I thought it was interesting!   Kiersten: Like most birds, owls have 4 toes on each foot.  2 toes point forward and 2 toes point backward.  However, owls have a special ability -they can swing one of their back toes to the front.  Helps it to grip wiggling prey.  Ospreys, woodpeckers, and parrots can do this as well. Owls have good spatial memory, probably better than us, for sure better than me!   (Cheryl and Kiersten both laugh)   Kiersten:   Owls carry detailed mental maps of their surroundings.  This helps an owl remember where things are and where they left things. Which is super important!   Cheryl: It is because they store food! Who knew?   Kiersten: Yeah! There are 19 species of owls that breed and nest in the United States and Canada.  13 of these species may be found in Arizona!   Cheryl:  So, Owls are split into two family groups. Every time I do research for a podcast I learn so much that I didn't know! The first group is Strigidae-which are true owls and the Tytonidae-the Barn Owls. True Owls VS Barn Owls some of the differences are Physical Appearance:  Many true owl species have ear tufts on their heads covered in feathers.  They have large heads, round facial discs around their eyes.  They have yellow or orange eyes. Barn Owls have a great heart-shaped facial disc.  Presence of long strong legs with powerful talons. Dark eyes and the absence of ear tufts. They have ears but not tufts. Calls:  True owls make hooting calls.  Barn owls don't hoot, rather they make eerie-sounding screams. Habitats:  True owls are found worldwide except in Antarctica. Barn Owls occur everywhere except in the cold temperate, and Arctic regions.  They prefer open places and live away from humans. Kiersten: They are found on every continent!   Cheryl: Behavior:  True owls exhibit nocturnal behaviors and have specialized morphology for their wings. Barn Owls are nocturnal birds. Color:  they have brown or gray vertical markings, and their underbellies are usually white. Barn owls are usually an orange-black color.  Their breasts are white. Hunting Styles:  True Owls are mostly seen by people as tame since they show no movement unless you  are very close to them.  They are ambush predators. Although they are elusive they are relatively not shy towards people.   Kiersten: Yes, but were not saying for you to go up to one because they are not tame! They are just good at their jobs which is to be calm and still and ambush prey or fly away.   Cheryl: Right! Barn Owls are opportunistic hunters.  They fly in open areas gliding across the low grasses locating prey by sound. Lifespan: Ture Owls lifespans very depending on the species, on average these owls have longer lifespans than Barn Owls.  Barn Owls live 5-10 years and that is being generous. They can live longer in captivity.   Kiersten:  The Great Horned Owl- Great Horned Owl is Arizona's largest and most widespread owl.  Known as the “Tiger of the Sky”, the Great Horned Owl is probably the most familiar to our listeners of all the Arizona owls.  We both have them in our yards. This owl has mottled grayish-brown feathers on its wings, head, and body. It has pale cream to white underneath with brown barring, and it has a reddish-brown to gray facial feathers, and a white throat patch. This will all be hard to see in the dark but if you catch them in a flashlight or see them in a tree during the day you might get to see the colors better. Great Horned Owls have long feathers covering their legs and feet. Great horned owls are 17-25 inches in height.   Average weight of an adult is 2.6 – 3.5 lbs.  The females will be larger and heavier. The wingspan of this raptor is on average 3-5 feet across. That's a nice wingspan!   Cheryl: That's also pretty heavy for an owl!   Kiersten: Yep! Great Horned Owls are highly adaptable birds with an incredibly diverse diet comprising of over 200 species of mammals, and 300 species of birds, invertebrates, reptiles, amphibians and fish.   Why pick just one thing when you have all this stuff to eat? Why not just eat it all   Cheryl: (laughs) I don't think we missed anything on that list!   Kiersten: The favorite meal of these birds are skunks.  I mean…yeah?   (Both co-hosts laugh)   Cheryl: Well skunks are cute.   Kiersten: They are cute! And the owls keep their population in check. The Great Horned Owl is the only owl to regularly eat skunk. I think they may not have to best sense of smell, if they don't mind eating skunk!   Cheryl: (laughs)   Kiersten: Great Horned Owls do migrate.  They live in their territory their whole lives.  Historically, they were once intensively hunted.  Their feathers a really beautiful and there is always the myth that they eat your sheep, which is completely false. They are not s bog enough bird to do that. But now the biggest threat is indirect poisoning by harmful rodenticides. Which is a terrible shame! For more information on that, please, reference our Rodenticide: A Deadly Decision podcast. Fun Fact:  Great Horned Owls will defend their nests fiercely by hooting, hissing, grunting, and screaming. It is quite terrifying to see! You don't want to encounter this!   Cheryl: They really do impress me. Every time I encounter one or watch them on a webcam.   Kiersten: They really are impressive. These are the ones that have that wise look on theor faces. The one that the phrase wise old owl comes from but…they are not wise. They're great at being owls bt not great problem solvers!   Cheryl: (laughs)   Kiersten: One other thing about the Great Horned Owl. They are definitely one of the owl that have ear tufts. We are not exactly sure why they have ear tufts. Some scientists say it's for checking the changing wind, or they are used to make decisions on the wing but we not entirely sure what they are for. But the tufts are just feathers not ears. They have ears but the feathers that stick up are not their ears.   Cheryl: Sometime I think it's for communication between owls because they can flatten them or hold them up straight. They do things with them if you ever have the opportunity to watch them.   Kiersten: That's a good thought! Owls are solitary hunters, so they could potentially hurt another owl. I don't necessary want to cozy up to my neighbor that might kill me! So maybe they are used to communicate from a distance.   Cheryl :  And with eye color. All 19 different owl species have a different eye color and scientist don't know why! Mabe it's for communication as well.   Kiersten: Maybe!   Cheryl: Barn Owl The Barn Owl is an unusual beauty.  It is a medium sized owl with a heart-shaped face and a characteristic pale speckled plumage.  The upperparts are rusty brown with dark patches.  The face and underparts range from cream to white.  It has slender, feathered legs and long broad wings that enable sharp, agile movements.  This owl is 13-15 inches in height.  It weighs about 1 -1.5 lbs.    Kiersten: The female is definitely a bit bigger. The females need more weight to incubate eggs and more skeletal width to lay eggs, but of all the raptors they have the least difference between male and female.   Cheryl:  Barn Owls wingspan is 31-37 inches across.  Barn Owls occur in the open grasslands, farmlands, open meadows in woodlands and woodland edges. They are nocturnal.  Barn Owls roost or nest in old buildings, barns, silos, steeples, sheds, mine and well shafts, tree cavities, caves and stacks of baled hay.   It is an unmissable bird.  Look out for a flash of white in the open country at night.  Barn Owls has an undulating flight pattern.  They hunt by gliding low above the ground using sight and sound to locate prey.  Barn Owls have asymmetric ears which means one ear is a little higher than the eyes while the opposite one sits a little lower than the eyes.  This helps Barn owls to quickly and accurately locate faint sounds.  The sounds strike each ear at slightly different times. One Barn Owl will eat 8 mice/voles a night.   That's 2,920 rodents a year.     Kiersten: That's good rodent control, right there!   Cheryl: Barn owls have been known to stockpile prey animals, especially, during nesting season.  Barn Owls are typically solitary birds but will live in pairs.  Barn owls are non-violent, altruistic and family-oriented birds.  Barn Owl siblings care for one another while they are together. Barn owls often are the victims of vehicle collisions, but their greatest threat is indirect poisoning by harmful rodenticides. Kiersten:  This is the Flammulated Owl   Cheryl: I'm gla you said that word!   Kiersten: It's not a pretty word. (laughs)   Cheryl: I don't know who names these birds!   Kiersten: they could have picked a prettier word, for sure! This little owl has flame-like markings on its wings, for which it is named.  However, grayer variants lack this feature.  Its plumage is a mix of dark brown, gray, buff, and white providing the perfect camouflage.  It has large, dark eyes, and small ear tufts that are often held flat against the head.  It is 6-7 inches in height.  Weighs about 1.5-2 ounces and has a wingspan of 14-16 inches across.  Flammulated Owls are migratory.  Wintering here in Arizona from September-March.  Flammulated Owls can be found in Arizona's old Ponderosa Pine forests, Douglas Fir, and mixed conifer forests, and in amongst the Aspen trees at higher elevations.   Flammulated owls are considered the most abundant of the forest dwelling owls in Arizona.   These owls are heavily dependent on mature forests.  Habitat loss and rodenticides are the greatest threats to these owls.it vocalizes with twittery noises, mews, and in hoots.  Smaller than the Western Screech Owl this little owl often roosts in old woodpecker or sapsucker holes.  Flammulated owl eats insect like grasshoppers, crickets, beetles, spiders, ants I can't believe they eat ants, that seems like a lot of work for such a small reward, dragonflies, and moths. Probably one of their favorite is those big, fat moths in the silk moth family. That would tide you or for days.   Cheryl: I was surprised at what insects they eat because they are nocturnal. The dragonflies.   Kiersten: Dragonflies might be easier to catch at night though because they'll be stationary.   Cheryl: I don't know how they do it!   Kiersten: Me neither but they always seem to know what they are doing!   Cheryl:  Whiskered Screech Owl I think this one is so cute. I remember watching a video of one and thinking how cute he was and then it snatched a hummingbird! Then I thought he's not so cute anyone!   Kiersten: (laughs) Predators always do that to us!   Cheryl: (laughs) The Whiskered Screech Owl is named for the wispy bristles at the base of their beak.  It is a small owl with streaked plumage and a rounded head with short ear tufts.  There is a gray morph and rufous colored morph.  It has golden- yellow eyes and a yellow-green bill.   I also found it interesting that owl beaks can be different colors! Its height is 6-8 inches, and it weighs 2.4-4.2 ounces.  This owl's wingspan is 16-20 inches across. These owls inhabit southeastern Arizona in the dense oak woodlands and mountains forests of the Madrean Sky Island Mountain Range.  The very southeastern tip of Arizona.  They are active from dusk through the night.  They mainly prey on arthropods, including locusts, grasshoppers, crickets, beetles, moths, caterpillars, centipedes, spiders and scorpions. I always like a bird that can catch a scorpion! They occasionally hunt small mammals and small birds.  Your best chance to look for Whiskered Screech owl is in the Sycamore groves alongside canyons in the popular birding area of Madera Canyon.  Listen for the evenly spaced boo-hoots of the small owls.   That's just four of the thirteen owls we have in Arizona. Part two is coming soon! Please I would just like to remind everyone that the Phoenix Valley is home to a great raptor rehab facility.  Liberty Wildlife offers rehabilitation to injured raptors such as the owls here in Arizona.  So, if you would like a close -up with an owl you may visit their education center for a tour.  If you find an injured owl please keep visual contact with the injured bird, and call Liberty Wildlife.  A volunteer will come out and rescue the bird.  We will include Liberty Wildlife's contact information in our show notes. Stay tuned for part two coming in the near future!

I am sure each of us has wondered if we had anything to offer this world.  We found ourselves wondering what purpose do I even have. Angela Mancini wondered that just a few years ago while kneeling on the floor of her mother-in-law's basement.  Financial hardship, desperate for change, and in a tough spot in her marriage were just a few weights that were on her shoulders.But, by the grace of God, something changed that day within Angela.Since that time, Angela and Kelly Olson have built a friendship and sisterhood with others at The Baton Pass, offering empowerment for those who feel like their story is too much, too big, or doesn't have a lot to offer.  Listen to how Angela's story over time was unleashed and formed into Baton Pass' Deployed Workshop.  This 6 week workshop is designed to assist you in engaging your story with care and safety. Plus gives you the opportunity for accountability, feedback, and encouragement with other women.I am absolutely worthless.... God, the only way to get free of this, is with your help. - Angela ManciniAngela found a place to grow with Kelly and the rest of the Baton team to develop her skills and purpose.  From an outside perspective, it was so encouraging to hear how Angela became more empowered by a group of women. The Baton Pass does an amazing job of creating a safe space to hear, be encouraged and walk away renewed. If you are in the Phoenix Valley, join Angela and Kelly at this next event, Game Changer to hear how God flips the script.  Or if you are in the Chicagoland area, join us at There's More to the Story. We are making room at the table for you.Reflection QuestionsHow has the feeling of having nothing to offer, caused you to not unleash your own story?Imagine yourself 5 years ago. Where were you in your life, in relationships, jobs, passion, and with God? Take the time to look back and how can you see how God was with you?Connect with AngelaInstagram | FaceBookUpcoming Baton Pass EventsGame Changer Event on November 13, 2022, in Chandler, AZThere's More to the Story on November 6, 2022, in Barrington, ILDeployed: Engage and Proclaim your Story Connect with the Baton PassWebsite | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube How to support The Parable Podcast#1 Subscribe or Follow the show so you don't miss the next episode of  The Parable Podcast through your favorite podcast app (i.e. iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher).  #2 Share this show with a friend, this is a perfect opportunity to start your own Parable Conversation together.#3 Are you in neHow to support The Parable Podcast: #1 Subscribe or Follow the show so you don't miss the next episode of The Parable Podcast through your favorite podcast app (i.e. iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher). #2 Share this show with a friend, this is a perfect opportunity to start your own Parable Conversation together. #3 Are you in need of a speaker for your Church, Women's Group, or event? ...

Hi Valley 101 listeners. Producer Kaely Monahan here. Spooky season is upon us. And I don't mean just the elections. Stores are filling up with cobwebs, social media is stuffed with pumpkin spice girls and sweaters…and jokes about it being too hot to wear said sweaters, and the brave souls who don them. The podcast team is working hard to bring you fresh stories to tickle your brain cells – so this week as we pour our spirits into tales, we offer you this spine-tingling episode from our archives. In 2019, former Republic podcasters Kaila White and Katie O'Connell went on a ghost hunt through Phoenix. This is what they resurrected!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Summary:There is so much sad conservation news out there that Cheryl and Kiersten wanted to talk about some great projects that are making a difference to our local birds. Join them as they discuss three local Phoenix Valley projects that are a great way to celebrate Earth Day. Show Notes: https://wildatheartraptors.org/rescue https://cisa.asu.edu/owls https://www.pinalcentral.com/arizona_news/asu-builds-habitat-to-monitor-burrowing-owls-who-need-relocating/article https://verderiver.org https://www.srpnet.com/environment/wildlife-protection.aspx Background bird song:  Naturescapes Backyard Birdswww.naturescapes.com   Our New email address, please reach out with comments, questions, or suggestions: thefeathereddesert@gmail.com   We are no longer sponsored by Wild Birds Unlimited, Mesa but through personal experience we highly recommend their products. 

In Season 2, Episode 15 of Alone with Peter we are joined by Doctor Dan Maggio. Dan is a board-certified physical therapist who has been practicing in the Phoenix Valley for over 4 years. As a strength and conditioning specialist, Dr. Dan works with barbell athletes and individuals searching to move past pain and improve […]

In Season 2, Episode 15 of Alone with Peter we are joined by Doctor Dan Maggio. Dan is a board-certified physical therapist who has been practicing in the Phoenix Valley for over 4 years. As a strength and conditioning specialist, Dr. Dan works with barbell athletes and individuals searching to move past pain and improve […]

Summary: Did you know we have waterfowl year round in our desert valley? Join Cheryl and Kiersten as they talk about some of our year round residents, some winter visitors, and some summer visitors. Find out what they look like, where you can see them, and how to responsibly feed them. Show Notes: iBird Ultimate: Ultimate Guide to Birds App Ornithologyby Frank B. Gill Background bird song:  Naturescapes Backyard Birdswww.naturescapes.com   Our New email address, please reach out with comments, questions, or suggestions: thefeathereddesert@gmail.com   We are no longer sponsored by Wild Birds Unlimited, Mesa but through personal experience we highly recommend their products. 

Many of the AZ Leadership are not supporting Police. Seven more officers have been shot and the fight for the Police must continue.

Summary: The Gilbert Riparian Preserve in Gilbert, AZ is an oasis for birds and people in the center of the Phoenix Valley. Join Cheryl and Kiersten as they talk about this wonderful birding area and amazing water recycling development. Show Notes: Naturalist information came out of Desert Rivers Magazine Fall 2022 Issue: A New Naturalist Arrives at Gilbert Riparian Preserveby Liz Farguhar. https://www.gilbertaz.gov/departments/parks-and-recreation/riparian-persrve-at-the-water-ranch Background bird song:  Naturescapes Backyard Birdswww.naturescapes.com Our New email address, please reach out with comments, questions, or suggestions: thefeathereddesert@gmail.com   We are no longer sponsored by Wild Birds Unlimited, Mesa but through personal experience we highly recommend their products. 

In this episode, I interview my good friend Dr. Lillea Hartwell about the transition from graduating to practicing medicine in a practice she built. Lillea Hartwell, ND, RH (AHG) is a graduate of Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine. She obtained a BS in Plant Sciences, with a minor in Environmental Sciences at the University of Arizona. Dr Hartwell has earned the distinction of Registered Herbalist with the American Herbalists Guild. She teaches at the college level and practices medicine at her private practice, Saguaro Blossom Medical Center, in the Phoenix Valley. Dr Hartwell has a passion for general medicine, especially in urgent care settings like wound care and minor surgery, as well as rheumatology and other autoimmune conditions. For more information, visit drlilleahartwell.com. Check out Dr. Hartwell's training here: https://trainingwithdrlillea.drlilleahartwell.com/postgraduationcrashcourse Naturopathic Business Contact Info: naturopathicbusiness@gmail.com https://www.instagram.com/naturopathicbusiness/ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClAPstpfjoqsDlmr91ENHxA !!Free Resources!!! How To Collect Emails Like A Pro https://mailchi.mp/79cab91748a0/how-to-capture-emails Want to work with me? Book a Discovery Call with the link below! https://square.site/book/LRM8PNPAJSHAR/naturopathic-doctor-business-marketing

Zach (Dick) talks about going from negative net worth to being one of the most successful real estate agents in the Phoenix Valley. Several great tips on this episode about his methods!DickPenPodcast@gmail.comIG: DickPen_PodcastFB: DickPen Podcast

DickPen Podcast welcomes Austin Shaw. In part one we go deep into the art of wine. Austin led the team at the only 5 Diamond restaurant in the Phoenix Valley. He provides superb knowledge of the craft.Be sure to leave a 5 Star review if you enjoy the podcast, it helps with our distribution.Send questions to DickPenPodcast@gmail.comFollow on FB @DickPenPodcastIG: @DickPen_Podcast

If you are interested in a classical education, this episode will be perfect for you to get a better feel of what it's all about. Today we hear from Katie and Marta of Highlands Latin Phoenix Valley, on what their learning community does while using Memoria Press and a classical education style. Whether its a classical education or a public school education, Love Your School is here to educate and inform you of all of the options available for you and your family!  Find Out More About Highlands Latin Phoenix Valley: @highlandslatinphoenixvalley Katie.hlsphoenixvalley@gmail.com www.highlandslatin.org/phoenix-valley Find Out More About Love Your School: www.loveyourschool.org IG: @loveyourschoolaz hello@loveyourschool.org