BIRD HUGGER

Join us today as we speak with John Price, Associate Director and Seed Collection Coordinator of Mid-Atlantic Restoration Seed Bank. John and his colleagues collect and save native seeds which are then made available to native growers and sellers. He tells us all about the process. MARSB’s mission is to conserve and wisely manage the Mid-Atlantic Region’s wild seed resources, through scientific sa...

Join us today as we speak with Esther Vallejo, a bird biologist who is attempting to create a raptor observation and education center in Colombia. Nearly five million raptors migrate through Colombia to spend the winter in South America. But raptors are being shot by hunters in the thousands every year. She is working hard to end hawk persecution in Colombia. For more information go to:https://www...

Join us today as we speak with celebrated author and ornithologist Scott Weidensaul about the many success stories regarding bird conservation and about his brand-new book, The Return of the Oystercatcher: Saving Birds To Save The Planet. Weidensaul, the New York Times bestselling author of A World on the Wing: The Global Odyssey of Migratory Birds and a Pulitzer Prize finalist for Living on the W...

Gina Kent is back on the show to continue our discussion about the magnificent Swallow-Tailed Kite. Gina is a senior scientist with the Avian Research and Conservation Institute in Gainesville, Florida. She is going to tell us all about the Eyes On Kites program and its efforts to document the nesting locations of Swallow-Tailed Kites throughout Florida, Georgia, and Alabama. Find out more by goin...

Join us today as we speak with Steven Riley of the American Bird Conservancy to talk about the omnibus Farm Bill. While the Farm Bill is extremely controversial and contains numerous amendments that could prove harmful to conservation efforts, the Bill does carry big benefits for birds. Join Catherine Greenleaf, a certified wildlife rehabilitator with 25 years of experience rescuing and rehabilita...

Join us today as we speak with Brett Thelen, director of the Big Night Salamander Brigades for the Harris Center in Hancock, New Hampshire. We learn how the Big Nights are conducted and we also talk about the new tunnel project that allows amphibians to cross roads safely. Brett has been directing community science programming for more than twenty years at the Harris Center. She has an MS in Envir...

THIS EPISODE WAS RECORDED IN 2023: Did you know Burrowing Owls raise their young in underground tunnels? In today's episode, we talk about the fascinating Burrowing Owl with Brittany Piersma, a field biologist with the Audubon of the Western Everglades. Brittany is conducting important research of the Burrowing Owl on Marco Island in Florida. She also helps to run the Owl Watch Program, Seabird St...

Join us today as we speak with Heather Holm, author of the award-winning book Wasps and creator of the brand-new free public resource website www.beesmn.org. You don't have to live in Minnesota to benefit from this great new resource. Learn about the bees in your region and what native plants to grow by using this handy website. Hit the donor button on the front page to contribute. Plants mentione...

Join us today as we discuss Flying Trillium Gardens and Preserve in the Catskills with owner Carolyn Summers. Carolyn turned an abandoned 220-acre farm into a gorgeous native garden and forest preserve. The gardens are open to visitors by appointment. Go to www.flyingtrillium.com for tour appointment times and driving directions. Native plants discussed in this episode: Joe Pye Weed, Ironweed, Bap...

Join us today as we welcome back Dave Crawford, co-creator of Animal Help Now.org (AHNOW.org) and Pet Help And Rescue.org (PHAR.org). Dave gives us the latest update on the rebuilding of his home after the tragic Marshall Fire of Colorado in 2021. We discuss how to plan ahead for your pet in the case of a disaster with the Pet Help and Rescue app (PHAR.ORG). Dave also tells us about the Animal Hel...

Join us today as we speak with author Ryan Goldberg about his new book, Bird City: Adventures in New York's Urban Wilds. We discuss some controversial subjects regarding birding in New York City. For more information on Ryan, go to www.ryangoldberg.net. Join Catherine Greenleaf, a certified wildlife rehabilitator with 25 years of experience rescuing and rehabilitating injured wildlife, for twice-m...

Join us as we speak with Dexter Patterson, author of the new book, Birds Of The Great Lakes. Join Catherine Greenleaf, a certified wildlife rehabilitator with 25 years of experience rescuing and rehabilitating injured wildlife, for twice-monthly discussions about restoring native habitat and helping the birds in your backyard. Send your questions about birds and native gardening to birdhuggerpodca...

******CONTENT WARNING. SOME INFORMATION IN THIS SHOW MAY BE DISTURBING. Today we have as our guest Megan Stolen, a forensic wildlife scientist from Blue World Research Institute in Florida. Megan was called in to evaluate yet another series of incidents involving mutilated pelicans in Brevard County, Florida. We update you on four ongoing pelican mutilation cases in Florida and North Carolina. Jus...

HAPPY NEW YEAR, EVERYBODY! Today we are joined by Dr. David Mann, creator of the Haiku Box, an AI-generated device that records bird song in your backyard, telling you what species of birds you have visiting your region. He tell us how it works and how it is changing the face of bird research. Join Catherine Greenleaf, a certified wildlife rehabilitator with 20 years of experience rescuing and reh...

Here's wishing you a very Happy Holiday! Join us for our special holiday episode of the BIRD HUGGER Podcast. We'll travel south to Texas, where it's nice and warm and hear celebrated author Pam Penick tell us about her new book, Gardens of Texas. Join Catherine Greenleaf, a certified wildlife rehabilitator with 20 years of experience rescuing and rehabilitating injured wildlife, for twice-monthly...

Today's guest is Dr. Laurie Goodrich from Hawk Mountain Sanctuary in Pennsylvania. Laurie tells us all about the research she is doing into the Broad-winged Hawk. She also gives us an exciting update on Hugger! Join Catherine Greenleaf, a certified wildlife rehabilitator with 20 years of experience rescuing and rehabilitating injured wildlife, for twice-monthly discussions about restoring native h...

Join us today as we speak with Joan Strassman, author of the new book, The Social Lives of Birds. Join Catherine Greenleaf, a certified wildlife rehabilitator with 20 years of experience rescuing and rehabilitating injured wildlife, for twice-monthly discussions about restoring native habitat and helping the birds in your backyard. Access the BIRD HUGGER Newsletter here: www.birdhuggerpodcast.com....

THIS EPISODE ORIGINALLY APPEARED IN 2021. In today's episode, we speak with Kate Brandes, author of the book, Native Plants For The Small Yard. We'll be discussing design ideas for planting native plants in small spaces. You can download a free version of the book by going to the Lehigh Gap Nature Center website at www.lgnc.org. Join Catherine Greenleaf, a certified wildlife rehabilitator with 20...

Today we are joined by David Mizejewski, a naturalist with the National Wildlife Federation. He tells us of all of the many wonderful benefits to wildlife when you leave the leaves in your yard. For more information, go to nwf.org/leavetheleaves. Join Catherine Greenleaf, a certified wildlife rehabilitator with 20 years of experience rescuing and rehabilitating injured wildlife, for twice-monthly...

THIS SHOW ORIGINALLY AIRED IN 2022. In today's episode, we discuss bird shamanism and bird divination and the mystical and spiritual connection all of us can develop with birds with Evan Pritchard, a Native American elder and author of the very popular book, Bird Medicine. This show is dedicated to my beloved mother-in-law, Connie Greenleaf, who passed in November. A true bird enthusiast, she love...

This episode originally aired in 2022. In today's episode, we talk with Anna Fialkoff, Ecological Programs Manager at Wild Seed Project.org. Anna has co-authored a guide with founder Heather McCargo called Native Groundcovers For Northeast Landscapes and it is chockful of useful information about native groundcovers, especially for coverage in problem areas in the garden. Join Catherine Greenleaf,...

Now is the time to observe Nighthawks migrating! Did you know the Nighthawk is not a hawk and is not a nocturnal bird? Confusing, right? In today's episode we have Phil Brown from the Harris Center for Conservation Education to explain the biology and behavior of this elusive and mysterious bird. This interview was conducted in 2022. For more information on Project Nighthawk go to https://tinyurl....

Today we speak with Michael J. Parr, the president of the American Bird Conservancy, about his new book, Birds of the Tropical Andes. Together with co-author and photographer Owen Deutsch, Michael writes about the incredible biodiversity of the Andes and gives us some great trips for traveling to South America to watch birds. Join Catherine Greenleaf, a certified wildlife rehabilitator with 20 yea...

Today we speak with evolutionary biologist David George Haskell about how birds developed their songs. Join Catherine Greenleaf, a certified wildlife rehabilitator with 20 years of experience rescuing and rehabilitating injured wildlife, for twice-monthly discussions about restoring native habitat and helping the birds in your backyard. Access the BIRD HUGGER Newsletter here: www.birdhuggerpodcast...

Join us today as we speak with award-winning science journalist Chris Berdik. Chris has written a new book, Clamor: How Noise Took Over the World -- and How We Can Take It Back. We will be talking about how noise impacts humans and wildlife, especially birds, and what each of us can do to mitigate noise in our environment. Join Catherine Greenleaf, a certified wildlife rehabilitator with 20 years...