Nature Guys

Introducing Gia Giammarinaro as my cohost for todays episode. Gia is the lead Naturalist at Cincinnati Parks California Woods Nature Preserve . Her favorite rodent is the beaver. How many people do you know who lunch with beavers? Gia was actually on the Parachuting Beaver episode and returns with an amazing story she found in National Geographic. Related episode: Parachuting Beavers  Our sources...

I got a wonderful email from Kim who homeschools her children and wanted some advice. Her oldest son is hoping to do something in the field of nature. I also received this email from Charles Van Rees a Conservation Biologist and Naturalist offering to be a guest on the show. "I want first and foremost to thank you for bringing your expertise, humor, warmth, and energy to a great podcast on natural...

Nature Guys Podcast spends lots of time connecting you to nature on this amazing planet. We are excited to have Dean Regas the astronomer for the Cincinnati Observatory ( https://www.cincinnatiobservatory.org/ ), as a special guest on Nature Guys. After this episode I think you are going to be inspired to step outside and look up. 100 Things To See In The Night Sky by Dean Regas https://www.cincin...

Cohost and Cofounder of Nature Guys Podcast sadly passed away in August 2020. Bill's dream was for Nature Guys to continue connecting people to the natural world. Read Bill's obituary at http://www.springgrove.org/obituary.aspx?id=5351

Next time you pass by an old chimney keep your eye out for this amazing bird. They can eat three times their own weight every day.  Our sources for this episode include: Chimney Swift Conservation Association (project directors Paul and Georgean Kyle) http://www.chimneyswifts.org/ "Chimney Swifts America's Mysterious Birds above the Fireplace" by Paul and Georgean Kyle "New Habitat for America's M...

People often put out Purple Martin houses to help control insects. In fact the Martins in the eastern United States could not exist without these houses.  Our sources for this episode include: How to Attract Purple Martins https://www.purplemartin.org/purple-martins/attracting/ Fun Facts About Purple Martins https://www.thespruce.com/fun-facts-about-purple-martins-387110 Interesting Facts About Pu...

Find out the amazing story of how the House Finch made its way all the way across the United States.  Our sources for this episode include: House Finch https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/House_Finch/lifehistory Interesting Facts about House Finches https://animals.visualstories.com/interesting-facts-about-house-finch House Finch or Purple Finch? Here's How to Tell Them Apart https://www.audubon.o...

It is challenging to be a bluebird. Learn what you can do to help this beautiful bird. Our sources for this episode include: Eastern Bluebird (includes plans for how to build a nesting box) https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Eastern_Bluebird/overview 8 Surprising Facts You Didn't Know About Bluebirds https://www.familyhandyman.com/article/facts-about-bluebirds/ Interesting Eastern Bluebird Facts...

Damselflies are beautiful creatures. Best of all they do not bite or sting.  Our sources for this episode include: Damselflies - Interesting Facts on These Beautiful Insects http://EzineArticles.com/6148223 What is the difference between Dragonflies and Damselflies? https://british-dragonflies.org.uk/odonata/frequently-asked-questions/ 10 Things you may not know about Damselflies https://naturefor...

Dragonflies are something you want to have around. They love to eat mosquitoes! Our sources for this episode include: Migratory Dragonfly Partnership http://www.migratorydragonflypartnership.org/ 14 Fun Facts about Dragonflies https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/14-fun-facts-about-dragonflies-96882693/ 7 things you never knew about dragonflies https://www.treehugger.com/things-you-never-...

Native bees are incredibly efficient at pollinating plants and they are very docile. Our sources for this episode include: 6 Amazing Facts About Mason Bees https://www.keepingbackyardbees.com/5-amazing-facts-about-mason-bees/ The Leafcutter Bee https://www.buzzaboutbees.net/leafcutter-bee.html Crown Bees (where Bob got his bees) https://crownbees.com

Bob learns that you can see this frog in the winter!  Related episodes: Green Frogs Sing the Blues , Gray Treefrogs Freeze , Wood Frogs Quack It Up , Jeepers Spring Peepers   Our sources for this episode include: American Bull Frog (National Geographic) https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/amphibians/a/american-bullfrog/ American Bull Frog (NatureMapping) http://naturemappingfoundation.org/n...

Bob has a conversation with Mark Kurlansky the award winning author of Salmon: A Fish, the Earth, and the History of Their Common Fate . Our sources for this episode include: Mark Kurlansky (visit his web site at http://www.markkurlansky.com/ ) Salmon: A Fish, the Earth, and the History of Their Common Fate by Mark Kurlansky The World Without Fish: How Kids Can Help Save the Oceans by Mark Kurlans...

Bill reveals something he learned in school. Green frogs can be blue!  Our sources for this episode include: Green Frog https://animals.net/green-frog/ Northern Green Frog http://www.rosamondgiffordzoo.org/assets/uploads/animals/pdf/NorthernGreenFrog.pdf Northern Green Frog https://www.cbf.org/about-the-bay/more-than-just-the-bay/chesapeake-wildlife/northern-green-frog-at-home-in-the-bog.html

Gray treefrogs are hard to see but easy to hear. Special thanks to our friend and naturalist John Howard for the amazing photos. Our sources for this episode include: Gray Treefrog https://nationalzoo.si.edu/animals/gray-tree-frog Cope's Gray Treefrog (Hyla chrysoscelis) https://srelherp.uga.edu/anurans/hylchr.htm Gray Treefrog https://nhpbs.org/natureworks/graytreefrog.htm Science Around Cincy: C...

Bob challenges you to try to find more 'nuts' than a squirrel. Our sources for this episode include: The Kids' Wildlife Book by Warner Shedd http://warnershedd.com/

Grey Squirrels are easy to see in certain areas. They are really cute even when they are eating all your birdseed! Our sources for this episode include: Eastern Gray Squirrel https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/eastern-gray-squirrel/ Squirrels: Diet, Habits & Other Facts https://www.livescience.com/28182-squirrels.html 22 things you may not know about squirrels https://www.mnn.com/...

Bob invites artist Adrian Hawk to tell us how we can do Land Art right in our own neighborhoods. Our sources for this episode include: Andy Goldworthy Digital Catalogue https://www.goldsworthy.cc.gla.ac.uk Imago Rangers - Land Art https://imagoearth.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Day-7-Land-Art-.pdf

Bob has his back yard torn up. He is amazed to find Blue Violets returning in pure clay soil. Our sources for this episode include: Common Blue Violet https://www.gardenexperiments.com/common-blue-violet/ 7 Fun Facts about Violets https://www.teleflora.com/blog/7-fun-facts-about-violets/ Interesting facts about violets http://justfunfacts.com/interesting-facts-about-violets/

Bill and Bob remember a fun outside activity they did as kids. Our sources for this episode include: Let's Go Outside by Jennifer Ward https://www.jenniferwardbooks.com/

Bill talks with Thane Maynard the Director of the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden. Learn how Thane went from a kid chasing gaters in Florida to the head of one of the best zoos in the world. Resources mentioned include: Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden http://cincinnatizoo.org/ Cincinnati Zoo live safaris on FaceBook https://www.facebook.com/cincinnatizoo/live Cincinnati Nature Center https:/...

Bill and Bob explain a simple activity you can do to connect your kids and yourself to trees. Our sources for this episode include: Sharing Nature with Children by Joseph Cornell https://www.sharingnature.com/  

Bob interviews Nancy Stranahan the Executive Director of the Arc of Appalachia . Nancy is an inspiration and we can all use a large dose of that right now.  Related episode: Spring Wildflowers ( http://natureguys.org/spring-wildflowers/ ) The Arc of Appalachia - Saving Ohio's Wildlands https://arcofappalachia.org/

Bill and Bob do a short follow up to the pillbug episode. This has some great ideas to lift your spirits and a special guest. Related episode: Some Pillbugs are Roly Polies ( http://natureguys.org/pillbugs/ ) Our sources for this episode include: Pillbug Project: A Guide to Investigation by Robin Burnett https://www.nsta.org/recommends/ViewProduct.aspx? ProductID=12142 Blue pillbug https://www.pro...

Goldfinch is just the bird to cheer you up! This is a great bird to have at your feeders. Our sources for this episode include: American Goldfinch https://abcbirds.org/bird/american-goldfinch/ Interesting American Goldfinch Facts http://www.birdhouses101.com/american-goldfinch-facts.asp 21 Facts on Goldfinches https://www.livingwithbirds.com/tweetapedia/21-facts-on-goldfinch Fun Facts about Goldfi...