Nature Now

Nan Evans and Jim Bodkin, Scientist Emeritus of the U.S. Geological Survey, finish their discussion of sea otters off the outer Washington coast (part 2 of a two-part program). (Airdate: January 2017) Nature Now is created by a dedicated team of volunteers. If you enjoy this episode and want to support the work that goes into making Nature Now, we invite you to go to kptz.org/donate to make a cont...

Nan Evans talks with paleontologist Liz Nesbitt and natural history writer David Williams about fossils of Washington State, especially the Olympic Peninsula and the Puget Sound area. Liz and David share stories and explore many of the tales of ancient critters, big and small, that are discussed in their new book, Spirit Whales and Sloth Tales. (Airdate: November 8, 2023) Watch Liz Nesbitt's and D...

Join host Debaran Kelso on a fall mushroom hunt with fellow fungiphiles Maxwell Fisher, Baylin Speidel, and Shawn Gisriel (part 1 of a two-part program). (Airdate: November 1, 2023) Learn more about mushrooms with All That the Rain Promises and More and Mushrooms Demystified by David Arora. Nature Now is created by a dedicated team of volunteers. If you enjoy this episode and want to support the w...

Jackie Canterbury talks with Dr. Steve Hampton about the plight of the Caspian Tern colony on Rat Island near Flagler campground on Marrowstone Island. Hampton discusses the events of 2022 and 2023 that led to an 80% loss of the breeding colony due to human disturbance and an avian flu outbreak. If we understand the historical perspective of the Caspian Tern dilemma, perhaps humans and the agencie...

Jackie Canterbury talks with Dr. Katie Haman, Wildlife Veterinarian, and Dr. Scott Pearson, Senior Research Scientist – both with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife – who answer questions about the recent avian flu outbreak on Rat Island off Marrowstone Island and discuss the outlook for the future. The outbreak is the first H5N1 avian flu event in the marine environment in Washington...

Nan Evans talks with University of Washington marine biologist and researcher Dr. Jason Hodin about the mysteries of the endangered sunflower sea star. If we can understand these intricacies, perhaps humans can help restore the endangered sunflower sea star population in the Salish Sea by learning how to raise and take care of baby sea stars. (Airdate: October 4, 2023) Learn more about Dr. Jason H...

Thousands of crab pots go untended yearly in the Salish Sea; their release causes crab loss and ship damage. Jeff Taylor from the Jefferson County Marine Resources Committee and Nathaniel Ashford from the Sea Dragons robotics team describe their work to salvage those lost pots (part 1 of a two-part program). (Airdate: September 27, 2023) Learn more about the project to remove lost crab pots . Natu...

Join host Debaran Kelso as we meet at the remarkable Dungeness River Nature Center with our special guests and founding members Annette Hanson and Clare Manis Hatler, telling the story of how the dream of a world class nature center came to life (part 1 of a two-part program). (Airdate: August 30, 2023) Learn more about the Dungeness River Nature Center and Seattle Audubon's Guide to the Birds of...

Join host Debaran Kelso as we continue to explore the wonderful Dungeness River Nature Center outside of Sequim with its director Powell Jones (part 2 of a two-part program). (Airdate: September 6, 2023) Learn more about the Dungeness River Nature Center . Nature Now is created by a dedicated team of volunteers. If you enjoy this episode and want to support the work that goes into making Nature No...

Join Nan Evans as she talks with scientists and authors, David Montgomery and Anne Bikle, about their recent book What Your Food Ate. This book deepens and broadens that old adage that "we are what we eat" by exploring how the health of soil ecosystems form the roots of a complex dynamic that determines the health of crops, livestock, and ultimately human communities (part 1 of a two-part program)...

Nan Evans continues her conversation with scientists and authors, David Montgomery and Anne Bikle, about their recent book What Your Food Ate. This book deepens and broadens that old adage that “we are what we eat” by exploring how the health of soil ecosystems form the roots of a complex dynamic that determines the health of crops, livestock, and ultimately human communities. This discussion delv...

Dr. Brenda Johnson is the leader of the East Jefferson Pigeon Guillemot Breeding Survey which is part of the Salish Sea Guillemot Network. This network is a community science project that monitors breeding colonies of pigeon guillemots, an endemic seabird. Join Jackie Canterbury as she discusses the project with Dr. Brenda Johnson who will share reflections about this seabird and what we can learn...

Brenda Johnson is the leader of the East Jefferson Pigeon Guillemot Breeding Survey which is part of the Salish Sea Guillemot Network. The network is a community science project that monitors breeding colonies across our region to understand their role in healthy coastal ecosystems. Join Jackie Canterbury as she discusses the project with Dr. Brenda Johnson and volunteer Karin Ertl, who both make...

Come with Nan Evans to the forests of Chimacum Ridge as she talks with Erik and Jen Kingfisher about their family’s experiences living at the foot of the Ridge and how strong relationships with place were built. Jen calls the Ridge “not spectacular, but perfect”. Hear about the ecological features of the Ridge and the vision of it becoming a treasured community forest in perpetuity for the enjoyme...

Host Debaran Kelso speaks with guest Dr. Fred Sharpe about the recent Cascadia Prairie-Oak Partnership (CPOP) conference, and reviews various efforts at prairie and oak savanna habitat conservation in the PNW (part 1 of a two part program). (Airdate: January 11, 2023) Learn more: Cascadia Prairie-Oak Partnership Olympic Peninsula Prairies Pacific Rim Institute for Environmental Stewardship Nature...

Host Debaran Kelso speaks with guest Dr. Fred Sharpe about the recent Cascadia Prairie-Oak Partnership (CPOP) conference, and reviews various efforts at prairie and oak savanna habitat conservation in the PNW (part 2 of a two part program). (Airdate: February 8, 2023) Learn more: Cascadia Prairie-Oak Partnership Olympic Peninsula Prairies Pacific Rim Institute for Environmental Stewardship Washing...

Get the latest on efforts to restore the endangered Pinto Abalone populations in the Salish Sea with Nan Evans and Josh Bouma of the Puget Sound Restoration Fund. Plus, think about how conservation scientists design species recovery plans. (Airdate: January 19, 2023) Learn more about the Puget Sound Restoration Fund's Pinto Abalone Recovery Program . Watch Josh's lecture: Recovering Pinto Abalone:...

Mary Robson and Gary Bullock discuss the most common woodpeckers seen locally, using results from the Christmas bird count of 2022. (Airdate: January 25, 2023) Nature Now is created by a dedicated team of volunteers. If you enjoy this episode and want to support the work that goes into making Nature Now, we invite you to go to kptz.org/donate to make a contribution. Thank you for your support!

Beach grasses, once widely planted to keep sand dunes from human plans for such things as roads and residences, have become invaders, pushing out native species. Listen as Nan Evans explores dune ecosystems and the role of dune grasses with Dr. Rebecca Mostow. What's more, learn about Dr. Mostow's work characterizing a strange new hybrid species of dune grass that raises unanswered questions about...

Nan Evans and Kathleen Dean Moore, a philosopher, writer and environment activist, explore moral and ethical perspectives on the earth’s climate crisis and the ongoing sixth great extinction of living species. And, what we are called to do in the face of these catastrophic forces. (Airdate: February 22, 2023) Watch Dr. Moore's presentation: First, Fall In Love: What It Means to Love a Place at the...

In part two of their conversation, Nan Evans and Kathleen Dean Moore, philosopher, writer and environment activist, explore moral and ethical perspectives on the earth’s climate crisis and what we all must do in the face of these catastrophic forces. They discuss Kathleen's most recent book: Take Heart, Encouragement for Earth’s Weary Lovers. Kathleen describes this book as "written for broken-hea...

Join Nan Evans and John Calambokidis, whale scientist, as they discuss gray whale migrations from Baja California to the Arctic – how does that epic voyage benefit the whales? Recording the program from Mexico where she was visiting a gray whale breeding and nursery grounds, John helps Nan understand what she experienced. Plus, John and Nan ponder whether gray whales are actually friendly toward h...

Host Nan Evans talks with David Williams, a Seattle-based naturalist, about the concept of a "sense of place". What does that mean? How can awareness of our own "sense of place" deepen our connections with the natural world? How can we use "sense of place" to work together to make the world a better place? (Airdate: March 15, 2023) Watch David Williams' lecture: Secrets of Seattle's Geology Learn...

Host Debaran Kelso speaks with special guest Clare Manis Hatler about finding what came to be known as "The Manis Mastodon" on their farm in Sequim in 1977. It is still one of the most significant archaeological finds in North America (part 1 of a two part program). (Airdate: March 21, 2023) Read more about the discovery in the Sequim Gazette and the WSU Magazine . Nature Now is created by a dedic...

Host Debaran Kelso speaks with special guest Clare Manis Hatler about finding what came to be known as "The Manis Mastodon" on their farm in Sequim in 1977. It is still one of the most significant archaeological finds in North America (part 2 of a two part program). (Airdate: April 19, 2023) Read more about the discovery in the Sequim Gazette and the WSU Magazine . Nature Now is created by a dedic...