The Feathered Desert Podcast

Summary:Songbirds are not the only ones who migrate. Hawks will be coming back to your yard this winter so join Cheryl and Kiersten as they talk hawks. Learn about what makes them special and how to deal with them at your backyard feeders. Show Notes: Fall Hawk Migration begins the end of September into beginning of October https://allaboutbirds.org/guide https://www.birdnote.org https://libertywi...

Summary: Changing Seasons means changing needs for our feathered friends. Join Kiersten and Cheryl as they talk about what being seasonally savvy means and how we can help our backyard birds’ year be a successful one. Show Notes: The Joy of Bird Feeding by Jim Carpenter Wild Birds Unlimited, Mesa www.wbu.com/mesa Our New email address, please reach out with comments, questions, or suggestions: the...

Summary: Have you ever wondered why birds lay eggs? Or how chicks survive in an egg? Join Cheryl and Kiersten as they crack into the mystery of the egg. You’ll learn why birds lay eggs, why they are colored, and how the chick can survive until hatching. Show Notes:  Bird Egg ID: https://www.birdsandblooms.com/birding/attracting-birds/bird-nesting/identify-bird-eggs/ The Book of Eggs: A Life-Size G...

Summary: Cheryl and Kiersten shine a light on nighttime pollination activity. The Lesser long-nosed bat is an important desert pollinator that is amazing! Join us as we tell you all about these busy nocturnal pollinators. Show Notes: Arizona Highways Wildlife Guide: 125 of Arizona’s Native Speciesby Brooke Bessesen was referenced PBS Nature S39 Ep13 The Bat Man of Mexico: https://www.pbs.org/wnet/...

Summary:What’s that tapping? It’s a woodpecker! Join Cheryl and Kiersten as they discuss the fabulous world of woodpeckers. Learn about what makes them so fascinating and how to identify our local Valley residents. Show Notes: Woodpecker facts: https://birdfeederhub.com/facts-about-woodpeckers Woodpecker nest box link (The Northern Flicker Size works for our locals as well): https://nestwatch.org/...

Summary:Cheryl and Kiersten regale us with fascinating facts about the often forgotten moth. They are great nighttime pollinators! Join our cohosts to discover the amazing world of moths. Show Notes: Hawk Moth Link: www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/pollinators/pollinator-of-the-month/hawk_moths.shtml Yucca Moth Link: www.nwf.org/Educational-Resources/Wildlife-Guide/Invertebrates/Yucca-Moths   We are no l...

Desert Pollinators Part 2: Fluttering Butterflies Summary: In part two of their desert pollinator series, Cheryl and Kiersten talk about butterflies. Join them as they discuss the life cycle of the butterfly, look at a few local residents, and tell you what plants will bring them to you. Show Notes: * Note on Chickadee caterpillar usage. The 6,000 to 9,000 count of caterpillars is per clutch, whic...

Where Have All The Birdies Gone? Summary: Cheryl and Kiersten shine a light on the seasonal disappearance of birds from our feeders. If you haven’t seen your hummers or finches lately, don’t worry they will be back! Show Notes: Lovebirds and the Heat article: www.audubon.org/news/when-it-gets-too-hot-phoenixs-lovebirds-turn-air-conditioning   We are no longer sponsored by Wild Birds Unlimited, Mes...

Desert Pollinators Part 1: It’s All About The Buzz Summary:Cheryl and Kiersten tackle the fascinating world of desert pollinators! In this first of several episodes focusing on our local desert pollinators, Cheryl and Kiersten talk about our native bees. You’ll learn how to identify a honey bee versus a native bee, discover the many natives that call the Sonoran Desert home, and find out why you’l...

Summary: Some birds are only found in the desert Southwest. This episode highlights the Verdin and Abert’s Towhee! Join Cheryl and Kiersten as they shed light on these special southwestern birds. Show Notes: Towhee and Verdin Identification: www.allaboutbirds.org Wild Birds Unlimited, Mesa https://mesa.wbu.com   We are no longer sponsored by Wild Birds Unlimited, Mesa but through personal experien...

Summary: Join Cheryl and Kiersten as they talk about roadrunners and Gambel’s quail. These iconic desert birds are tricky to attract to your backyard. In this episode, you’ll learn some fun facts and few tips that might help you see these desert beauties. Show Notes:  Gambel’s Quail by Lynn Hassler Kaufman was referenced Wild Birds Unlimited, Mesa https://mesa.wbu.com Roadrunner and Quail Identifi...

Summary:Cheryl and Kiersten delve into a few migratory visitors. Warblers and Orioles are some brightly colored birds that visit the valley during migration. Learn all about who to look for and how to attract them to your yard! Show Notes:Wild Birds Unlimited, Mesa https://mesa.wbu.com Warbler and Oriole Information: www.audubon.org Warbler and Oriole Identification: www.allaboutbirds.org   We are...

Summary:Haven’t seen any hummers at your feeder lately? Woodpeckers on your hummingbird feeder scaring off your hummers? Ants and bees invading your hummer feeder? Join Cheryl and Kiersten as they give you pointers on how to deal with these problems! Show Notes: Proper nectar recipe for homemade nectar: 4 parts water and 1 part sugar (use only white granular sugar)   We are no longer sponsored by...

Summary: What exactly is suet? Join Cheryl and Kiersten as they tell you all about it in this episode of The Feathered Desert. Learn what suet is, what it does for the birds, and when to feed it out.     Show Notes:The book The Joy of Bird Feedingby Jim Carpenter was heavily referenced.   We are no longer sponsored by Wild Birds Unlimited, Mesa but through personal experience we highly recommend t...

Summary: In this episode, Cheryl and Kiersten delve into the fascinating subject of seeds! They take a close look at the different kinds of seeds found in the bird feeding hobby and tell you what to look for in a great seed blend.   Show Notes:The book The Joy of Bird Feedingby Jim Carpenter was heavily referenced.   We are no longer sponsored by Wild Birds Unlimited, Mesa but through personal exp...

Summary: Cheryl and Kiersten talk about some of the hummingbirds that live year round in the desert SW, as well as some migratory visitors. You’ll also learn about how to attract them to your yard so you can enjoy these ‘flighted gems’ of the desert.   Show Notes: Hummingbird photos and Identification help: www.allaboutbirds.org Hummingbird feeders and nectar: Wild Birds Unlimited, Mesa https://me...

Summary: To celebrate Women’s History month, Cheryl and Kiersten dug into some forgotten history to highlight a few outstanding female pioneers that shaped the path of ornithology. Show Notes: Rural Hours by Susan Fenimore-Cooper: https://www.fenimoreartmuseum,org/product/rural-hours Harriet Hemenway and Mina Hill: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/how-two-women-end-deadly-feather-trad...

Summary: Did you know there are three species of goldfinches in the SW? Join Cheryl and Kiersten as they discuss the different species and find out how you can attract these bright, lively birds to your own backyard! Show Notes: Goldfinch Identification: www.allaboutbirds.org Finch feeders and Nyjer: Wild Birds Unlimited, Mesa https://mesa.wbu.com   We are no longer sponsored by Wild Birds Unlimit...

Summary: There really are parrots in the desert SW! How did they get here and are they native? Learn about the rosy-face lovebird, monk parakeet, and thick-billed parrot. Cheryl and Kiersten also discuss how you can attract these chatty residents to your backyard.   Show Notes: Thank you to Kyle Waites for all the amazing information he shared with us about the Thick-billed Parrot! Status of Rosy-...