The Old Naturalist

In this month's orchid episode, Eric educates Brandon on the very showy large yellow lady's slipper. This one is far more common in our area than the frog orchid, so listen in for some suggestions on where to view this beautiful orchid.

Bonus Episode! Eric and Brandon got together to record a few episodes last week and didn't think they should sit on this one. More bird names, but Eric picked out some real winners for Brandon's quiz. Let's see if you also get stumped by Fly-Up-The-Creek.

Against his better judgement, Brandon switches roles with Eric for May's edition of Three (or Four) for Thursdays. Listen in to see if Brandon survives the grilling from the new Quizmaster.

Remember Car Talk on NPR? Well...this is not that. But it's close! The Old Naturalist ventures into talk radio to answer the public's burning questions about nature in Northwest Ohio.

Since the guy gets mentioned almost every other episode, the boys felt Harold Mayfield deserves his own spotlight. Listen to learn about a marvelously curious guy with an infectious love for nature.

When people think warblers in Northwest Ohio inevitably the month of May pops into their heads. But there are a handful of early birds in this family that generally show up in April. In this week's episode the boys discuss the very interesting but often overlooked Louisiana waterthrush. Thanks to friend Brian Zwiebel for the episode art.

If you're a birder, you most likely have heard the hubbub about the changing of names. For this episode we're not going to focus on whether this is a good or bad thing, because we're kind of indifferent about it. Instead, we've enlisted the help of our friend Greg Links to come up with new names for the birds in question. Listen in to see what might be in your next edition of the Peterson's Field...

When you have the foremost authority on native orchids of the Oak Openings on staff, it only makes sense to take advantage of that wealth of knowledge. Over the next few months the Old Naturalist is going to educate us on these unique plants, starting with the Frog Orchid. Get out there in those wet woods and see if you can spot this rarity.

In this episode Brandon and Eric hop in the time machine and travel all the way back to the year 1933. Once there, the boys take a look at the birds and investigate how people got around the Toledo area in the midst of the Great Depression.

In March's edition of Three for Thursday, Eric once again must get two out of three questions correct to pass the test. Will he do it? You'll have to listen to find out. Thanks to our friend Brian Zwiebel for the episode art.

So why is this eclipse thing such a big deal? A lot of people around our area have been asking this question recently about the upcoming total eclipse. Well, Brandon encouraged Eric to invite friends Greg Links and Elliot Tramer over to share their experience of witnessing a total eclipse in Venezuela way back in 1998. Perhaps a little perspective is needed when discussing what could be for many,...

What do you get when you have a determined nature lover and little bit of money? Well a nature preserve of course. In this week's episode Eric enlightens Brandon and listeners about the significant contributions of another TNA legend: Jeanne Hawkins. It's a tale of concerted effort, failure, explosives, but ultimately...success.

Can you say bonus episode? Eric decided to surprise Brandon with an impromptu quiz focused on the calls of our local frogs and toads. Play along and see if you can beat Brandon's mediocre effort.

March is a month that many Northwest Ohio birders associate with early migrants. With that in mind, Eric and Brandon decided to discuss one of the more quirky early birds: the American woodcock. Joining the boys is their friend and former University of Toledo professor Dr. Elliot Tramer who like Eric and Brandon, has a love for this weird little shorebird. Thanks to our friend Joe Hildreth for the...

After a walk at Oak Openings and viewing a common Spring wildflower, Brandon and his daughter Audrey are drawing a blank on what it is. Thankfully the Old Naturalist is just a phone call away.

Prior to another inquisition on Three for Thursday, Eric reveals the identity of the old naturalist that was sometimes quoted in the Toledo Blade's outdoor column.

Eric once again is on the hot seat for another edition of Three for Thursdays. But this time Brandon adds another challenge into the mix. Perhaps he's gone too far this time, essentially requiring Eric to read his mind to get the theme of today's quiz. Episode art was generously donated by Brian Zwiebel.

Today Eric and Brandon discuss one of Lou's Campbell's contemporaries: Laurel Van Camp. Van Camp's contributions to protecting the wildlife of Northwest Ohio can not be understated. In addition to his tireless efforts to monitor screech owl populations in the area, the boys also look at how the establishment of the Magee Marsh Bird Trail simply does not happen without the Laurel Van Camp.

No...not really dead. But a couple rogue waves may have altered the experience. In this BONUS episode Brandon quizzes Eric on descriptions from The Birds of the Toledo Area, which often jolts Eric's memory, bringing old birding adventures back into focus. The theme for this week's quiz: RARITIES. Play along and see if you can beat the Old Naturalist. Thanks to Brian Zwiebel for the episode art.

Three for Thursday! Brandon reads three descriptions and Eric must identify the correct species. Some of the descriptions come from Birds of Toledo Area, a publication of which Eric was a co-author. Let's see how Mr. Durbin does.

For the first episode it wasn't difficult to pick the topic. If you are a Toledo area birder or nature lover, chances are you have heard of the name Lou Campbell. Eric Durbin, the Old Naturalist, tells his friend Brandon all about Lou Campbell, a giant and significant presence when discussing the natural history of Northwest Ohio.

Want to learn more about the nature of Northwest Ohio? Well then the new podcast The Old Naturalist is just what the doctor ordered. Starting New Year's Day, we hope you'll join in as local nature nerd Brandon Brywczynski learns all about Toledo area conservation and natural history from The Old Naturalist, Mr. Eric Durbin.