Naturally Speaking

Join Summer Naturalist Intern Cecily Hansen for the second part of her interview with Scott Weidensaul. When we left off, Scott was explaining some adaptations birds have to help them migrate long distances. In this episode, learn about how birds navigate on their journeys, how climate change has impacted migration patterns, and how people can help migratory birds in their everyday lives. 

Join Summer Naturalist Intern Cecily Hansen as she speaks with Scott Weidensaul, a renowned naturalist and author whose work focuses mainly on migratory birds. In this episode, learn about how new technology has changed the way bird migration is studied, ways community members can be involved in large-scale data collection, and some of the physical adaptations birds have to enable their incredible...

In this podcast, join Nature Up North Project Manager Dan French as he sits down with the co-founder and President of the Thousand Island Divers Alliance (TIDA) Todd Keister. Over the course of 35 minutes, Todd and Dan discuss the three pillars of TIDA's mission; safeguarding the ecological integrity, cultural heritage, and recreational value of the St. Lawrence River. Learn a bit about diving...

In this podcast, join Nature Up North Digital Media Intern Brooklyn Phillips as she speaks with Aileen A. O’Donoghue, Professor of Physics at St. Lawrence University and North Country astronomer, Tyler Karasinski, an astrophysics PhD candidate at Arizona State University, and Vincent Ledvina, PhD student at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, aurora photographer and educator, known as “the aurora...

Hear what we have coming up in season 6 of Naturally Speaking!

In this podcast, join Digital Media Intern AJ DiFranco as he speaks with local farmer Kia Beth-Bennett of the Bittersweet-Milkweed Collaborative Farm and master horticulturist Erica LaFountain from the Cornell Cooperative Extension of St. Lawrence County. Learn more about the hidden world of pollinators living in the North Country, the threats facing them, and the things we can do to help make the...

When we left off in Part 1 with Kaitlin Lawless, she had just finished telling us about Birch Boys Incorporated, her path to the vice presidency, and what it takes to be a sustainable harvester of chaga and other mushrooms here in the North Country. In Part 2, we're going to continue that conversation by getting into the habitat that these mushrooms rely on, what impact the short-term changes...

This is part one of a two part podcast with the Vice President of Birch Boys Inc. Kaitlin Lawless. Birch Boys is a local business based in Tupper Lake on the sustainable harvest and manufacture of various mushroom-based medicines. In this part, join Project Manager Dan French as he picks Kaitlin’s brain about how Birch Boys got started, how they picked their selection of mushrooms, and how they’ve...

In this podcast, join Nature Up North Summer Naturalist Will as he talks with St. Lawrence University professor Sue Wilson, an ornithologist, about the fall bird migration taking place in the North Country. Listen carefully for notes about bird species to keep an eye out for, their peak migratory times, tips and tricks on identifying some of these birds, and some of the threats these birds face as...

In this episode of Naturally Speaking, Zakithi explores the growing threat of invasive water chestnut in Northern New York’s rivers and lakes. Joined by researchers Brad Baldwin and Peyton Robbins, and Megan Pistolese-Shaw from SLELO PRISM, we dive into how this plant spreads, its impact on local ecosystems and communities, and the ongoing efforts to control it. Whether you're a paddler, angle...

On this episode of Naturally Speaking, join host Marina Garlick in a conversation with a Conservation Biology fellow, Jessica Harmen, discussing her research on bats in the North Country. Specifically, they dive into the intricacies of how bats are researched, as well as the different types of calls that they make. Through this conversation, they highlight how bats are interesting animals that are...

Join Nature Up North Digital Media Intern Donatella DeFazio as she walks us through some tips and tricks for starting your North Country hiking journey. Included in this podcast are suggestions on hiking equipment you may want to consider, some strategies for dealing with bugs, and a conversation with the founder of Grasse River Outfitters, Brooke Rouse. If you've considered getting outdoors b...

Join Nature Up North Digital Media Intern Liz Anderson as she shares the history of bald eages in New York with us! Learn about why eagles became endangered in the first place, what threats they're facing now, and how they're beating the odds to recover their population.

In this episode of Naturally Speaking, join Digital Media Intern Donatella DeFazio as she speaks with Judy Fuhr and Aaron Kellet about winter recreation and how it's responding to the North Country climate. Judy is a volunteer with the Friends of Higley Flow and helps with their winter grooming operations in the state park. Listen to hear how the groomers at Higley Flow are keeping trails open...

In this podcast, join Nature Up North's Digital Media Intern Liz Anderson as she speaks with local expert, Clarkson professor, and community member Tom Langen. Learn about local wetlands, the role they play in our ecosystem, and how they're managed. In particular, they discuss the Upper and Lower Lakes Wilderness Management Area and the water drawdown that occurred this fall. For more information...

On this episode of Naturally Speaking, join host Dan French in a discussion with local artist Sara Lynch as they talk about art in the North Country. In particular, you'll hear them discuss Sara's events on Falls Island in Potsdam this past summer and the artwork that the community created as a result of those events, as well as the potential for a similar series of events on Fall Island in Canton...

Have you ever seen loons gathering in small social groups? Come with us on today's episode of naturally speaking as we talk to experts from the Adirondack Center for Loon Conservation and Ohio Northern University to learn about loons, why they display this social behavior, and even learn a little bit about ourselves. 

On this episode of Naturally Speaking, join summer naturalist intern Tadd Ledoux and tick expert Dr. Stephen Rich as they discuss tick season 2024. Tune in to learn tick behaviors, the risks associated with bites, and preventative measures you can use this tick season!

Enter the wonderful world of wetlands in this episode of Naturally Speaking! Join host Liz on an exploration of the unique features of wetlands. Delve into the biodiversity of wetlands and marshes, then learn about peatlands and bog bodies in the brief Nature Nugget. This episode features a conversation with Dr. Jessica Pearson, a professor with SUNY Potsdam’s environmental studies department. She...

In this episode, Nature Up North Digital Media Intern Pat Chase has a conversation with the former president of the Ducks Unlimited St. Lawrence University chapter Nate Serlin. They discuss hunting, conservation, and the important role that hunters can play in supporting conservation efforts.

In this installment of Naturally Speaking, Digital Media interns Patrick Chase and Roisin Creedon-Carey discuss Snowflake Bentley: The first person to take a detailed photo of a snowflake and determine no two were alike. Our hosts tell the story of Bentley’s work while also sharing how he impacted the world of meteorology. In this podcast, they will cover Bentley’s life story, how to capture an im...

Did you know wild parsnips can burn your skin when exposed to the sun? That raspberries can relieve your menstrual cramps? That motherwort can help with your digestive problems? Listen in to learn the powerful properties of plants found here in the North Country as Satieokwen Bucktooth, owner and founder of Snipe Clan Botanicals, takes us through her own backyard.

The rich history of water transportation in the North Country is meandering and exciting. Join Nature up North Interns Roisin Creedon-Carey and Patrick Chase as they guide you through the ups and downs of canoeing in the North Country. Not only do they review the anatomy of a canoe and how the purpose of the canoe has changed over time, they also share some of George Washington Sears canoeing Poet...

Who doesn’t love tiny creatures? Those of differing colors? Living in our own backyards?! Nature Up North student interns and environmentalists Aurora Hager and Darlenne Cazarin are joined together to introduce salamanders, who they are, where they live, and how they survive the North Country winters. This stirring episode explores the ins and outs of the slimy, but wonderful, salamanders crawling...

Anastasia George, Interim Executive Director of the Onkwehón:we Midwives Collective (OMC) joins Nature Up North’s student interns Abigail Lateer and Langley Sieve to discuss the role of the OMC in “bringing birth back to our (Mohawk) community.” Anastasia discusses why cultural birthing practices are so important, how the OMC is working to raise awareness of their work in and outside of the commun...