The Naturalist Podcast show

The Naturalist Podcast

Summary: The Naturalist Podcast is a rambling discussion of the world outside. Hosted by Sea McKeon (a biodiversity scientist and evolutionary ecologist) and Lev Frid (a ranger, wildlife photographer, and guide) the podcast covers topics of interest to modern naturalists. Discussions center on what is going on in the immediate surroundings in "Outside my door", Recent Natural History in the News, "Tropical flavors" when the opportunity presents, Natural History media reviews and the occasional guest appearance of other naturalists from around the world. We welcome your questions, and encourage everyone to take the time to get outside and observe what is going on outside in your own neighborhood. Come visit at http://www.naturalistpodcast.com

Podcasts:

 The Naturalist Podcast Episode 21: Tackling prickly issues with Anthony Porter | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 53:39

Lev and Sea are joined this week by Anthony Porter who is an environmental educator experiencing the first touches of fall in Minnesota.  Talk of kids, bears, wonder and flying squirrels.  And of course, Anthony’s porcupine friend Thistle. Here is the link to Anthony’s video introduction to Porcupines:  https://youtu.be/F0F7S0g16GE  

 The Naturalist Podcast Episode 20: In the Pacific Northwest with Brendan McGarry | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 59:13

Our guest this episode is Brendan McGarry, a Naturalist living and working in the upper Skagit River Basin and the Cascade mountains.  We had a great conversation about the swifts living in his chimney, variability in wildflower season from year to year, his watershed ‘big year’, challenges and rewards in environmental education, and the remarkable behavior of crows. Brendan’s blog can be found at https://wingtrip.org, and his photo catalog is located at https://www.brendanmcgarry.com And here is the link to the fox-and-eagle video that Brendan mentions from out on San Juan Island, WA: https://youtu.be/MRZ6hl8xhtg  

 The Naturalist Podcast Episode 19: Summer Dragonflies, Reports from the Flow Edge, and Strong Feelings about Jurassic World | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 56:46

In this summer episode we wonder just how to define the season.  Dragonflies and damselflies prove to have more secret hiding spots in the Great Northern Boglands, as well as more common cousins to the south.  Lev fills us in on his adventures along the flow edge with Narwhal, Polar Bears, and Ross’ Gull.  Both Lev and Sea (but especially Lev) have issues with Jurassic World.

 The Naturalist Podcast Episode 17: Arctic Natural History with David Shaw | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 42:50

In this episode we compare the East and West arctic regions of North America with Alaska naturalist, wildlife photographer, and guide, David Shaw.  Dave introduces us to the arctic coastal plain, Lev plans out the check list for the ‘flow edge’ region of Baffin Island, and the two discuss the mysterious Grey-headed Chickadee. Dave’s website:  http://david-w-shaw.com Dave’s Rusty Blackbird Article in Living Bird Magazine Rusty Blackbirds are Rising from Obscurity but Falling in Number

 The Naturalist Podcast Episode 16: Nature Club Adventures | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 30:37

In this episode we get to talk to John Dillon and Janna, who are part of the Minden High School Nature Club in Louisiana.  We talk about what has made for the exceptional popularity of the club, and cover some of the amazing adventures that members and sponsors of the club have had over the last several years, including finding Black Rails!  Janna gives us a spring report for north Louisiana, and John shares some of his insights into keeping teens interested in Natural History and getting outside. If you wish to support the club, you can contact Mr. Dillon via his email address: kisforkryptonite (at) gmail.com

 The Naturalist Podcast Episode 15: Talking Mammals with Nicole Edmison | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 51:12

In this episode, Sea talks with mammalogist Nicole Edmison of the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of Natural History.  Nicole works on mammal diversity and helps to curate the national mammal collection of the USA.  Nicole talks with us about her work with an island population of Vervet monkeys, camera traps, and netting bats.  We also talk about close calls with big cats, squirrel diversity, and the fauna of backyards in North America. Some of the links: The Mammal Collection:  https://vertebrates.si.edu/mammals/ Emammal:  https://emammal.si.edu Vervet Monkeys in St. Kitts:  https://youtu.be/tgSmzZ1tB8I  

 The Naturalist Podcast Episode 14: Migration North and South, iNaturalist Seek | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 44:50

With raptors migrating through Florida, and the first spring rains in Canada, we check in with some of the Master Naturalists around the continent for signs of spring. Lev is back from extensive travels, with news of birds and opossums in Costa Rica. A small discussion about avoidable snakebite and common names, and an introduction of the new iNaturalist application ‘Seek’ for Natural History kids.  

 The Naturalist Podcast Episode 13: Cuba, Spring, and a Life Spent as a Naturalist | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 34:13

With Lev adventuring in Costa Rica, Sea talks to Adam Walleyn, a global Natural History guide about his recent trip to Cuba, Endemic bird species of Cuba (…Ivorybill?), Spring Migration starting up into North America, Marbled Salamanders, North Atlantic Right Whales, and how he got started into the field.

 The Naturalist Podcast Episode 12: Helping Sadie Get Ready for Costa Rica | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 39:42

In Episode 12 Sea talks with Sadie Dingfelder, a reporter from the Washington Post in preparation for her first trip to Costa Rica as a naturalist.  Talk ranges from herons and quetzals to surfing snails and sleeping dolphins.  Two of the books mentioned are “The New Neotropical Companion” by John Kricher, and “Tropical Nature” by Forsyth and Miyata.  Don’t forget your headlamp!

 The Naturalist Podcast Episode 11: Weasel Hunts and Armored Fish | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 37:24

Season 2 of the Naturalist Podcast begins with Episode 11!  Lev goes on a hunt for big weasels. Sea checks out the Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive with the King of the Soras and finds fish in the road.  A brief review of the new “Field Guide to the Fishes of the Amazon, Orinoco & Guianas”.  Tropical adventures with Semester at Sea and in Costa Rica and great plans for the coming season!

 The Naturalist Podcast Episode 10: Shearwater Madness, encounters with Leviathan, and more! | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 33:02

In this episode Sea and Lev discuss the arrival of Fall and the coming of winter, some spectacular shearwater feeding flocks off of Cape Cod, Lev sees Blue Whales in person, a new book by Walt Judd, and some discussion of what are the things we carry with us in our field bags.

 The Naturalist Podcast Episode 9: Howling for wolves, eggs and pinecones for dinner, birds eating birds | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 44:19

This episode starts with Lev and 300 of his closest friends singing for wolves, and quickly goes from there as we discuss the end of summer and the start of fall and all that means:  migrating birds and high calorie diets, and how life is just unfair to ‘teenagers’.  Sea pitches his favorite book of the week:  http://www.bioquip.com/specials/book_special.asp , a new* spectacular fossil from Alberta, and the search for the star-nosed mole in Ohio.  If you are on the Facebook, please join us for discussions at the new group ‘The Naturalists’  ( https://www.facebook.com/groups/1820615177955503/ ), email us at naturalistpodcast@gmail.com, or tweet @thenaturalists ! *Yes, we realize that fossils are not really ‘new’.

 The Naturalist Podcast Episode 8: Northern Garter Snakes, Odonates, Moleshrews, and don’t get eaten by a bear. | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 43:50

In this episode Lev goes to the bogs of Northern Ontario, Sea gets way excited about shrewmoles, talk of how to get into studying Odonates, and both guys would prefer not to be eaten by bears.

 The Naturalist Podcast Episode 7: Interview with Casey Richart | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 51:41

In this episode Sea gets to dig down deep into the leaf litter with “Creepy Crawly” specialist Casey Richart.  Casey studies harvestmen, millipedes, slugs, snails and has developed a unique perspective on evolution, biodiversity, and conservation from his studies.  The vocabulary might be a bit heavy, but we’ll have some helpful notes on the Facebook page as people chime in.

 The Naturalist Podcast Episode 6: Summer, Seabirding, Zombies in the Nest | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 48:37

Lev and Sea catch up after some springtime adventuring.  Talk of the summer season, with turtles crossing roads, and herp hunting raptors. Lots of discussion of pelagic birds; petrels, storm petrels, and albatrosses.  In Natural History News, a new flying squirrel is described for North America, an extinct bird found in amber, and the possibility of a zombie egg!

Comments

Login or signup comment.