Nature Guys

It is challenging to be a bluebird. Learn what you can do to help this beautiful bird. Our sources for this episode include: Eastern Bluebird (includes plans for how to build a nesting box) https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Eastern_Bluebird/overview 8 Surprising Facts You Didn’t Know About Bluebirds https://www.familyhandyman.com/article/facts-about-bluebirds/ Interesting Eastern Bluebird Facts http://www.birdhouses101.com/eastern-bluebird-facts.asp Fun Facts About Bluebirds https://valparaiso.wbu.com/bluebird-fun-facts

Damselflies are beautiful creatures. Best of all they do not bite or sting.  Our sources for this episode include: Damselflies - Interesting Facts on These Beautiful Insects http://EzineArticles.com/6148223 What is the difference between Dragonflies and Damselflies? https://british-dragonflies.org.uk/odonata/frequently-asked-questions/ 10 Things you may not know about Damselflies https://natureformysoul.com/2016/06/10-things-you-may-not-know-about-damselflies/

Dragonflies are something you want to have around. They love to eat mosquitoes! Our sources for this episode include: Migratory Dragonfly Partnership http://www.migratorydragonflypartnership.org/ 14 Fun Facts about Dragonflies https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/14-fun-facts-about-dragonflies-96882693/ 7 things you never knew about dragonflies https://www.treehugger.com/things-you-never-knew-about-dragonflies-4864302 Fun Facts about Dragonflies https://www.threeriversparks.org/blog/fun-facts-about-dragonflies

Native bees are incredibly efficient at pollinating plants and they are very docile. Our sources for this episode include: 6 Amazing Facts About Mason Bees https://www.keepingbackyardbees.com/5-amazing-facts-about-mason-bees/ The Leafcutter Bee https://www.buzzaboutbees.net/leafcutter-bee.html Crown Bees (where Bob got his bees) https://crownbees.com

Bob learns that you can see this frog in the winter!  Related episodes: Green Frogs Sing the Blues, Gray Treefrogs Freeze, Wood Frogs Quack It Up, Jeepers Spring Peepers  Our sources for this episode include: American Bull Frog (National Geographic) https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/amphibians/a/american-bullfrog/ American Bull Frog (NatureMapping) http://naturemappingfoundation.org/natmap/facts/american_bullfrog_712.html American Bull Frog Facts https://www.softschools.com/facts/animals/american_bullfrog_facts/481/

Bob has a conversation with Mark Kurlansky the award winning author of Salmon: A Fish, the Earth, and the History of Their Common Fate. Our sources for this episode include: Mark Kurlansky (visit his web site at http://www.markkurlansky.com/) Salmon: A Fish, the Earth, and the History of Their Common Fate by Mark Kurlansky The World Without Fish: How Kids Can Help Save the Oceans by Mark Kurlansky Cod: A Biography of the Fish that Changed the World by Mark Kurlansky

Bill reveals something he learned in school. Green frogs can be blue!  Our sources for this episode include: Green Frog https://animals.net/green-frog/ Northern Green Frog http://www.rosamondgiffordzoo.org/assets/uploads/animals/pdf/NorthernGreenFrog.pdf Northern Green Frog https://www.cbf.org/about-the-bay/more-than-just-the-bay/chesapeake-wildlife/northern-green-frog-at-home-in-the-bog.html

Gray treefrogs are hard to see but easy to hear. Special thanks to our friend and naturalist John Howard for the amazing photos. Our sources for this episode include: Gray Treefrog https://nationalzoo.si.edu/animals/gray-tree-frog Cope's Gray Treefrog (Hyla chrysoscelis) https://srelherp.uga.edu/anurans/hylchr.htm Gray Treefrog https://nhpbs.org/natureworks/graytreefrog.htm Science Around Cincy: Clara do Amaral – Frog Cryobiologist https://sciaroundcincy.com/2019/07/25/clara-do-amal/

Bob challenges you to try to find more ‘nuts’ than a squirrel. Our sources for this episode include: The Kids’ Wildlife Book by Warner Shedd http://warnershedd.com/

Grey Squirrels are easy to see in certain areas. They are really cute even when they are eating all your birdseed! Our sources for this episode include: Eastern Gray Squirrel https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/eastern-gray-squirrel/ Squirrels: Diet, Habits & Other Facts https://www.livescience.com/28182-squirrels.html 22 things you may not know about squirrels https://www.mnn.com/earth-matters/animals/blogs/happy-squirrel-appreciation-day

Bob invites artist Adrian Hawk to tell us how we can do Land Art right in our own neighborhoods. Our sources for this episode include: Andy Goldworthy Digital Catalogue https://www.goldsworthy.cc.gla.ac.uk Imago Rangers - Land Art https://imagoearth.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Day-7-Land-Art-.pdf

Bob has his back yard torn up. He is amazed to find Blue Violets returning in pure clay soil. Our sources for this episode include: Common Blue Violet https://www.gardenexperiments.com/common-blue-violet/ 7 Fun Facts about Violets https://www.teleflora.com/blog/7-fun-facts-about-violets/ Interesting facts about violets http://justfunfacts.com/interesting-facts-about-violets/

Bill and Bob remember a fun outside activity they did as kids. Our sources for this episode include: Let’s Go Outside by Jennifer Ward https://www.jenniferwardbooks.com/

Bill talks with Thane Maynard the Director of the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden. Learn how Thane went from a kid chasing gaters in Florida to the head of one of the best zoos in the world. Resources mentioned include: Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden http://cincinnatizoo.org/ Cincinnati Zoo live safaris on FaceBook https://www.facebook.com/cincinnatizoo/live Cincinnati Nature Center https://www.cincynature.org/ Center for Plant Conservation https://saveplants.org/ African Parks: Saving Wildlife https://www.africanparks.org/ Wildlife Conservation Society https://www.wcs.org/

Bill and Bob explain a simple activity you can do to connect your kids and yourself to trees. Our sources for this episode include: Sharing Nature with Children by Joseph Cornell https://www.sharingnature.com/  

Bob interviews Nancy Stranahan the Executive Director of the Arc of Appalachia. Nancy is an inspiration and we can all use a large dose of that right now.  Related episode: Spring Wildflowers (http://natureguys.org/spring-wildflowers/) The Arc of Appalachia - Saving Ohio's Wildlands https://arcofappalachia.org/

Bill and Bob do a short follow up to the pillbug episode. This has some great ideas to lift your spirits and a special guest. Related episode: Some Pillbugs are Roly Polies (http://natureguys.org/pillbugs/) Our sources for this episode include: Pillbug Project: A Guide to Investigation by Robin Burnett https://www.nsta.org/recommends/ViewProduct.aspx?ProductID=12142 Blue pillbug https://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/7718485

Goldfinch is just the bird to cheer you up! This is a great bird to have at your feeders. Our sources for this episode include: American Goldfinch https://abcbirds.org/bird/american-goldfinch/ Interesting American Goldfinch Facts http://www.birdhouses101.com/american-goldfinch-facts.asp 21 Facts on Goldfinches https://www.livingwithbirds.com/tweetapedia/21-facts-on-goldfinch Fun Facts about Goldfinches https://billingsgazette.com/lifestyles/home-and-garden/fun-facts-about-goldfinches/article_65165159-1e5d-5a6c-8c04-cc1dfa9e6fde.html Life Histories of North American Birds by Arthur Cleveland Bent https://birdsbybent.com/about.html

Bob and Bill hope to inspire you to take a Nature Break. This episode has a fun activity that Bob used at nature summer camp. Related episode: Screech Owl (http://natureguys.org/screech-owl/)

Bob and Bill are inspired by an Imago Ranger program (https://imagoearth.org/imago-rangers/) to do an episode on pillbugs. If you're a little stressed out go outside and find some of these guys. Our sources for this episode include: Imago Rangers Pillbugs https://imagoearth.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Day-5_-Pillbugs.pdf Pillbugs and Sowbugs https://nature.mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/field-guide/pillbugs-and-sowbugs-land-isopods 15 Facinating Facts About Pill Bugs https://www.thoughtco.com/fascinating-facts-about-pillbugs-4165294 Pillbug Project: A Guide to Investigation by Robin Burnett https://www.nsta.org/recommends/ViewProduct.aspx?ProductID=12142