Nature Guys

Cohost and Cofounder of Nature Guys Podcast sadly passed away in August 2020. Bill's dream was for Nature Guys to continue connecting people to the natural world. Read Bill's obituary at http://www.springgrove.org/obituary.aspx?id=5351

Next time you pass by an old chimney keep your eye out for this amazing bird. They can eat three times their own weight every day.  Our sources for this episode include: Chimney Swift Conservation Association (project directors Paul and Georgean Kyle) http://www.chimneyswifts.org/ "Chimney Swifts America’s Mysterious Birds above the Fireplace" by Paul and Georgean Kyle "New Habitat for America’s Mysterious Birds" by Paul and Georgean Kyle Chimney Swift https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Chimney_Swift/overview Chimney Swift https://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/chimney-swift Fun Facts About Cigars With Wings https://www.birdsoutsidemywindow.org/2014/05/14/fun-facts-about-cigars-with-wings/

People often put out Purple Martin houses to help control insects. In fact the Martins in the eastern United States could not exist without these houses.  Our sources for this episode include: How to Attract Purple Martins https://www.purplemartin.org/purple-martins/attracting/ Fun Facts About Purple Martins https://www.thespruce.com/fun-facts-about-purple-martins-387110 Interesting Facts About Purple Martins That Will Make You Go Wow https://birdeden.com/interesting-facts-about-purple-martin Purple Martin Conservation Association https://www.purplemartin.org/

Find out the amazing story of how the House Finch made its way all the way across the United States.  Our sources for this episode include: House Finch https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/House_Finch/lifehistory Interesting Facts about House Finches https://animals.visualstories.com/interesting-facts-about-house-finch House Finch or Purple Finch? Here's How to Tell Them Apart https://www.audubon.org/news/house-finch-or-purple-finch-heres-how-tell-them-apart Crossley Field Guide Books https://crossleybooks.com/book/the-crossley-id-guide-eastern-birds/

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/