Nature's Archive

Today’s guests are Tora Rocha and Terry Smith, founders of the Oakland, California based Pollinator Posse. The Pollinator Posse creates pollinator-friendly landscaping and fosters appreciation of local ecosystems through outreach, education and direct action. They engage with municipalities, land owners, golf courses, garden groups, and the general public to help people become better stewards of the land.Terry and Tora make a wonderful team, and have made a huge impact in northern California on a number of fronts. So much so that Tora was recently awarded the Jefferson Award.Our conversation was wide ranging - and as a result I decided to divide it into two episodes! Today we discuss the origin of the Pollinator Posse and the good fortune that brought Tora and Terry together. We discuss a few of the Posse’s current areas of focus and how they engage the public, including their creative Tees for Bees program that raises awareness about the importance of sustainable landscape practices at golf courses.Much of today’s episode focuses on the dire situation with the western population of the Monarch butterfly. Western monarchs have distinct behaviors from those seen in the eastern United States, and their population has crashed to frightening lows, well below what is thought to be sustainable. This crash has corresponded with surprising behavioral changes that the Posse is working to better document, along with their conservation partners. We discuss the Monarch’s life cycle including their mind-blowing metamorphosis, what distinguishes the western population from the eastern population (east of the Rocky Mountains), how populations are even measured in the first place, why they migrate, and the odd behavioral changes suddenly observed in 2020. We also discuss what individuals and land owners can do to help, such as managing the divisive Tropical MilkweedNext week’s part two continues the discussion of the dramatic decline of insects and what homeowners can do to create better habitat. We discuss the impact of systemic pesticides such as neonicotinoids and how to avoid purchasing plants that are pre-treated with these long lasting pesticides. We also discuss how healthy habitat gardening is actually less work than maintaining a lawn or traditional garden, and the importance of leaving  “messy” areas - which are important for the lifecycle of insects.You can find out more at pollinatorposse.org or their Facebook group.People and OrganizationsArt Shapiro - University of California Davis Professor with longest continuously monitored study sites. See Art's work here.Journey North - a 25 year citizen science program tracking migrations, now associated with the University of Wisconsin ArboretumKaren Overhauser - Professor and Director of the University of Wisconsin Arboretum. Her study about Monarch diapause triggers was mentioned in Part 1Monarch Joint Venture - a partnership of federal and state agencies, non-governmental organizations, businesses and academic programs working together to protect the monarch migration across the USAPlant Lists - The Pollinator Posse has plant lists to help California gardeners with bees and pollinatorsWestern Monarch Advocates - an overarching entity that connects groups and individuals who share a common goal of saving the western MonarchsXerces Society - one of the largest invertebrate conservation groups. They have many resources about monarchs and habitat creation and habitat gardening

My guest in this episode is Brian Sullivan.Brian is a long-time leader at the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology, where he currently serves as Digital Publications Lead, managing the Birds of the World project, and he has previously served as project leader for eBird from 2005 to 2017. Brian has conducted fieldwork on birds throughout North America for the past 25 years.  Birding travels, photography, and field projects have taken him around the world, and he has written or coauthored several books and scientific papers including: Better Birding—Tips, Tools, and Concepts for the Field; The Crossley ID Guide: Raptors; and the forthcoming Princeton Guide to North American Birds. He is co-creator of the groundbreaking Raptor Id app for mobile devices, and he also served as photographic editor for the American Birding Association’s journal North American Birds from 2005-2013.Today we discuss many of these topics, including the transformation of eBird into a global ornithological resource, developing and launching the Birds of the World project, which is the definitive resource for all 10721 bird species and has an exciting future roadmap ahead. We also discuss the forthcoming Princeton Guide to North American Birds, which is a project 15 years in the making. Brian’s experiences in print media and cutting-edge online media give him a visionary’s perspective for the future of online resources for scientists and birders alike. We spend time discussing how remote sensing, phone sensing, and augmented reality might accelerate community awareness of and engagement with the environment. And this may come about sooner than one might think.FULL SHOW NOTESLinks and References from the Episode:Chris Wood - an early partner of Brian's at eBirdDerby Hill Hawk WatchHawk Mountain, PennsylvaniaJack Conner - taught a college Biology of Birds course that helped re-ignite Brian's interestPaul Lehman - editor of Birding Magazine when Brian published his first articleBirds of the World - Cornell's comprehensive resource for all 10,721 of the world's birdsBirding Magazine - The American Birding Association's (ABA) magazineBirdNET App - identify birds by soundThe Australian Bird Guide Collins Birds of Europe  (link to the USA publication)Crossley Guides - Richard Crossley's series of photo collage guides that Brian references (and co-author of the Raptor ID Guide)eBirdMerlin Bird ID - free app and part of the Cornell Lab's ecosystem of resourcesNational Geographic's Birds of North America Princeton University Press - A leader in quality nature and field guidesRaptor ID App - created and published by Brian and Jerry LiguoriSeason at the Point: The Birds and Birders of Cape May - by Thomas ConnorThe Sibley Guide to Birds [East] [West] 

My guest in this episode is Ashley Ahearn. Ashley is an award winning public radio and podcast journalist. She recently created and published the critically acclaimed podcast series called “Grouse”. Grouse explores life in rural America through the lens of the controversial Greater Sage-Grouse. The series also delves into Ashley’s own unique journey to sagebrush country, and tackles many of the competing interests that threaten the grouse.You may also know Ashley from her work on the podcast “Terrestrial” - a show that explored personal choices in the face of climate change, and her many varied works for PRI and NPR. She currently runs Ahearn Productions, where she freelances for NPR and other clients, creates original shows such as Grouse, and helps others create quality podcasts.In this episode we speak extensively about Grouse and the art of developing and telling nuanced stories. We get into the weeds of the production process, including how to gain the trust of people who may be skeptical and initially unwilling to share their stories. We also discuss how to tell a story that stays true to multiple perspectives, and how to engage and connect people using audio as a format.We also talk about Ashley's journey from NPR to freelance productions and consultations. We have a great discussion about loaded terms such as "environmentalist", and what fairness and bias means in the world of journalism.Ashley also gives a sneak peek into her next podcast series.I thoroughly enjoyed this discussion and learned a lot of useful nuggets to improve my ability to engage and communicate environmental stories, and I hope that you enjoy it as much as I did.Find Ashley @ashleyreports on Instagram and @aahearn on Twitter, or on her website at https://www.ahearnproductions.com.FULL SHOW NOTES at http://naturesarchive.comReferences from the show:People and OrganizationsAshley Ahearn - creator of the Grouse series.Liza Yeager - audio producer and sound designer for GrouseMichael Schroeder - Greater Sage-Grouse expert featured extensively in the Grouse seriesWhitney Henry-Lester - Ashley's editor for GrouseBooks and Other ThingsBundyville - podcast series from OPB that Ashley enjoyedDeath, Sex, and Money - Anna Sale's podcast that Ashley enjoysGrouse - The podcast series Ashley created, which led me to reach out to her for this interviewHome of the Brave - another podcast Ashley likes, by Scott Carrier

My guest in this episode is Tony Iwane. Tony is Outreach and Community Coordinator for iNaturalist, an environmental educator, contributor to Bay Nature Magazine, photographer, and just an all around interesting and knowledgeable naturalist.As a key staff member for iNaturalist and one of its earliest members, Tony gives us an insider’s view of iNaturalist, what it is, and how it is used. Tony has also curated iNaturalist’s “Observation of the Day” for the past 5 years, and shared a selection of some of the most noteworthy observations from that catalog, including a serendipitous identification of an uncommon southern hemisphere hoodwinker sunfish in California, and an elusive Columbian Weasel photographed sitting on an outhouse toilet - still the only recorded observation of this species on iNaturalist.Tony describes iNaturalist as both a social network for those interested in nature, and also a platform for community science. As a platform, we discuss how easy it is to engage with experts, and some of the creative and unique projects that people have created - and that you can view and contribute to! In fact, a couple past guests have successfully used iNaturalist to raise awareness for specific ecological concerns - Merav Vonshak and the Newt roadkill problem at Lexington Reservoir in California, and Charley Eiseman raising awareness of leaf mining insects.We also discuss how iNaturalist has been an important discovery for many people to help them with purpose and focus during the pandemic.And of course, we also learn about Tony’s personal journey that led him from counseling to the world of nature.Be sure to check Tony's photos and follow him on iNaturalist. If you are new to iNaturalist, check out the getting started resources here.Full show notes and links at podcast.naturesarchive.com

My guest today is Charley Eiseman. Charley is the lead author of the innovative and fascinating “Tracks and Sign of Insects and Other Invertebrates”, which digs deep into the details of insect identification through the clues they leave, such as egg masses, cocoons, galls, burrows, leaf mines and more.This initial treatment of leaf miners led him to his current 10 year obsession, learning about and documenting these specialist insects. Leaf miners are insects whose larvae live part of their lives in between the epidermal layers of leaves, each with fascinating life histories and survival strategies. There are thousands of leaf mining species of moths, flies, beetles, and sawflies. Despite being so prevalent, there was very little readily available information about them, that is, until Charley turned his sights on them. Over the last decade, Charley has turned himself into the foremost expert of North American leaf miners and created an 1800 page guide to the leaf miners, which is also referenced against their host plants.This is a truly fascinating subject - leaf miners are literally everywhere, and serve as a creative "hook" to open people’s eyes to incredible nature that is easily overlooked. I’ve included several fascinating photos in the show notes that you have to see to believe. In this episode we discuss Charley’s background, the unique University of Vermont Field Naturalist Masters program, the challenges of breaking new ground in publishing Tracks and Signs of Insects, how he has identified and described 50+ previously undescribed leaf miner species, the process of documenting those discoveries, the process of rearing leaf miners at home to identify the species, and much more. Charley offers a few pearls of wisdom as well, including approaches to continuous learning and developing structure and deadlines for audacious goals like his 1800 page leaf miner guide.Charley offers occasional webinars and online courses, so be sure to check out his bugtracks blog, or charleyeiseman.com to see his upcoming schedule.LINKSTracks and Sign of Insects and Other Invertebrates - a wonderful guide book to insect behaviorMammal Tracks and Sign - A Guide to North American Species - by Mark Elbroch, and Bird Tracks and Sign by Mark Elbroch were inspirations for Charley's Tracks and Sign of InsectsLeafminers of North America - by Charley Eiseman, a PDF guidebugguide.netA Hard-Won Moth - story of Charley's mystery viburnum leafminer, previously undescribed - and ultimately named Marmara viburnellaBugs In Winter - Charley's upcoming online classNoah Charney - co-author of Tracks and Sign of Insects and Other InvertebratesJohn Carlson, MD - entomologist who  contributed a chapter on "sign of insects on vertebrates" such as stings and bitesPaul Rezendes - his mammal tracking class helped cement Charley's "follow the trail of things you don't know well" approachOwen Lonsdale - PhD who helps Charley document new speciesDave Smith - Smithsonian sawfly expertMusic: Kevin MacLoed

My guest today is noted wildfire and chaparral ecologist Rick Halsey. Rick authored the book “Fire, Chaparral, and Survival in Southern California”, and has given countless talks on the subject. Rick has a background in Environmental Studies, Anthropology, and Education, with degrees from University of California Santa Barbara and Cal State San Diego and UC Berkeley. In this episode we discuss the myths and realities of wildfire. There are many eye opening insights that, even today, get lost in the political rhetoric. We discuss the ecosystems of the west and their natural fire behaviors and how those were determined through charcoal records and tree ring analysis, the surprising negative impacts of fuel removal and prescribed burns, how indigenous fire management techniques fit into the discussion, simple solutions at the wildland-urban interface (WUI) such as exterior sprinkler systems, and much more.In particular, we discuss the causes and factors leading to the Camp Fire that destroyed the town of Paradise, CA in 2018, the Yosemite Rim Fire, Oakland Hills Firestorm of 1991, and more. While we focus extensively on California, the principles discussed apply to much of the west.We take a few tangents in the discussion, including an insightful view of Rick’s education experience and approaches.As an educator, Rick was the recipient of the Christa McAuliffe Fellowship. Over the years he’s fine-tuned his delivery and has a wonderful essay on his transformation from lecturer to the engage model.Through the years, Rick has combined his educational skills and knowledge of ecology to focus on chaparral habitats - the most important habitat at the wildland/urban interface in California’s major cities. He is the founder and director of the California Chaparral Institute, which is dedicated to preserving what remains of California’s chaparral through scientific research, nature education, and activism. One of his quotes that really reflects his approach to nature education is "Our job as educators is not to convince everyone how smart we are. Our job is to convince people how smart they are.See Full Shows Notes at podcast.naturesarchive.comLinks to People, Events, and Resources Discussed:Keith Lombardo, Ph. D. Jack Cohen, Ph. D. California Chaparral Institute WASP exterior sprinklersSanta Monica National Recreation Area wildfire and chaparral resourcesFire, Chaparral, and Survival in Southern California - by Rick Halsey Santa Rosa's Coffey Park - a community burned by the Tubbs FireThe Rim Fire at Yosemite National ParkThe Nature Fix - Why Nature Makes us Happier, Healthier, and More Creative - by Florence WilliamsMusicFearless First and Beauty Flow by Kevin MacLoed, obtained from https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/

My guest in this episode is Merav Vonshak. Merav is an ecologist, naturalist, and citizen science organizer located in the San Francisco Bay Area. Merav is the founder of BioBlitz Club, a group that organizes BioBlitzes to raise awareness for environmental causes, often partnering with specific organizations, or simply to raise community awareness of nature that is nearby.If you’re unaware of what a BioBlitz is - they are focused efforts to document all living organisms within a defined location and period of time. I’ve participated in a couple of these events now, and must say that I’m hooked. BioBlitzes provide a sense of exploration and discovery, they get you out in nature, and have a wonderfully enthusiastic community to learn from.Back to Merav...prior to founding BioBlitz club, she received a Doctorate in Ecology at Tel Aviv University, and had postdoctoral fellowships at Tel Aviv University and Stanford University. She is an expert in ant biology, having studied impacts of alien ant species and human disturbance on ant communities.Merav has a wealth of ecological information, and also a curator on iNaturalist.In this episode we discuss the story of Merav’s formation of BioBlitz Club, some of the surprising discoveries from these events - including in highly urban areas, how to get people engaged and caring about nature, her ant research and how you can even identify ant species by smell (some smell like Banana Cream Pie!), using BioBlitzes and Citizen Science as part of a broader conservation awareness playbook, and much more.Show notes at https://naturesarchive.com/2020/10/28/merav/

Eddie Dunbar is an entomologist, the Founder and President of the Insect Sciences Museum of California and Adjunct Professor at Merritt College. With 38,000 species of insects in California alone, we need people like Eddie to help make sense of it all.Eddie’s passion is to engage the public with insects so they can understand how they fit in our environment. Through the Insect Sciences Museum of California, Eddie promotes this engagement through numerous events such as “Bug Camps” and bioblitzes, and online through a popular Facebook group. The museum has portable displays, a large insect collection, and provides thorough field guides to parks of the Bay Area at bugpeople.org. In fact, Eddie and his volunteers have embarked on an immense project - creating an Insects of the San Francisco Bay Area virtual field guide.Eddie’s unique background, including working with the UC Berkeley cooperative extension and researching pesticides, allows him to uniquely engage the public, who often see insects through the lens of pest control. Eddie has years of experience helping people change their views and understand the wide array of ecosystem services insects provide.In this episode we talk about Eddie’s unique journey that led to the founding of the museum, his methods and tactics for engaging people online and in person, methods to create virtual field trips using Google Earth, ISMC’s projects, and how others can participate in ISMC or launch similar projects of their own.Full show notes are on naturesarchive.comMusic Credits:Opening: Fearless First by Kevin MacLoedClosing: Beauty Flow by Kevin MacLoedhttps://incompetech.filmmusic.io/

Ever wondered how you can make a difference for nature, with or without a university degree? Or do you just want to learn about and be inspired by amazing plants, animals, people and nature in general?I'm Michael Hawk, and I used to be a tech engineer and manager. I've always been a curious soul, asking great questions and eager to learn and share.So, I started Nature's Archive Podcast, a journey deep into the heart of the natural world. Join me for captivating interviews featuring ecologists, renowned authors, passionate amateurs, and seasoned professionals, each sharing their remarkable stories and areas of expertise. Together, we explore the incredible complexity of nature, challenge old beliefs, and uncover unique perspectives.From bird migration to wildfire ecology, from fungi to oak trees, and from the secret lives of spiders to the power of native plants in your backyard, we cover it all. Visit podcast.naturesarchive.com to explore our most popular episodes and detailed show notes.Nature's Archive is part of my lifelong commitment to nature conservation through Jumpstart Nature. I've left the tech world behind to dedicate 100% of my time to this cause.But I can't do it alone. Join me on this journey to make a real difference for our planet. Subscribe to Nature's Archive Podcast today.

Jan Hintermeister is a prolific volunteer in many environmental causes and organizations in the San Francisco Bay Area. Jan has been a long time field volunteer and served multiple terms as the Board Chair for the non-profit San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory. He's been a County Parks Commissioner, a member of the Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority Citizen Advisory Committee, was instrumental in establishing a unique 40 acre open space preserve in what is now the shadow of Levi Stadium, home of the San Francisco 49’ers, and banded at the Golden Gate Raptor Observatory, and much more.Jan also has many years of experience as a field trip leader and open space docent, too.Jan shows us that you can maintain your day job and still drive meaningful change through volunteering. We discuss this balance between Jan's Silicon Valley engineering career and his volunteering - how he started and grew his engagement and impact in both direct environmental efforts, and through engaging in the political side. Jan offers a lot of very practical advice for engaging locally and making an impact.Music CreditsOpening - Fearless First by Kevin MacLoedClosing - Beauty Flow by Kevin MacLoedBoth can be obtained from https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/