It often feels like we've been engaged in a battle with our lawns; we cut, mow, trim, drown and poison them to achieve that lush poster green look. We believe that yards, birds and landowners will find more happiness with a naturalized space. This paradigm shift will provide an opportunity for enjoyment, reflection and conservation - rather than work and sterile spaces. Many North American bird species are in decline due to habitat loss and degradation, among other global threats. In this episode, Natasha Barlow and Kevin Kavanagh teach you how to do things differently.

Natasha Barlow is a biologist living in Ontario and is Birds Canada's Boreal Conservation Project Specialist. She, Gregor Beck, and Kevin Kavanagh, were the creative team behind the creation of www.birdgardens.ca, a web-based tool that will help you help birds by making it easy for you to design and plant a great garden for birds. Connect with her on Twitter and Instagram @nlynnbarlow and @natashalbarlow

Kevin Kavanagh is a Ecologist and Master Gardener with 40 years of experience in conservation supporting the expansion of protected areas, he is the gardening brains behind www.birdgardens.ca - connect with him on Twitter @scgardens

Start gardening for birds, now with Birds Canada => www.birdgardens.ca
Wild Birds Unlimited is a proud supporter of this initiative.

Please remember we would love to hear from you, let us know what you think about the podcast here or which topics you will love -> [email protected]
                     
Andrea Gress studied Renewable Resource Management at the University of Saskatchewan. She pivoted towards birds, after an internship in South Africa. Upon returning, she worked with Piping Plovers in Saskatchewan and now coordinates the Ontario Piping Plover Conservation Program for Birds Canada. Follow her work at @ontarioplovers

Andrés Jiménez is a Costa Rican wildlife biologist with a keen interest in snakes, frogs, birds and how human relationships are interconnected with the living world. He studied Tropical Biology in Costa Rica and has a Masters in Environmental Problem Solving from York University. He is Birds Canada's Urban Program Coordinator and you can follow him at @andresjimo (edited) 

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