Summary Twice a year billions of birds migrate across the U.S. We’ve only recently discovered just how large that number really is. Being able to quantify that number is thanks to a large degree to a program called BirdCast which anyone from backyard birders to scientists to emergency managers can use. Join us as we dive into the fascinating world of bird migration.

Today’s guest Dr. Andrew Farnsworth is a visiting scientist at Cornell Lab of Ornithology and a member of the BirdCast Team, which is using radar to track and study bird migrations over the U.S.

3 things you’ll learn from this episode:

• About bird migration including when they migrate, why they migrate, impacts of both human induced and natural climate change, and much more.
• The importance of making natural history observations and how technology can enhance, but not replace, those observations.
• The many ways in which BirdCast is being used by birds and by scientists, starting with giving us concrete data on the mind-blowingly large numbers of birds that migrate over the U.S. each year.

Resources Andrew mentioned:

• BirdCast
• eBird

Other Backyard Ecology resources:

• The Backyard Ecologist’s Newsletter 

Thank you

Thank you to our amazing Patrons who go above and beyond every month to provide financial support which helps us create so much free content for everyone to enjoy and learn from.

Summary

As gardeners, it’s common to get the gardening itch in late winter and early spring. The temptation to finish cleaning up our gardens during this time is a natural temptation. However, when doing your spring garden cleanup, it’s important to remember why you didn’t do those activities in the fall. Remembering that can help you choose what to do and when so that you can best support the pollinators and wildlife that visit your property.

3 things you’ll learn from this episode:

• When and how to deal with the leaves that you left from the fall.
• When and how to cutback any standing dead vegetation that you left in the fall.
• Creative ways to balance your needs with those of the pollinators and wildlife when doing your spring garden cleanup.

Other Backyard Ecology resources:

• Fall Cleanup in the Pollinator and Wildlife Garden: A Comprehensive Guide to What You Need to Know and Do
• 2 SIMPLE Solutions for Fall Pollinator Garden Care!
• Should I Mow My Yard in May? The No Mow May Debate

Thank you

Thank you to our amazing Patrons who go above and beyond every month to provide financial support which helps us create so much free content for everyone to enjoy and learn from.

Get customized help

There are lots of great “big picture” information available about creating pollinator gardens or larger habitats for pollinators and wildlife. But, there are far fewer opportunities to say, “This is what I want to do. This is what I’m struggling with. How do I make it work on my property?” That’s part of what the Backyard Ecology™ Community offers its members every day.

If you live in the eastern U.S. and would like personalized help creating your own pollinator and wildlife habitat, then we invite you to join the Backyard Ecology™ Community. 

Learn more: https://www.backyardecology.net/community/

Summary

Ground nesting bees represent a significant portion of our native bee population, yet they often go unnoticed due to their solitary nature and unique nesting habits. In this episode, we dive into the fascinating world of ground nesting bees and how we can get involved in their study and conservation.

Today’s guest

Dr. Jordan Kueneman is a research associate in the Danforth lab of Entomology at Cornell University. He is also the creator of the Ground Nesting Bee project on iNaturalist where he is collecting observations of ground-nesting bee aggregations.

3 things you’ll learn from this episode:

• An overview of ground nesting bee biology, their behaviors, and their importance in the environment and potentially to some of our agricultural crops.
• An introduction into how much we still don’t know about ground nesting bees, including the answers to what would seem like fairly basic questions.
• How individuals like you and I can help researchers learn more about ground nesting bees and where they can be found.

Bonus content:

• Tips on how to identify ground nesting bees

Resources Jordan mentioned:

• Ground Nesting Bees iNaturalist Project 
• Project GNBee website 
• Instagram  

Other Backyard Ecology resources:

• 3 Tree Groups That Provide Early Season Bee Food! 
• Discover Your Next Steps 

Thank you

Thank you to our amazing Patrons who go above and beyond every month to provide financial support which helps us create so much free content for everyone to enjoy and learn from.

Summary

When someone decides they want to attract birds to their yard, often the first thing they do is put up a birdfeeder (or two). It’s what we did when I was a kid, and it’s what countless other people I know have done.

There’s nothing wrong with putting out a birdfeeder. They’re a great way to bring the birds to locations where it’s easy for us to watch them. 

But, if you want to attract more birds (and better care for the ones you are already attracting), then you need to take more of an ecosystem approach. As an added bonus, you’ll also attract and provide for other wildlife and pollinators – something bird feeders alone will never accomplish.

3 things you’ll learn from this episode

• How to provide a wide variety of food sources for your birds.
• How to easily provide different types of shelter for your birds.
• How to provide water for your birds to drink and bathe in.

Other Backyard Ecology resources

• Leave Standing Dead Trees (When Safe)
• Create a Brush Pile
• Plant Native Grasses
• Think About Layers

Thank you

Thank you to our amazing Patrons who go above and beyond every month to provide financial support which helps us create so much free content for everyone to enjoy and learn from.

Get help

If you would like personalized help creating your own pollinator and wildlife habitat, then we encourage you to check out the Backyard Ecology™ Community.  Because there’s lots of great “big picture” information available about creating pollinator gardens or larger habitats for pollinators and wildlife. 

But, what’s lacking are opportunities to say, “This is what I want to do. This is what I’m struggling with. How do I make it work on my property?” That’s part of what the Backyard Ecology™ Community offers its members every day.

Learn more: https://www.backyardecology.net/community/

Summary

Amanda shares the journey she and her husband have taken to transform their small, suburban yard into a vibrant habitat for birds and pollinators. We discuss the various projects they’ve undertaken, the challenges of DIY landscaping, the importance of community support, and the positive reactions from neighbors and family.

Their story shows how creating wildlife habitat can benefit both the environment and the property owners’ well-being. Amanda encourages others to start small, focus on native plants, and seek community support to achieve similar successes.

Today’s guest

Amanda is a mom, medical writer, former biomedical researcher, and nature enthusiast who lives in middle Tennessee on a small, suburban lot. I met Amanda about a year ago when she joined a small group coaching program we were offering in the Backyard Ecology™ Community. She dove right in and continued as community member after the coaching program was done. 

3 things you’ll learn from this episode

• The practical steps Amanda took and challenges she and her husband faced while transforming their small, suburban yard into a thriving ecosystem.
• How her involvement with supportive groups such as her local Wild Ones chapter and the Backyard Ecology™ Community were instrumental in her success.
• The positive impact creating backyard ecosystems can have on personal well-being, friends and family, and the local biodiversity.

Bonus content

• Amanda’s Checklist for Creating a Thriving Backyard Ecosystem

Resources Amanda mentioned

• Backyard Ecology Community 
• Wild Ones 
• The Habitat Connection 

Other Backyard Ecology resources

• Attract Backyard Birds with an Ecosystem Approach!  
• Discover Your Next Steps 

Thank you

Thank you to our amazing Patrons who go above and beyond every month to provide financial support which helps us create so much free content for everyone to enjoy and learn from.

Summary I am so excited to be relaunching the Backyard Ecology™ podcast! New episodes will be released every other week, and we have some exciting guests already lined up. 

Going forward, in addition to the traditional audio version of the podcast episodes, there will also be a video version available for the episodes with guests. The video version will be available on the Backyard Ecology™ YouTube channel.

Links and Resources

• YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/backyardecology
• Website: https://backyardecology.net
• Newsletter: https://backyardecology.net/subscribe
• Support: https://backyardecology.net/support 

Thank You

Thank you to our amazing Patrons who go above and beyond every month to provide financial support which helps us create so much free content for everyone to enjoy and learn from.

I can’t believe that 2023 is almost over! This year has flown by! For the past several weeks, I’ve been doing top 10 roundups of the different types of Backyard Ecology content. We’ve talked about the videos, the blog articles, and the nature trivia style shorts. So, let’s wrap it up with a rundown of the top 10 podcast episodes of the year.

🦋 9b) Everything You Want to Know About Nesting Birds with NestWatch https://www.backyardecology.net/everything-you-want-to-know-about-nesting-birds-with-nestwatch/ 

🦋 9a) Birding Tools and Technology to Help You Be a Better Birder https://www.backyardecology.net/birding-tools-and-technology-to-help-you-be-a-better-birder/ 

🦋 8) Exploring Urban Ecology: Understanding and Appreciating Nature Where We Live https://www.backyardecology.net/exploring-urban-ecology/ 

🦋 7) Why Are Invasive Species Something You Should Care About? https://www.backyardecology.net/why-are-invasive-species-something-you-should-care-about/ 

🦋 6) Moths: Unsung Heroes of Pollination and Beyond https://www.backyardecology.net/moths-unsung-heroes-of-pollination-and-beyond/ 

🦋 5) Gardening with Sedges - Mt. Cuba Center Carex Trial https://www.backyardecology.net/gardening-with-sedges-mt-cuba-center-carex-trial/ 

🦋 4) How Can Your State’s Native Plant Society Help You? https://www.backyardecology.net/how-can-your-states-native-plant-society-help-you/ 

🦋 3) Learning to See and Identify Plants with Alan Weakley https://www.backyardecology.net/learning-to-see-and-identify-plants-with-alan-weakley/ 

🦋 2) Ecology Based Landscaping with Larry Weaner https://www.backyardecology.net/ecology-based-landscaping-with-larry-weaner/ 

🦋 1) Growing Native Plants, Insect-Plant Interactions, Playing in the Pond, and Much More with Dr. Randi Eckel https://www.backyardecology.net/growing-native-plants-insect-plant-interactions-playing-in-the-pond-and-much-more-with-dr-randi-eckel/ 

🦋 Bonus: Gardening with Native Plants https://www.backyardecology.net/gardening-with-native-plants/ 

Other Episode Relevant Links: 🦋 Nature at Your Door, Connecting with the Wild and Green in the Urban and Suburban Landscape https://amzn.to/3KwEYX0 

🦋 Garden Revolution https://amzn.to/3Ckbp6F 

* Amazon links are affiliate links. We get a small commission from Amazon if you use them, but this comes at no cost to you.

🌻 🌻 🌻

Thank you to our supporters on Patreon who go above and beyond each month to financially contribute towards making the Backyard Ecology blog, podcast, and YouTube channel possible. Thank you also to everyone who has made one-time donations to support the Backyard Ecology blog, podcast, and YouTube channel. 

🌻 🌻 🌻

Become a Backyard Ecologist:

🦋 The Backyard Ecologist’s Newsletter: https://www.backyardecology.net/subscribe/ 🦋 Backyard Ecology Community: https://www.backyardecology.net/community/  🦋 Group coaching: https://www.backyardecology.net/group-coaching/

Backyard Ecology content:

🦋 Website: https://backyardecology.net 🦋 YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/backyardecology 🦋 Blog: https://www.backyardecology.net/blog/

Support Backyard Ecology:

🦋 Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/backyardecology 🦋 Make a one-time donation: https://www.paypal.com/biz/fund?id=K7F3HJLJT9F8N

Did you know that in addition to the regular Backyard Ecology videos that Anthony creates, he also produces a series of nature-trivia style short videos? Most of these videos are literally only a few seconds long so are perfect “bite-sized” samples if you’re just getting started or are looking for something to watch for a few seconds on your phone.

So, let’s quickly run through the top 10 Backyard Ecology shorts based on number of views as of Thanksgiving 2023. Since the videos are so short, I’m just going to list the titles and let your curiosity decide whether to follow the link and explore further.

🦋 10) Caterpillar's Poop Stick Defense!  https://youtube.com/shorts/R_mMaD2TadU  🦋 9) Ragweed SUPER FOOD for Birds!  https://youtube.com/shorts/CfOM56BYZ_8  🦋 8) Hummingbirds Eat Nectar and WHAT!  https://youtube.com/shorts/-IOGXUiOozY  🦋 7) Butterfly Garden Must Have!  https://youtube.com/shorts/UppahIW3EnQ  🦋 6) These Cute Larvae Aren't Caterpillars!  https://youtube.com/shorts/rorND6RmcGg  🦋 5) Bumblebees VS Carpenter Bees Easy ID!  https://youtube.com/shorts/slBX3utAcdI  🦋 4) What Is This Weird Plant Growth!  https://youtube.com/shorts/lhrmJlsKNfk  🦋 3) Have You Seen Invasive Tree of Heaven?  https://youtube.com/shorts/Vqmq_8Bc3rc  🦋 2) This Caterpillar Looks Like What!  https://youtube.com/shorts/Wkqy-qO8z98  🦋 1) Wolf Spider Momma Has How MANY Babies!  https://youtube.com/shorts/MA7IjE8Jyyc 

Bonus 🦋 See Me Fly Like Monarch and Viceroy Butterflies! https://www.youtube.com/shorts/Dzpde6I3ju8 

Other Episode-Related Links 🦋 Top 10 Backyard Ecology Videos https://www.backyardecology.net/top-10-videos/  🦋 3 Awesome Native Trees to Replace Bradford Pear! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZYPak0l1exo 

🌻 🌻 🌻

Thank you to our supporters on Patreon who go above and beyond each month to financially contribute towards making the Backyard Ecology blog, podcast, and YouTube channel possible. Thank you also to everyone who has made one-time donations to support the Backyard Ecology blog, podcast, and YouTube channel. 

🌻 🌻 🌻

Become a Backyard Ecologist:

🦋 The Backyard Ecologist’s Newsletter: https://www.backyardecology.net/subscribe/ 🦋 Backyard Ecology Community: https://www.backyardecology.net/community/  🦋 Group coaching: https://www.backyardecology.net/group-coaching/

Backyard Ecology content:

🦋 Website: https://backyardecology.net 🦋 YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/backyardecology 🦋 Blog: https://www.backyardecology.net/blog/

Support Backyard Ecology:

🦋 Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/backyardecology 🦋 Make a one-time donation: https://www.paypal.com/biz/fund?id=K7F3HJLJT9F8N

I always like to do roundups of the top 10 blog articles and top 10 podcast episodes at the end of every year because I know how easy it is to miss stuff. Sometimes we have the best intentions to go back and read or listening to something, but other things come up and then we forget. So, it can be helpful to have a reminder at the end of the year for some of those articles that we might have missed. 

Top 10 Backyard Ecology Blog Articles 🦋 10) Sometimes Life Happens: https://www.backyardecology.net/sometimes-life-happens/  🦋 9) Cloudless Sulphur Butterfly: A Common Fall Migrant: https://www.backyardecology.net/cloudless-sulphur-butterfly-a-common-fall-migrant/  🦋 8) 5 Tips for Attracting Butterflies to Your Yard: https://www.backyardecology.net/5-tips-for-attracting-butterflies/  🦋 7) Downy Woodpecker: Our smallest woodpecker and a common backyard visitor: https://www.backyardecology.net/downy-woodpecker/  🦋 6) Allegheny Chinquapin: An underutilized but excellent nut producing shrub: https://www.backyardecology.net/allegheny-chinquapin-an-underutilized-but-excellent-nut-producing-shrub/  🦋 5) Why Are Some Native Plants Unavailable Early in the Season?: https://www.backyardecology.net/why-are-some-native-plants-unavailable-early-in-the-season/  🦋 4) Native Ground Nesting Bees: Important Early Season Pollinators: https://www.backyardecology.net/mining-bees/  🦋 3) Spicebush – A Native Shrub with Plenty to Like: https://www.backyardecology.net/spicebush/  🦋 2) Wildflower vs Native Plant: What’s the Difference?: https://www.backyardecology.net/wildflower-vs-native-plant-whats-the-difference/  🦋 1) 5 Things to Consider Before Buying or Putting Up a Bat Box: https://www.backyardecology.net/5-things-to-consider-before-buying-or-putting-up-a-bat-box/ 

Bonus: Most downloaded Backyard Ecology blog article of all time  🦋 Bluets: Delicate Blue Flowers of Spring: https://www.backyardecology.net/common-bluets-delicate-blue-flowers-of-spring/ 

🌻 🌻 🌻

Thank you to our supporters on Patreon who go above and beyond each month to financially contribute towards making the Backyard Ecology blog, podcast, and YouTube channel possible. Thank you also to everyone who has made one-time donations to support the Backyard Ecology blog, podcast, and YouTube channel. 

🌻 🌻 🌻

Become a Backyard Ecologist:

🦋 The Backyard Ecologist’s Newsletter: https://www.backyardecology.net/subscribe/ 🦋 Backyard Ecology Community: https://www.backyardecology.net/community/  🦋 Group coaching: https://www.backyardecology.net/group-coaching/

Backyard Ecology content:

🦋 Website: https://backyardecology.net 🦋 YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/backyardecology 🦋 Blog: https://www.backyardecology.net/blog/

Support Backyard Ecology:

🦋 Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/backyardecology 🦋 Make a one-time donation: https://www.paypal.com/biz/fund?id=K7F3HJLJT9F8N

Did you know that we have a Backyard Ecology YouTube channel? If you’re like many of the blog readers and podcast listeners who responded to our 2023 end-of-year survey, then answer is “probably not.” 

If you are one of our frequent viewers, thank you for coming on this journey with us. We enjoy reading all your comments on the videos.

If you haven’t discovered the Backyard Ecology YouTube channel, then I encourage you to check it out. To get you started, here are the top 10 Backyard Ecology videos based on the number of views as of Thanksgiving 2023. 

The full transcript of this episode can be found at: https://www.backyardecology.net/top-10-videos/ 

🌻 🌻 🌻

Thank you to our supporters on Patreon who go above and beyond each month to financially contribute towards making the Backyard Ecology blog, podcast, and YouTube channel possible. Thank you also to everyone who has made one-time donations to support the Backyard Ecology blog, podcast, and YouTube channel. 

🌻 🌻 🌻

 Episode related links:

🦋 YouTube channel: https://youtube.com/backyardecology  🦋 10) 3 Native Crabapples You Need for Pollinators and Wildlife! https://youtu.be/LxlP4m3QsFg  🦋 9) Poison Hemlock Alert! How to Safely Control Flowering Hemlock https://youtu.be/oTenHO5QgW8  🦋 8) Why You DON'T Want Multiflora Rose on Your Property! https://youtu.be/0KrIk1KckPU  🦋 7) Is a Black Gum Tree the Best Choice for Your Yard? https://youtu.be/WLssxkqaLjM  🦋 6) 4 Serviceberries That Attract Pollinators and Support Wildlife! https://youtu.be/t2l398XM2kQ  🦋 5) The 2 Best Milkweeds for Your Butterfly Garden! https://youtu.be/JH6UIIDWY4s  🦋 4) Is a Catalpa Tree the Best Choice for Your Yard?  https://youtu.be/BnPn9nfi9S0  🦋 3) Why You Need Native Hazelnuts on Your Property!  https://youtu.be/DdIoNp5OuXo  🦋 2) How to Control Poison Hemlock on Any Property!  https://youtu.be/FuK0MO6ST8A  🦋 1) Everything You Need to Know About American Persimmon! https://youtu.be/sSNg-b-v7Ek

Become a Backyard Ecologist:

🦋 The Backyard Ecologist’s Newsletter: https://www.backyardecology.net/subscribe/ 🦋 Backyard Ecology Community: https://www.backyardecology.net/community/  🦋 Group coaching: https://www.backyardecology.net/group-coaching/

Backyard Ecology content:

🦋 Website: https://backyardecology.net 🦋 YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/backyardecology 🦋 Blog: https://www.backyardecology.net/blog/

Support Backyard Ecology:

🦋 Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/backyardecology 🦋 Make a one-time donation: https://www.paypal.com/biz/fund?id=K7F3HJLJT9F8N