Dr. Susan explores the world of ravens and the humans that are fascinated by them— their acrobatic flight, intelligence, and close ties with humans. She interviews Dr. Thomas Bugnyar about raven social intelligence and communication.

The episode also highlights two of Dr. Bugnar’s studies, shares a personal raven sighting, and finishes with a full reading of Edgar Allan Poe’s "The Raven."

*Interview: Dr. Thomas Bugnyar, Professor in Dept. of Behavioral and Cognitive Biology at the University of Vienna

Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed the episode, please spread the word about the Biologica podcast 🐦‍⬛

As Halloween approaches here in the US, find out about cutting edge bat research in Germany. Discover just how bats manage to fly out of caves in the thousands without hitting each other. Also, challenge stereotypical perceptions of bats as scary or creepy.

*We interview Dr. Aya Goldschtein about bat echolocation, the importance of bats, and more

*We interview a couple friends about their feelings about bats.

Fly with us into this exploration of bat biology!🦇

*In thanks to Dr. Goldschtein for the interview, and in support of bat conservation, a bat was adopted at Bat Conservation International's website. Each bat has a biologically accurate and informative stuffed animal. Find out more or adopt your own bat here: https://shop.batcon.org/collections/adopt-a-bat

* Learn about Northeastern cave conservation from this website mentioned during the episode: https://www.necaveconservancy.org/preserves/

Join Dr. Susan and explore the biology and conservation of giant pandas through a visit to the National Zoo, interviews with a Smithsonian scientist, and more. The episode covers panda captive care, habitat protection efforts in China, and the unique role of pandas in international diplomacy, with expert insights from Dr. Melissa Songer, a conservation biologist who studies and helps conserve wild pandas. During part two of the special on the conservation of charismatic, large mammals, come spend some time with panda bears. *interview- Dr.Melissa Songer, conservation biologist at Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute * a donation was made as a symbolic adoption of a panda on the World Wildlife Fund page: https://gifts.worldwildlife.org/gift-center/gifts/Species-Adoptions

Explore how conservation biologists are saving magnificent giants like elephants, Scimitar-Horned Oryx, and more. Join Dr. Susan in checking out some of these charismatic mammals at the National Zoo and for an interview with a world renowned conservation biologist who has fascinating stories to share. How do you re-introduce an extinct species? What kind of satellite collar do you put on an elephant? Find out more in this fascinating episode, part one in a two-part series on conservation biology.

*Interview: Dr. Melissa Songer, Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute

*A donation was made to this organization by the Biologica Podcast in thanks to Dr. Songer

*Learn more here: https://nationalzoo.si.edu/conservation/about-scbi

*See photos from Dr. Songer of her work with elephants and oryx on the Patreon or Instagram pages for Biologica

*Next episode – Saving Giants Part Two: Conservation Biology of Pandas

*Please share, repost, send a telegram or carrier pigeon, leave a message in a bottle, or follow (if you enjoyed this episode), and thank you for helping keep the Biologica ball rolling. 🙏

*To see images by Dr. Songer from this episode, follow one of these links:

Biologica on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/biologica_podcast?igsh=MXRydjJ1Z3d2emVjZQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

Biologica on Patreon: patreon.com/Biologica

Explore with Dr. Susan how these avian marvels adapt to and live at high altitude in the mountains near the equator. Come hiking and soak up the sounds of the forest, with waterfalls and the calls of vibrant hummingbirds. Dr. Christopher Witt explains how these hummingbirds adapt to high-altitude environments through physiological changes and more. These fascinating flyers have come to thrive in the high slopes of the Andes mountains, and have many secrets to share.

*Interview: Dr. Christopher Witt, Curator of Birds & Director, Museum of Southwestern Biology; Professor, Department of Biology, UNM.

Learn more about his research here: https://www.unmornithology.org/home

*A donation was made to the International Hummingbird Society in thanks to Dr. Witt, from the Biologica Podcast.

Find out more or donate here: https://www.hummingbirdsociety.org/

(Note-the episode cover design is symbolic- not scientific or meant to depict an accurate species.)

*Tenth Episode celebration: Send Dr. Susan a message with your favorite of the first 10 episodes (and why) at [email protected] by September 1st; Dr. Susan will draw 10 names to receive an embroidered Biologica patch.

Join us as we explore the fascinating world of Assateague Island, neighbor of Chincoteague Island and home to its renowned wild horses. A biologist at Assateague Island National Seashore shares captivating insights on the horses’ history, biology, and management. Dr. Susan also weaves in live field recordings from a camping and biking journey there, capturing the beauty and serenity of this unique landscape. Discover how humans and ponies intersect on this extraordinary and beloved barrier island,

*Interview: Lindsay Ries, Supervisory Biologist for Assateague Island National Seashore

- A donation was made by Biologica to the Assateague Island Alliance in the form of a symbolic foster of the Assateague horse Aster Linea.

- Learn more or foster a horse at their website: https://assateagueislandalliance.org

- Learn about visiting the National Seashore here: https://www.nps.gov/asis/index.htm

* Coming soon: In celebration of the next episode, which will be the 10th episode (not including the trailer), Biologica will have a fun special event where listeners can email their favorite episode (from all ten) in order to be entered in a drawing for one of 10 embroidered Biologica patches. Stay tuned in the next episode for more information. Thank you so much to the Biologica loyal listeners! If you are new to the podcast, welcome; I hope to see you next time. 🙏🐾 -Dr. Susan

The iconic monarch butterfly has inspired generations with its beauty and its complex and mysterious migration - come be inspired by the monarch again. In this episode, join Dr. Susan in exploring monarch butterflies: talking with both an expert biologist who studies them and an inspirational conservationist who is dedicated to helping them. The flagship for the movement to help pollinators, the monarch is under threat from a number of sources. While the monarch brings people so much joy, it also needs our help. We will learn concrete steps we can take to help this queen among butterflies. We will also look at research and attempt to rear butterflies from caterpillars. For old and young alike, come celebrate the monarchs: they are struggling, but there is also reason for hope.

Learn more:

-We interview Ward Johnson, the founder of Save our Monarchs.

Find out more or order milkweed at: https://www.saveourmonarchs.org

*A donation was made to Save our Monarchs by the the Biologica Podcast for this episode.

-We interview Dr. David James; to see a photo of him teaching inmates about monarch butterflies, and a photo of a tiny tag on a butterfly’s wing, visit this 2018 article:

https://ucanr.edu/blog/bug-squad/article/david-james-incredible-research-migratory-monarchs