BIRD HUGGER

THIS IS A REPLAY OF A PAST EPISODE: In today's episode, we talk to Becky Brewer from Prairie Moon Nursery in Minnesota about the many benefits of bare-root natives and how to plant them. (prairiemoon.com) Join Catherine Greenleaf, a certified wildlife rehabilitator with 20 years of experience rescuing and rehabilitating injured wildlife, for twice-monthly discussions about restoring native habitat and helping the birds in your backyard. Send your questions about birds and native gardening to [email protected]. (PG-13) St. Dymphna Press, LLC.

THIS IS A REPLAY OF A PREVIOUS SHOW: In today's episode, we speak with renowned ecological landscape designer and gardening consultant Kathy Connolly about the best way to prepare your site and soil for a native garden. Plants mentioned in the show: Carolina Rhodedendron; low-growing Juniper; Northern Sea Oats; Big Bluestem; Little Bluestem; Switchgrass; Prairie Dropseed. Go to: The Magical World of Moss Gardens by Annie Martin at: https://www.amazon.com/Magical-World-Moss-Gardening/dp/1604695609. Conway School of Landscape Design: https://csld.edu/. Reddit HOA: https://www.reddit.com/r/NativePlantGardening/comments/t3luin/hoa_anger/. Join Catherine Greenleaf, a certified wildlife rehabilitator with 20 years of experience rescuing and rehabilitating injured birds, for twice-monthly discussions about restoring native habitat and helping the birds in your backyard. Access the BIRD HUGGER Newsletter here: www.birdhuggerpodcast.com. Send your questions about birds and native gardening to [email protected]. (PG-13) St. Dymphna Press, LLC.

Join us as we speak with ornithologist David Wiedenfeld from the American Bird Conservancy about the formation and the importance of the Habitats Watch List -- a list that keeps track of specialized habitats and the bird species each habitat supports throughout the United States. David received his PhD from Florida State University. His work has focused on bird population ecology and conservation biology. He served for five years as Director of Research at the Sutton Avian Research Center, working primarily on prairie-chickens. He was also Head of the Department of Vertebrate Ecology at the Charles Darwin Research Station in the Galapagos Islands. His work was primarily with bird populations, but also included projects on invasive species, including predators, diseases, and parasites. .Join Catherine Greenleaf, a certified wildlife rehabilitator with 25 years of experience rescuing and rehabilitating injured wildlife, for twice-monthly discussions about restoring native habitat and helping the birds in your backyard. Send your questions about birds and native gardening to [email protected]. (PG-13) St. Dymphna Press, LLC.

Join us today as we speak with Judy Cardin about the best plants to grow in your garden for attracting bumblebees. Her plant recommendations: Dutchman's Breeches; Virginia Bluebells; Giant Lavender Hyssop; Giant Yellow Hyssop; Joe Pye Weed; Culver's Root; Thistle; Great Blue Lobelia; Bottle Gentian; Asters; Goldenrod; Virginia Waterleaf; Jacob's Ladder; Wild Geranium; Wld Bergamot; Mountain Mint; Anise Hyssop. Shrub recommendations: American Plum; Dwarfbush Honeysuckle; Shrubby St. Johnswort; Lead Plant; and New Jersey Tea. We also discuss the concern about the vanishing Rusty-Patched bumblebee. Judy Cardin is a bumble bee expert and educator with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resource's community science program Wisconsin Bumble Bee Brigade. When Judy retired as Bureau Director with the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection 7 years ago, she transitioned her 50 year passion for nature and gardening into her retirement career: sharing her knowledge of bumble bees, how to restore yard and community spaces to native habitat that will support native wildlife, in particular bumble bees and pollinators. She has trained a wide range of audiences, including Master Gardener and Master Naturalist classes, school teachers, and the PBS Garden expo. Judy is also the administrator of the Wisconsin/Midwest Bumble Bee Observers Facebook page.

• Educator, WDNR Bumble Bee Brigade Citizen Science Program

• UW-Madison Arboretum volunteer, mentored on native plants by Susan Carpenter, Arboretum Native Plant Curator

• Chair, Friends of the UW-Madison Arboretum Grass to Garden Program, Co-chair FOA Native Plant Sale

• Wild Ones Native Plant Certification Instructor

• Converted her urban yard to over 350 native plant species and 25,000 native plants.

• She is a Bee surveyor: conducted hundreds of surveys for Bumble Bee Brigade, UW
  Arboretum, and the USGS. Contributing author, Nature Magazine research article on finding Rusty patched bumble bees:
  https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-026-46861-8

• Author "Rusty Patched Bumble Bee Floral Phenology" https://online.flippingbook.com/view/810946527/

• Administrator, Wisconsin/Midwest Bumble Bee Observers Facebook page.

  Join Catherine Greenleaf, a certified wildlife rehabilitator with 25 years of experience rescuing and rehabilitating injured wildlife, for twice-monthly discussions about restoring native habitat and helping the birds in your backyard. Send your questions about birds and native gardening to [email protected]. (PG-13) St. Dymphna Press, LLC.

Join us today as we speak with Sarah Belles from the American Bird Conservancy about how to keep shorebirds protected while enjoying the beach this summer. Sarah Belles holds a Bachelor’s degree in Ecology for Environmental Science from the University of North Texas and has dedicated almost six years to avian monitoring and research. Sarah’s experience and expertise spans across a variety of bird species of conservation concern in different places and habitat types across the country. Sarah has served as American Bird Conservancy’s Gulf Coast Avian Ecologist since January of 2024 and works with local and regional partners to monitor and protect nesting shorebirds and seabirds, such as Wilson’s Plovers, Snowy Plovers, Least Terns, and Black Skimmers. She also helps promote and implement local Bird City Texas initiatives and conservation efforts on Galveston Island. .Join Catherine Greenleaf, a certified wildlife rehabilitator with 25 years of experience rescuing and rehabilitating injured wildlife, for twice-monthly discussions about restoring native habitat and helping the birds in your backyard. Send your questions about birds and native gardening to [email protected]. (PG-13) St. Dymphna Press, LLC.

THIS IS A RE-BROADCAST OF AN EARLIER SHOW. Today our guest is Judith Schwartz, award-winning author of the incredible book, Water In Plain Sight: Hope For A Thirsty World. Judith explains to us how trapping, slowing down and absorbing water on your property contributes to healthy small-water systems and helps decrease out-of-control flood and drought cycles in your region. To read more about Judith and her book go to https://www.judithdschwartz.com. For further information on the work of hydrologist Michael Kravcik, go to Water For The Recovery Of The Climate: The New Water Paradigm at: https://tinyurl.com/7xbukx5z. For more info on water literacy, go to: https://tinyurl.com/3xsutxwn. To become a water restoration specialist, go to waterstories.com. Join Catherine Greenleaf, a certified wildlife rehabilitator with 20 years of experience rescuing and rehabilitating injured birds, for twice-monthly discussions about restoring native habitat and helping the birds in your backyard. Access the BIRD HUGGER Newsletter here: www.birdhuggerpodcast.com. Send your questions about birds and native gardening to [email protected]. (PG-13) St. Dymphna Press, LLC.

Join us today as we talk to Dan Jaffe Wilder, chief ecologist of the 8,400-acre native oasis, Norcross Wildlife Foundation in Wales, Massachusetts. Dan is the Director of Applied Ecology at Norcross and he tells us all about the historic gardens, walking trails, lakes, ponds, picnic areas, native plants and trees, birds and pollinators you can see while visiting. Located at 30 Peck Road, Wales, MA. For more information go to their website at www.norcrosswildlife.org. Child friendly. Admission is free. Open daily from dusk to dawn. Dan Jaffe Wilder is an ecologist, horticulturist, and botanist with over twenty years’ experience working with native plants and their associated ecology. His work has ranged from classrooms to nurseries to botanical gardens to wildlife refuges and specializes in native plant ecology, propagation, wildlife habitat restoration and enhancement, and native edible landscapes. The Norcross Wildlife Foundation's mission is to protect, enhance, and expand wildlife through conservation, education, and support. Dan’s book Native Plants for New England Gardens was released in 2018. Join Catherine Greenleaf, a certified wildlife rehabilitator with 25 years of experience rescuing and rehabilitating injured wildlife, for twice-monthly discussions about restoring native habitat and helping the birds in your backyard. Send your questions about birds and native gardening to [email protected]. (PG-13) St. Dymphna Press, LLC.

Join us today as we speak with John Price, Associate Director and Seed Collection Coordinator of Mid-Atlantic Restoration Seed Bank. John and his colleagues collect and save native seeds which are then made available to native growers and sellers. He tells us all about the process. MARSB’s mission is to conserve and wisely manage the Mid-Atlantic Region’s wild seed resources, through scientific sampling, ethical collection, banking, and curation, and to encourage and actively contribute to the development of the native plant material supply chain throughout the region. Go to MARSB.org for more information. Join Catherine Greenleaf, a certified wildlife rehabilitator with 25 years of experience rescuing and rehabilitating injured wildlife, for twice-monthly discussions about restoring native habitat and helping the birds in your backyard. Send your questions about birds and native gardening to [email protected]. (PG-13) St. Dymphna Press, LLC.

Join us today as we speak with Esther Vallejo, a bird biologist who is attempting to create a raptor observation and education center in Colombia. Nearly five million raptors migrate through Colombia to spend the winter in South America. But raptors are being shot by hunters in the thousands every year. She is working hard to end hawk persecution in Colombia. For more information go to:

https://www.instagram.com/tropicoscolombia

https://www.facebook.com/migracionrapacesco/

https://gofund.me/38d406617

Join Catherine Greenleaf, a certified wildlife rehabilitator with 25 years of experience rescuing and rehabilitating injured wildlife, for twice-monthly discussions about restoring native habitat and helping the birds in your backyard. Send your questions about birds and native gardening to [email protected]. (PG-13) St. Dymphna Press, LLC.