BIRD HUGGER

In today's episode, we talk about the inestimable value of milkweed. Milkweed nectar sustains not just Monarchs, but many species of pollinating insects. The struggle of Monarchs to survive depends on the survival of milkweed and foretells the future for many, if not all, pollinating insects. Scientists claim 1.8 billion milkweed plants must be planted in the U.S. in order to stabilize pollinating insect populations, including the Monarch. And, of course, a decline in insects means a decline in birds, since insects are a bird's main food source. For detailed instructions on how to plant milkweed seeds, go to the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower website at https://tinyurl.com/h8r86jvx. 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.

In today's episode, we speak with Brett Thelen from the Harris Center for Conservation Education in Hancock, New Hampshire. Brett is the Harris Center's Science Director and the team leader for Big Nights, in which groups of volunteers go out into the streets on rainy evenings to scoop up salamanders and frogs and carry them to the other side of the road. Salamanders are an important food source for birds. Find out how you can help at: harriscenter.org. For more info, watch this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XXKT6mL-fSo. 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.

In today's episode, we speak with Dr. Laurie Goodrich from Hawk Mountain Sanctuary in Pennsylvania about her research into the behavior and biology of the Broadwing Hawk. We also discuss our role in her research this year. (hawkmountain.org) 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. Bird call courtesy of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.

Asian Jumping Worms go after the roots of native plants and the leaf litter in forests, altering soil composition and directly impacting the survival of birds. In today's episode, we speak with Dr. Gale Ridge from the State of Connecticut's Agricultural Experiment Station about all of the latest information available on Asian Jumping Worms and what can be done about them. (Fact Sheet on Asian Jumping Worms from the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station: https://tinyurl.com/yk8dkuzu) (Also, see article from New Hampshire University Extension Service: In The Spotlight: Invasive Jumping Worms https://tinyurl.com/2p8skfxu); (Report recommended by Dr. Ridge: The Second Wave Of Earthworm Invasions in North America: Biology, Environmental Impacts, Management and Control of Invasive Jumping Worms by Biological Invasives, lead author Dr. Chih-Han Chang at https://tinyurl.com/4pzapnaa). 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.

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. Bird calls courtesy of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.

In today's episode, we speak with Catherine Quayle from Wild Bird Fund, the only emergency rescue and rehabilitation center for injured birds in New York City. Hear about Wild Bird Fund's new campaign to prevent mass bird collisions with glass windows, particularly in Lower Manhattan. (wildbirdfund.org); (Bird Migration Forecasts In Real Time: birdcast.info); (American Bird Conservancy's Window Remediation Database: https://tinyurl.com/mrytfse6); (New York City Audubon's Window Collision Advocate Templates: https://tinyurl.com/mtceyubh); (Jim Cubie's Guide To Preventing Bird Collisions With Glass: https://tinyurl.com/2p9byhz8). We also discuss how to re-wild your yard with hedgerows. 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.

In today's episode, we have a Mystery Bird. Can you identify that bird call? We'll also be discussing snow drought and its serious implications for the environment, including the birds. We'll also be talking about what you can do to prevent it. Also, fascinating new information about spiders, a vital food source for birds. 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. Bird calls courtesy of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.

In today's episode, we discuss several types of native shrubs and ground covers that offer berries to birds and other wildlife in the winter. We also talk about what we know up to this point about Asian Jumping Worms (www.tinyurl.com/29tz95rx) and the problems posed by commercially raised and released butterflies. 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.

Happy Holidays! Wishing all of you a very merry holiday season and a joyous and happy New Year! Welcome to our special holiday edition of BIRD HUGGER. In today's episode, we'll be looking back over the last year at some of the topics we tackled on the show along with recommendations for some nature books for young people. And finally we will talk with Lisa Doseff, author of the wonderful award-winning children's book, Grandma Lisa's Humming, Buzzing, Chirping Garden. 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.

In today's episode, we'll be talking with Benjamin Vogt, author of the thought-provoking book, A New Garden Ethic: Cultivating Defiant Compassion For An Uncertain Future (New Society Publishers), about how to lessen the major ecological castastrophe headed our way with the Sixth Mass Extinction. (www.monarchgard.com); (A Sand County Almanac by Aldo Leopold at www.aldoleopold.org); (environmental grief at www.tinyurl.com/4ertbsbt). 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.