BIRD HUGGER

Join us today as we speak with celebrated author and ornithologist Scott Weidensaul about the many success stories regarding bird conservation and about his brand-new book, The Return of the Oystercatcher: Saving Birds To Save The Planet. Weidensaul, the New York Times bestselling author of A World on the Wing: The Global Odyssey of Migratory Birds and a Pulitzer Prize finalist for Living on the Wind: Across the Hemisphere with Migratory Birds, has despaired over the numbers and reckoned with the loss of so much beauty and majesty in the natural world.

(W. W. Norton & Company; April 21, 2026; $32.99, Hardcover). His new book chronicles the prodigious, life-affirming efforts of scientists, conservationists, and Indigenous peoples to shelter, heal, and foster bird populations across the globe. 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.

Gina Kent is back on the show to continue our discussion about the magnificent Swallow-Tailed Kite. Gina is a senior scientist with the Avian Research and Conservation Institute in Gainesville, Florida. She is going to tell us all about the Eyes On Kites program and its efforts to document the nesting locations of Swallow-Tailed Kites throughout Florida, Georgia, and Alabama. Find out more by going to: www.arcinst.org. For the ARCI Eyes On Kites program, go to: https://www.arcinst.org/eyes-on-kites. For more info on the Swallow-Tailed Kite go to https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Swallow-tailed_Kite/id#. 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 Steven Riley of the American Bird Conservancy to talk about the omnibus Farm Bill. While the Farm Bill is extremely controversial and contains numerous amendments that could prove harmful to conservation efforts, the Bill does carry big benefits for birds. 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 Brett Thelen, director of the Big Night Salamander Brigades for the Harris Center in Hancock, New Hampshire. We learn how the Big Nights are conducted and we also talk about the new tunnel project that allows amphibians to cross roads safely. Brett has been directing community science programming for more than twenty years at the Harris Center. She has an MS in Environmental Studies: Conservation Biology from Antioch University New England and a BA in Literary & Cultural Studies from the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, VA. Prior to and during her graduate studies, she held a variety of ecological research and environmental education roles with Cape Cod National Seashore.

In addition to her work with the Harris Center, Brett writes for Northern Woodlands and other publications. Find out how you can help at: harriscenter.org. For more info about Big Nights, watch this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XXKT6mL-fSo. 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 EPISODE WAS RECORDED IN 2023: Did you know Burrowing Owls raise their young in underground tunnels? In today's episode, we talk about the fascinating Burrowing Owl with Brittany Piersma, a field biologist with the Audubon of the Western Everglades. Brittany is conducting important research of the Burrowing Owl on Marco Island in Florida. She also helps to run the Owl Watch Program, Seabird Stewardship Program and the Gopher Tortoise Program. Go to the Owl Watch Program at https://www.audubonwe.org/about-1-1. Learn more about the Starter Burrow Program at https://www.audubon.org/news/where-burrowing-owls-are-your-neighbors. Go to the Seabird Stewardship Program at https://www.audubonwe.org/about-1. Go to the Gopher Tortoise Program at https://www.audubonwe.org/copy-of-owl-watch. Go to Conservation Collier at https://www.colliercountyfl.gov/government/public-services/divisions/conservation-collier?locale=ht. 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. 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 speak with Heather Holm, author of the award-winning book Wasps and creator of the brand-new free public resource website www.beesmn.org. You don't have to live in Minnesota to benefit from this great new resource. Learn about the bees in your region and what native plants to grow by using this handy website. Hit the donor button on the front page to contribute. Plants mentioned in this episode: Willow trees; Red Maple; Cherry trees: Plum trees; Pussy Willows; Virginia Waterleaf; Virginia Bluebells; Bloodroot; Wild Geranium; Beardtongue; Fleabane; Golden Alexander; and Black Raspberry. 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 discuss Flying Trillium Gardens and Preserve in the Catskills with owner Carolyn Summers. Carolyn turned an abandoned 220-acre farm into a gorgeous native garden and forest preserve. The gardens are open to visitors by appointment. Go to www.flyingtrillium.com for tour appointment times and driving directions. Native plants discussed in this episode: Joe Pye Weed, Ironweed, Baptisia, Rudbeckia, Heuchera, and Jacob's Ladder. Go to GoNativeU at the Native Plant Center, Westchester Community College at https://tinyurl.com/3h7ka6c5. Also check out Kate Brittenham's (Carolyn's daughter) website at www.frontstoopgardens.com. 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 welcome back Dave Crawford, co-creator of Animal Help Now.org (AHNOW.org) and Pet Help And Rescue.org (PHAR.org). Dave gives us the latest update on the rebuilding of his home after the tragic Marshall Fire of Colorado in 2021. We discuss how to plan ahead for your pet in the case of a disaster with the Pet Help and Rescue app (PHAR.ORG). Dave also tells us about the Animal Help Now app and the many species of wildlife this device is helping worldwide. 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 author Ryan Goldberg about his new book, Bird City: Adventures in New York's Urban Wilds. We discuss some controversial subjects regarding birding in New York City. For more information on Ryan, go to www.ryangoldberg.net. 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.