It’s a new season at Ecopsyched! Tune in to this episode to learn about a new category of storytelling at Ecopsyched!

I hope you’ll soon be coming along with me on an Ecopsyched! stories adventure.

-Lisa 

Music Copyrights:
Swing House by RKVC
A Long Cold by Riot
First Time Experience by Nate Blaze

Please Show Your Support:
Subscribe to Ecopsyched! on Apple Podcasts or your favorite channel.
Share this episode on Facebook and Twitter.
Follow Ecopsyched! on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Did you like this episode? Have suggestions? Join the conversation below.

Thank you!

APPLE PODCASTS  |  ANDROID  |  GOOGLE PODCASTS  |  EMAIL  |  RSS

The post About Ecopsyched! Stories appeared first on Ecopsyched!.

It’s winter and pickings are slim. Tune in to this free-for-all at the feeder where wily creatures of land and air compete for seeds and personal space.

Thanks for eavesdropping at the feeder with me!

-Lisa B

Interesting:

You’re not alone if you’ve wondered whether providing food for birds in the winter is helpful or detrimental. In fact, wintertime is the best time of year to aid your feathered friends. According to the National Wildlife Federation, “A large-scale winter storm, with deep snow or ice cover, cuts off many birds from their natural food supplies and can actually cause them to starve by the thousands and even millions. Backyard bird feeding can make a real contribution to their survival and even thriving during the winter months.”

Are you interested in attracting birds to your backyard? Read tips from Audubon on selecting the right feeder – tube, hopper, suet, thistle or ground feeder. For instance, regarding the thistle feeder, “If you hang just one feeder, this should be it. Choose a model with metal ports around the seed dispensers to deter squirrels. Hang it at least 5 feet off the ground, and 3 feet (or 30-plus feet) from a window to avoid bird collisions.” 

You Might Also Enjoy:
NATURE POD: Kona Morning

Music Copyrights:
About That Oldie by Vibe Tracks
You’re free to use this song in any of your videos.
Dog Park by Silent Partner
You’re free to use this song in any of your videos.
Nobody Calls It San Fran by  Coyote Hearing
You’re free to use this song in any of your videos.
Summer Smile by Silent Partner
You’re free to use this song in any of your videos.

Please Show Your Support:
Subscribe to Ecopsyched! on Apple Podcasts or your favorite channel.
Share this episode on Facebook and Twitter.
Follow Ecopsyched! on Instagram and Pinterest.

Did you like this episode? Have suggestions? Join the conversation below.

Thank you!

APPLE PODCASTS  |  ANDROID  |  GOOGLE PODCASTS  |  EMAIL  |  RSS

The post NATURE POD: At The Feeder appeared first on Ecopsyched!.

The South River flows for 10 miles before entering Maryland’s treasured Chesapeake Bay. Along the way, the gentle waves of the tributary lap against its sandy shores. The subtle sounds of tumbling sand and tiny bursting bubbles shape these moments on a sunny afternoon in a park called Quiet Waters.

Thank you for sharing in these sounds of the South River with me.

-Lisa B

Interesting:

What defines the South River as a tributary? According to National Geographic, “A tributary is a freshwater stream that feeds into a larger stream, river or other body of water. The larger, or parent, river is called the mainstem,” which is the Chesapeake Bay in this case.

Have you heard about the lost colonial town of the South River? Wikipedia reveals “a ‘lost town’ called London Town (also known as Londontowne or Londontown) [that] was established on the south shore of the river in 1683, and was once the county seat and a major port.” The site is now the home of the Historic London Town and Gardens, “a twenty-three acre park featuring history, archaeology, and horticulture on the South River.”

Do you love your waterways? Are you local to the Chesapeake Bay? Consider joining the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay for one or more of their Project Clean Stream events, or volunteer to love your planet with an organization near you.

You Might Also Enjoy:
NATURE POD: Anacostia River
NATURE POD: Northern Lake

Music Copyrights:
Fairy Meeting by Emily A. Sprague
You’re free to use this song in any of your videos.
Timeless by Lauren Duski
You’re free to use this song in any of your videos.
Water Lillies by Density & Time
You’re free to use this song in any of your videos.
Away by Geographer
You’re free to use this song in any of your videos.

Please Show Your Support:
Subscribe to Ecopsyched! on Apple Podcasts or your favorite channel.
Share this episode on Facebook and Twitter.
Follow Ecopsyched! on Instagram and Pinterest.

Did you like this episode? Have suggestions? Join the conversation below.

Thank you!

APPLE PODCASTS  |  ANDROID  |  GOOGLE PODCASTS  |  EMAIL  |  RSS

The post NATURE POD: Quiet Waters appeared first on Ecopsyched!.

On this exceptionally warm winter day, people and other animals flock to the community gardens. Tune in to children and geese gingerly sharing a pond-side setting. Will this gathering of geese ever find a clear runway for take-off among their many fans?

Get an inside listen to this gaggle at the gardens.

-Lisa B

Interesting:

Why is a group of geese called a gaggle? Expert and author of eleven books about birds, Laura Erickson explains “migrating geese form lines or V’s that reminded someone long ago of a skein of yarn—hence, a group of geese in the sky is called a skein. But when a flock of geese is on the ground, it no longer forms a skein—grounded geese mill around gregariously, forming a gaggle.”

Did you know that geese form partnerships just like humans? According to the World Animal Foundation, “a pair of geese will get together to raise a family and, for the most part, will stay together the rest of their lives (up to 25 years), raising new families each year.”

You go, geese!

You Might Also Enjoy:
NATURE POD: Kona Morning

Music Copyrights:
How We Like It by Dan Lebowitz
You’re free to use this song in any of your videos.
Gimme Back My Ya Ya by Dan Lebowitz
You’re free to use this song in any of your videos.
Here Come the Raindrops by Reed Mathis
You’re free to use this song in any of your videos.
Santo Rico by Twin Musicom
Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license.

Please Show Your Support:
Subscribe to Ecopsyched! on Apple Podcasts or your favorite channel.
Share this episode on Facebook and Twitter.
Follow Ecopsyched! on Instagram and Pinterest.

Did you like this episode? Have suggestions? Join the conversation below.

Thank you!

APPLE PODCASTS  |  ANDROID  |  GOOGLE PODCASTS  |  EMAIL  |  RSS

The post NATURE POD: Just Goosin’ Around appeared first on Ecopsyched!.

Trek through the snow-covered forest of Thorncrag, pausing only for the sounds of wintering creatures and muffled babbling brooks below ice. Among the cadence of footsteps, hear the history of the Sanctuary and how it came to be a protected natural place at the edge of town.

-Lisa B

Interesting:

Did you know trees go into ‘dormancy,’ similar to hibernation? When cold weather takes hold, processes within the plant slow down. Learn more at Mother Nature Network.

Visit Stanton Bird Club online to learn more about Thorncrag Nature Sanctuary. For instance, according to the Club, human uses of the land have included: “recreation and scientific research by Bates College, a sheep and dairy farm, tuberculosis sanitorium, homestead for the reclusive Elder Thorne, and facility for Highland Spring Bottled Water Company.”

You Might Also Enjoy:
NATURE POD: Neighborhood Walk

Music Copyrights:
Surrender by Dan Lebowitz
You’re free to use this song in any of your videos.
Blue Skies by Silent Partner
You’re free to use this song in any of your videos.
Birds in Flight by Dan Lebowitz
You’re free to use this song in any of your videos.
After All by Geographer
You’re free to use this song in any of your videos.
Campfire Song by Chris Haugen
You’re free to use this song in any of your videos.
Lovely Afternoon Breeze by The 126ers
You’re free to use this song in any of your videos.

Credits:
The accounts of the history of Thorncrag Nature Sanctuary shared in this episode were gathered from the Stanton Bird Club website and trail guide, and from an article in the Bates College Summer 2013 Magazine titled “40 Acres and a Horse”.

Please Show Your Support:
Subscribe to Ecopsyched! on Apple Podcasts or your favorite channel.
Share this episode on Facebook and Twitter.
Follow Ecopsyched! on Instagram and Pinterest.

Did you like this episode? Have suggestions? Join the conversation below.

Thank you!

APPLE PODCASTS  |  ANDROID  |  GOOGLE PODCASTS  |  EMAIL  |  RSS

The post NATURE POD: Wintering Woods of Thorncrag appeared first on Ecopsyched!.

This bumblebee is busy at work with the tasty task of pollinating. Tune in to hear the fervid flight of this delightful little creature.

It’s been a busy year at Ecopsyched! too. In fact, it’s been a busy few years of dreaming up this passion project, editing the first feature episodes, developing the creative, and launching in August! I’m psyched to celebrate with this final “Busy Bee” episode of 2019!

A huge “THANK YOU!” for your support, and for joining me on this and other Ecopsyched! adventures. See you in 2020 for more audible eco-escapades! 

-Lisa B

Interesting:

Did you notice the yellow clump on this bumble’s leg? It’s called a ‘pollen basket.’ Learn more from The Honeybee Conservancy.

According to the Bumble Conservation Trust, only female bumbles (workers) collect pollen and nectar and return to the nest, while males normally do not return to the nest once they leave and collect only nectar to feed themselves. As you can see, our bumble is a female worker bee!

You Might Also Enjoy:
NATURE POD: Capital Cricket
NATURE POD: Kona Night
NATURE POD: Kona Morning

Music Copyrights:
Chimez by Dan Henig
You’re free to use this song in any of your videos.
English Country Garden by Aaron Kenny
You’re free to use this song in any of your videos.
Mr. Sunny Face by Wayne Jones
You’re free to use this song in any of your videos.
Carefree by Kevin MacLeod
Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license.
Yellow Rose of Berkeley by  Rondo Brothers
You’re free to use this song in any of your videos.

Please Show Your Support:
Subscribe to Ecopsyched! on Apple Podcasts or your favorite channel.
Share this episode on Facebook and Twitter.
Follow Ecopsyched! on Instagram and Pinterest.

Did you like this episode? Have suggestions? Join the conversation below.

Thank you!

APPLE PODCASTS  |  ANDROID  |  GOOGLE PODCASTS  |  EMAIL  |  RSS

The post NATURE POD: Busy Bee appeared first on Ecopsyched!.

Plunging from the clouds and crashing to earth, each raindrop is part of a rainstorm symphony. The intermittent winds swell and the ground saturates. Delight in a collaboration of elements in this “Rainstorm” episode.

Interesting:

Did you know that the sound of rain has a color? “Aren’t sounds invisible?,” you might ask. Have you heard of “pink noise?” I hadn’t until I did a little research during the production of this episode.

Most of us have heard of calming white noise. Pink noise is akin to white noise, though the Cleveland Clinic distinguishes the two. “Pink noise is a ‘color’ of noise. So is white noise. Both colors contain all of the frequencies that humans can hear (ranging from 20 hertz to 20,000 hertz). The human ear, though, usually hears pink noise as being ‘even’ or ‘flat’ and perceives white noise as ‘static.’” In other words, and for example, repetitive raindrops generate pink noise, while the consistent whir of a fan produces white noise.

The article goes on to cite an NIH study that showed that pink noise increased deep sleep and dramatically improved memory in older adults, though pink noise had not been compared to white noise.

Others suggest pink noise, such as the sound of rain, even soothes anxiety for some.

Whether you’re looking to pacify or slumber, I hope you enjoy this “Rainstorm” nature pod episode.

– Lisa B

You Might Also Enjoy:
NATURE POD: Anacostia River
NATURE POD: Northern Lake

Music Copyrights:
We Are the Rain by Aakash Gandhi
You’re free to use this song in any of your videos.
Back Home by Coyote Hearing
You’re free to use this song in any of your videos.
Peace Creek by Ashley Shadow
You’re free to use this song in any of your videos.
Drops of Earth by Aakash Gandhi
You’re free to use this song in any of your videos.

Please Show Your Support:
Subscribe to Ecopsyched! on Apple Podcasts or your favorite channel.
Share this episode on Facebook and Twitter.
Follow Ecopsyched! on Instagram and Pinterest.

Did you like this episode? Have suggestions? Join the conversation below.

Thank you!

APPLE PODCASTS  |  ANDROID  |  GOOGLE PODCASTS  |  EMAIL  |  RSS

The post NATURE POD: Rainstorm appeared first on Ecopsyched!.

In the subterranean world of Luray Caverns play the hauntingly beautiful notes of the world’s largest instrument, The Great Stalacpipe Organ. Taking direction from an electric signal triggered on the Organ, a rubber mallet strikes a select stalactite and a human-nature musical collaboration ensues. 

During this ecopsyched! episode, join Lisa B on a tour of Luray Caverns, the largest caverns in eastern America, and experience the echos of a wondrous landscape and a live recording of The Great Stalacpipe Organ. And stay through to the end to enjoy professional recordings of classical music on this magnificent instrument that spans more than three underground acres.

Explore the resources below to learn more about Luray Caverns, a National Natural Landmark, and The Great Stalacpipe Organ. And take your own trip to this fascinating place nestled in the splendor of Virginia’s Blue Ridge and Massanutten Mountains.

You Might Also Enjoy:
NATURE POD: Dance of the Chimes

Music Copyrights:
A very special thanks to Luray Caverns for generously providing the following professional recordings of The Great Stalacpipe Organ included in this nature pod episode.
Shenandoah (by artist unknown): contributing artist Monte Maxwell
Für Elise (by Ludwig van Beethoven): contributing artist Monte Maxwell
Moonlight Sonata (by Ludwig van Beethoven): contributing artist Monte Maxwell

Resources:
Luray Caverns
PBS Article: How Mother Nature and a Pentagon Mathematician Created the World’s Largest Instrument
Downtown Luray, VA
Shenandoah’s Skyline Drive
Shenandoah National Park

Please Show Your Support:
Subscribe to Ecopsyched! on Apple Podcasts or your favorite channel.
Share this episode on Facebook and Twitter.
Follow Ecopsyched! on Instagram and Pinterest.

Did you like this episode? Have suggestions? Join the conversation below.

Thank you!

APPLE PODCASTS  |  ANDROID  |  GOOGLE PODCASTS  |  EMAIL  |  RSS

The post NATURE POD: The Great Stalacpipe Organ appeared first on Ecopsyched!.

In concert with afternoon breezes, metal tubes twirl, weave, and collide. Enjoy the entrancing recital of the dancing chimes.

You Might Also Enjoy:
NATURE POD: Kona Morning

Music Copyrights:
Float by Emily A. Sprague
You’re free to use this song in any of your videos.
Can’t Sleep by Eveningland
You’re free to use this song in any of your videos.

Please Show Your Support:
Subscribe to Ecopsyched! on Apple Podcasts or your favorite channel.
Share this episode on Facebook and Twitter.
Follow Ecopsyched! on Instagram and Pinterest.

Did you like this episode? Have suggestions? Join the conversation below.

Thank you!

APPLE PODCASTS  |  ANDROID  |  GOOGLE PODCASTS  |  EMAIL  |  RSS

The post NATURE POD: Dance of the Chimes appeared first on Ecopsyched!.

It’s the first cool evening of the season as we come together under a dark and breezy sky. Let’s fall under the spell of the soft crackle of wood and fire.

You Might Also Enjoy:
NATURE POD: Kona Night
NATURE POD: Capital Cricket

Music Copyrights:
Neither Sweat Nor Tears by Dan Bodan
You’re free to use this song in any of your videos.
Lightning Bugs by Geographer
You’re free to use this song in any of your videos.

Please Show Your Support:
Subscribe to Ecopsyched! on Apple Podcasts or your favorite channel.
Share this episode on Facebook and Twitter.
Follow Ecopsyched! on Instagram and Pinterest.

Did you like this episode? Have suggestions? Join the conversation below.

Thank you!

APPLE PODCASTS  |  ANDROID  |  GOOGLE PODCASTS  |  EMAIL  |  RSS

The post NATURE POD: Wood and Fire appeared first on Ecopsyched!.