For What It's Earth

As autumn continues, the fall raptor migration starts up again along the Atlantic Flyway! We'll take a look at some of the other flyways located around the world, discuss some helpful tips for identifying the raptors we see flying above, as well as how to care for and protect these amazing birds as they continue on their migration south.

Links:

National Audubon Society's Raptor ID Quiz

With Autumn coming, and colder days and longer nights approaching, we notice the shift in greens in the landscape to reds, oranges, and yellows! Why is this, what makes this shift happen, and how can we add more fall color to the landscape? We'll find out in this week's episode.

Links:

www.TheArtofEcology.com

Let's debunk the myth that Goldenrod causes fall allergies (also known as hay fever)! Goldenrod has many ecological and health benefits and definitely looks suspicious with it's pollen-laden flowers, yet there is another flower that is causing our allergies. We'll examine the differences between them, how to identify them, and how to mitigate your allergies this fall! We'll also talk about how important goldenrod is to the landscape and to healthy, biodiverse ecosystems.

Links: www.theartofecology.com

From providing oxygen and habitat for numerous wild animals, to appreciating the shade and cooling of the large canopies, to being in awe of their general beauty, there are so many reasons to love the trees in your yard, community, and all over the world! This week, I am joined by arborist  Zack Jacobs, to help educate us about the field of arboriculture and why he loves trees, which is different from why an ecologist loves trees, which could be different from your own reason to love trees!

Links:

Discover the wonderful world of fungi as we celebrate National Mushroom Month (September)! We'll take a look at what makes fungi different from plants and animals, how to identify some fungi categories, and learn more about their role in the ecosystem.

As teachers, students, and parents gear up for the school year, I thought I'd take the opportunity to shout out the National Geographic Educator Certification! This free certification is a great way for any educator to get some more professional development hours, deepen their understanding of the world, and improve their lesson plans/curriculum by incorporating the National Geographic learning framework and standards! This doesn't directly apply to environmental science educators only; if you know any educators, of ANY discipline or grade, this is perfect for them!

Learn more about certification for educators here:

https://www.nationalgeographic.org/education/professional-development/educator-certification/

To celebrate that my new book, "trails-to-Tasting" Foraging guide & cocktail recipe book is now available for pre-order, I wanted to share more about foraging etiquette and how to be sure that what you're foraging for is actually edible! Learn more about the Universal Edibility Test, some good rules of thumb for foragers to follow, and some seasonal wild edibles to harvest whenever you're listening!

Links:

https://www.theartofecology.com/product/trails-to-tasting-foraging-guide-beverage-recipe-book-pre-order/

As autumn approaches and we get ready for our fall gardens and backyards, learn the importance of keeping the weeds, dead stems, and fallen leaves in creating vital habitat for many animals. Not only will this save you money, but it will also save you hours and hours of yard work and maintenance!

Happy August, or Water Quality Month! We all know that clean water is important, but do you know how much actual water is even available on the planet for humans to use? We'll examine the little water available, as well as the plants and habitats that are vital to the cleaning and filtering of that water. We'll also discuss some ways to conserve what little water is available to us and how our actions at home can impact those around the globe!

Links:

Water Calculator: www.watercalculator.org

Joined by guest, Samantha Rebuck, we take an in depth look at the many differences between moths, butterflies, and skippers, as well as investigating some of the incredible adaptations that they have! Sam answers my questions and teaches us all about butterfly wings, their anatomy, and how coloration helps these animals to survive.