Nature: Dope AF

The bird migration episode! This might just be our favorite type of creature in the series.  In this episode, Bonnie and Kenny are discussing the migrations of different birds, from little to big covering Ruby-throated Hummingbirds and Sandhill Cranes. Join us for the second in a series on migration where we chat about a few points about these epic bird journeys. In light of recent events, we couldn't talk about bird-watching without taking time to talk about the Black Lives Matter movement, specifically #BlackBirdersWeek in response to Black birder Christian Cooper being threatened in Central Park. 

Highlights include:

00:27 - Loving nature = climate justice = racial justice

1:30 - #BlackBirdersWeek

3:47 - How Kenny became a birder

7:48 - Ruby-throated Hummingbirds fly 18-20 hours across the Gulf of Mexico!

9:48 - Hummingbird swings are a thing

11:05 - 80% of Cranes on the PLANET migrate through Nebraska

14:12 - 5 fast bird migration facts 

Dope Bird Migration Links:

#BlackBirdersWeek:

Birds of North America YouTube Channel

#BlackBirdersWeek Aims to Raise Awareness

Black Nature Lovers Busting Stereotypes

BlackAFInSTEM/Black Nature Experts to follow

General:

9 Awesome Bird Facts About Migration

The Basics Of Bird Migration

The Cornell Lab of Ornithology BirdCast

Watch 118 Bird Species Migrate Across A Map Of The Western Hemisphere

Hummingbirds:

Hummingbird Migration Basics

Hummingbird Nests

Cranes:

Sandhill Crane Range Map

500,000 Cranes Head to Nebraska 

Migrating With The Sandhill Cranes Film 

Audubon Sandhill Crane Guide 

Help Birds:

Minimizing Window Collisions

Toolkit To Help Prevent Tower Collisions

Bird-Friendly Window Solutions

ACTION - Ask your rep to support and cosponsor the Migratory Bird Protection Act

Episode cover: Bonnie and Kenny at the bird-watching cabin at Battle Creek Outdoor Education Center. 

Little wings on little things! An almost invisible migration of insects takes place all around without us even noticing.  In this episode, Bonnie and Kenny are discussing the migrations of these little cuties, namely Monarch butterflies and ladybugs, as well as being confused about scientific classifications. Join us for our first in a series on migration where we chat about a few fun points about these epic insect journeys.

Highlights include:

0:03 - TMI from Kenny

2:09 - Four generations of Monarch live and die on the migration, leading to some contemplation on life 

3:03 - How do Monarch butterflies know where they're going? Definitely not Google Maps or Waze

5:44  - Ladybugs are beetles and we have no idea what we're talking about 

8:43 - Uncomfortable with Ladybug clumps

10:01 - Back on insects vs. bugs

11:20 - Kenny's brain melts 

11:48 - Five fascinating insect migration facts

Dope Insect Migration Links:

White Monarch Butterfly

*Note: as you may guess from the name of our podcast, there are a few swears in this episode

It's the very first episode of Nature: Dope AF! Have you ever thought about the fact that we currently share a planet with the largest animal that has EVER lived?! In this episode Bonnie and Kenny are discussing whales (or talking over each other, bear with us while we work on our sibling tendencies to get into the podcasting groove). Join us as we touch down on a few fun points about these giant wondrous creatures. 

Highlights include:

0:54 - Bonnie reminisces about a childhood sponsored whale named Crystal and forgets that whale tales are called flukes

2:10 - Blue Whales are the biggest animal EVER - scary or cool? *We realized Kenny says the wrong weight in the metric system #american

5:28 - Baby and group names - why are there more than one baby animals called calves? Can we call a herd of cows a pod? 

9:50 - There should be a whale census and Cardi B should do a save the whales commercial 

10:50 - Whales help combat climate change with their poop!

12:17 - Flocculent fecal plumes, it's a thing

14:13 - Five fascinating whale facts 

Dope Whale Links:

https://us.whales.org/whales-dolphins/species-guide/

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/whales-keep-carbon-out-of-the-atmosphere/

https://www.oceana.ca/en/blog/seven-weird-facts-about-whales

https://www.worldwildlife.org/stories/giants-of-the-ocean-whale-facts

https://us.whales.org/whales-dolphins/facts-about-whales

https://www.wired.com/2012/08/blue-whale-poop/

*Note to parents and our mom: as you may guess from the name of our podcast, there are a few swears in this episode