The Feathered Desert Podcast

Summary:Cheryl and Kiersten regale us with fascinating facts about the often forgotten moth. They are great nighttime pollinators! Join our cohosts to discover the amazing world of moths.

Show Notes:

Hawk Moth Link: www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/pollinators/pollinator-of-the-month/hawk_moths.shtml

Yucca Moth Link: www.nwf.org/Educational-Resources/Wildlife-Guide/Invertebrates/Yucca-Moths

We are no longer sponsored by Wild Birds Unlimited, Mesa but through personal experience we highly recommend their products. 

Desert Pollinators Part 2: Fluttering Butterflies

Summary: In part two of their desert pollinator series, Cheryl and Kiersten talk about butterflies. Join them as they discuss the life cycle of the butterfly, look at a few local residents, and tell you what plants will bring them to you.

Show Notes:

* Note on Chickadee caterpillar usage. The 6,000 to 9,000 count of caterpillars is per clutch, which includes 4 to 5 chicks, not per chick.

*The Butterfly Bush (Summer Lilac or Orange Eye) Buddleja davidii is native to China and is the plant you want to avoid when choosing plants to attract butterflies. It is not native and is invasive.

Central Arizona Butterfly Association: www.cazba.org

These books were referenced (and are great reads):  Nature’s Best Hope by Douglas W. Tallamy

Caterpillars in the Field and Garden by Thomas J. Allen, Jim P. Brock, Jeffery Glassberg

Butterflies of the Southwest by Jim P. Brock

70 Common Butterflies of the Southwest by Western National Parks Association

The Life Cycles of Butterflies by Judy Burris and Wayne Richards

Monarch vs. Queen Identification: www.wildflower.org/magazine/fauna/monarch-vs-queen

Butterfly and Caterpillar pictures:www.butterfliesandmoths.org

Native Plant Nurseries: www.plantnative.org

We are no longer sponsored by Wild Birds Unlimited, Mesa but through personal experience we highly recommend their products. 

Where Have All The Birdies Gone?

Summary: Cheryl and Kiersten shine a light on the seasonal disappearance of birds from our feeders. If you haven’t seen your hummers or finches lately, don’t worry they will be back!

Show Notes:

Lovebirds and the Heat article: www.audubon.org/news/when-it-gets-too-hot-phoenixs-lovebirds-turn-air-conditioning

We are no longer sponsored by Wild Birds Unlimited, Mesa but through personal experience we highly recommend their products. 

Desert Pollinators Part 1: It’s All About The Buzz

Summary:Cheryl and Kiersten tackle the fascinating world of desert pollinators! In this first of several episodes focusing on our local desert pollinators, Cheryl and Kiersten talk about our native bees. You’ll learn how to identify a honey bee versus a native bee, discover the many natives that call the Sonoran Desert home, and find out why you’ll want to attract them to your yard.

Show Notes:

Article about native bees and AZ farmers

www.pinalcentral.com/farm_and_ranch/native-bees-important-to-Arizona-farmer

Information on Native Pollinators

www.pollinator.org/pollinator.org/assets/generalfiles/AZ_bee_guide

Sonoran Bee Informationwww.sonorandesertnativebees.com

Blue Orchard Bee https://www.ars.usda.gov

Bush Dalea www.wildflower.orgSearch Database by name

Xerces Society Pollinator Conservation Program https://xerces.orgFollow Pollinator Conservation link to Yards and Gardens and they have a link for bee houses.

Premade Houses www.crownbees.com

We are no longer sponsored by Wild Birds Unlimited, Mesa but through personal experience we highly recommend their products. 

Summary: Some birds are only found in the desert Southwest. This episode highlights the Verdin and Abert’s Towhee! Join Cheryl and Kiersten as they shed light on these special southwestern birds.

Show Notes: Towhee and Verdin Identification: www.allaboutbirds.org

Wild Birds Unlimited, Mesa https://mesa.wbu.com

We are no longer sponsored by Wild Birds Unlimited, Mesa but through personal experience we highly recommend their products. 

Summary: Join Cheryl and Kiersten as they talk about roadrunners and Gambel’s quail. These iconic desert birds are tricky to attract to your backyard. In this episode, you’ll learn some fun facts and few tips that might help you see these desert beauties.

Show Notes:  Gambel’s Quail by Lynn Hassler Kaufman was referenced

Wild Birds Unlimited, Mesa https://mesa.wbu.com

Roadrunner and Quail Identification: www.allaboutbirds.org

We are no longer sponsored by Wild Birds Unlimited, Mesa but through personal experience we highly recommend their products. 

Summary:Cheryl and Kiersten delve into a few migratory visitors. Warblers and Orioles are some brightly colored birds that visit the valley during migration. Learn all about who to look for and how to attract them to your yard!

Show Notes:Wild Birds Unlimited, Mesa https://mesa.wbu.com

Warbler and Oriole Information: www.audubon.org

Warbler and Oriole Identification: www.allaboutbirds.org

We are no longer sponsored by Wild Birds Unlimited, Mesa but through personal experience we highly recommend their products. 

Summary:Haven’t seen any hummers at your feeder lately? Woodpeckers on your hummingbird feeder scaring off your hummers? Ants and bees invading your hummer feeder? Join Cheryl and Kiersten as they give you pointers on how to deal with these problems!

Show Notes:

Proper nectar recipe for homemade nectar: 4 parts water and 1 part sugar (use only white granular sugar)

We are no longer sponsored by Wild Birds Unlimited, Mesa but through personal experience we highly recommend their products. 

Summary: What exactly is suet? Join Cheryl and Kiersten as they tell you all about it in this episode of The Feathered Desert. Learn what suet is, what it does for the birds, and when to feed it out.  

Show Notes:The book The Joy of Bird Feedingby Jim Carpenter was heavily referenced.

We are no longer sponsored by Wild Birds Unlimited, Mesa but through personal experience we highly recommend their products. 

Summary: In this episode, Cheryl and Kiersten delve into the fascinating subject of seeds! They take a close look at the different kinds of seeds found in the bird feeding hobby and tell you what to look for in a great seed blend.

Show Notes:The book The Joy of Bird Feedingby Jim Carpenter was heavily referenced.

We are no longer sponsored by Wild Birds Unlimited, Mesa but through personal experience we highly recommend their products.