Nature Guys

In this edition of Through the Eyes of Nature Guys, Bill shares stories of trips to one of his top two destinations in the world - the Galapagos Islands. Related episodes: Bill's Travel Tips http://natureguys.org/bills-travel-tips/ Belize http://natureguys.org/belize/ Our sources for this episode include: The experiences of Bill on his trips to the Galapagos

The Mourning Dove is easy to find both by sight and by ear. Our sources for this episode include: Fun Mourning Dove Facts http://backyardbirdingblog.com/fun-mourning-dove-facts/ Mourning Dove https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Mourning_Dove/lifehistory The Secret Life of the Mourning Dove http://northernwoodlands.org/outside_story/article/the-secret-life-of-the-mourning-dove

This is a bird that is so friendly it will eat out of your hand! Tune in to find out more about this cute little bird that is easy to find. Our sources for this episode include: Black-capped chickadees are amazing little birds - https://www.berkshireeagle.com/stories/thom-smith-naturewatch-black-capped-chickadees-are-amazing-little-birds,532813 10 Interesting Facts About Chickadees - https://www.backyardchirper.com/blog/10-interesting-facts-about-chickadees/ Carolina Chickadees - https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Carolina_Chickadee/overview

This is a bird that is easily identified. It will come to your feeder and is a year round resident in Cincinnati. Tune in to learn more about the little bird with the bad haircut. Our sources for this episode include: What is a Titmouse? - http://www.10000birds.com/titmouse.htm Titmouse - https://www.britannica.com/animal/titmouse Tufted Titmouse - https://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/tufted-titmouse

Cordyceps is a fungus that can destroy ant colonies. Tune in to find out how cicadas found a way to use cordyceps to survive. Our sources for this episode include: Fungus turns ‘zombie antsʼ into booby traps https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/speaking-of-science/wp/2014/08/19/fungus-turns-zombie-ants-into-booby-traps/?noredirect=on&utm_term=.549321d845b5 6 Benefits of Cordyceps, All Backed by Science https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/cordyceps-benefits#section8 Cordyceps: The Most Terrifying Fungus Youʼve Ever Seen https://www.strangerdimensions.com/2013/05/28/cordyceps-the-most-terrifying-fungus-youve-ever-seen/ How to Tame a Zombie Fungus - Cicadas have repeatedly turned the infamous cordyceps fungi into indispensable allies. https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2018/06/how-to-tame-a-zombie-fungus/562544/

Horsehair worms are easy to find. They are fascinating and harmless. Keep your eyes open when you are near water. Bill found one crawling out of a grasshopper. Our sources for this episode include: Horsehair Worms (https://entomology.ca.uky.edu/files/efpdf3/ef613.pdf) Iowa State Horsehair Worms (https://hortnews.extension.iastate.edu/horsehair-worm) Wild Fact #752 – Bad Company – Nematomorpha (http://www.wild-facts.com/2010/wild-fact-752-bad-company-nematomorpha/) Zombie Fungus Enslaves Only Its Favorite Ant Brains (https://www.livescience.com/47751-zombie-fungus-picky-about-ant-brains.html)

Water Striders are amazing insects that you can find in lakes and streams. Tune in to find out what they eat, how fast they are and much more. This episode was recorded live at Roads, Rivers and Trails (https://roadsriversandtrails.com/). Our sources for this episode include: Facts About Water Striders https://someinterestingfacts.net/facts-water-striders This Is Why Water Striders Make Terrible Lifeguards - KQED You Tube video https://www.kqed.org/science/1871155/this-is-why-water-striders-make-terriblelifeguards 7 Water Strider Facts – It Walks On Water! http://jakesnatureblog.com/2018/08/11/7-water-strider-facts-walks-water/ Richard Hammond's Invisible Worlds - Water Strider - You Tube video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RphuMEUY3Og

As human beings we have a chance to contribute to organizations that help educate and protect the natural world. Bob and Bill talk about some of their favorite organizations and what they are able to accomplish with a little help from people like you. If you are donating to an organization please consider leaving a comment under this episode. Organizations that Bob and Bill support: Imago https://imagoearth.org Cincinnati Nature Center https://www.cincynature.org The Nature Conservancy https://www.nature.org/en-us/ American Bird Conservancy https://abcbirds.org

The beaver is one of the largest rodents in North America. Tune in to find out how and why beavers actually took up parachuting! Our sources for this episode include: Parachuting beavers featured in 'Fur For the Future,' 1950s-era film https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4gNAjBPIyjQ Amazing Facts About the Beaver https://onekindplanet.org/animal/beaver/ Facts About Beavers https://www.livescience.com/52460-beavers.html 11 Fascinating Facts About Beavers http://mentalfloss.com/article/62316/11-fascinating-facts-about-beavers

Did you know that we have thousands of species of parasitoid wasps? Tune in to find out why these are called Zombie Wasps. Our sources for this episode include: Butterfly Eggs and Caterpillar Survival | Life In The Undergrowth | BBC https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GCo2uCLXvhk That little speck there? That's a parasitoid wasp! https://u.osu.edu/pinningblock/2015/05/28/that-little-speck-there-thats-a-parasitoid-wasp/ Ichneumon Wasps More than 5,000 species in North America https://nature.mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/field-guide/ichneumon-wasps Intimate relation between blue butterfly, ichneumon wasp and ants https://www.researchgate.net/publication/320475303_Intimate_relation_between_blue_butterfly_ichneumon_wasp_and_ant

This is Nature Guys 100th episode and to celebrate Bill and Bob did a live show for volunteers of Cincinnati Nature Center (https://www.cincynature.org/) the place they met many years ago. This episode is on Canada Geese a bird that Bill had many encounters with at Cincinnati Nature Center. Tune in to find out all about the bird many people love to hate. Related episode: Don’t Grab a Snapping Turtle by the Tail (http://natureguys.org/snapping-turtle/) Our sources for this episode include: Where Did All Those Canada Geese In Town Come From? https://www.allaboutbirds.org/canada-goose-resident-vs-migratory/ The Canada Goose https://owlcation.com/stem/The-Canada-Goose-Facts-and-Information 6 Honking Facts About Canada Geese http://mentalfloss.com/article/80243/6-honking-facts-about-canada-geese Canada geese will attack. Why are the birds so aggressive? https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2018/04/25/canada-geese-attacks-population-aggressive/550135002/

Bill and Bob gathered nature stories at Imagoʼs Music in the Woods (http://www.imagoearth.org). Tune in to hear inspiring stories of nature connection. Bill mentions a book that he loves, The Overstory, by Richard Powers (http://www.richardpowers.net/the-overstory/). Related episodes: Sit Spot (http://natureguys.org/sit-spot/) and Screech Owl (http://natureguys.org/screech-owl/)

Step outside on a night in late summer and listen to the sounds of the insects. Bill and Bob have some tips on how to listen to these amazing sounds. Our sources for this episode include: Bill suggests the book "The Songs of Insects" by Lang Elliott and Wil Hershberger https://www.amazon.com/Songs-Insects-Wil-Hershberger/dp/0618663975 The Music of Nature by Lang Elliot http://www.musicofnature.com Understanding Insect Sounds: Nature's Orchestra Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FEHbY-ZkzVo What are you hearing http://www.entnemdept.ufl.edu/walker/buzz/i00dis.htm The Singing Insects of Summer https://www.extension.iastate.edu/news/2008/aug/060801.htm

Bill finds fall webworms in the middle of summer. These may look nasty in trees but they are native. Related episode: Tent Caterpillars Camp Out Together http://natureguys.org/tent-caterpillars/ Our sources for this episode include: Answer Man Revisited: Are there more webworms this fall? Sept 2016 https://www.news-leader.com/story/news/local/ozarks/2016/09/30/answer-man-revisited-there-more-webworms-fall/91172160/ Fall Webworm https://texasinsects.tamu.edu/fall-webworm/ The rise and fall of the fall webworm http://msue.anr.msu.edu/news/the_rise_and_fall_of_the_fall_webworm Bagworms or Fall Webworms? https://wayne.ces.ncsu.edu/2015/10/bagworms-or-fall-webworms/

It is hard to stay mad at a chipmunk because they are so darn cute. Tune in to learn all about this adorable creature. Our sources for this episode include: 5 Ways Chipmunks Win at Winter http://www.ohioanimalcompanion.org/5-ways-chipmunks-win-at-winter/ 10 things you don't know about chipmunks https://www.mnn.com/earth-matters/animals/stories/10-things-you-dont-know-about-chipmunks Chipmunk Facts http://www.havahart.com/chipmunk-facts NOT Alvin and the Chipmunks: 10 Facts You May Not Know about the Real Rodents https://blog.nwf.org/2011/12/not-alvin-and-the-chipmunks-10-facts-about-the-real-rodents/ 

The Northern Water Snake is a common snake that you will see around water. Billʼs advice is to look at these and not pick them up. Our sources for this episode include: Northern Water Snake http://www.untamedscience.com/biodiversity/northern-water-snake/ Facts About Water Snakes https://www.livescience.com/52768-water-snake-facts.html Northern Water Snake https://snake-facts.weebly.com/northern-water-snake.html  

Did you know that Basswood was the favorite tree of Henry David Thoreau? Tune in to find out all about this amazing tree. Our sources for this episode include: Linden Tree (Tilia species): The Bee Tree by Gary Carlin http://hpsbg.weebly.com/uploads/2/3/6/6/2366012/linden_tree.pdf Basswood Tree Facts https://www.gardenguides.com/116300-basswood-tree.html Uses for Basswood http://www.bwsr.state.mn.us/news/webnews/May%202013/plant.pdf Basswood or Linden Tree Interesting Facts and Uses http://snaplant.com/trees/basswood-or-linden-tree-interesting-facts-and-uses/

The Nature Guys recorded this show in front of a live audience at Fibanacci Brewing Company (http://fibbrew.com/). Fibonacci makes a beer called Mulberry Grove. Tune in to find out how mulberry trees ended up growing near the the brewery. Our sources for this episode include: Hamilton Avenue Road to Freedom by Charles Cheney http://hamiltonavenueroadtofreedom.org/?page_id=563 Silk https://tennesseeencyclopedia.net/entries/silk/ Mt. Healthy neighbors gather mulberries for Fibonaci beer https://www.cincinnati.com/story/entertainment/dining/2018/06/29/fibonaccismulberry-grove-made-wild-neighborhood-berries/742644002/ 7 Reasons You Should Plant a Mulberry Tree http://www.onegreenplanet.org/lifestyle/reasons-you-should-plant-a-mulberry-tree/

We were at Cincinnati Nature Center for their Hoots and Hops event. Much to our surprise we found out that Lois has Japanese Beetles on her ferns. If you have a garden you probably have seen a Japanese Beetle. These insects can be a challenge to control. Tune in to find out how to identify and deal with the Japanese Beetle. Our sources for this episode include: Best and Worst Plants https://www.almanac.com/content/japanese-beetles-best-and-worst-plants Jaw-dropping Facts About Japanese Beetles https://animalsake.com/japanese-beetle-facts Ten Interesting Facts About Japanese Beetles as an Aid to Control http://www.karensgardentips.com/growing-garden-plants/garden-pests-diseases/ten-interesting-facts-about-japanese-beetles-to-help-you-control-them/ 5 Need to Know Facts about Japanese Beetles https://lancaster.unl.edu/hort/articles/5FactsaboutJapaneseBeetle_JLarson.pdf

If you happen to see a baby hummingbird take a closer look. You probably are looking at a Hummingbird Moth. Tune in to find out all about a moth that looks and acts like a hummingbird. Our sources for this episode include: Summer Hummer http://bugoftheweek.com/blog/2015/7/13/summer-hummer-hummingbird-moth-ihemaris-thysbei National Moth Week http://nationalmothweek.org Convergent Evolution https://www.sciencedaily.com/terms/convergent_evolution.htm Is it rare to see a hummingbird moth? http://animals.mom.me/rare-see-hummingbird-moth-4660.html