BIRD HUGGER
Love gardening and birds and want to help Mother Nature? Join host Catherine Greenleaf, former gardening columnist for the Boston Herald Sunday Magazi…
Nov 23rd, 2023 |
32:58
Searching For Lost Hikers and Birders With Cathy Tarr
Would you know what to do if you got lost in the woods while birdwatching or hiking? Today we speak with Cathy Tarr, founder and executive director of…
Nov 9th, 2023 |
20:11
Pink Flamingo Fever With Dan Lebbin
Flamingos in Wisconsin? Yes! In late August, Hurricane Idalia pushed dozens of Pink Flamingos northward, with some landing in Virginia and even Wiscon…
Oct 26th, 2023 |
20:20
Hugger The Broad-Winged Hawk Is On Her Way To Guatemala!
Hugger, the Broad-Winged Hawk we are sponsoring with a tracking transmitter through Hawk Mountain Sanctuary, is migrating south and in the lead! Today…
Oct 12th, 2023 |
27:34
Native Shrubs For Northeast Landscapes With Emily Baisden
Today we speak with Emily Baisden, Seed Manager at Wild Seed Project. She tells us all about the best native shrubs to grow to benefit birds and polli…
Sep 28th, 2023 |
22:02
Don't Touch That Garden!
On today's show we talk about the importance of leaving your garden alone come the fall. Fall is also a good time to check for Asian Jumping worms. We…
Sep 14th, 2023 |
32:17
Preventing Birds From Striking Windows With Daniel Klem
Fall migration time is here. Unfortunately, millions of songbirds die during migration each year flying into glass windows. Today we have as our guest…
Aug 31st, 2023 |
31:29
Ridding The Horticultural Industry Of Plastic With Marie Chieppo
Today we speak with Marie Chieppo, award-winning horticulturalist and operator of the native plant consulting business, EcoPlantPlans.com, headquarter…
Aug 17th, 2023 |
37:27
Native Plants For Shady Landscapes With Heather McCargo
She's back! Heather McCargo, founder of Wild Seed Project in Portland, Maine, is back on BIRD HUGGER to answer your most pressing questions about grow…
Aug 3rd, 2023 |
27:44
Averting The Insect Apocalypse with Dave Goulson
Today we speak with Dave Goulson, a biologist specializing in the ecology of bees and one of the world's greatest experts on the bumblebee. We talk ab…
Jul 20th, 2023 |
24:35
The Pioneers Of Bird Migration Tracking With Rebecca Heisman
Today we speak with ornithologist Rebecca Heisman, author of the fascinating new book, Flight Paths. We discuss the theories ancient scientists held a…
Jul 6th, 2023 |
21:14
Building A Community Pollinator Garden With Lynne Parshall
Today we speak with Lynne Parshall, avid native gardener and the project manager of the Utility Club in the town of Lyme in the Upper Valley region of…
Jun 22nd, 2023 |
27:03
Creating Native Gardens On A Budget With Alicia Houk
IT'S NATIONAL POLLINATOR WEEK! AND WE'VE GOT A SPECIAL SHOW TO CELEBRATE. Today we talk with pollinator ecologist Alicia Houk of Thetford, Vermont. Al…
Jun 8th, 2023 |
20:52
The Hows and Whys Of Loon Fallout with Marge Gibson
On today's show, we speak with Marge Gibson, founder and executive director of Raptor Education Group Inc. (REGI) in Antigo, Wisconsin, a rescue and r…
May 25th, 2023 |
31:30
Get Ready To Garden With Grow Native Massachusetts
Today we hear about the wonderful organization Grow Native Massachusetts and their gigantic native plant sale on June 2nd and 3rd! Executive Director…
May 11th, 2023 |
37:54
The Evolution Of Bird Song With David George Haskell
Did you know seagulls evolved a loud and raucous cry so they could be heard over the crash of waves and surf? Or that grassland songbirds evolved a bu…
Apr 27th, 2023 |
19:08
Exciting Update On Hugger The Broad-Winged Hawk With Dr. Laurie Goodrich
Hugger is on her way back north! On today's show we get the long-awaited news on Hugger's northward migration. We are joined by Broad-Winged Hawk expe…
Apr 13th, 2023 |
24:15
Relocating Your Native Plant Gardens With Marie Chieppo
Your average American moves to a new home 4-5 times over the course of a lifetime. So what happens if you have native plants you want to take with you…
Mar 30th, 2023 |
19:42
Florida Keys Hawk Watch With Mariah Hryniewich
Each year the Florida Keys Hawk Watch bird counters stand on the observation deck at the campground at Curry Hammock State Park (Marathon) in the Flor…
Mar 16th, 2023 |
37:08
The Epic Battle To Restore The Everglades
The Florida Everglades was once six million acres of pristine wilderness. Today, it has been literally cut in half to three million acres and has been…
Mar 9th, 2023 |
16:04
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: Nadeem Shehzad From All That Breathes -- Academy Award Nominee For Best Documentary
Today we have an exclusive interview with Nadeem Shehzad, one of the two brothers featured in the captivating Academy Award-nominated documentary, All…
Mar 2nd, 2023 |
27:18
Protecting The Ospreys Of Southwest Florida With Kathryn Brintnall
Did you know there is an International Osprey Foundation headquartered on Sanibel Island in Florida? Today, we speak with Kathryn Brintnall, president…
Feb 16th, 2023 |
26:06
The Florida Scrub Jay with Jacqui Sulek
Did you know the Florida Scrub Jay is a hoarder? A hoarder of acorns from the Scrub Oak tree, that is! On today's show, we talk with Jacqui Sulek, an…
Feb 2nd, 2023 |
27:57
The Burrowing Owls Of Marco Island With Brittany Piersma
Did you know Burrowing Owls raise their young in underground tunnels? In today's episode, we talk about the fascinating Burrowing Owl with Brittany Pi…
Jan 19th, 2023 |
28:19
Adventures Of A Transplanted Gardener With Ginny Stibolt
Did you know 1,000 people move to Florida every single day? Join us for a talk with Ginny Stibolt, author of the wonderful new book, Adventures Of A T…
Jan 5th, 2023 |
30:47
The Pollinator Victory Garden With Kim Eierman -- Plus Year-End Wrap-Up
Join us for the BIRD HUGGER Year-End Wrap Up! We are also speaking with Kim Eierman, author of the fantastic new book, The Pollinator Victory Garden.…
Dec 15th, 2022 |
28:19
BIRD HUGGER HOLIDAY SPECIAL
Join us for some good cheer on the BIRD HUGGER Holiday Special! Author Marta McDowell is our guest as we discuss her book about The Secret Garden, the…
Dec 1st, 2022 |
26:12
Northeast Native Plant Primer With Uli Lorimer
In today's episode, we talk with Uli Lorimer, horticulture director at the Native Plant Trust and author of the new book, The Northeast Native Plant P…
Nov 17th, 2022 |
28:48
Tracking The Elusive Nighthawk With Phil Brown
Did you know the Nighthawk is not a hawk and is not a nocturnal bird? Confusing, right? In today's episode we have Phil Brown from the Harris Center f…
Nov 3rd, 2022 |
25:29
Birds, Beasts And Bedlam With Derek Gow
In today's episode, we talk with Derek Gow, author of the brand-new book, Birds, Beasts and Bedlam: Turning My Farm Into An Ark For Lost Species. Dere…
Oct 20th, 2022 |
23:35
Bird Hugger Halloween Special
Spooky! Scary! Happy Halloween! Pull up a chair in front of the fire and grab a cup of hot cider. We've got a frighteningly good show for you, includi…
Oct 6th, 2022 |
25:10
Broad-Winged Hawk Migration With Update On Hugger
In today's episode, we talk with Dr. Rebecca McCabe, an avian biologist from Hawk Mountain Sanctuary in Pennsylvania, about the migration of the Broad…
Sep 22nd, 2022 |
27:02
The Heron Observation Network Of Maine
In today's episode, we speak with avian biologist Danielle D'Auria, who works at the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife for the State of Main…
Sep 8th, 2022 |
14:38
The Long Slow Death Of The American Lawn
In today's episode, we talk about the long, slow death of the American lawn and how more and more Americans are embracing the planting of natives in t…
Aug 25th, 2022 |
30:33
Rainwater Harvesting With Brad Lancaster
In today's episode, we speak with Brad Lancaster, award-winning author of the book, Rainwater Harvesting. With drought affecting many regions of the U…
Aug 11th, 2022 |
31:35
100 Plants To Feed The Bees With The Xerces Society
In today's episode, we talk with Matthew Shepherd from the Xerces Society about the organization's wonderful book, 100 Plants To Feed The Bees: Provid…
Jul 28th, 2022 |
32:50
The Mystery Of The Loons On Squam Lake
In today's episode, we talk with avian biologist Tiffany Grade from the Loon Preservation Committee about the mysterious deaths of loons on Squam Lake…
Jul 14th, 2022 |
32:35
Native Groundcovers For Northeast Landscapes With Anna Fialkoff
In today's episode, we talk with Anna Fialkoff, Ecological Programs Manager at Wild Seed Project.org. Anna has co-authored a guide with founder Heathe…
Jun 30th, 2022 |
36:35
Bird Shamanism with Evan Pritchard
In today's episode, we discuss bird shamanism and bird divination and the mystical and spiritual connection all of us can develop with birds with Evan…
Jun 2nd, 2022 |
42:11
Helping Turtles Safely Across The Roads With Pam Meier
In today's episode, we discuss how to safely help turtles cross the roads during egg-laying season with turtle expert Pam Meier. Pam has been rescuing…
May 19th, 2022 |
36:44
Saving Your Neighborhood Trees with Diane Hoffman
Where do most birds nest? In trees, of course! Spring brings the lovely sound of chirping birds but it can also bring the loud whir of chainsaws. In t…
May 5th, 2022 |
23:04
Evening Grosbeak: The Forest Wanderer
In today's episode, we discuss how to handle the territorial aggression of songbirds around your home. We also get the latest updates on the avian flu…
Apr 21st, 2022 |
30:18
Rebugging The Planet With Vicki Hird
Today, we speak with Vicki Hird, author of the marvelous new book, Rebugging The Planet. We talk about the things all of us can do to stop the decline…
Apr 7th, 2022 |
31:27
All About Penguins With Dyan deNapoli
In today's episode, we are joined by the Penguin Lady, Dyan deNapoli. Dyan is a world-renowned penguin expert, TED and National Geographic speaker, an…
Mar 24th, 2022 |
38:43
Protecting Birds During Spring Migration with Dr. Daniel Klem
Spring migration has begun and we have highly-renowned ornithologist Dr. Daniel Klem, Jr. with us to talk about his brand-new book on preventing bird…
Mar 10th, 2022 |
14:21
Not Just For Monarchs: The Inestimable Value Of Milkweed
In today's episode, we talk about the inestimable value of milkweed. Milkweed nectar sustains not just Monarchs, but many species of pollinating insec…
Mar 3rd, 2022 |
35:11
BONUS EPISODE: Saving Salamanders With Brett Thelen
In today's episode, we speak with Brett Thelen from the Harris Center for Conservation Education in Hancock, New Hampshire. Brett is the Harris Center…
Feb 24th, 2022 |
33:47
Tracking Broad-Winged Hawks with Dr. Laurie Goodrich
In today's episode, we speak with Dr. Laurie Goodrich from Hawk Mountain Sanctuary in Pennsylvania about her research into the behavior and biology of…
Feb 10th, 2022 |
38:33
Asian Jumping Worms And Their Impact On Native Plants
Asian Jumping Worms go after the roots of native plants and the leaf litter in forests, altering soil composition and directly impacting the survival…
Feb 4th, 2022 |
19:12
BONUS EPISODE: The Benefits of Bare-Root Native Plantings
In today's episode, we talk to Becky Brewer from Prairie Moon Nursery in Minnesota about the many benefits of bare-root natives and how to plant them.…
Jan 27th, 2022 |
26:47
Preventing Mass Bird Collisions in New York City
In today's episode, we speak with Catherine Quayle from Wild Bird Fund, the only emergency rescue and rehabilitation center for injured birds in New Y…
Jan 13th, 2022 |
16:29
The Eastern Bluebird: The Sound Of Spring
In today's episode, we have a Mystery Bird. Can you identify that bird call? We'll also be discussing snow drought and its serious implications for th…
Dec 30th, 2021 |
13:57
Native Berries For Birds In Winter
In today's episode, we discuss several types of native shrubs and ground covers that offer berries to birds and other wildlife in the winter. We also…
Dec 16th, 2021 |
29:23
Special Holiday Edition of BIRD HUGGER
Happy Holidays! Wishing all of you a very merry holiday season and a joyous and happy New Year! Welcome to our special holiday edition of BIRD HUGGER.…
Dec 2nd, 2021 |
31:36
A New Garden Ethic With Benjamin Vogt
In today's episode, we'll be talking with Benjamin Vogt, author of the thought-provoking book, A New Garden Ethic: Cultivating Defiant Compassion For…
Nov 18th, 2021 |
13:19
Sumac: The Native Shrub Nobody Likes
In today's episode, we'll be talking about a native shrub nobody likes -- the much-disparaged, but extremely beneficial, Sumac. Join Catherine Greenle…
Nov 4th, 2021 |
29:49
Native Plants For The Small Yard with Kate Brandes
In today's episode, we speak with Kate Brandes, author of the book, Native Plants For The Small Yard. We'll be discussing design ideas for planting na…
Oct 28th, 2021 |
25:21
BONUS EPISODE: Bird Hugger Halloween Special
Spooky! Scary! Join us for a special Halloween episode of Bird Hugger. Learn how to make organic pumpkin seed pesto and how to keep birds safe from ou…
Oct 21st, 2021 |
41:15
The Fall Migration Of The Hummingbird With John Shewey
In today's episode, we speak with renowned nature writer and photographer John Shewey (author of the new book, The Hummingbird Handbook) about the fal…
Oct 7th, 2021 |
38:48
Wasps: The Forgotten Insect with Heather Holm
In today's episode, we talk with noted biologist Heather Holm about her brand-new, multiple award-winning book, Wasps: Their Biology, Diversity and Ro…
Sep 23rd, 2021 |
32:43
Preventing Cyanobacteria Outbreaks in Lakes and Ponds
What could be more important for birds than clean water to drink? In today's episode, we speak with aquatic biologist Angela Shambaugh about how to pr…
Sep 9th, 2021 |
10:25
The Chimney Swift: Acrobat Of The Amazon
In today's episode, we have a Mystery bird. Can you identify that bird call? Also, we bid farewell to a wonderful summer season of planting native flo…
Aug 26th, 2021 |
31:43
Emily Dickinson's Gardening Life with Marta McDowell
In today's episode, we talk with author Marta McDowell about her book, Emily Dickinson's Gardening Life: The Plants And Places That Inspired The Iconi…
Aug 12th, 2021 |
36:55
Native Trees For Northeast Landscapes with Wild Seed Project’s Anna Fialkoff
In today's episode, we speak with Anna Fialkoff from Wild Seed Project about the organization's brand-new 64-page full-color booklet, Native Trees For…
Jul 29th, 2021 |
42:48
Identifying and Protecting Old Growth Forests with Dave Govatski
In today's episode, we speak with Dave Govatski, retired forester, about how to identify old growth forests and how to protect them. (oldgrowthforestn…
Jul 15th, 2021 |
19:21
The Wild Ones Organization: Native Plants and Natural Landscapes with Jen Ainsworth
In today's episode, we speak with Jen Ainsworth, executive director of the Wild Ones organization, headquartered in Neenah, Wisconsin. Wild Ones is de…
Jul 1st, 2021 |
34:13
Water Connections: Protecting Rivers and Wetlands With Jim Rousmaniere
In today's episode, we speak with journalist and historian Jim Rousmaniere. Jim is the author of the book, Water Connections: What Fresh Water Means T…
Jun 17th, 2021 |
41:13
The Plastic Recycling Dilemma In The Gardening Industry With Marie Chieppo
In today's episode, we speak with renowned garden designer and researcher Marie Chieppo. She is the author of a new report, sponsored by the Associati…
Jun 3rd, 2021 |
44:34
Seeds Of Mindfulness With Fiann O'Nuallain
In today's episode, we speak with horticultural therapist and gardening author Fiann O'Nuallain from Dublin, Ireland, about his new book, Seeds of Min…
May 20th, 2021 |
32:39
Maverick Gardeners with Felder Rushing
In today's episode, we speak with Felder Rushing, award-winning gardener from Mississippi and author of the new book, Maverick Gardeners. We talk abou…
May 6th, 2021 |
49:39
The Nature Of Oaks With Dr. Doug Tallamy
In today's episode, we speak with award-winning author Dr. Douglas Tallamy about his brand-new book The Nature of Oaks: The Rich Ecology Of Our Most E…
Apr 22nd, 2021 |
35:18
Native Shrubs To Grow For Birds With Mariette Nowak
In today's episode, we discuss several native shrubs to grow to benefit birds with author Mariette Nowak. She is the author of the book, Birdscaping I…
Apr 8th, 2021 |
44:04
Planting Milkweed To Help Monarch Butterflies with Angie Babbit
The Monarch Butterfly was recently turned down by federal officials for protection by the Endangered Species Act. In this episode, we talk with Angie…
Mar 25th, 2021 |
32:09
Protecting Migrating Songbirds From Communications Towers with Dr. Joelle Gehring
In this episode, we talk with Dr. Joelle Gehring, a biologist with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Office who specializes in preventing bird collisions with…
Mar 11th, 2021 |
43:37
Part Two of The Reindeer Chronicles With Judith D. Schwartz
In this special episode, we continue our talk with award-winning journalist Judith D. Schwartz, author of the new book The Reindeer Chronicles, about…
Feb 25th, 2021 |
39:01
The Reindeer Chronicles with Judith D. Schwartz -- Part One
In this special episode, we talk with award-winning science journalist Judith D. Schwartz, author of the new book The Reindeer Chronicles, about the g…
Feb 11th, 2021 |
33:59
Climate-Wise Gardening with Ginny Stibolt
In this episode, we talk with Ginny Stibolt, award-winning author of the book, Climate-Wise Landscaping: Practical Actions For A Sustainable Future, a…
Feb 5th, 2021 |
47:59
Raising Orphaned Black Bear Cubs With Ben Kilham
In this episode, we talk with wildlife rehabilitator Dr. Benjamin Kilham about the process of raising orphaned black bear cubs and returning them to t…
Jan 15th, 2021 |
1:03:00
Bumblebees In The Native Flower Garden With Heather Holm
In this special episode, we speak with biologist and bee expert, Heather Holm, about how to help bumblebees flourish and thrive in the native flower g…
Dec 21st, 2020 |
44:17
The Flight Of The Monarch Butterfly with Laura Lukens
Happy Holidays! Wishing all of you a very merry holiday season and a joyous and happy New Year! In today's episode we take a look back over the last y…
Dec 9th, 2020 |
53:59
Growing Native Plants With Dan Jaffe Wilder
In this special episode we talk with Dan Jaffe Wilder, author of the book Native Plants for New England Gardens, about growing native plants, how to k…
Nov 25th, 2020 |
18:23
Bald Eagle: Strategist of the Skies
Happy Thanksgiving! On today's show: The natural history of the Bald Eagle. Also: Planting native thickets in your yard to protect birds from predator…
Nov 13th, 2020 |
58:05
Planting Native Seeds With Heather McCargo
Get ready! It's almost time to start planting native seeds! In today's episode we learn about the most effective method for propagating native seeds o…
Oct 30th, 2020 |
29:16
Preventing Birds From Colliding With Windows with Dr. Christine Sheppard
Spooky! Scary! Happy Halloween! Celebrate Halloween with us as we tell a scary story about the Baobhan Sith of the Scottish Highlands and learn how to…
Oct 9th, 2020 |
29:14
Belted Kingfisher: The Diving Expert
In today's episode we discuss the natural history of the Belted Kingfisher, as well as how to help birds during fall migration, along with a discussio…
Sep 16th, 2020 |
23:33
Great Blue Heron: The Last Dinosaur
In today's episode we talk about the natural history of the Great Blue Heron; more plants and trees to add to your Monarch Migration Waystation; and h…
Aug 25th, 2020 |
1:00:41
The Loon Episode
Today's episode is dedicated to the Loon, including important news about loon populations in Massachusetts and an interview with Sheridan Brown, one o…
Aug 6th, 2020 |
29:35
Common Grackle: The Voracious Insect Eater
In today's episode: the natural history of the insect-loving Grackle; a conversation about the national One Third For The Birds campaign. Also: an int…
Jul 15th, 2020 |
29:42
American Robin: The Early Bird Gets The Worm
In today's episode: the natural history of the American Robin; issues to consider when switching to native plants; and how to rescue an injured bird.…
Jul 1st, 2020 |
33:38
Secrets Of The Hummingbird
In today's episode: the natural history of the Ruby-Throated Hummingbird; how to help turtles cross the road safely during egg-laying season; how to b…
Jun 22nd, 2020 |
26:13
Why Does The Blue Jay Get Such A Bad Rap?
In today's episode: the natural history of the much-maligned Blue Jay; how brush piles help protect birds; buying native plants at the garden center;…
Jun 9th, 2020 |
28:53
Why Is That Woodpecker Pecking On My House?
In today's episode: the natural history of the Pileated Woodpecker; how to assess your backyard for wildlife; how to deal with the challenges of nativ…