QuACK

Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance

Welcome to Questions Asked by Curious Kids, or QuACK, a podcast from Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance (SoWBA). Join our educator Mickenzee as she gathers kids' questions about nature and explores the answers with a local expert in short, classroom-friendly episodes!

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20 episodes
monthly
Avg 13 min
English

Episodes 20

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S3 · E1
Tuesday · 12 min
Squirrels with Jamie Nack
In this episode, we answer questions like "why do some squirrels live in trees when other rodents live underground?" and Mickenzee shares a silly nature story about seeing a squirrel peeing on a tree with our squirrel expert Jamie Nack, the Extension Senior Wildlife Outreach Specialist at UW – Madison. Check out SoWBA’s free lessons, games, and activities! Get out and explore nature with us! Make a donation to SoWBA Episode Transcription with pictures and links available on our website! Music: “The Forest and the Trees” by Kevin MacLeod
S3 · E1
September 1 · 10 min
Plants with BJ Byers
In this episode, we answer questions like "how do plants breathe?" and learn about the misconceptions around invasive plants with our plant expert BJ Byers the Land Management Director at Groundswell Conservancy! Check out Groundswell's work Check out SoWBA’s free lessons, games, and activities! Get out and explore nature with us! Make a donation to SoWBA Episode Transcription with pictures and links available on our website! Music: “The Forest and the Trees” by Kevin MacLeod
S2 · E12
August 4 · 15 min
Insect Behavior with PJ Liesch
In this episode, we answer questions like "why do moths fly in circles around lights?" and talk about which insects migrate with our insect expert, PJ Liesch, the Director of the UW Insect Diagnostic Lab. Follow him @WisconsinBugGuy Check out SoWBA’s free lessons, games, and activities! Get out and explore nature with us! Make a donation to SoWBA Episode Transcription with pictures and links available on our website! Music: “The Forest and the Trees” by Kevin MacLeod
S2 · E11
July 7 · 13 min
Miscellaneous Bird Questions with Dr. Matt Reetz
In this episode, we answer questions like “how many species of birds are there?” and learn about birds' neighborhood watch system with our bird expert Dr. Matt Reetz, the Executive Director at Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance. Check out SoWBA’s free lessons, games, and activities! Get out and explore nature with us! Make a donation to SoWBA Episode Transcription with pictures and links available on our website! Music: “The Forest and the Trees” by Kevin MacLeod
June 2 · 7 min
Musing with Mickenzee: What is Nature?
In this episode we switch things up a bit. Instead of answering kids questions, I'm asking you some questions! Let' s discuss, how do we define nature and how do humans fit into it? Check out SoWBA’s free lessons, games, and activities! Get out and explore nature with us! Make a donation to SoWBA Episode Transcription with pictures and links available on our website! Music: “The Forest and the Trees” by Kevin MacLeod
S2 · E9
May 5 · 20 min
Community Science with Brenna Marsicek
In this episode we talk about Community Science and how anybody, even kids can get involved with our in house Community Science extraordinaire, Brenna Marsicek, the Director of Outreach here at Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance. Check out SoWBA’s free lessons, games, and activities! Get out and explore nature with us! Make a donation to SoWBA Episode Transcription with pictures and links available on our website! Music: “The Forest and the Trees” by Kevin MacLeod
S2 · E8
April 7 · 16 min
Wildlife Rehabilitation with Jackie Edmunds and Dave Mackler
In this episode we answer questions like “What should we do when we see sick, injured, or orphaned wildlife?” and learn about all the care and expertise that wildlife rehabilitators can provide at the Dane County Humane Society (DCHS) Wildlife Center with Wildlife Program Manager Jackie Edmunds and Wildlife Rehabilitator and Educator Dave Mackler. Check out their work at DCHS Check out SoWBA’s free lessons, games, and activities! Get out and explore nature with us! Make a donation to SoWBA Episode Transcription with pictures and links available on our website! Music: “The Forest and the Trees” by Kevin MacLeod
S2 · E7
March 3 · 12 min
Amphibians with Andrew Badje
In this episode, we answer questions like " why do frogs and salamanders need to lay their eggs in water?" and learn about the benefits of external gills with our amphibian expert Andrew Badje, a Conservation Biologist for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. Check out SoWBA’s free lessons, games, and activities! Get out and explore nature with us! Make a donation to SoWBA Episode Transcription with pictures and links available on our website! Music: “The Forest and the Trees” by Kevin MacLeod
February 3 · 11 min
Animal Misconceptions with Carolyn Byers
In this episode, we answer questions like “How did Bald Eagles get their name?” and debunk some common animal fun facts with our guest Carolyn Byers, Education Director here at Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance. Check out SoWBA’s free lessons, games, and activities! Get out and explore nature with us! Make a donation to SoWBA Episode Transcription with pictures and links available on our website! Music: “The Forest and the Trees” by Kevin MacLeod
S2 · E5
January 6 · 10 min
Bird Bones with Dr. Anna Pidgeon
In this episode we answer questions like "why are bird bones hollow?" and learn about how baby birds grow their bones within the egg with our bird bone expert, Dr. Anna Pidgeon, a researcher and professor at UW - Madison! Check out SoWBA’s free lessons, games, and activities! Get out and explore nature with us! Make a donation to SoWBA Episode Transcription with pictures and links available on our website! Music: “The Forest and the Trees” by Kevin MacLeod
S2 · E4
Dec 2, 2025 · 25 min
Mustelid Mystery with Rowan Koester-Jess
In this episode we hear the tale of the Great Mustelid Mystery that started at Aldo Leopold Nature Center in spring 2024. Get comfy and put on your nature detective caps as Rowan Koester-Jess takes us through this riveting mystery. See offerings from Aldo Leopold Nature Center Check out SoWBA’s free lessons, games, and activities! Get out and explore nature with us! Make a donation to SoWBA Episode Transcription with pictures and links available on our website! Music: “The Forest and the Trees” by Kevin MacLeod
S2 · E3
Nov 4, 2025 · 16 min
Tracks with Jamie Nack
In this episode, we answer questions like "do animals cover their tracks?" and learn about how animals with bare tails handle winter weather with our tracks expert, Extension Senior Wildlife Outreach Specialist, Jamie Nack! Check out SoWBA’s free lessons, games, and activities! Get out and explore nature with us! Make a donation to SoWBA Episode Transcription with pictures and links available on our website! Music: “The Forest and the Trees” by Kevin MacLeod
S2 · E2
Oct 7, 2025 · 13 min
Bats with Jennifer Redell Part 1
In this episode, we talk about White Nose Syndrome and how it affects our Wisconsin bats with our bat expert Jennifer Redell, a conservation biologist at the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. Be sure to return for part two! Check out SoWBA’s free lessons, games, and activities! Get out and explore nature with us! Make a donation to SoWBA Episode Transcription with pictures and links available on our website! Music: “The Forest and the Trees” by Kevin MacLeod
S2 · E2
Oct 7, 2025 · 10 min
Bats with Jennifer Redell Part 2
In this episode, we talk more with DNR Conservation Biologist Jennifer Redell about what scientists are doing to help bats with White Nose Syndrome and how they are working to prevent the spread of the disease. Check out SoWBA’s free lessons, games, and activities! Get out and explore nature with us! Make a donation to SoWBA Episode Transcription with pictures and links available on our website! Music: “The Forest and the Trees” by Kevin MacLeod
S2 · E1
Sep 2, 2025 · 13 min
Monarch Butterflies with Emma Pelton
In this episode, we answer questions like "How do monarchs know where to go on their migration?" and learn about the Monarch Butterfly mysteries still to be uncovered with our Monarch Butterfly expert Emma Pelton, conservation biologist for the Xerces Society. See the work of the Xerces Society Check out SoWBA’s free lessons, games, and activities! Get out and explore nature with us! Make a donation to SoWBA Episode Transcription with pictures and links available on our website! Music: “The Forest and the Trees” by Kevin MacLeod
S1 · E12
Aug 5, 2025 · 13 min
Insect Anatomy with PJ Liesch
In this episode we answer questions like "why do centipedes have so many legs?" and "do insects fart?" and learn about the ways that bugs view our world completely different than how we do with our Insect Anatomy expert PJ Liesch the director of the UW-Madison Insect Diagnostic Lab! See more of PJ's work here! And follow him on X (Twitter) @WisconsinBugGuy Check out SoWBA’s free lessons, games, and activities! Get out and explore nature with us! Episode transcription with pictures and links available on our website! Music: “The Forest and the Trees” by Kevin MacLeod
S1 · E11
Jul 1, 2025 · 12 min
Raptors with Jackie Sandberg and Jack Pace
In this episode, we answer questions like “How can we identify hawks when they are flying so high in the sky?“ and learn about hawks use UV vision to their advantage when hunting. Learn more about the Wildlife Center here! Check out SoWBA’s free lessons, games, and activities! Get out and explore nature with us! Make a donation to SoWBA Episode Transcription with pictures and links available on our website! Music: “The Forest and the Trees” by Kevin MacLeod
S1 · E10
Jun 3, 2025 · 9 min
Baby Birds with Dr. Matt Reetz Part 1
In this episode, we answer questions like "how does a bird breathe in the egg?" and learn about "brood patches" and how important they are to keep baby birds warm with our Baby Bird expert Dr. Matt Reetz, the Executive Director at Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance! Be sure to come back and check out part 2. Check out SoWBA’s free lessons, games, and activities!⁠ ⁠Get out and explore nature with us! ⁠ ⁠Make a donation to SoWBA⁠ Episode transcription with pictures and links available on our website! Music: “The Forest and the Trees” by Kevin MacLeod
S1 · E10
Jun 3, 2025 · 7 min
Baby Birds with Dr. Matt Reetz Part 2
In this episode, we answer questions like "why do baby birds sometimes look different from their parents" and learn about "brood parasites" and their fascinating approach to parenthood with our Baby Bird expert Dr. Matt Reetz, the Executive Director at Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance! Check out SoWBA’s free lessons, games, and activities!⁠ ⁠Get out and explore nature with us! ⁠ ⁠Make a donation to SoWBA⁠ Episode transcription with pictures and links available on our website! Music: “The Forest and the Trees” by Kevin MacLeod
S1 · E9
May 6, 2025 · 12 min
Eggs with Carolyn Byers
In this episode, we answer questions like "why do robins lay blue eggs?" and learn about precocial and altricial young with our egg expert (egg-spert if you will) Carolyn Byers the Education Director at Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance. See Carolyn's nest research on our Into the Nest page! Check out SoWBA’s free lessons, games, and activities! Get out and explore nature with us! Make a donation to SoWBA Episode Transcription with pictures and links available on our website! Music: “The Forest and the Trees” by Kevin MacLeod

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