The Field Guides

Nature nerds rejoice! The Field Guides is a monthly podcast that will bring you out on the trail, focusing on the science of our North American wildlife.

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100 episodes
Updated June 30

Episodes100

Newest first

Feb 19, 2019 · 49 min
Ep. 35 - The Receding Hare Line (and More Snow-related Science)
It’s Snow-and-Tell time! We’re deep into winter right now, and spring seems snow far away. So, we decided to embrace the season and look into recent research around a topic that would be sure to provide plenty of puns for this write-up: SNOW! We delve into recent snow-related studies.
Jan 20, 2019 · 1 hr 5 min
Ep. 34 - The Downy-Hairy Game
The guys look into the mystery of why Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers look alike.
Dec 1, 2018 · 1 hr 5 min
Ep. 33 - Hart's-Tongue Fern - Restoring an Endangered Species
This month, the guys hit the trail with conservation biologist Mike Serviss, a researcher who's dedicated to restoring the endangered Hart's-tongue Fern.
Nov 4, 2018 · 1 hr 2 min
Ep. 32 - The Devil Crayfish (Feat. Dr. Wayne Gall)
Have you ever heard of a burrowing crayfish? We hadn’t, until Dr. Wayne Gall, shared the story of how he discovered one particular species living in western NY - the Devil Crayfish. Wayne invited us to join him on a hunt for this species. We invite you to come along.
Sep 10, 2018 · 51 min
Bonus 08 - The Field Guides Live! (at the Allegany Nature Pilgrimage)
The guys were invited to lead a hike at this year's Allegany Nature Pilgrimage, and, in this special bonus episode, you can listen in on what it sounds like when a big group of people join Steve and Bill for a hike in the woods.
Aug 8, 2018 · 58 min
Ep. 31 - Magic Cicadas
Nearly every year, somewhere in the eastern US, a brood of periodical cicadas (Magicicada spp.) emerges for the first time in 13 or 17 years. Each brood contains millions of individuals...
Jul 25, 2018 · 1 hr 8 min
Bonus 07 - Wild Ideas...The Podcast (Feat. Gordon Maupin)
During this bonus episode, Bill interviews Gordon Maupin, former director of the Wilderness Center in northeastern Ohio and, along with Joann Ballbach and Gary Popotnik, the former host of "Wild Ideas...The Podcast".
Jul 14, 2018 · 56 min
Ep. 30 - Have You Seen the Light?: Foxfire and Bioluminescent Fungi
Have you seen the light? This month, the guys take their first foray into the world of fungi, specifically bioluminescent fungi! Although fireflies and other glowing critters have been well researched, fungi that glow are not nearly as well understood.
Jun 9, 2018 · 1 hr 13 min
Ep. 29 - Jack-in-the-Pulpit, AKA George-Michael-in-the-Banana-Stand
This is the story of two guys who enter the woods looking for Arisaema triphyllum, the graceful woodland wildflower known to many as Jack-in-the-pulpit.
May 7, 2018 · 1 hr 1 min
Ep. 28 - Spring Ephemerals: The Spotted Salamander
The great salamander migration has begun! ...and ended... Every spring there is a small window of time when adult spotted salamanders emerge from their subterranean homes and mate in nearby seasonal wetlands. Bill, Steve, Rich, and Donna venture out to find these elusive critters.
Apr 6, 2018 · 1 hr 10 min
Ep. 27 - Spring Ephemerals: Skunk Cabbage
It's not a skunk... and it's not a cabbage... This month, Steve and Bill discuss Skunk Cabbage. The guys go over the spathe, spadix, contractile roots, and thermogenesis, among other things. We also pose maybe too many questions to our audience: 1. Is Skunk Cabbage a clonal species? 2. Can Skunk Cabbage have multiple inflorescences? 3. Do warblers nest in Skunk Cabbage spathes? 4. Does Skunk Cabbage heat up to to promote cross pollination? Enjoy (and help us answer these questions)!
Mar 17, 2018 · 49 min
Bonus 06 - Spring Ephemerals: Coltsfoot
Today we begin the first of many future episodes about spring ephemeral wildflowers. During this episode, Steve and Bill talk about Coltsfoot's adaptations, life cycle, use as a cooking spice, and toxicity. Unfortunately, the guys never figure out what the species name, farfara, means... if you know, share the love. Enjoy!
Mar 13, 2018 · 58 min
Ep. 26 - Don't Hassle Me, I'm Local: Ecological Restoration and Local Ecotypes
In this month's episode, Steve and Bill hit the road to find out what local ecotypes are and how they fit into ecological restoration.
Feb 2, 2018 · 1 hr 10 min
Ep. 25 - The Eastern Screech-owl
Steve and Bill start off 2018 with an episode about Eastern Screech-owls. The guys talk about the Eastern Screech-owl's dichromatism, adaptations for hunting at night, and even call one in during the podcast. Make sure to wear headphones for this one- the birds calling in the distance aren't always easy to hear. Steve also gets really nervous about being killed by a bobcat for some reason... Enjoy!
Jan 1, 2018 · 54 min
Ep. 24 - The Flying* Squirrel
Steve and Bill wrap up 2017 with an episode about Flying Squirrels.
Dec 16, 2017 · 42 min
Bonus 05 - The Urban Cooper's Hawk Podcast
We hope you're ready to learn all about Cooper's Hawks in cities. Steve leads the discussion on cooper's hawk biology, hunting strategies, and nest predation habits. Also, keep your cats indoors. We teamed up with The Urban Wildlife Podcast for this episode's topic, so make sure that you go check them out. We also announce an artsy relationship with Always Wondering Art, as well as a tasty relationship with Boxerbar Energy Bars. You should go show them all some support. We hope you enjoy the episode!
Dec 1, 2017 · 1 hr 1 min
Ep. 23 - The HWA (Hemlock Woolly Adelgid)
This episode is all about the Hemlock Woolly Adelgid (HWA)! Steve and Bill explain this insect's history, biology, and it's negative effects on Eastern and Carolina Hemlock. The guys dive into what damage has already been done, what damage is still projected to happen, and what we're currently doing to stop the spread of this destructive asian hemipteran! We hope you enjoy!
Nov 15, 2017 · 39 min
Bonus 04 - The Eastern Hemlock
Bonus 04 - The Eastern Hemlock The Field Guides Download Eastern Hemlocks are a staple of northeastern US forests. During this bonus episode, Steve and Bill make some tea and dive into what makes this tree so special. Historically, Hemlock has experienced 3 major declines, with the most recent happening right now. The culprit is an introduced hemipteran from Asia. Later this month, the guys will release a regular episode on that insect. But for now, enjoy this primer for episode 23! Links: Our 2 episode about sap, 17 & 18: http://www.thefieldguidespodcast.com/new-blog/2017/4/3/ep-17-maple-sugaring http://www.thefieldguidespodcast.com/new-blog/2017/5/21/ep-18-sap-natures-junk-food Urban Wildlife Podcast - Things that go Flap in the Night: Nighthawks and Bats at the Cemetery: http://www.urbanwildlifecast.com/?p=287 Note: Sorry for the quieter audio in some parts (especially Bill's lines)! The wind made editing difficult this month. Next time, we promise to stand closer to the mic (especially Bill). Work Cited: Browse taxonomic tree - Pinaceae. Retrieved November 13, 2017, from http://www.catalogueoflife.org/col/browse/tree/id/b385e5b1bd137efbb9a5387821127481 Eastman, J., 1992. Forest and Thicket, The Book of: Trees, Shrubs, and Wildflowers of Eastern North America. Ellison, A.M., Bank, M.S., Clinton, B.D., Colburn, E.A., Elliott, K., Ford, C.R., Foster, D.R., Kloeppel, B.D., Knoepp, J.D., Lovett, G.M. and Mohan, J., 2005. Loss of foundation species: consequences for the structure and dynamics of forested ecosystems. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, 3(9), pp.479-486. Glimn-Lacy, J. and Kaufman, P.B., 1984. Botany illustrated: introduction to plants, major groups, flowering plant families. Springer Science & Business Media. Havill, N.P., Campbell, C.S., Vining, T.F., LePage, B., Bayer, R.J. and Donoghue, M.J., 2008. Phylogeny and biogeography of Tsuga (Pinaceae) inferred from nuclear ribosomal ITS and chloroplast DNA sequence data. Systematic Botany, 33(3), pp.478-789. Little, E.L., 1980. National Audubon Society field guide to trees, eastern region. Alfred A. Petrides, G.A., 1973. A field guide to trees and shrubs: northeastern and north-central United States and southeastern and south-central Canada. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. Pinaceae. 2017, November 6. Retrieved November 13, 2017, from http://newyork.plantatlas.usf.edu/Family.aspx?id=211
Nov 6, 2017 · 54 min
Ep. 22 - Acorns and Corvids are MFEO (Made For Each Other)
This episode is nuts! Like peanut butter and jelly, Blue Jays and oak trees go together - they have a fascinating relationship that plays out in our forests every fall. In this episode, Bill and Steve pull back the curtain on the fascinating world of acorns and corvids.
Oct 16, 2017 · 1 hr 5 min
Bonus 03 - Ticks & Tick-borne Diseases (feat. Dr. Wayne Gall)
What's better than a regular episode about ticks? That's right, a bonus episode featuring someone who actually spent their career as an entomologist specifically studying ticks. Enter entomologist, Dr. Wayne Gall.

The Field Guides

Ep. 35 - The Receding Hare Line (and More Snow-related Science)

Ep. 34 - The Downy-Hairy Game

Ep. 33 - Hart's-Tongue Fern - Restoring an Endangered Species

Ep. 32 - The Devil Crayfish (Feat. Dr. Wayne Gall)

Bonus 08 - The Field Guides Live! (at the Allegany Nature Pilgrimage)

Ep. 31 - Magic Cicadas

Bonus 07 - Wild Ideas...The Podcast (Feat. Gordon Maupin)

Ep. 30 - Have You Seen the Light?: Foxfire and Bioluminescent Fungi

Ep. 29 - Jack-in-the-Pulpit, AKA George-Michael-in-the-Banana-Stand

Ep. 28 - Spring Ephemerals: The Spotted Salamander

Ep. 27 - Spring Ephemerals: Skunk Cabbage

Bonus 06 - Spring Ephemerals: Coltsfoot

Ep. 26 - Don't Hassle Me, I'm Local: Ecological Restoration and Local Ecotypes

Ep. 25 - The Eastern Screech-owl

Ep. 24 - The Flying* Squirrel

Bonus 05 - The Urban Cooper's Hawk Podcast

Ep. 23 - The HWA (Hemlock Woolly Adelgid)

Bonus 04 - The Eastern Hemlock

Ep. 22 - Acorns and Corvids are MFEO (Made For Each Other)

Bonus 03 - Ticks & Tick-borne Diseases (feat. Dr. Wayne Gall)