The Field Guides Podcast
@fieldguidespod.bsky.social
Nature nerds rejoice! The Field Guides is a podcast that brings you out on the trail, sharing the science of our North American wildlife. Check us out at https://www.thefieldguidespodcast.com/ and wherever you get your podcasts.
New episode alert!
We dive into the messy but engrossing world of Fall Webworms (these caterpillars put the gross into engrossing). www.youtube.com/watch?v=8MWk...
We dive into the messy but engrossing world of Fall Webworms (these caterpillars put the gross into engrossing). www.youtube.com/watch?v=8MWk...
Ep. 83 - Fall Webworms: Not As Bad As They Look
YouTube video by The Field Guides Podcast
www.youtube.com
October 1, 2026 at 10:09 PM
New episode alert!
We dive into the messy but engrossing world of Fall Webworms (these caterpillars put the gross into engrossing). www.youtube.com/watch?v=8MWk...
We dive into the messy but engrossing world of Fall Webworms (these caterpillars put the gross into engrossing). www.youtube.com/watch?v=8MWk...
Destroying angels are famous for one thing: being deadly poisonous. But recent research suggests that, somewhere deep in fungal history, one mushroom lineage appears to have acquired the genetic instructions for making a deadly toxin from another lineage.
September 6, 2026 at 4:12 PM
Destroying angels are famous for one thing: being deadly poisonous. But recent research suggests that, somewhere deep in fungal history, one mushroom lineage appears to have acquired the genetic instructions for making a deadly toxin from another lineage.
Episode 81 is here, and it's a team-up with the Western NY Land Conservancy! The guys visit the future Bear Lake Preserve to talk with the Conservancy's Stewardship Director about the importance of wetlands in Western New York.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=qJNG...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=qJNG...
Ep. 81 - Keepin' Wetlands Wet: The Western NY Land Conservancy's Mission to Save Bear Lake
YouTube video by The Field Guides Podcast
www.youtube.com
June 4, 2026 at 8:09 PM
Episode 81 is here, and it's a team-up with the Western NY Land Conservancy! The guys visit the future Bear Lake Preserve to talk with the Conservancy's Stewardship Director about the importance of wetlands in Western New York.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=qJNG...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=qJNG...
Something’s off in the woods. In our new episode, we break down chronic wasting disease (CWD), a strange, persistent disease affecting deer and their antlered kin, and it's not caused by a virus or a bacteria. Check it out wherever you get your podcasts. www.youtube.com/watch?v=4fRH...
Ep. 80 - The Deer Are NOT Alright: Chronic Wasting Disease
YouTube video by The Field Guides Podcast
www.youtube.com
May 5, 2026 at 8:01 PM
Something’s off in the woods. In our new episode, we break down chronic wasting disease (CWD), a strange, persistent disease affecting deer and their antlered kin, and it's not caused by a virus or a bacteria. Check it out wherever you get your podcasts. www.youtube.com/watch?v=4fRH...
The Brown Tree Snake (Boiga irregularis) has wreaked ecological havoc on Guam since its accidental release. In this episode, the guys welcome their special guest, Dr. Christopher Osborne, to discuss his new study and its implications for species management. www.youtube.com/watch?v=dxnc...
Ep. 79 - The Brown Tree Snake on Guam: Using Genetics to Unlock the Secrets of an Invasive Species
YouTube video by The Field Guides Podcast
www.youtube.com
April 2, 2026 at 8:47 PM
The Brown Tree Snake (Boiga irregularis) has wreaked ecological havoc on Guam since its accidental release. In this episode, the guys welcome their special guest, Dr. Christopher Osborne, to discuss his new study and its implications for species management. www.youtube.com/watch?v=dxnc...
Last year, we did an episode on this project (Ep. 69: Rewilding Floreana - with Fundación Jocotoco) covering the details of this massive ecological restoration. Give it a listen for the full backstory on the lead up to the tortoises being released: www.youtube.com/watch?v=j-Zp...
Giant creatures make historic return to homeland after 175-year absence: 'I never thought this would happen'
This release is one piece of a $15 million restoration project that has been in the works for more than a decade.
www.yahoo.com
March 12, 2026 at 8:09 PM
Last year, we did an episode on this project (Ep. 69: Rewilding Floreana - with Fundación Jocotoco) covering the details of this massive ecological restoration. Give it a listen for the full backstory on the lead up to the tortoises being released: www.youtube.com/watch?v=j-Zp...
Episode 78 is here! The guys are deep in the Florida Everglades, and they take a break at camp to talk with naturalist and gator expert Chip Campbell about all things alligator — with a special focus on separating gator myths from reality. www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-s-...
Ep. 78 - 3 Guys and A Gator (featuring Chip Campbell)
YouTube video by The Field Guides Podcast
www.youtube.com
February 1, 2026 at 3:52 PM
Episode 78 is here! The guys are deep in the Florida Everglades, and they take a break at camp to talk with naturalist and gator expert Chip Campbell about all things alligator — with a special focus on separating gator myths from reality. www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-s-...
Listers is unlike any, and we mean ANY, sort of birdwatching doc you’ve seen before.
And it’s free.
A quote from the film: “According to this study on extreme birdwatchers, the type of person to compete in a Big Year...can, on average, identify a f**kton of birds”
www.youtube.com/watch?v=zl-w...
And it’s free.
A quote from the film: “According to this study on extreme birdwatchers, the type of person to compete in a Big Year...can, on average, identify a f**kton of birds”
www.youtube.com/watch?v=zl-w...
LISTERS: A Glimpse Into Extreme Birdwatching
YouTube video by owen reiser
www.youtube.com
October 2, 2025 at 11:36 AM
Listers is unlike any, and we mean ANY, sort of birdwatching doc you’ve seen before.
And it’s free.
A quote from the film: “According to this study on extreme birdwatchers, the type of person to compete in a Big Year...can, on average, identify a f**kton of birds”
www.youtube.com/watch?v=zl-w...
And it’s free.
A quote from the film: “According to this study on extreme birdwatchers, the type of person to compete in a Big Year...can, on average, identify a f**kton of birds”
www.youtube.com/watch?v=zl-w...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=3h3p... Episode 76 -
Listen in as Jason leads us through fields and forests, filling us in on the so-called “Insect Apocalypse.” Are insect populations really collapsing worldwide? What do the numbers say? How bad is it, and—most importantly—what can we do about it?
Listen in as Jason leads us through fields and forests, filling us in on the so-called “Insect Apocalypse.” Are insect populations really collapsing worldwide? What do the numbers say? How bad is it, and—most importantly—what can we do about it?
Ep. 76 - The Insect Apocalypse! (Part 1)
YouTube video by The Field Guides Podcast
www.youtube.com
September 30, 2025 at 9:51 PM
www.youtube.com/watch?v=3h3p... Episode 76 -
Listen in as Jason leads us through fields and forests, filling us in on the so-called “Insect Apocalypse.” Are insect populations really collapsing worldwide? What do the numbers say? How bad is it, and—most importantly—what can we do about it?
Listen in as Jason leads us through fields and forests, filling us in on the so-called “Insect Apocalypse.” Are insect populations really collapsing worldwide? What do the numbers say? How bad is it, and—most importantly—what can we do about it?
Part 2 of our time with naturalist Sandy Geffner. This time, he leads us on a “hike”—though with Sandy, the word takes on a different meaning. You might not cover much distance, but you’ll travel miles in understanding: exploring the woods and the wildlife within it. www.youtube.com/watch?v=XPKU...
Ep. 75 - A Naturalist's Life (Part 2) - A "Hike" with Sandy Geffner
YouTube video by The Field Guides Podcast
www.youtube.com
September 16, 2025 at 11:56 PM
Part 2 of our time with naturalist Sandy Geffner. This time, he leads us on a “hike”—though with Sandy, the word takes on a different meaning. You might not cover much distance, but you’ll travel miles in understanding: exploring the woods and the wildlife within it. www.youtube.com/watch?v=XPKU...
Episode 75 is here - What exactly is a “naturalist”? Spend a little time with Sandy Geffner, and you’ll find out. Steve and Bill rarely go more than an episode or two without mentioning him—a naturalist who profoundly shaped both their lives. www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZKeD...
Ep. 75 - A Naturalist's Life (Part 1) - A Conversation with Sandy Geffner
YouTube video by The Field Guides Podcast
www.youtube.com
September 6, 2025 at 11:40 PM
Episode 75 is here - What exactly is a “naturalist”? Spend a little time with Sandy Geffner, and you’ll find out. Steve and Bill rarely go more than an episode or two without mentioning him—a naturalist who profoundly shaped both their lives. www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZKeD...
Episode 74 - Like a Sturgeon - is here!
Steve introduces us to the Sturgeon (family Acipenseridae), from their dinosaur-era origins to their caviar-fueled scandals. So strap in as the guys touch on Sturgeon, for the very first time. www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0EC...
Steve introduces us to the Sturgeon (family Acipenseridae), from their dinosaur-era origins to their caviar-fueled scandals. So strap in as the guys touch on Sturgeon, for the very first time. www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0EC...
Ep. 74 - Like A Sturgeon
YouTube video by The Field Guides Podcast
www.youtube.com
August 1, 2025 at 1:20 AM
Episode 74 - Like a Sturgeon - is here!
Steve introduces us to the Sturgeon (family Acipenseridae), from their dinosaur-era origins to their caviar-fueled scandals. So strap in as the guys touch on Sturgeon, for the very first time. www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0EC...
Steve introduces us to the Sturgeon (family Acipenseridae), from their dinosaur-era origins to their caviar-fueled scandals. So strap in as the guys touch on Sturgeon, for the very first time. www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0EC...
Reposted by The Field Guides Podcast
Insights from human brains might inform how scientists search for awareness in other animals and AI
go.nature.com/4fd5VNh
go.nature.com/4fd5VNh
The quest to detect consciousness — in all its possible forms
Insights from human brains might inform how scientists search for awareness in other animals and AI.
go.nature.com
July 29, 2025 at 3:56 PM
Insights from human brains might inform how scientists search for awareness in other animals and AI
go.nature.com/4fd5VNh
go.nature.com/4fd5VNh
Reposted by The Field Guides Podcast
50 years ago, Ed Abbey published The Monkey Wrench Gang, and people who love the environment have been grappling with it ever since. www.thriftbooks.com/w/the-monkey...
July 29, 2025 at 9:26 PM
50 years ago, Ed Abbey published The Monkey Wrench Gang, and people who love the environment have been grappling with it ever since. www.thriftbooks.com/w/the-monkey...
Birdsong is the playlist of a healthy ecosystem. But over time, that playlist’s gone from full symphony to a sad trio of kazoo, recorder, and slide whistle. Well, that's a bit of an overstatement, but the beautiful noise has diminished.
www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/...
www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/...
The Dawn Chorus is getting QUIETER due to climate change
A study led by the University of East Anglia (UEA) used a new technique to reconstruct the soundscapes of more than 200,000 sites over the span of a generation.
www.dailymail.co.uk
July 10, 2025 at 8:36 PM
Birdsong is the playlist of a healthy ecosystem. But over time, that playlist’s gone from full symphony to a sad trio of kazoo, recorder, and slide whistle. Well, that's a bit of an overstatement, but the beautiful noise has diminished.
www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/...
www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/...
Part 2 of our Dawn Chorus episode is here!
Bill and Steve delve deeper into what's making birds get up and sing before the ass-crack of dawn.
And they pluck some low-hanging comedic fruit.
Find us wherever you get your podcasts or listen to us on YouTube below.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=_5Z7...
Bill and Steve delve deeper into what's making birds get up and sing before the ass-crack of dawn.
And they pluck some low-hanging comedic fruit.
Find us wherever you get your podcasts or listen to us on YouTube below.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=_5Z7...
Ep. 73 - The Dawn Chorus (Part 2)
YouTube video by The Field Guides Podcast
www.youtube.com
June 6, 2025 at 12:52 AM
Part 2 of our Dawn Chorus episode is here!
Bill and Steve delve deeper into what's making birds get up and sing before the ass-crack of dawn.
And they pluck some low-hanging comedic fruit.
Find us wherever you get your podcasts or listen to us on YouTube below.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=_5Z7...
Bill and Steve delve deeper into what's making birds get up and sing before the ass-crack of dawn.
And they pluck some low-hanging comedic fruit.
Find us wherever you get your podcasts or listen to us on YouTube below.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=_5Z7...
We know that birds put on a dawn chorus, but did you know that fish do, too?
In 2016, scientists discovered fish also sing together at dusk and dawn like birds, making intentional sounds by using parts of their anatomy.
Check out the link to listen in.
www.goodnewsnetwork.org/fish-sing-at...
In 2016, scientists discovered fish also sing together at dusk and dawn like birds, making intentional sounds by using parts of their anatomy.
Check out the link to listen in.
www.goodnewsnetwork.org/fish-sing-at...
Choral Reef? Listen to Scientist’s Recording of How Fish ‘Sing’ at Dawn
Scientists are “amazed” to discover that fish gather together to sing at dusk and dawn just like their feathered flying counterparts.
www.goodnewsnetwork.org
May 9, 2025 at 10:29 PM
We know that birds put on a dawn chorus, but did you know that fish do, too?
In 2016, scientists discovered fish also sing together at dusk and dawn like birds, making intentional sounds by using parts of their anatomy.
Check out the link to listen in.
www.goodnewsnetwork.org/fish-sing-at...
In 2016, scientists discovered fish also sing together at dusk and dawn like birds, making intentional sounds by using parts of their anatomy.
Check out the link to listen in.
www.goodnewsnetwork.org/fish-sing-at...
Episode 73 is here! This month, the guys look into the Dawn Chrous, that early morning explosion of bird song that refuses to let you sleep in.
Check it out via the link below or wherever you get your podcasts.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=os5L...
Check it out via the link below or wherever you get your podcasts.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=os5L...
Ep. 73 - The Dawn Chorus (Part 1)
YouTube video by The Field Guides Podcast
www.youtube.com
May 1, 2025 at 11:17 AM
Episode 73 is here! This month, the guys look into the Dawn Chrous, that early morning explosion of bird song that refuses to let you sleep in.
Check it out via the link below or wherever you get your podcasts.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=os5L...
Check it out via the link below or wherever you get your podcasts.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=os5L...
Who’s up for a weekend long orgasm of nature-themed hikes & talks? If your hand’s up, then it’s time to sign up for the Allegany Nature Pilgrimage! We’re leading a hike on Sat. and expect prizes. Last year, 1 lucky nature pilgrim won a framed photo of Steve. Really. www.alleganynaturepilgrimage.com
Allegany Nature Pilgrimage
Nature education weekend in Allegany State Park
www.alleganynaturepilgrimage.com
April 14, 2025 at 4:16 PM
Who’s up for a weekend long orgasm of nature-themed hikes & talks? If your hand’s up, then it’s time to sign up for the Allegany Nature Pilgrimage! We’re leading a hike on Sat. and expect prizes. Last year, 1 lucky nature pilgrim won a framed photo of Steve. Really. www.alleganynaturepilgrimage.com
Episode 72 is here! Steve shares the story of the invsive grass carp, and Bill and Daniel try to keep up.
OK, it's just Bill that has to try to keep up. www.thefieldguidespodcast.com/new-blog/202...
OK, it's just Bill that has to try to keep up. www.thefieldguidespodcast.com/new-blog/202...
Ep. 72 - Grass Carp: A Reel Problem — The Field Guides
In this episode, Steve leads a discussion on the invasive Grass Carp. The guys go over the evolutionary history of grass carp and its relatives, its biology, its introduction to The Great Lakes region...
www.thefieldguidespodcast.com
April 8, 2025 at 11:19 AM
Episode 72 is here! Steve shares the story of the invsive grass carp, and Bill and Daniel try to keep up.
OK, it's just Bill that has to try to keep up. www.thefieldguidespodcast.com/new-blog/202...
OK, it's just Bill that has to try to keep up. www.thefieldguidespodcast.com/new-blog/202...
One of our favorite poems, to help you prepare for spring migration season:
“Lying While Birding”
By Naomi Shihab Nye
Yes Yes
I see it
so they won’t keep telling you
where it is
“Lying While Birding”
By Naomi Shihab Nye
Yes Yes
I see it
so they won’t keep telling you
where it is
March 31, 2025 at 11:18 AM
One of our favorite poems, to help you prepare for spring migration season:
“Lying While Birding”
By Naomi Shihab Nye
Yes Yes
I see it
so they won’t keep telling you
where it is
“Lying While Birding”
By Naomi Shihab Nye
Yes Yes
I see it
so they won’t keep telling you
where it is
Artificial intelligence could take the bite out of snake venom.
www.sciencenews.org/article/ai-s...
www.sciencenews.org/article/ai-s...
Lethal snake venom may be countered by new AI-designed proteins
The current way to produce antivenoms is antiquated. Experiments in mice suggest that an artificial intelligence approach could save time and money.
www.sciencenews.org
March 30, 2025 at 6:33 PM
Artificial intelligence could take the bite out of snake venom.
www.sciencenews.org/article/ai-s...
www.sciencenews.org/article/ai-s...
Looking for a way to engage with nature this spring?
Consider recording FOY (first of year) sightings. It's easy, and you'd be walking in the footsteps of Thoreau. Bill wrote some words about it... www.buffalospree.com/style_living...
Consider recording FOY (first of year) sightings. It's easy, and you'd be walking in the footsteps of Thoreau. Bill wrote some words about it... www.buffalospree.com/style_living...
Spring Into FoYs
Congratulations! You survived another Buffalo winter and are ready for the days to wax warm and the sunlight to linger into the evening. When Mother Nature finally unfurls the banner
www.buffalospree.com
March 4, 2025 at 12:23 AM
Looking for a way to engage with nature this spring?
Consider recording FOY (first of year) sightings. It's easy, and you'd be walking in the footsteps of Thoreau. Bill wrote some words about it... www.buffalospree.com/style_living...
Consider recording FOY (first of year) sightings. It's easy, and you'd be walking in the footsteps of Thoreau. Bill wrote some words about it... www.buffalospree.com/style_living...