The Field Guides

Bill meets Daniel in south Florida to record an episode about the Florida Panther and tackle the questions and misconceptions that leave this cat shrouded in mystery. 

Part 2 of our Timber Rattlesnake episode. If you haven’t listened to part 1, go and do that. We’ll wait right here for you. The episode was recorded on December 7, 2023 at Hunters Creek County Park in East Aurora, NY.

Love ‘em or hate ‘em, we wager you’ll enjoy this dive into the shiny (not slimy) world of rattlesnakes. This episode, the guys take a close look (but not too close) at the Timber Rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus), trying to show how it’s not out to kill you and also finding out how it ended up on the “Don’t Tread On Me” flag. Plus, they introduce the newest field guide, Daniel!

This month, Bill and Steve visit Floating Fen, although some might call it a bog, or is it a swamp? Thankfully, they’re joined by Erik Danielson, Stewardship Coordinator of the Western NY Land Conservancy (WNYLC), who schools them on the difference between these wetlands. Erik and the WNYLC are trying to preserve Floating Fen, a property home to a unique wetland, extraordinary life, and a diverse forest. Erik guides Bill and Steve through the fen, discussing just what makes a bog a bog and a fen a fen, as well as what makes these peatlands such amazing habitats.

The Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) is a rare example of a species humans managed to pull back from the brink of extinction by getting off our collective asses and doing some stuff. Already decimated by hunting and habitat loss, the post WWII enthusiasm for spraying the chemical DDT on just about everything sent Bald Eagle populations into freefall. That is, until Rachel Carson published Silent Spring in 1962 and sensibly said, “Hey, maybe we shouldn’t go through pesticides like beer at a frat party. Maybe let’s use as little as needed?” We’re paraphrasing, of course, but, eventually, DDT was banned in the US, the Bald Eagle was placed on the Endangered Species list, and our national bird was on the road to recovery. This is the story told about Bald Eagles and DDT. But a few out there question this narrative, claiming that DDT wasn’t a big problem for eagles and that banning it caused billions of unnecessary deaths because it prevented DDT’s continued use in the fight against malaria. These claims are mostly nonsense, drudged up by folks who hate regulations, but looking into them makes for an interesting ride. Join the guys as they find out…DUN DUN DUN…what THEY don’t want you to know about Bald Eagles.

They’re hard-working, tail-slapping, tree cutting machines, and they’re one of the greatest wildlife recovery stories in North America: Castor canadensis, the North American beaver. And, as if all that weren’t enough, apparently their rear ends produce an oil that’s vanilla-scented. Join the guys as they keep their puns and innuendos in check and dive into beavers!

Our six-legged celebration continues! In this second part, the guys wrap up their behind-the-scenes tour of the Cornell University Insect Collection with Jason Dombroskie, collection manager and director of the insect diagnostic lab, and THEN, Jason provides the guys with some eye protection and takes them out into the woods for some nighttime mothing!

This month, Bill and Steve geek out over insects! And it’s because they were lucky enough to have an even bigger insect geek invite them on a field trip. Jason Dombroskie is the collection manager and director of the insect diagnostic lab at Cornell University. His invite to take the guys mothing in July of 2022 turned into a marvelous, day-long adventure: In part one, you’ll hear the guys meet up with Jason for a tour of his property and an interview delving into Jason’s background and what it’s like to be a professional entomologist (it involves studying lots of insect genitalia, among other things). We follow that up with a behind-the-scenes tour of the Cornell University Insect Collection - an assemblage spanning over 7 million insect specimens representing about 200,000 species, or roughly 20% of the world’s described insect fauna. So, strap in and prepare yourself for…Insectapalooza!

Have you ever heard a mockingbird imitate a blue jay? How about a seal imitating a Maine fisherman? This month, the guys explore what happens when animals make sounds they’re not supposed to: the wild world of vocal mimicry. Birds imitate chainsaws and car alarms, elephants speak Korean; what’s going on? With a special focus on one of the bird world’s best known mimics - the northern mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos) - the guys delve into the research trying to explain why animals - especially birds - feel the need to engage in the wildlife equivalent of, “I know you are, but what am I?”

Black Walnut (Juglans nigra) is a tree well-known for its ability to negatively affect other plants growing nearby, a phenomenon known as allelopathy. But is Black Walnut really as allelopathic as the Internet would have you believe? In this episode, the guys go nuts: delving into this question and many other facets of the fascinating (and tasty?) Black Walnut, including an on-air tasting of Black Walnut syrup. Enjoy!

What’s dark and slimy and over two feet long? It’s an Eastern Hellbender! This aquatic giant salamander, endemic to the eastern and central US, is the largest amphibian in North America, often weighing in at over 4 lbs.! The hellbender (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis) is, not unlike Steve, secretive and slimy but also fascinating. Join the guys for one hell of an episode learning about this rare and disappearing denizen of fast-moving streams.

Jewelweed. Spotted touch-me-not. Orange Balsam. It’s a plant known by many names, and, even if you don’t recognize any of them, you’ve probably popped one of its exploding seed pods. A favorite of hummingbirds and nature-lovers young and old, it’s a species with many stories to share. Listen in as the guys dive deep into the jewelweed patch, eating some seeds, trying to find the source of the “jewel” in jewelweed’s name, and getting to the bottom of the age-old claim that jewelweed is a cure for poison ivy.

In part 2 of this month’s episode, the guys share how past and present research come together to create a realistic plan for bringing the American chestnut back, and Erik shares more about how the Allegany Wildlands fit into the Conservancy’s ambitious effort to create the Western NY Wildway, a network of connected protected lands stretching from Pennsylvania to the Great Lakes and beyond. The episode was recorded on August 14, 2021 at the Allegany Wildlands. Episode Notes During the episode, Bill mentioned the corn geneticist Charles Burnham and wondered if he was one of the founders of The American Chestnut Foundation (TACF). He was! From the TACF’s Wikipedia page: “TACF was founded in 1983 by a group of prominent plant scientists, including Nobel Prize-winning plant breeder Norman Borlaug; Peter Raven, Director of the Missouri Botanical Garden; independent chestnut researcher Philip Rutter; and the late Charles Burnham, a Minnesota corn geneticist. Links to the Western NY Land Conservancy Visit the website of the Western New York Land Conservancy to find out more about their vital conservation efforts. Find out more about the Allegany Wildlands, including the efforts to preserve it. Explore the WNY Land Conservancy’s Western New York Wildway, their ambitious new initiative to create an extensive series of protected lands that connect the vast forests of northern Pennsylvania to the Great Lakes, central NY, the Adirondacks, and beyond. Other Episode-related Links The American Chestnut Foundation (TACF) – sign up for their newsletter or consider joining the organization. Check out TACF’s page on their 3BUR approach to reintroducing the American chestnut. For up-to-date info on the Darling 58 tree and related efforts to restore the American chestnut, visit the chestnut site at the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry. For more info on the Darling 58 chestnut tree, check out the video: Bringing Back an American Icon Sponsors and Ways to Support Us Gumleaf Boots, USA (free shipping for patrons) Thank you to Always Wandering Art (Website and Etsy Shop) for providing the artwork for many of our episodes! Support us on Patreon! Check out the Field Guides merch at our Teespring store. It’s really a great deal: you get to pay us to turn your body into a billboard for the podcast! Works Cited Aucott, M. and Parker, R.A., 2021. Medical biotechnology as a paradigm for forest restoration and introduction of the transgenic American chestnut. Conservation Biology, 35(1), pp.190-196. Candeias, M. (2017) In Defense of Plants: Ep. 107 - Chestnut Blight: Causes and Solutions [Podcast]. May 7, 2017. Available at: https://www.indefenseofplants.com/podcast/2017/5/7/ep-107-chestnut-blight-causes-and-solutions (Accessed 7 August, 2021). Candeias, M. (2017) In Defense of Plants: Ep. 272 - Restoring the American Chestnut [Podcast]. July 5, 2020. Available at: https://www.indefenseofplants.com/podcast/2020/7/5/ep-272-restoring-the-american-chestnut?fbclid=IwAR08lmeHJwDK-vkbDuyC7YBx22mKtNEoApwibbpGG-U1Plf_ciXZDXjhiNE (Accessed 7 August, 2021).

This month, Bill and Steve look into the fall and (potential) rise of the American chestnut (Castanea dentata), and they’re joined by Erik Danielson, Stewardship Coordinator of the Western NY Land Conservancy. The Conservancy recently embarked on an effort to acquire the Allegany Wildlands, a unique piece of property that harbors, among its many abundant ecological treasures, remnant American chestnuts. Erik guides Bill and Steve through the property, and, in part 1 of this episode, they discuss the history of the chestnut and the blight that caused its downfall. In part 2, they share how past and present research come together to create a realistic plan for bringing the American chestnut back. Throughout both parts, Erik shares how the Allegany Wildlands fit into the Conservancy’s ambitious effort to create the Western NY Wildway, a network of connected protected lands stretching from Pennsylvania to the Great Lakes and beyond. The episode was recorded on August 14, 2021 at the Allegany Wildlands. Episode Notes During the episode, Bill mentioned the corn geneticist Charles Burnham and wondered if he was one of the founders of The American Chestnut Foundation (TACF). He was! From the TACF’s Wikipedia page: “TACF was founded in 1983 by a group of prominent plant scientists, including Nobel Prize-winning plant breeder Norman Borlaug; Peter Raven, Director of the Missouri Botanical Garden; independent chestnut researcher Philip Rutter; and the late Charles Burnham, a Minnesota corn geneticist. Links to the Western NY Land Conservancy Visit the website of the Western New York Land Conservancy to find out more about their vital conservation efforts. Find out more about the Allegany Wildlands, including the efforts to preserve it. Explore the WNY Land Conservancy’s Western New York Wildway, their ambitious new initiative to create an extensive series of protected lands that connect the vast forests of northern Pennsylvania to the Great Lakes, central NY, the Adirondacks, and beyond. Other Episode-related Links The American Chestnut Foundation (TACF) – sign up for their newsletter or consider joining the organization. Check out TACF’s page on their 3BUR approach to reintroducing the American chestnut. For up-to-date info on the Darling 58 tree and related efforts to restore the American chestnut, visit the chestnut site at the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry. For more info on the Darling 58 chestnut tree, check out the video: Bringing Back an American Icon Sponsors and Ways to Support Us Gumleaf Boots, USA (free shipping for patrons) Thank you to Always Wandering Art (Website and Etsy Shop) for providing the artwork for many of our episodes! Support us on Patreon! Check out the Field Guides merch at our Teespring store. It’s really a great deal: you get to pay us to turn your body into a billboard for the podcast! Works Cited Aucott, M. and Parker, R.A., 2021. Medical biotechnology as a paradigm for forest restoration and introduction of the transgenic American chestnut. Conservation Biology, 35(1), pp.190-196. Candeias, M. (2017) In Defense of Plants: Ep. 107 - Chestnut Blight: Causes and Solutions [Podcast]. May 7, 2017. Available at: https://www.indefenseofplants.com/podcast/2017/5/7/ep-107-chestnut-blight-causes-and-solutions (Accessed 7 August, 2021). Candeias, M. (2017) In Defense of Plants: Ep. 272 - Restoring the American Chestnut [Podcast]. July 5, 2020. Available at: https://www.indefenseofplants.com/podcast/2020/7/5/ep-272-restoring-the-american-chestnut?fbclid=IwAR08lmeHJwDK-vkbDuyC7YBx22mKtNEoApwibbpGG-U1Plf_ciXZDXjhiNE (Accessed 7 August, 2021).

This month, the guys set out to discover if daddy longlegs really are the most poisonous spider in the world, but, along the way, they uncover a fascinating array of arachnids and adaptations in the group known collectively as harvestmen. Join them for some mythbusting and a deep dive into the little-known order of arachnids called Opiliones.