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.
- Update frequency
- every 31 days
- Average duration
- 57 minutes
- Episodes
- 94
- Years Active
- 2015 - 2025
Bonus 09 - Finding a Job in the Wild - An Interview with Matt Gaffney
Have you ever dreamed of ditching your day job and pursuing a career in the woods? Maybe working with wolves in the desert southwest or conducting plant surveys in the wilds of Alaska? Well, Matt Gaf…
Ep. 43 - The Coyest Dog Around (Part 2) - The Coywolf?
This month, Steve and Bill present part 2 of their episode on coyotes, focusing on the questions, “How big of a threat to livestock are coyotes?” and, “Is the coyote in the east a new species?”
Ep. 43 - The Coyest Dog Around (Part 1)
Awooooo! This month, Bill and Steve talk all about coyotes.
Ep. 42 - It's Worth the Wait: Reproductive Delays and the 'Merican Black Bear
During this episode, Bill breaks down the topic of reproductive delays, with a special focus on the American black bear (Ursus americanus). Come join the guys as they “peek inside the den”, and uncov…
Ep. 41 - The Autumn Episode (Pumpkin Spice-flavored)
…And we’re back! After a lengthy hiatus, Bill and Steve return with an episode focused on the fall. Specifically, they look into why fall is the neglected season when it comes to climate change resea…
Ep. 40 - Put a Ring On It (Part 2) - How Safe is Bird Banding?
Welcome to part 2 of our episode on bird banding! In this part, we look at what the research has to say about how birds fare during and after the banding process. All research that involves capturing…
Ep. 40 - Put a Ring On It (Part 1) - All About Bird Banding
A bird alights on a nearby branch, and, for a brief moment, a flash of silver on the bird’s leg catches your eye. If you’re fortunate enough to get a closer look, you might notice that the reflection…
Ep. 39 - The Alliterative Purple Pitcher Plant (Carnivorous Series #1)
Carnivorous plants are the renegades of the plant world. About 800 known species have gone from primary producers to immobile predators. In this episode, Steve goes on and on and on about everything …
Ep. 38 - Ants in Our Plants
Have you ever heard of myrmecochory? It may not pop up much in casual conversation, but this strange word is your doorway to a tiny, fascinating world of ant-plant interactions. Myrmecochory is seed …
Ep. 37 - Bill and Steve Go Timberdoodlin'
In spring, a naturalist’s fancy turns to thoughts of Timberdoodlin’, and that means heading out into the spring twilight, finding a brushy meadow, and listening for the buzzy “Peent!” of the American…
Ep. 36 - Spring Science Geek Out!
Spring is here, and the guys hit the trail to discuss spring-related science, including how climate change is impacting global plant growth and how it’s changing bird migration. Plus, Bill gives a (s…
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 prov…
Ep. 34 - The Downy-Hairy Game
Did you ever wonder why Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers look so much alike? No? Neither did we, but it was because we always assumed they were just closely related species. Maybe you did, too, but thanks…
Ep. 33 - Hart's-Tongue Fern - Restoring an Endangered Species
“Richer than millionaires! Happier than Kings! Envied by multitudes! May be said of hobnobbers with Hart’s-tongues.”
So said one enthusiast of the Hart’s-tongue fern (Asplenium scolopendrium var. amer…
Ep. 32 - The Devil Crayfish (Feat. Dr. Wayne Gall)
Have you ever heard of a burrowing crayfish? We hadn’t, until our much-smarter-than-us friend, Dr. Wayne Gall, shared the story of how he discovered one particular species living in western NY 30 yea…
Bonus 08 - The Field Guides Live! (at the Allegany Nature Pilgrimage)
Imagine a gathering of nature-lovers where, for three days, you could attend hikes, talks, and other programs on dozens of natural history topics. Such a gathering takes place each year in Allegany S…
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 and it's prob…
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 Idea…
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 researche…
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. Not only is it beautiful to behold, but this m…