Birding Archives

What a Long, Strange Garden Trip It’s Been

June 11, 2022June 14, 2022 Mike Nowak Bird Conservation Network, Breeding Bird Trends in the Chicago Region, Chicago Audubon Society, Depave Chicago, Depave Portland, improving water quality, Judy Pollock, mitigating heat islands, Peggy Malecki, Sinnissippi Audubon Society, Sounds of the Mississippi Flyway, The Mike Nowak Show, The Water Lab

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 2:12:52 — 63.3MB)

On our final show (for awhile), we talk about the Depave Movement across the world. Katya Reyna from Depave Portland and Mary Pat McGuire of Depave Chicago report on their respective programs. Judy Pollock and Bob Fisher from the Bird Conservation Network comment on the results of a 22-year study of breeding bird trends in the Chicago region. We’ll also play some music from Birdsongs, Volume 1-Sounds of the Mississippi Flyway by Micky Torpedo.

Birding Conservation Environment Insects Native plants

How to Discover a Wild Area in the 21st Century

May 21, 2022May 23, 2022 Mike Nowak access to natural areas, Amanda Smith, discovering natural areas, IN Nature, Indiana Nature, Lydick Bog, native plants, Peggy Malecki, Shirley Heinze Land Trust, St. Joseph County Kettle Lakes Corridor, Steve Sass, The Mike Nowak Show

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 2:03:17 — 58.8MB)

What’s it like to “discover” a high-quality natural area in the Midwest? We talk to naturalist Steve Sass, who helped identify Indiana’s Lydick Bog in 2014. He is joined by fellow naturalist Amanda Smith. The two are responsible for the educational website Indiana Nature and for the very popular Facebook page IN Nature. We talk about the variety of plants and animals in northwest Indiana and their efforts to teach the public how to be good stewards of the land.

Birding Clean water Environment Lawn Care Plastics Recycling

The Hidden Dangers of Artificial Turf

May 7, 2022May 8, 2022 Mike Nowak Bob Dolgan, dangers to student athletes, Dim the Lights for Birds at Night, environment, Go Real Go Grass, Monty and Rose, Peggy Malecki, PFAS in artificial turf, recycling artificial turf, The Mike Nowak Show, This Week in Birding, World Migratory Bird Day

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 2:01:36 — 58.8MB)

Thousands of artificial turf fields have popped up across the country in the past few decades. The argument is that they’re cheaper, easy to maintain and perfectly safe. Really? We talk to a group of concerned Lake Forest, IL citizens from Go Real Go Grass, who reveal the dark side of artificial turf. Meanwhile, Ryan Anderson explains how you can grow real turf without using pesticides. He also announces a new certification program for healthy turf. Bob Dolgan from This Week in Birding talks about the latest chapter in the Monty and Rose saga and reports on World Migratory Bird Day.

regeneration miracle - Vernon Hills Community Garden

animal welfare Birding Clean water Climate change Composting Gardening Natural sciences soil health

The Regeneration Miracle That Is Compost

April 30, 2022May 3, 2022 Mike Nowak are bird feeders safe?, climate change, danger to songbirds from avian flu, highly pathogenic avian influenza, Illinois Food Scrap Coalition (IFSC), International Compost Awareness Week, John Bates from Field Museum Birds, Peggy Malecki, practical benefits of composting, sequestering carbon, Solid Waste Agency of Lake County (SWALCO), The Mike Nowak Show, Vernon Hills Park District Community Garden

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 2:01:24 — 57.3MB)

The Mike Nowak Show with Peggy Malecki helps the Illinois Food Scrap Coalition kick off International Compost Awareness Week. Merleanne Rampale from SWALCO, James Kim from Vernon HIlls Park District, and Vytas Papedinskas of Save Our Soil LLC report on a pilot program that is helping communities utilize the regeneration properties of compost. John Bates from Field Museum Birds helps clear up some confusion regarding use of backyard bird feeders during the current avian influenza outbreak in the U.S.

animal welfare Birding Clean water Climate change Conservation Food justice Information from Past Shows

Sacrificing Birds for a Marketing Gimmick

February 19, 2022February 23, 2022 Mike Nowak Chicago Bird Collision Monitors, climate change, food justice, Harms Woods, light pollution, MWRD Commissioner Kim du Buclet, One Earth Film Festival, Peggy Malecki, Raj Patel, Skokie Carvana Tower, sustainability, The Ants & the Grasshopper, The Mike Nowak Show

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 2:04:25 — 58.5MB)

Mike and Peggy welcome back MWRD Commissioner Kim Neely du Buclet to talk about recent green infrastructure water projects and even ways to trace coronavirus in our water supply. Raj Patel, director of The Ants & the Grasshopper explains the food and social justice components of his film about climate change. Annette Prince from Chicago Bird Collision Monitors and Skokie resident Kim Polka report on their efforts to stop a potentially bird-killing Carvana Tower in that Chicago suburb.

Birding Conservation Environment Insects Lifestyle Native plants

Forest Preserves Unlock the Mysteries of Nature

January 29, 2022January 30, 2022 Mike Nowak coyotes, environment, Forest Preserve District of Cook County, Lake County Forest Preserve District, native plants, Nina Baki, Peggy Malecki, Rebekah Snyder, The Mike Nowak Show, winter activities

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 2:04:44 — 59.2MB)

Yes, it cold and there’s snow. But if you live in the Chicago region, those are two excellent reasons to get out to a nearby forest preserve. Nina Baki from the Cook County and Rebekah Snyder from Lake County talk about the activities they have to offer and why a visit to nature–even in winter–can be so rewarding.

Biology Birding Climate change Conservation Environment Gardening Insects Monarch butterflies Native plants Natural sciences

Doug Tallamy on Saving Nature and Ourselves

January 22, 2022January 24, 2022 Mike Nowak Bell Bowl Prairie, Bringing Nature Home, climate change, Doug Tallamy, gardening, Mounds View Grasslands Preserve, native plants, Natural Land Institute, Peggy Malecki, sustainability, The Mike Nowak Show, The Nature of Oaks, The Prairie Enthusiasts

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 2:06:05 — 59.1MB)

Entomologist, ecologist and author Doug Tallamy returns to the show. He discusses his latest book, The Nature of Oaks and his work to create Homegrown National Park. But he will also talk with Kerry Leigh, executive director of the Natural Land Institute about the continuing threat to Bell Bowl Prairie in Rockford. On the good news front, we’ll chat with Debra Behrens from The Prairie Enthusiasts about a grant they just received to expand Mounds View Grasslands Preserve near Madison, Wisconsin.

Birding Clean energy Climate change Conservation Environment Gardening Holiday Local food

And Now for Something Completely Different

November 27, 2021November 30, 2021 Mike Nowak biofuels, Bruce A. Henry, climate change, environment, gardening, holiday giving, holiday music, Judy Handler and Mark Levesque, Peggy Malecki, The Mike Nowak Show

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:42:56 — 49.0MB)

As the weather gets cooler and we head into the holiday season, Mike and Peggy chill literally and figuratively. They discuss the latest environmental stories while playing music by friends of the show–singer Bruce A. Henry and guitarists Judy Handler and Mark Levesque.

Biology Birding Conservation Environment Insects Native plants Natural sciences

Is a Parking Lot More Valuable Than a Prairie?

October 23, 2021October 27, 2021 Mike Nowak Bell Bowl Prairie, conservation, environment, McHenry County College Green Living Expo, native plants, Natural Land Institute, parking lots v prairies, Peggy Malecki, remnant prairie, rusty patched bumble bee, The Mike Nowak Show

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 2:01:39 — 57.8MB)

Time is running out for Bell Bowl Prairie at Chicago Rockford International Airport. Kerry Leigh from the Natural Land Institute, landscape designer Domenico D’Alessandro, and Jen Kuroda from Sinnissippi Audubon talk about how–and if–the prairie can be saved. Kim Hankins previews the McHenry County College Green Living Expo on November 6.

Birding Conservation Information from Past Shows Tree Care

How to Rescue Storm Damaged Trees

July 3, 2021July 8, 2021 Mike Nowak Bartlett Tree Experts, Chicago Park District, herbicide damage to plants, how to water trees, Julie Janoski from The Morton Arboretum, Montrose Point Bird Sanctuary, Monty & Rose, paving at the Magic Hedge, Peggy Malecki, Plant Clinic at The Morton Arboretum, Skeet from Bartlett Tree Experts, storm damage to trees, The Mike Nowak Show

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 2:03:35 — 58.5MB)

Following a June 2021 that featured drought, excessive rain and destructive storms, homeowners and municipalities are assessing the damage done to their trees. Skeet from Bartlett Tree Experts and Julie Janoski, Plant Clinic Manager at The Morton Arboretum, offer advice on how to cope with severely compromised trees. Bob Dolgan from This Week in Birding reports on construction work at Chicago’s famed Montrose Point Bird Sanctuary and why it has some conservationists perplexed.

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