Wild Ideas...the Podcast - The Wilderness Center

Joann explains cold front clouds and Gordon saw a Tomato Hornworm and explains the interaction among moth parasitoid wasps and plants.

Gary explains semipalmated while discussing the Semipalmated Sandpiper. Gordon’s in love with Liatris, Blazing Star. Zombie Ants are the topic of the interview with David Hughes from Penn State University. Strange fungus controls the ant’s behavior.

Gordon starts with a tree we love to hate, Tree of Heaven. Joann has warm front clouds on her mind. Gary talks about the subnivium—the habitat beneath snow. Kelly Weinersmith returns to talk about parasites and bacterial regulation.

We had a stocastic event here at The Wilderness Center, a wind storm that took down many of our mature trees. We discuss what caused it, what it's like now, and our response. Then, in the second half, forest ecology and what will happen over the years.

Gary is thinking about Eastern Screech Owls. Gordon looks for a Green Dragon. Joann introduces a favorite nature book, which leads us to an interview with Margaret Maupin of the Orrville Public Library about children's nature books.

Pop-up thunderstorms are Joann’s topic. Gordon talks about weathering of rocks. Gary explores sea grass. The interview is about manatees with Becky Ellsworth of the Columbus Zoo.

Compass Plant points Joann in the right directions. Gordon saw a conflagration of Fire Pinks. Christa Zweig is interviewed about the difficulties in restoring the Everglades.

Joann explains noctilucent clouds. Gary revisits a favorite insect, fireflies. Gordon discusses the ubiquitous Mallard. The interview is with Simon Goring about his efforts to benchmark past vegetation to assist with models projecting future vegetation.

Black and White or Blackpoll, Gary tells the tale. Creepy plant Doll’s Eyes is Gordon’s find. Joann found Ebony Jewelwings. Josh Drew returns to talk about the SLOSS argument in conservation biology.

Gordon’s Texas-sized Hummingbird is really a Golden-fronted Woodpecker. Gary describes the American Ruby-spot, a damselfly. Joann can smell the weather. Josh Drew talks about shark-tooth weapons from the South Pacific and how they inform conservation.

Joann's still thinking about weather and the Sun, which drives it. Gary heard a Scarlet Tanager. Part 2 of our interview with Andrew Farnsworth of the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology.

Gary talks about his favorite bird, the Eastern Wood-pewee. We don't know why Gordon's thinking about Elderberry. Joann is watching for a derecho. Our interview is with Andrew Farnsworth of the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology about Team Sapsucker's epic Big Day. Stay tuned for part 2 of the interview next week!

It's been really busy here at The Wilderness Center! Gordon and Joann catch up with themselves to do a short episode on Honey Locust and Burdock.

Joann is blowing in the wind, again. Gordon saw a bog pumper…American Bittern. Gary enjoyed some Baltimore Orioles. The discussion explores where to strike the balance between conserving land and stewardship of the land you have already conserved.

Joann discusses Painted Turtles; Flying Squirrels is Gordon’s topic; Gary talks about the Northern Parula Warbler. Listener questions answered about Walnuts, Cardinals, Taxonomy, Geo-engineering, Hurricanes, Tornados, and Wetland Photography.

Joann introduces our new Corn Snakes. After Gordon waxes poetic about Whip-poor-wills, Gary brings us down to earth with mycorrhiza fungi. Our interview is with Jacquelyn Gill, the Contempletive Mammoth blogger, about de-extinction.

Tree Swallows, Cormorants, Eastern Meadowlark. Interview with Wendy Francis from Y2Y: Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative.

Cliff Swallows, Leatherback Sea Turtles, Crayfish Burrows and an Interview with Wildlife Biologist Eric Cole

Gary's thinking about sharks. Joann is trying to identify Chickadees. We interview Rolf Peterson about the long-standing study of wolves and moose on Isle Royale.

Fossils, Hooded Merganser, Beaver. We interview Geoff Smith of Dennison University about Mosquito Fish and their impact on pond ecosystems.