Everyday Environment Podcast

New uses for old docks? Tiny, microscopic biofilm on the roots of wetland plant communities? Susan McIntyre, a plant ecologist with the Illinois Natural History Survey, joins us to talk about how dock frames were used to construct floating wetlands in a lake ecosystem. We talk about water quality issues that floating wetlands can address, plant choices for floating wetlands, and the interesting wildlife they attract. We also point out that roots rule during this episode! Learn More Building a Living Laboratory on a LakeWild MileShare your own Everyday ObservationWas there something about this topic we didn’t cover? See something cool in nature? Let us know! Send us your question or share your everyday nature observation with us at go.illinois.edu/EEconnect, and we may share it in a future blog or podcast.Questions? We'd love to hear from you!Abigail Garofalo [email protected], Erin Garrett [email protected], Amy Lefringhouse [email protected] Subscribe to our NewsletterCheck out our BlogSee the Everyday Environment Archives

Many of us invite birds to our landscapes - sometimes there is joy and sometimes there is frustration when birds begin to nest near our homes in the spring. Join us during this episode as we talk to Illinois Extension horticulture educator, Kim Rohling, about what to do in the fall to prepare our homes and landscapes for spring nesting birds. Learn moreMerlin bird ID appeBird bird recordkeeping appIllinois Extension Pollinator Plant Selector ToolNational Wildlife Federation Native Plant FinderCornell BirdLab Right Bird, Right HouseFall Migration Mini-Sit Birdwatching Event - Cache River Wetlands Natural Area, Cypress ILShare your own Everyday ObservationWas there something about this topic we didn’t cover? See something cool in nature? Let us know! Send us your question or share your everyday nature observation with us at go.illinois.edu/EEconnect, and we may share it in a future blog or podcast.Questions? We'd love to hear from you!Abigail Garofalo [email protected], Erin Garrett [email protected], Amy Lefringhouse [email protected] Subscribe to our NewsletterCheck out our BlogSee the Everyday Environment Archives

The Everyday Environment team is back for a new season this spring to discuss Invasive species. Get a preview of what is in store as well as a primer on Invasive Species from everyone's favorite Extension person: Chris Evans.Invasives Species 101 starts at 20:30Original Episode from the archives: Invasive Alert: Spotted LanternflyShare your own Everyday ObservationWas there something about this topic we didn’t cover? See something cool in nature? Let us know! Send us your question or share your everyday nature observation with us at go.illinois.edu/EEconnect, and we may share it in a future blog or podcast.Questions? We'd love to hear from you!Abigail Garofalo [email protected], Erin Garrett [email protected], Amy Lefringhouse [email protected] Subscribe to our NewsletterCheck out our BlogSee the Everyday Environment Archives

If you learn to listen for wildlife, you’ll start finding it everywhere. Learning a bird’s song or an insect’s call means you can sense them even when they are out of sight or pick out their call from a chaotic audio background that the brain normally filters out. There are side benefits too; sometimes an animal’s call is the only way to identify it, and it’s often the easiest way to share nature with friends. Learn more about wildlife sounds from Voice of the Wild's Brodie Dunn.Check out Brodie's Voice of the Wild PodcastSee the Everyday Environment Periodical Cicadas episodeCommunity Science Resources: iNaturalistCalling Frog SurveyFrog WatchBreeding Bird Survey (INHS)Identification Resources: Merlin Bird IDVoice of the WildiNaturalistGuide to Night Singing Insects of the Northeast by John Himmelman and Michael DiGiorgioBirding by Ear East and Centrl by Richard K Walton and Rober LawsonMore Birding by Ear by Richard K Walton and Rober LawsonField Guide to Bird Songs Eastern and Central North America by Cornell LabSongsofinsects.comBirdsong ear training guide : Who Cooks for Poor Sam Peabody?McAuley LibraryCornell’s All About BirdsSounds heard throughout the episode: Common raccoon sound by iNaturalist user Aleksandr BerdnikovWood duck chick sound by iNaturalist user DanasassoAmerican toad sound by USGS Eastern Gray Squirrel sound by iNaturalist user k2018lenaCommon nighthawk sound by iNaturalist user Ben JohnsonLyric cicada sound by iNaturalist user Gabriel DiggsWalker's cicada sound by iNaturalist user Brian WulkerDickcissel south by iNaturalist user Christopher HenselChimney swift sound by iNaturalist user Chris HarrisonLeast flycatcher sound by iNaturalist user Ty SmithGray catbird sound by iNaturalist user Megan HansonEastern chipmunk sound by iNaturalist user Christopher HenselBrown thrasher sound by iNaturalist user Christopher HenselIndigo bunting sound by iNaturalist user Christopher HenselBrown thrahser sound by iNaturalist user Christopher HenselNorthern mockingbird sound by iNaturalist user Christopher HenselBlue jay sound by iNaturalist user Christopher HenselHouse finch sound by iNaturalist user Christopher HenselRed-eyed vireo sound by iNaturalist user Christopher HenselShare your own Everyday ObservationWas there something about this topic we didn’t cover? See something cool in nature? Let us know! Send us your question or share your everyday nature observation with us at go.illinois.edu/EEconnect, and we may share it in a future blog or podcast.Questions? We'd love to hear from you!Abigail Garofalo [email protected], Erin Garrett [email protected], Amy Lefringhouse [email protected] Subscribe to our NewsletterCheck out our BlogSee the Everyday Environment Archives