Backyard Ecology™ – Details, episodes & analysis

I can’t believe that 2023 is almost over! This year has flown by! For the past several weeks, I’ve been doing top 10 roundups of the different types of Backyard Ecology content. We’ve talked about the videos, the blog articles, and the nature trivia style shorts. So, let’s wrap it up with a rundown of the top 10 podcast episodes of the year.

🦋 9b) Everything You Want to Know About Nesting Birds with NestWatch
https://www.backyardecology.net/everything-you-want-to-know-about-nesting-birds-with-nestwatch/ 

🦋 9a) Birding Tools and Technology to Help You Be a Better Birder
https://www.backyardecology.net/birding-tools-and-technology-to-help-you-be-a-better-birder/ 

🦋 8) Exploring Urban Ecology: Understanding and Appreciating Nature Where We Live
https://www.backyardecology.net/exploring-urban-ecology/ 

🦋 7) Why Are Invasive Species Something You Should Care About?
https://www.backyardecology.net/why-are-invasive-species-something-you-should-care-about/ 

🦋 6) Moths: Unsung Heroes of Pollination and Beyond
https://www.backyardecology.net/moths-unsung-heroes-of-pollination-and-beyond/ 

🦋 5) Gardening with Sedges - Mt. Cuba Center Carex Trial
https://www.backyardecology.net/gardening-with-sedges-mt-cuba-center-carex-trial/ 

🦋 4) How Can Your State’s Native Plant Society Help You?
https://www.backyardecology.net/how-can-your-states-native-plant-society-help-you/ 

🦋 3) Learning to See and Identify Plants with Alan Weakley
https://www.backyardecology.net/learning-to-see-and-identify-plants-with-alan-weakley/ 

🦋 2) Ecology Based Landscaping with Larry Weaner
https://www.backyardecology.net/ecology-based-landscaping-with-larry-weaner/ 

🦋 1) Growing Native Plants, Insect-Plant Interactions, Playing in the Pond, and Much More with Dr. Randi Eckel
https://www.backyardecology.net/growing-native-plants-insect-plant-interactions-playing-in-the-pond-and-much-more-with-dr-randi-eckel/ 

🦋 Bonus: Gardening with Native Plants
https://www.backyardecology.net/gardening-with-native-plants/ 

Other Episode Relevant Links:
🦋 Nature at Your Door, Connecting with the Wild and Green in the Urban and Suburban Landscape https://amzn.to/3KwEYX0 

🦋 Garden Revolution https://amzn.to/3Ckbp6F 

* Amazon links are affiliate links. We get a small commission from Amazon if you use them, but this comes at no cost to you.

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Thank you to our supporters on Patreon who go above and beyond each month to financially contribute towards making the Backyard Ecology blog, podcast, and YouTube channel possible. Thank you also to everyone who has made one-time donations to support the Backyard Ecology blog, podcast, and YouTube channel. 

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Become a Backyard Ecologist:

🦋 The Backyard Ecologist’s Newsletter: https://www.backyardecology.net/subscribe/
🦋 Backyard Ecology Community: https://www.backyardecology.net/community/ 
🦋 Group coaching: https://www.backyardecology.net/group-coaching/

Backyard Ecology content:

🦋 Website: https://backyardecology.net
🦋 YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/backyardecology
🦋 Blog: https://www.backyardecology.net/blog/

Support Backyard Ecology:

🦋 Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/backyardecology
🦋 Make a one-time donation: https://www.paypal.com/biz/fund?id=K7F3HJLJT9F8N

Did you know that in addition to the regular Backyard Ecology videos that Anthony creates, he also produces a series of nature-trivia style short videos? Most of these videos are literally only a few seconds long so are perfect “bite-sized” samples if you’re just getting started or are looking for something to watch for a few seconds on your phone.

So, let’s quickly run through the top 10 Backyard Ecology shorts based on number of views as of Thanksgiving 2023. Since the videos are so short, I’m just going to list the titles and let your curiosity decide whether to follow the link and explore further.

🦋 10) Caterpillar's Poop Stick Defense!  https://youtube.com/shorts/R_mMaD2TadU 
🦋 9) Ragweed SUPER FOOD for Birds!  https://youtube.com/shorts/CfOM56BYZ_8 
🦋 8) Hummingbirds Eat Nectar and WHAT!  https://youtube.com/shorts/-IOGXUiOozY 
🦋 7) Butterfly Garden Must Have!  https://youtube.com/shorts/UppahIW3EnQ 
🦋 6) These Cute Larvae Aren't Caterpillars!  https://youtube.com/shorts/rorND6RmcGg 
🦋 5) Bumblebees VS Carpenter Bees Easy ID!  https://youtube.com/shorts/slBX3utAcdI 
🦋 4) What Is This Weird Plant Growth!  https://youtube.com/shorts/lhrmJlsKNfk 
🦋 3) Have You Seen Invasive Tree of Heaven?  https://youtube.com/shorts/Vqmq_8Bc3rc 
🦋 2) This Caterpillar Looks Like What!  https://youtube.com/shorts/Wkqy-qO8z98 
🦋 1) Wolf Spider Momma Has How MANY Babies!  https://youtube.com/shorts/MA7IjE8Jyyc 

Bonus
🦋 See Me Fly Like Monarch and Viceroy Butterflies! https://www.youtube.com/shorts/Dzpde6I3ju8 

Other Episode-Related Links
🦋 Top 10 Backyard Ecology Videos https://www.backyardecology.net/top-10-videos/ 
🦋 3 Awesome Native Trees to Replace Bradford Pear! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZYPak0l1exo 

🌻 🌻 🌻

Thank you to our supporters on Patreon who go above and beyond each month to financially contribute towards making the Backyard Ecology blog, podcast, and YouTube channel possible. Thank you also to everyone who has made one-time donations to support the Backyard Ecology blog, podcast, and YouTube channel. 

🌻 🌻 🌻

Become a Backyard Ecologist:

🦋 The Backyard Ecologist’s Newsletter: https://www.backyardecology.net/subscribe/
🦋 Backyard Ecology Community: https://www.backyardecology.net/community/ 
🦋 Group coaching: https://www.backyardecology.net/group-coaching/

Backyard Ecology content:

🦋 Website: https://backyardecology.net
🦋 YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/backyardecology
🦋 Blog: https://www.backyardecology.net/blog/

Support Backyard Ecology:

🦋 Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/backyardecology
🦋 Make a one-time donation: https://www.paypal.com/biz/fund?id=K7F3HJLJT9F8N

American goldfinches are beautiful and fascinating songbirds that can be found over most of the continent. Their late nesting season and almost exclusively seed-based diet, even as nestlings, make them unique among our songbirds. They are also easy to attract to our properties. I talk about all those things and much more in this episode.

The full transcript, including additional pictures, can be found on the episode’s webpage: https://www.backyardecology.net/american-goldfinch/

Incorporating native plants into your landscape is a great way to improve the habitat in your yard for butterflies, hummingbirds, songbirds, and just about every other type of animal that visits your property. If you want to learn more about gardening with native plants, then I’d like to give you a free copy of our e-book, An Introduction to Gardening with Native Plants: Hardiness Zones and Ecoregions. Just go to https://www.backyardecology.net/ecoregions/ to request your copy. 

Until next week I encourage you to take some time to explore the nature in your yard and community.

Episode Links

• Caring for bird feeders: https://feederwatch.org/learn/feeding-birds/#safe-feeding-environment

Backyard Ecology Links

• Website: https://backyardecology.net
• YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/backyardecology
• Blog: https://www.backyardecology.net/blog/
• Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/backyardecology
• Make a one-time donation: https://www.paypal.com/biz/fund?id=K7F3HJLJT9F8N
• Subscribe to Backyard Ecology emails: https://www.backyardecology.net/subscribe/

Episode Image:

• American goldfinch in full breeding plumage.
• Photo credit: Shenandoah National Park, public domain 

Did you know that urban ecology doesn’t just apply to big cities and towns? Even if you live in a fairly rural area, if there is a lot of interaction between where you live and a nearby town or city then you may fall into the broad category of urban ecology. That means urban ecology is likely to apply to most of us.

Today we're talking with Dr. Sarah Gagné. Sarah is the author of the newly published book, Nature at Your Door, Connecting with the Wild and Green in the Urban and Suburban Landscape. She is also an Associate Professor of Landscape Ecology at the University of North Carolina, Charlotte.

The full transcript of this episode can be found at: https://www.backyardecology.net/exploring-urban-ecology/

Sara’s links:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: www.saragagne.com
• Instagram: @urban_nature_clt
• Nature at Your Door, Connecting with the Wild and Green in the Urban and Suburban Landscape *: https://amzn.to/3KwEYX0

Other episode-related links:

• iNaturalist: https://inaturalist.org/
• Liking lichens: A Glimpse into the Fascinating World of Lichens: https://www.backyardecology.net/liking-lichens-a-glimpse-into-the-fascinating-world-of-lichens/
• Urban Lichens: A Field Guide for Northeastern North America *: https://amzn.to/45lUfSx

* Amazon links are affiliate links. 

Backyard Ecology links:

• Website: https://backyardecology.net
• YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/backyardecology
• Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/backyardecology
• Make a one-time donation: https://www.paypal.com/biz/fund?id=K7F3HJLJT9F8N
• Subscribe to Backyard Ecology emails: https://www.backyardecology.net/subscribe/

* * *

Get a free copy of our e-book, An Introduction to Gardening with Native Plants: Hardiness Zones and Ecoregions. Just go to www.backyardecology.net/ecoregions to request your copy. 

* * *

Thank you to our supporters on Patreon who go above and beyond each month to financially contribute towards making the Backyard Ecology blog, podcast, and YouTube channel possible. Thank you also to everyone who has made one-time donations to support the Backyard Ecology blog, podcast, and YouTube channel. 

As sad as the loss of a tree can be, there’s also an excitement because fallen trees provide many different types of valuable and often overlooked habitats. I talk about some of those habitats in this episode.

The full transcript, including additional pictures, can be found on the episode’s webpage: https://www.backyardecology.net/what-happens-when-a-tree-gets-blown-over-discovering-new-habitats-created-by-fallen-trees/

Incorporating native plants into your landscape is a great way to improve the habitat in your yard for butterflies, hummingbirds, songbirds, and just about every other type of animal that visits your property. If you want to learn more about gardening with native plants, then I’d like to give you a free copy of our e-book, An Introduction to Gardening with Native Plants: Hardiness Zones and Ecoregions. Just go to https://www.backyardecology.net/ecoregions/ to request your copy. 

Links

• Sometimes Life Happens: https://www.backyardecology.net/sometimes-life-happens/
• Website: https://backyardecology.net
• YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/backyardecology
• Blog: https://www.backyardecology.net/blog/
• Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/backyardecology
• Make a one-time donation: https://www.paypal.com/biz/fund?id=K7F3HJLJT9F8N
• Subscribe to Backyard Ecology emails: https://www.backyardecology.net/subscribe/

Episode Image: 

• White-tailed deer
• Photo credit: USFWS, public domain

Did you know that there are approximately 10 times more moth species worldwide than there are butterfly species? Or that without moths we would have fewer songbirds, less genetic diversity in many of our native plants, and lower harvests of many popular fruits? Or that creating better moth habitats around our homes also benefits our health and wellbeing?

Dr. Elena Tartaglia shares her love of moths, some of the key roles they play in the ecosystem, how helping moths also helps us, and much more. Elena is a co-founder of National Moth Week and a Research Associate at Rutgers University.

The full transcript of this episode can be found on the episode’s webpage: https://www.backyardecology.net/moths-unsung-heroes-of-pollination-and-beyond/

Get a free copy of our e-book, An Introduction to Gardening with Native Plants: Hardiness Zones and Ecoregions, when you subscribe to our email. Subscribe at www.backyardecology.net/subscribe.

National Moth Week links:

• Website: https://nationalmothweek.org/
• Moth Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/NationalMothWeek/
• Caterpillar Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/NationalMothWeekCaterpillars/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mothweek/?hl=en

Other episode links:

• Elena’s email: [email protected]
• iNaturalist: https://inaturalist.org/
• Jersey Yards: https://www.jerseyyards.org/
• Dark Sky Association: https://www.darksky.org/
• The Very Hungry Caterpillar*: https://amzn.to/3PMYAJE
• Nature's Best Hope*: https://amzn.to/3lrao7r
• Light Pollution and Its Impacts on Birds and Other Wildlife: https://www.backyardecology.net/light-pollution-and-its-impacts-on-birds-and-other-wildlife/
• Caterpillar hunting with a UV flashlight: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/335025908_Caterpillar_hunting_with_a_UV_flashlight/link/5d4b2c5492851cd046a6f6d6/download

* Amazon links are affiliate links. 

Backyard Ecology links:

• Website: https://backyardecology.net
• YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/backyardecology
• Blog: https://www.backyardecology.net/blog/
• Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/backyardecology
• Make a one-time donation: https://www.paypal.com/biz/fund?id=K7F3HJLJT9F8N
• Subscribe to Backyard Ecology emails: https://www.backyardecology.net/subscribe/

Episode image:

• IO moth, Photo credit: lightbed, cc-0

I share a story of how Anthony and I had a “life happens” moment on our property over the weekend. My hope is that our story of how “life happened” to us this week can give you a little bit of encouragement, or at least, help you feel not quite so alone the next time life throws a wrench in your plans. 

The full transcript, including pictures, can be found on the episode’s webpage: https://www.backyardecology.net/sometimes-life-happens/

Get a free copy of our e-book, An Introduction to Gardening with Native Plants: Hardiness Zones and Ecoregions, when you subscribe to our email. Subscribe at www.backyardecology.net/subscribe.

Links

• Website: https://backyardecology.net
• YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/backyardecology
• Blog: https://www.backyardecology.net/blog/
• Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/backyardecology
• Make a one-time donation: https://www.paypal.com/biz/fund?id=K7F3HJLJT9F8N
• Subscribe to Backyard Ecology emails: https://www.backyardecology.net/subscribe/

Episode Image

• A turtle that we found early Monday morning in one of the new erosion ruts in our driveway.
• Photo credit: Shannon Trimboli, all rights reserved

If you’ve ever found a plant that you didn’t recognize and wanted to know what it was, then this episode is for you. We talk with Dr. Alan Weakley about learning to observe plants, how to identify plants, why that’s important, and some exciting new tools that are available to help us better recognize and appreciate the diversity of plants around us.

Alan is the director of the University of North Carolina's Herbarium, which is located at the North Carolina Botanical Garden. He is also the author of the Flora of the Southeastern US and the newly released FloraQuest app. 

The full transcript of this episode can be found on the episode’s webpage: https://www.backyardecology.net/learning-to-see-and-identify-plants-with-alan-weakley/

Get a free copy of our e-book, An Introduction to Gardening with Native Plants: Hardiness Zones and Ecoregions, when you subscribe to our email. Subscribe at www.backyardecology.net/subscribe.

Episode links: 

• FloraQuest: https://ncbg.unc.edu/research/unc-herbarium/flora-apps/
• Flora of the Southeastern U.S. (pdf): https://ncbg.unc.edu/research/unc-herbarium/flora-request/
• University of North Carolina Chapel Hill: https://www.unc.edu/
• UNC Herbarium: https://ncbg.unc.edu/research/unc-herbarium/
• North Carolina Botanical Garden: https://ncbg.unc.edu/
• Last Child in the Woods: https://amzn.to/3qEBw5D
• Wildflowers of the Atlantic Southeast: https://amzn.to/3P6McEc
• Wildflowers of New England: https://amzn.to/3N5tZnI
• Wildflowers of Texas: https://amzn.to/3J9ix9D
• Wildflowers of the Pacific Northwest: https://amzn.to/3N95S7U

* Amazon links are affiliate links. 

Backyard Ecology links:

• Website: https://backyardecology.net
• YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/backyardecology
• Blog: https://www.backyardecology.net/blog/
• Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/backyardecology
• Make a one-time donation: https://www.paypal.com/biz/fund?id=K7F3HJLJT9F8N
• Subscribe to Backyard Ecology emails: https://www.backyardecology.net/subscribe/

Episode image:

• Hepatica flowers
• Photo credit: Shenandoah National Park, public domain 

I offer five tips to help you attract butterflies to your property. Depending on your property and situation, you may not be able to do all of them. That’s ok. If you have a small property, look around you. See what’s lacking in your area and try to fill in the gaps. The important thing is to be aware and to do what you can.

The full transcript can be found on the episode’s webpage: https://www.backyardecology.net/5-tips-for-attracting-butterflies/

We have lots of exciting opportunities planned with Backyard Ecology over the next several months. If you want to keep up with everything going on in the Backyard Ecology world, then please subscribe to our emails. You can do so at www.backyardecology.net/subscribe.

And when you sign up for our emails, you’ll be sent a link to download a free, e-book that explains why our familiar garden zones, aren’t important when it comes to gardening with native plants. That’s just our way of saying thank you for your interest in Backyard Ecology.

Links

• Website: https://backyardecology.net
  YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/backyardecology
  Blog: https://www.backyardecology.net/blog/
  Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/backyardecology
  Make a one-time donation: https://www.paypal.com/biz/fund?id=K7F3HJLJT9F8N
  Subscribe to Backyard Ecology emails: https://www.backyardecology.net/subscribe/

Episode Image:

• Eastern tiger swallowtail on a purple coneflower.
• Photo credit: USFWS

Did you know there is a group of native plants which can be highly adaptable, can serve multiple functions in our gardens, and perhaps even be a backbone component to our home landscapes, but which has historically been overlooked for those purposes? This group of native plants is the sedges, or more specifically, members of the genus Carex.

In this episode of the Backyard Ecology podcast, we talk with Sam Hoadley about sedges and their use in the home garden and landscape. Sam is the Manager of Horticultural Research at Mt. Cuba Center in Delaware.

Recently, Mt. Cuba Center released their Carex trial report. This report evaluated 70 species and cultivars of Carex over 4 years for garden and landscape use in the Mid-Atlantic Region. During our conversation, Sam and I talk about how Mt. Cuba Center’s trials are conducted, the importance of sedges / Carex species, how they can be used in the garden or home landscape, and many other topics.

Sedges may not produce the colorful, flashy flowers that we often think about and are drawn to when we are picking native plants to use in our home landscapes or pollinator and wildlife gardens, but they are definitely worth considering. Not only do they have their own innate beauty, but they can also serve so many different functions in the garden and landscape – including filling in so called “problem areas” or serving as a potential lawn alternative.

We have lots of exciting opportunities planned with Backyard Ecology over the next several months. If you want to keep up with everything going on in the Backyard Ecology world, then please subscribe to our emails. You can do so at www.backyardecology.net/subscribe.

And when you sign up for our emails, you’ll be sent a link to download a free, e-book that explains why our familiar garden zones, aren’t important when it comes to gardening with native plants. That’s just our way of saying thank you for your interest in Backyard Ecology.

Sam’s email: [email protected]
Carex Trial Report: https://mtcubacenter.org/trials/carex-for-the-mid-atlantic-region/
Past Trial Reports: https://mtcubacenter.org/research/trial-garden/
Mt. Cuba Center webpage: https://mtcubacenter.org/
Mt. Cuba Center Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/MtCubaCenter/

Website: https://backyardecology.net
YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/backyardecology
Blog: https://www.backyardecology.net/blog/
Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/backyardecology
Make a one-time donation: https://www.paypal.com/biz/fund?id=K7F3HJLJT9F8N
Subscribe to Backyard Ecology emails: https://www.backyardecology.net/subscribe/

Pennsylvania sedge (Carex pensylvanica)
Photo credit: Brian Hunt, cc-by