Garden in a City – Details, episodes & analysis

In this episode, we explore methods used to tell apart butterflies and moths, as well as a common fall butterfly in the Bay Area: the umber skipper. We also look at the role lepidopterans play in ecosystems and even some nocturnal butterflies! This episode also includes a poem about checkerspot butterflies.

To learn more about how to tell apart butterflies and moths, read this article by the Library of Congress: https://www.loc.gov/everyday-mysteries/zoology/item/how-can-you-tell-the-difference-between-a-butterfly-and-a-moth/.

This article from the Xerces Society was also very helpful: https://www.xerces.org/blog/moths-are-cool-too.

In this episode, we explore two common seabirds in the Bay Area: the Brown Pelican and Heermann's Gull. We then talk about how these birds are connected to each other, and discuss avian evolution.

The episode concludes with a poem about Double-Crested Cormorants, another seabird common in this area.

To learn more about the birds talked about in this episode, visit Cornell Lab of Ornithology's All About Birds website (https://www.allaboutbirds.org/news/), which includes more information about Brown Pelicans and Heermann's gulls.

In this episode, we explore the Bay Area's many species of marsh birds, including the Snowy Egret, Bufflehead, and Double-crested Cormorant, and discuss their relationship with the marsh's ecosystems.

This episode also includes an original poem about Buffleheads.

Bird information for this episode was found on All About Birds, a birding website created by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/news/.

Information about Buffleheads came from Buffleheads by Anthony J Erskine, and information about Double-crested Cormorants came from The Devil's Cormorant by Richard J King. General information about ducks came from Ducks, Geese, and Swans of North America by Guy A. Baldassarre.

I also mention Sacramento Heron and Egret Rescue. You can learn about their work here: https://sacheronsave.org/.

In this episode, I answer nature questions asked by San Francisco Schoolhouse's K-1 class. Explore a wide variety of nature-related topics as we dive deeper into many subjects about the Bay Area's ecosystems.

In this episode, we explore four of our most common Bay Area mushrooms: Western Jack-ó-lantern, Turkey Tail, Artist's Conk, and Witch's Butter. As always, this episode concludes with a poem about nature.

Sources and more information on specific subjects:

Davis, Haley. The Most Eye-Catching Mushrooms to See in Winter, Bay Nature https://baynature.org/2021/02/10/top-5-winter-fungi-in-the-bay-area/

Siegel, Noah. Mushrooms of the Redwood Coast, 2016

Turkey Tail, Encyclopedia of Life https://eol.org/pages/190215

In this episode, we discuss three highlights of winter: the adaptations of our native plants to the rainy season, how insects survive the cold, and grandfather's beard lichen. As always, this episode concludes with a poem about nature.

Sources and more information on specific subjects:

Grandfather's beard lichen:

Marianchild, Kate, and Ann Meyer Maglinte. Secrets of the Oak Woodlands: Plants and Animals among California’s Oaks. Heyday, 2014.

Native Plants in Winter:

Charles, Jacoba. “Bay Area Native Plants Play It Safe, Biologically Speaking -.” Bay Nature, https://baynature.org/article/bay-area-native-plants-play-it-safe-biologically-speaking/. 

Insects in Winter:

Institution, Smithsonian. “Where Do Insects Go in the Winter?” Smithsonian Institution, https://www.si.edu/spotlight/buginfo/winter. Accessed 25 Jan. 2023.

In this episode, we explore the birds that are flying through the Bay Area right now, how birds change their behavior for winter and late fall, and how you can help support birds in your backyard or observe them in your local park.

As always, this episode concludes with a poem about nature.

Sources and more information on specific subjects:

American Robin Overview, All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology. https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/American_Robin/overview. Accessed 1 Dec. 2022.

Dark-Eyed Junco Overview, All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology. https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Dark-eyed_Junco/overview. Accessed 1 Dec. 2022.

Farming for Bird Habitat in California’s Delta. www.youtube.com, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I-N3zbyQvgU. Accessed 1 Dec. 2022.

Quady, David E., et al. Birds of Northern California. First edition, R.W. Morse Company, 2015.

Sibley, David. The Sibley Field Guide to Birds of Western North America. 1st ed, Alfred A. Knopf, 2003.

Steller’s Jay Overview, All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology. https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Stellers_Jay/overview. Accessed 1 Dec. 2022.

Tallamy, Douglas W. Bringing Nature Home: How You Can Sustain Wildlife with Native Plants. Updated and Expanded pbk. ed, Timber Press, 2009.

White-Crowned Sparrow Overview, All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology. https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/White-crowned_Sparrow/overview. Accessed 1 Dec. 2022.

Bird Calls:

American Robin Song. www.youtube.com, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WZl2X4zjejA. Accessed 2 Dec. 2022.

Dark-Eyed Junco Sings an Even Musical Trill. www.youtube.com, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d8-dRrjkipA. Accessed 2 Dec. 2022.

The Sounds of Steller’s Jay - 4K. www.youtube.com, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-vWtN5JG8RA. Accessed 2 Dec. 2022.

White-Crowned Sparrow Song. www.youtube.com, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0bcnB8S6KGk. Accessed 2 Dec. 2022.

In this episode, we discuss a wide range of topics related to dragonflies, including feeding, behavior, and flight, as well as how to attract dragonflies to your backyard.

As always, this episode concludes with a poem about nature.

Sources and more information on specific subjects:

Dragonfly Migration in the Bay Area: Claire Peaslee, Meet the Bay Area's Migrating Dragonflies, Bay Nature Magazine (Sept. 2017) https://baynature.org/article/meet-bay-areas-migrating-dragonflies/

Dragonflies Hunting: ScienceTake, How a Dragonfly Hunts, Youtube Video by New York Times (Sept. 2013) https://www.youtube.com/watchv=fE8IYukB7KE

General Dragonfly Information: Joel Sartore, National Geographic Photo Arc: Dragonflies, National Geographic https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/invertebrates/facts/dragonflies-insects

Attracting Dragonflies: Jenny Krane, How to Attract Dragonflies to Your Yard To Combat Mosquitoes, Better Homes and Gardens (Jun. 2022) https://www.bhg.com/gardening/design/nature-lovers/attract-dragonflies/