Tag: Invasive species
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Top 10 Backyard Ecology Podcast Episodes: October 1, 2022 – October 1, 2023
We review the top 10 Backyard Ecology podcast episodes published between Oct. 1, 2022 and Oct. 1, 2023 based on the number of downloads.
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Top 10 Backyard Ecology Videos
The Backyard Ecology YouTube channel was started in the spring of 2022. We review the top 10 videos on that channel as of Thanksgiving 2023.
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Learning to See and Identify Plants with Alan Weakley
in PodcastNavigation Menu Audio Links Episode links: * Amazon links are affiliate links. Backyard Ecology links: Full Transcript Intro: 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 about learning to observe plants, how to identify plants, why that’s important,…
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Recent Nature-related Discoveries in My Yard and Community – February and March 2023
This past February and March were quite eventful and packed full of nature-related discoveries and observations. For starters, it seemed like many of the late winter blooming trees and early ephemeral wildflowers bloomed a little on the early side. Then, at least where I’m at, March’s weather was insane with a couple of major windstorms.…
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Why Are Invasive Species Something You Should Care About?
in PodcastDo you struggle with invasive species on your property? Or, have you ever wondered, what’s the big deal with invasive species? Why are they so bad? Or maybe you just wondered how our invasive species got here. After all, if they are so awful, then why would anyone bring them here? If so, then you…
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Top 10 Most Popular Backyard Ecology Articles: Thanksgiving 2021 – Thanksgiving 2022
The new year is only a few days away. As I said in last week’s podcast episode, this is traditionally a time for looking back over the last year and looking forward to the new year. We’ve been following that tradition in the Backyard Ecology world, both with our content and behind the scenes as…
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Tips and Resources for Identifying Plants
in PodcastWe’ve all been there. We are walking in the woods, in a field, along a creek bank, around our property, or around the local park and we stumble upon an interesting plant. It isn’t one that we know and we immediately begin to wonder, “what is that?” It’s a simple question that holds so much…
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Best Times to Kill Poison Hemlock: Winter and Early Spring
in Take ActionBy: Anthony Trimboli Background Poison hemlock (Conium maculatum) is an invasive weed that is found throughout the United States. It is commonly seen growing along roadsides, in ditches, and other disturbed areas with moist soils. Poison hemlock grows as a biennial in the colder portions of the U.S. That simply means that the first year…
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Spotted Lanternfly: Invasive Species Alert
in PodcastThe spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula) is an invasive species of leafhopper (a type of insect) that was accidentally brought to the U.S. from Asia. It was first detected in Pennsylvania in 2014 and has spread to multiple states since then. This episode of the Backyard Ecology podcast is all about the spotted lanternfly and is…
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Songbirds, Fire, and Seed Dispersal
in PodcastSometimes you read or hear something that makes you say, “Wait a minute! What?” It was one of those moments that led to this episode. In this episode of the Backyard Ecology podcast, I talk with David Mason. David is a PhD candidate at the University of Florida who has been doing some really interesting…
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Habitat Management and Observing Nature in the Winter
in PodcastWinter is often depicted as being dark and cold. A time to slow down and spend more time inside, than outside. But winter can be a really great time for observing nature and doing many habitat management activities. Habitat management activities that we can do in the winter is a topic that I get asked…
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Top 10 Backyard Ecology Blog Articles in 2021
I officially launched the Backyard Ecology blog in September 2020. Over the past 16 months, I’ve written over 50 Backyard Ecology blog articles, in addition to producing Backyard Ecology podcast episodes. The blog articles have covered a wide variety of topics, but generally can be grouped under 4 main categories: Profiles of native critters Profiles…
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Laurel Wilt Disease: Something we all need to be aware of
in PodcastLaurel wilt disease is a disease caused by an introduced beetle and fungus. This disease is deadly to members of the Laurel family which includes redbay, sassafras, and spicebush. Laurel wilt disease also kills avocados, which aren’t native to the eastern U.S., but are in the Laurel family and are an important agricultural crop. As…
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The Fascinating World of Frogs and Toads in the Eastern U.S.
in PodcastFrogs and toads are so much fun to observe and learn about. In the eastern U.S. we are lucky because we have enough water that they can be found virtually anywhere. Some species may be very specific in their habitat needs, but others are fairly general and can be found in urban areas as well…
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Replace Nandina, the Not So Heavenly Bamboo
By: Anthony Trimboli Nandina (Nandina domestica), also commonly called heavenly bamboo, is an exotic ornamental shrub that is native to India, China, and Japan. Although not an actual bamboo, Nandina does have a cane-like growth pattern and will spread from root suckers. The dark, evergreen foliage and persistent bright red berries, coupled with the near…
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Native and Non-native Earthworms in the Eastern U.S. with Mac Callaham
in PodcastHi Everyone! Today we are talking with Mac Callaham who is a Research Ecologist with the Southern Research Station of the U.S. Forest Service. Mac’s focus is on invasive species, with a specialty in soil animals, especially earthworms. Like many people, I grew up thinking that earthworms were a good thing and a natural part…
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Announcing the Backyard Ecology Podcast
Over the last few months, I’ve been researching and working on a new project. Today I’m super excited to announce that I am launching a Backyard Ecology podcast! For those who might be wondering, a podcast is kind of like an audio version of a blog. I started listening to podcasts about a year and…
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Nature-related Discoveries in My Yard and Community – October 2020
Fall is my favorite time of year. I love the cooler, less humid weather, the distinctive fall smell in the early morning, the beautiful fall flowers, the busy actions of the butterflies and bees as they prepare for whatever winter looks like for them, and the transition from our summer bird species to our winter…
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Sassafras – A Beautiful Native Tree Used by Wildlife and Humans
Sassafras (Sassafras albidum) is native to most of the eastern U.S. It is commonly found growing in fencerows, along the edges of woods, along roads or other right-of-ways, in forest openings, and in other sunny to mostly sunny locations. In more mature forests, small sassafras saplings can often be found waiting for a canopy opening…
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Avoid Planting Invasive Species
Invasive species are species that are not native to an area, but once introduced to an area can spread rapidly and crowd out other species. Not all non-native species are invasive, but some are and those species can cause significant ecological damage. Invasive species also have an economic impact as local, state, and federal agencies…
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Chickweeds
Several species of chickweeds (Stellaria spp.) can be found in Kentucky and the surrounding states. The most common species are common chickweed (S. media) and star chickweed (S. pubera). Common chickweed is an exotic introduced from Europe. It is commonly found in yards and other disturbed locations. In Kentucky, it is considered a severe invasive…