Welcome to a special episode of The Backyard Naturalists podcast! We are thrilled to share that our podcast has been recognized by the readers of The Matthews Mint Hill Weekly as their favorite, earning us the honor of being an award-winning podcast. We are incredibly grateful for the support of our listeners, as we now reach audiences in all 50 states and over 100 countries worldwide.

In this week's episode, your hosts Debbie and Laurie are joined by a special guest, Nick Lund, also known as "The Birdist". Nick, with his extensive background as the Advocacy and Outreach Coordinator for Maine Audubon, brings a wealth of knowledge to the discussion on state birds. As an author and nature writer, Nick's insights add depth to the conversation.

Tune in as Debbie, Laurie, and Nick explore the fascinating process of choosing state birds, uncovering the reasons behind the Northern Cardinal's immense popularity and prevalence among state selections. The conversation takes a thoughtful turn, offering recommended substitutes and better choices for state birds, offering valuable perspectives on the symbolism and representation of these avian ambassadors.

Join us for an enriching and engaging episode as we unravel the captivating world of state birds with "The Birdist" himself. Discover the intricate thought processes and significance behind these feathered representatives, and gain a deeper appreciation for the remarkable diversity and beauty of the avian world.

If you have ideas for topics that you'd like us to pursue, send us a message either on our Facebook page or our website. We would really like to hear from you.

Connect with the Backyard Naturalists on the Web, Facebook and Instagram.

Please visit and support our presenting sponsor, Backyard Birds at http://www.thebirdfoodstore.com/. A mecca for bird lovers and bird watchers, Backyard Birds is an independent family-owned business located in Matthews, NC (next to Dairy Queen), just southeast of Charlotte.

Thanks for listening to The Backyard Naturalists. We hope you have a day filled with the wonders of nature. Get outside and take a walk on the wild side! Please don’t forget to leave a 5-star review for The Backyard Naturalists podcast.

Production services for The Backyard Naturalists podcast are provided by Downtown Podcasting. To start a conversation on how you can have a podcast, simply send an email to info@downtownpodcasting.com.

While recording the Backyard Naturalists podcast, Debbie and Laurie enjoy coffee provided by the Good Cup Coffee Company in Matthews, North Carolina. Follow Good Cup Coffee on Instagram and look for them at the Matthews Community Farmer’s Market this Saturday morning.

Welcome to The Backyard Naturalists, the show about anything and everything connected with nature.

In this encore episode of The Backyard Naturalist podcast, Debbie and Lori dive into the world of mosquitoes and share practical tips for controlling these pesky insects. Did you know that mosquitoes are more attracted to people with type O blood, high metabolism, and those wearing dark colors? Tune in to learn more fascinating facts about mosquito attraction and the risks they pose to pets and wildlife, such as heartworm in dogs and West Nile virus in birds.

Discover effective methods to reduce mosquito populations in your yard, from eliminating standing water to attracting natural predators like bluebirds and dragonflies. Debbie and Lori also highlight the benefits of using native plants and caution against commercial mosquito sprays, which can harm beneficial insects and disrupt the food supply for birds.

The episode's highlight is the introduction of the innovative "bucket of doom" method by Doug Tallamy. This environmentally-friendly approach involves creating a mosquito breeding habitat using a bucket of water with organic matter and mosquito dunks containing Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), a naturally occurring bacteria that targets mosquito larvae without harming other insects or wildlife.

Debbie and Lori encourage listeners to try this method and share their feedback. Join us in exploring ways to control mosquitoes responsibly, ensuring a balanced ecosystem while keeping your backyard enjoyable for everyone.

If you have ideas for topics that you'd like us to pursue, send us a message either on our Facebook page or our website. We would really like to hear from you.

Connect with the Backyard Naturalists on the Web, Facebook and Instagram.

Please visit and support our presenting sponsor, Backyard Birds at http://www.thebirdfoodstore.com/. A mecca for bird lovers and bird watchers, Backyard Birds is an independent family-owned business located in Matthews, NC (next to Dairy Queen), just southeast of Charlotte.

Thanks for listening to The Backyard Naturalists. We hope you have a day filled with the wonders of nature. Get outside and take a walk on the wild side! Please don’t forget to leave a 5-star review for The Backyard Naturalists podcast.

Production services for The Backyard Naturalists podcast are provided by Downtown Podcasting. To start a conversation on how you can have a podcast, simply send an email to info@downtownpodcasting.com.

While recording the Backyard Naturalists podcast, Debbie and Laurie enjoy coffee provided by the Good Cup Coffee Company in Matthews, North Carolina. Follow Good Cup Coffee on Instagram and look for them at the Matthews Community Farmer’s Market this Saturday morning.

Welcome to The Backyard Naturalists, the award-winning podcast about anything and everything connected with nature, heard in 115 countries, 50 states, and all throughout the Carolinas. Honored with the Best of the Weeklies podcast award by the readers of the Matthews-Mint Hill Weekly, we bring you engaging and educational content each week.

In this episode, hosts Lori and Debbie are joined by Christopher Page for an enlightening discussion about light pollution and its impacts. Christopher reminisces about his childhood in North Carolina when the night sky was filled with stars, but laments the increasing light pollution and the light domes over cities at night. The hosts share their own memories of seeing the Milky Way with less light pollution.

Christopher introduces the Bortle scale, which measures light pollution from 1 to 9, rating Charlotte as an 8 or 9 and Matthews as a 7. They discuss an Audubon initiative aimed at reducing city lights during bird migration.

Christopher also shares his experiences photographing the northern lights in Virginia and the Milky Way on the coast, noting the challenges of capturing faint nebulae and star clusters. The conversation touches on how light pollution affects animals like sea turtles, migratory birds, and dung beetles, which use stars for navigation.

To help reduce light pollution, Christopher offers practical tips such as using motion sensors, shielding lights, and opting for warmer colored lights. The hosts and Christopher emphasize the importance of preserving dark skies and share fond memories of clearer night skies from their childhoods.

Christopher also provides information on how to access his astrophotography online and offers astronomy resources. Before concluding, he extends his photography services to listeners.

Tune in to learn more about the significance of dark skies and how we can all contribute to reducing light pollution.

If you have ideas for topics that you'd like us to pursue, send us a message either on our Facebook page or our website. We would really like to hear from you.

Connect with the Backyard Naturalists on the Web, Facebook and Instagram.

Please visit and support our presenting sponsor, Backyard Birds at http://www.thebirdfoodstore.com/. A mecca for bird lovers and bird watchers, Backyard Birds is an independent family-owned business located in Matthews, NC (next to Dairy Queen), just southeast of Charlotte.

Thanks for listening to The Backyard Naturalists. We hope you have a day filled with the wonders of nature. Get outside and take a walk on the wild side! Please don’t forget to leave a 5-star review for The Backyard Naturalists podcast.

Production services for The Backyard Naturalists podcast are provided by Downtown Podcasting. To start a conversation on how you can have a podcast, simply send an email to info@downtownpodcasting.com.

While recording the Backyard Naturalists podcast, Debbie and Laurie enjoy coffee provided by the Good Cup Coffee Company in Matthews, North Carolina. Follow Good Cup Coffee on Instagram and look for them at the Matthews Community Farmer’s Market this Saturday morning.