Musing with Mickenzee: What is Nature?

In this episode, we answer questions like “what is phenology?” and “why is it important?” with our phenology expert Penny Shackelford, Land Manager at Fair Meadows Sanctuary.Learn more about Fair MeadowsCheck out SoWBA’s free lessons, games, and activities!Get out and explore nature with us! Make a donation to SoWBAEpisode Transcription with pictures and links available on our website! Music: “The Forest and the Trees” by Kevin MacLeod

In this episode, we answer questions like "why do some squirrels live in trees when other rodents live underground?" and Mickenzee shares a silly nature story about seeing a squirrel peeing on a tree with our squirrel expert Jamie Nack, the Extension Senior Wildlife Outreach Specialist at UW – Madison.Check out SoWBA’s free lessons, games, and activities!Get out and explore nature with us! Make a donation to SoWBAEpisode Transcription with pictures and links available on our website! Music: “The Forest and the Trees” by Kevin MacLeod

In this episode, we answer questions like "how do plants breathe?" and learn about the misconceptions around invasive plants with our plant expert BJ Byers the Land Management Director at Groundswell Conservancy! Check out Groundswell's work Check out SoWBA’s free lessons, games, and activities!Get out and explore nature with us! Make a donation to SoWBAEpisode Transcription with pictures and links available on our website! Music: “The Forest and the Trees” by Kevin MacLeod

In this episode, we answer questions like "why do moths fly in circles around lights?" and talk about which insects migrate with our insect expert, PJ Liesch, the Director of the UW Insect Diagnostic Lab. Follow him @WisconsinBugGuyCheck out SoWBA’s free lessons, games, and activities!Get out and explore nature with us! Make a donation to SoWBAEpisode Transcription with pictures and links available on our website! Music: “The Forest and the Trees” by Kevin MacLeod

In this episode, we answer questions like “how many species of birds are there?” and learn about birds' neighborhood watch system with our bird expert Dr. Matt Reetz, the Executive Director at Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance. Check out SoWBA’s free lessons, games, and activities!Get out and explore nature with us! Make a donation to SoWBAEpisode Transcription with pictures and links available on our website! Music: “The Forest and the Trees” by Kevin MacLeod

In this episode we switch things up a bit. Instead of answering kids questions, I'm asking you some questions! Let' s discuss, how do we define nature and how do humans fit into it? Check out SoWBA’s free lessons, games, and activities!Get out and explore nature with us! Make a donation to SoWBAEpisode Transcription with pictures and links available on our website! Music: “The Forest and the Trees” by Kevin MacLeod

In this episode we talk about Community Science and how anybody, even kids can get involved with our in house Community Science extraordinaire, Brenna Marsicek, the Director of Outreach here at Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance. Check out SoWBA’s free lessons, games, and activities!Get out and explore nature with us! Make a donation to SoWBAEpisode Transcription with pictures and links available on our website! Music: “The Forest and the Trees” by Kevin MacLeod

In this episode we answer questions like “What should we do when we see sick, injured, or orphaned wildlife?” and learn about all the care and expertise that wildlife rehabilitators can provide at the Dane County Humane Society (DCHS) Wildlife Center with Wildlife Program Manager Jackie Edmunds and Wildlife Rehabilitator and Educator Dave Mackler.Check out their work at DCHSCheck out SoWBA’s free lessons, games, and activities!Get out and explore nature with us! Make a donation to SoWBAEpisode Transcription with pictures and links available on our website! Music: “The Forest and the Trees” by Kevin MacLeod

In this episode, we answer questions like " why do frogs and salamanders need to lay their eggs in water?" and learn about the benefits of external gills with our amphibian expert Andrew Badje, a Conservation Biologist for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. Check out SoWBA’s free lessons, games, and activities!Get out and explore nature with us! Make a donation to SoWBAEpisode Transcription with pictures and links available on our website! Music: “The Forest and the Trees” by Kevin MacLeod

In this episode, we answer questions like “How did Bald Eagles get their name?” and debunk some common animal fun facts with our guest Carolyn Byers, Education Director here at Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance.Check out SoWBA’s free lessons, games, and activities!Get out and explore nature with us! Make a donation to SoWBAEpisode Transcription with pictures and links available on our website! Music: “The Forest and the Trees” by Kevin MacLeod