The Field Guides

07/15/2026

Steve and Bill rarely make it through an episode or two without mentioning Sandy Geffner and his nature education organization, Earth Spirit.

And for good reason: there might not be a Field Guides podcast without Sandy and the Earth Spirit gang. Steve would probably be an unemployed philosopher, and Bill would likely be dead (or worse).

Anyhoo, today is a day when nonprofits across Western New York ask the community for support. We hope you’ll consider making a donation to Earth Spirit and helping them continue the wonderful work they do connecting people, especially kids, with nature.

They mean a great deal to us, and we’d love for the Field Guides community to show them some love.

Join me in making a difference in WNY by donating to Give 716 today!

06/30/2026

New episode out now!
Find it wherever you get your podcasts,
Visit out website: https://www.thefieldguidespodcast.com/new-blog/2026/6/25/ep-82-wild-ideas-resurrected-feat-gordon-maupin
Or check us out on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sOZRv_TvYL4&t=185s

06/27/2026

Our new episode coming soon!

06/01/2026

Episode 81 is here, and it's a team-up with the Western New York Land Conservancy!

Every now and then, a conservation opportunity comes along that you can't pass up. The Western NY Land Conservancy (WNYLC) is currently in a race to permanently protect the Bear Lake Preserve, 311 acres of undeveloped shoreline, mature forest, and an array of critical wetland habitats linked to the Lake.

To break down what makes this property so special, the guys hit the trail with WNYLC Stewardship Director Josh Balisteri. He gives them a tour of the property, discussing the history and ecology of Bear Lake, the historical and global crisis of wetland loss, and why we need to start viewing the Great Lakes ecosystem through the lens of crucial "inland coasts."

Every now and then, a conservation opportunity comes along that you can't pass up. The Western NY Land Conservancy (WNYLC) is currently in a race to permanently protect the Bear Lake Preserve, 311 acres of undeveloped shoreline, mature forest, and an array of critical wetland habitats linked to the

04/07/2026

If you’re anywhere near Western New York on April 18, you should come hang out with some very good people for a very good cause.

Earth Spirit Educational Services is hosting their 4th Annual “Nature is Art” Auction, an evening full of local art, community, and the kind of nature-loving energy we’re always talking about on the show.

If you’re local, seriously...come. It’s worth it.

If you’re not local…well, we expect a full cross-country pilgrimage. Pack snacks.

Also, in a completely unbiased and not-at-all self-serving note: one of our cohosts (Bill) has apparently taken a strong leadership role at home and voluntold his family to contribute to the auction. His wife created a beautiful pencil sketch portrait of Jane Goodall, and his daughter knitted an octopus named Louie, who we’re told is both emotionally supportive and highly collectible.

So come for the art, stay for the community, and maybe leave with a Jane Goodall portrait or a very distinguished octopus.

April 18. WNY folks, We’d love to see you there.

04/02/2026

Episode 79 is here!
The Brown Tree Snake (Boiga irregularis) has wreaked ecological havoc on Guam since its accidental release in the years following WWII, playing a major role in the extinction of endemic bird species and causing trophic cascades that have rewired how the island’s forests function. But how did a population of millions come from just a handful of snakes? And how does this species continue to thrive after eliminating so much of its prey base? A soon-to-be-released study looked into the genome of this invasive species and uncovered some intriguing possibilities. In this episode, the guys welcome their special guest, Dr. Christopher Osborne, to discuss his study and its implications for species management.

The Brown Tree Snake (Boiga irregularis) has wreaked ecological havoc on Guam since its accidental release in the years following WWII, playing a major role in the extinction of endemic bird species and causing trophic cascades that have rewired how the island’s forests function. But how did a pop

03/12/2026

The tortoises are back! 🐢

Last month, fifty giant tortoises walked onto Floreana Island in the Galápagos, the first of their kind to set foot there in 175 years.

In sweltering tropical heat, Galápagos National Park rangers hiked uphill carrying heavy plastic crates, some weighing close to 100 pounds. Inside each one: young hybrid tortoises bred from the genetic line of Floreana’s original tortoise species, which disappeared from the island by 1850.

This is a major milestone in one of the world’s most ambitious ecological restoration projects.

👉 Click the link below to read more:
https://www.yahoo.com/.../giant-creatures-historic-return..

And if you want the full backstory, we covered this project last year on Episode 69: Rewilding Floreana — with Fundación de Conservación Jocotoco. The episode dives into the massive amount of research and preparation that made this tortoise return possible.

🎧 Listen here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j-ZprOsA4Zs

This release is one piece of a $15 million restoration project that has been in the works for more than a decade.

02/11/2026

The Great Backyard Bird Count is coming up! C'mon...all the cool kids are doing it...

HOW TO DO IT (it's absurdly easy):

1. Pick any 15-minute window between Feb 14-17
2. Sit somewhere you can see birds — window, porch, park bench
3. Count the highest number of each species you see at one time
4. Submit at birdcount. org (free, takes 2 minutes)

WHY FEBRUARY MATTERS MORE THAN SPRING:

February counts reveal which species survived winter — and which didn't. A missing species in February is an early warning. Last year's count detected a 23% decline in Evening Grosbeaks across the Northeast — data that triggered an emergency habitat review within 6 months.

Your 15 minutes on Friday isn't birdwatching. It's surveillance. And the birds need witnesses.