Every February, bird lovers around the world step outside, look up, and become citizen scientists, and in this episode of The Backyard Naturalists, Debbie and Laurie invite you to join the fun! We're diving into the latest results from the Great Backyard Bird Count, a worldwide citizen-science event that started in 1998 and has grown into a truly global celebration of birds, data, and discovery. From over 838,000 participants to sightings spanning 8,078 bird species, the 2025 results prove just how powerful everyday nature lovers can be.

You'll hear highlights from this year's count, including the Northern Cardinal earning top honors in the U.S., massive flocks of starlings, murres, and flamingos around the world, and rare bird sightings that turned heads from Arizona to Australia. Debbie and Laurie also walk you step-by-step through how anyone can participate, whether you're watching a feeder from your kitchen window or listening for owls after dark. Plus, we share tips for using the Merlin Bird ID app, submitting checklists, and turning just 15 minutes into meaningful science.

The next Great Backyard Bird Count takes place February 13–16, 2026, making it the perfect way to celebrate Valentine's Day, with birds! Grab your binoculars (or your phone), head outside, and be part of a global backyard party that helps scientists better understand and protect birds everywhere.

👉 Have you participated before, or will this be your first count? Let us know what you see, hear, and learn!

The Backyard Naturalists Podcast drops new episodes every Saturday morning. Thanks for listening, and happy birding! 🐦

Winter weather in the Carolinas doesn't come around often, but when it does, it gets everyone talking, including the birds. In this episode, Debbie, Laurie, and Chris share firsthand stories from a week of ice, cold, and wildly overhyped forecasts, then turn their attention to what really matters: how winter weather impacts the wildlife right outside your door. From birds flocking to feeders ahead of a storm to the surprising importance of fresh water, even in freezing temperatures, this conversation is packed with practical, backyard-ready insights.

You'll learn what birds are looking for during cold snaps, why high-energy foods like suet and sunflower seeds matter, how to safely manage bird baths in winter, and what not to use on icy sidewalks if you care about wildlife (and pets). The trio also looks ahead to late winter and early spring prep, nesting season is closer than you think! Along the way, there's plenty of humor, Southern storytelling, and encouragement to leave your yard a little wild for the animals that depend on it.

Whether you're dealing with snow, ice, or just a chilly morning, this episode is a reminder that small actions in your backyard can make a big difference for birds and other wildlife all winter long.

Zoos have come a long way—and in this episode of The Backyard Naturalists Podcast, Debbie and Laurie kick off their first recording of 2026 by exploring just how different modern zoos are from those many of us remember as kids. From concrete enclosures to expansive, naturalistic habitats, today's zoos play a vital role not only in animal care, but in global conservation. Joining the conversation is Drew Cronin, Director of Conservation Education and Science at the North Carolina Zoo, who offers an eye-opening look at how zoos now serve as powerful hubs for research, education, and worldwide conservation action.

Drew shares insights from nearly two decades of work across North America, Africa, and beyond, highlighting innovative projects like the SMART Partnership, a groundbreaking conservation technology platform now used in more than 1,500 protected areas worldwide. From protecting amphibians in North Carolina to supporting national park systems in Africa and Indigenous wildlife monitoring in Canada, this episode is packed with "whoa moments" that show how conservation success depends on empowering people, funding protection efforts, and rethinking our relationship with wildlife. If you think zoos are just about animals behind glass, this conversation may completely change your perspective.

Episode highlights include:

• How modern zoos support global conservation, not just local exhibits

• Why habitat protection is as much about people as it is about wildlife

• The challenge of funding and capacity in worldwide conservation efforts

• A behind-the-scenes look at innovative technology shaping the future of protected areas

🎧 A must-listen for anyone curious about conservation, wildlife, and how one zoo can help change the world.

What was it really like to raise a family in the Alaskan wilderness with little money, no indoor plumbing, and nature as both neighbor and teacher? In this unforgettable episode of The Backyard Naturalists, Debbie, Laurie, and Chris sit down with Laurie's mom, Joe, who shares firsthand stories of raising four children on a remote Alaskan homestead. From hauling water through ice five feet thick and living through 70-below-zero temperatures to gardening, milking cows, cleaning salmon by the hundreds, and watching moose and bears wander too close for comfort, Joe paints a vivid picture of resilience, resourcefulness, and deep connection to the natural world.

Joe's reflections offer a powerful reminder of how closely tied people once lived to the land—and what that kind of life teaches you about wildlife, self-reliance, and gratitude. You'll hear about northern lights that crackled in the sky, neighbors who walked 20 miles in the cold, fires fought with aerial retardant drops, and the quiet beauty that still makes Alaska unforgettable. Whether you love stories of homesteading, wilderness living, or strong women shaped by nature, this episode is full of wisdom, humor, and heart straight from the frozen north.

As we welcome in 2026, Debbie and Laurie kick off the new year with a relaxed, behind-the-scenes conversation about nature, community, and what's ahead for The Backyard Naturalists. From skipping midnight celebrations to rethinking traditional New Year's resolutions, the discussion turns toward meaningful, nature-centered intentions, like reducing food waste, swapping non-native plants for native species, and letting our gardens stay a little "messy" for the benefit of wildlife. Along the way, they share timely winter tips for bird lovers, including the importance of bird baths, feeders, and leaving seed heads and stems standing to support overwintering insects and birds.

The episode also highlights what listeners are seeing in their own backyards this season, everything from hermit thrushes and pine warblers to bald eagles and great horned owls, plus a reminder about using the Merlin Bird ID app to discover just how active your yard really is. With shout-outs to upcoming events, special guests, giveaways, and the growing Backyard Naturalists community around the world, this short but spirited episode is the perfect way to start the year: curious, connected, and inspired by the natural world right outside your door.

In this quick but eye-opening episode of The Backyard Naturalists, Debbie and Laurie take a closer look at the Environmental Working Group's annual Dirty Dozen and Clean 15 lists—two rankings that help consumers understand which fruits and vegetables carry the highest (and lowest) pesticide residues. Whether you shop for your family, your backyard wildlife, or even your parrots (as both Debbie and Laurie do!), this is essential information for keeping everyone safe and healthy.

Debbie and Laurie walk through both lists, covering the worst offenders like potatoes, blueberries, blackberries, apples, and leafy greens, as well as the produce that consistently ranks safest, including pineapple, sweet corn, avocados, onions, mushrooms, and kiwi. They explain how the USDA tests produce, why washing and peeling matter, and how thin skins versus thick rinds influence pesticide absorption. The hosts also explore how choosing local, organic, and responsibly grown food can benefit not just our bodies, but also our soil, water, wildlife, and overall ecosystem health. Plus, they highlight ways the Matthews Community Farmers Market helps shoppers make informed, sustainable choices.

This helpful, practical episode empowers listeners to shop smarter, understand the environmental impact of pesticide use, and make everyday decisions that support healthier people—and a healthier planet.

In this eye-opening episode of The Backyard Naturalists, Debbie and Laurie sit down with Benjy Strope, Private Lands Management Biologist for the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, to explore the sneaky, persistent, and surprisingly complex world of invasive plants. Inspired by Benjy's article "Quiet Invasives," this conversation gets right to the root of how invasive species spread, why they're so hard to control, and what homeowners, land managers, and nature lovers can realistically do to fight back.

Benjy explains why invasive plants don't follow the "rules" we imagine for our landscapes, how seeds hitchhike on everything from shoes to dogs to truckloads of dirt, and why even well-intentioned gardeners may unknowingly contribute to the problem. From statewide offenders like mimosa, Japanese stiltgrass, kudzu, Bradford pear, and Bermuda grass, to emerging threats like Japanese knotweed and fig buttercup, he breaks down what makes each plant so troublesome—and why identification and planning are essential first steps. The discussion covers effective control methods (including when herbicides are the responsible choice), the myth of "one-and-done" removal, the importance of seed banks and site-specific conditions, and the value of choosing hardy native alternatives like blanketflower and coreopsis.

Whether you've battled invasives in your backyard, spotted them in local parks, or want to protect native habitat in your community, this episode offers an honest, practical look at the ongoing fight to restore and preserve natural ecosystems. It's informative, candid, and full of the kind of grounded, real-world expertise that helps listeners take meaningful action—one plant at a time.

In this festive episode of The Backyard Naturalists, Debbie and Laurie dig into a holiday-season debate that comes up year after year: Should you buy a real Christmas tree or an artificial one? The answer may surprise you and it definitely has more to do with nature, sustainability, and even family traditions than you might expect.

Debbie and Laurie compare the environmental impacts, benefits, drawbacks, and unexpected trivia behind both types of trees (including the very unusual product that inspired the original artificial Christmas tree, yes, it's true!). You'll learn why artificial trees have a larger carbon footprint, how long you need to keep one to reduce its environmental impact, and why most of them eventually end up in landfills. Then the hosts explore the world of real Christmas trees, from where they're grown, to how long they take to reach your living room, to the important role they play in local ecosystems and rural economies. With more than 15,000 farms and millions of trees grown annually, real Christmas trees help stabilize soil, protect water, support wildlife, and provide pure, fresh oxygen, plus they're fully biodegradable.

This episode also touches on the family traditions tied to choosing a tree, how tree farms replant for the future, and why real trees still come out on top in sustainability studies. And stay tuned: Debbie and Laurie will follow up with a companion episode on what to do with your Christmas tree after the holidays, whether real or artificial.