Nature Centered from Wild Birds Unlimited

Ever wonder what it really takes to bring owls to your yard? Brian is joined by Jim Carpenter, Founder, President and CEO of Wild Birds Unlimited, who's hosted nesting owls for nearly 30 years, to explain why habitat matters more than a nest box. They cover the diet and behavior of owls, plus how native trees, water, brush piles, and skipping rodenticides can make any yard owl-friendly. Learn to recognize their calls and live alongside these remarkable backyard predators.

What if jays or crows could save your life, help replant forests after fires, or learn to communicate with you? Brian is joined by WBU store owners Kurtis Huston of Kamloops, BC and Laura Fleming of Medford, OR to explore the fascinating world of jays, crows and other corvids. Discover just how intelligent these birds can be, the surprising ways they interact with people, and the important roles they play in the natural world. Plus, learn how to attract or deter them.

Brian dives into Foundational Feeding, the single feeder that can make or break your entire backyard bird-feeding setup. He explores what makes a feeder a true "Grand Central Station" for birds, from capacity to food blends to placement, and shares the secret to keeping the activity buzzing all summer long.

Discover why feather health begins with proper nutrition. Brian is joined by Amy Nepsa and Gale Jacoby of the Yorba Linda and Riverside, CA, WBU stores to explore how seasonally savvy nutrition, including protein, fats, and calcium, supports young and adult birds during summer molting. They also share their experiences testing the new FeatherPro® SuperBlend® and the impressive variety of birds it attracted.

Some people choose to not feed in the summer, but what are they missing? A whole lot it turns out. John and Brian make a case for helping your birds by providing key supplemental nutrition, as well as attracting more birds and seeing behaviors you’d otherwise miss.

John and Brian discuss the best bird mom ever. Hummingbird moms are arguably some of the toughest ladies out there. With all the odds stacked against them, we should celebrate how hummingbird moms are champions this Mother’s Day.

Habitat, habitat, habitat! That’s right, there’s more to learn about our own little natural parks we call our backyards. John and Brian share exciting new research on just how much of an impact an individual can make for local wildlife. Hint: it’s a lot! Stay tuned until the end to find out if we could see the dodo again in our lifetimes.

Spring is almost here, and you know what that means! New feathered visitors will be arriving soon. Do you have the right foods and features to bring in the most variety of these spectacular spring species? Don't worry, John and Brian are here to tell you about some of the easiest and best ways to get your yard ready so you and your birds can enjoy each other's company all season long.

What really happens at the feeder? Brian sits down with award-winning wildlife photographers and filmmakers Tim & Russell Laman to talk about Backyard Birds Revealed, a WBU-sponsored video series that captures common backyard birds in super slow motion, extreme close-ups, and unorthodox camera angles to uncover the details of backyard birds we wouldn’t otherwise see.

In this episode, Brian is joined by Holly Merker, co-author of Ornitherapy: For Your Mind, Body, and Soul and co-host of The Mindful Birding Podcast. Listen to this encore performance as they discuss amazing foods that help the birds, and you, survive and thrive this winter. Plus, there is a challenge for you. Did you accomplish it? If you haven't yet, will you accept the challenge?

In this episode, Brian explores how to make bird feeding and bird watching a cherished holiday tradition with bestselling author and nature advocate, Amy Tan. Amy shares her insights and the benefits on how to slow down, watch birds with intention, and live deeply in nature.

Will irrupting birds visit your backyard this winter? Who is already on the move and who can you expect to see? Join Brian and special guest Matt Young from the Finch Research Network as they talk all about the Winter Finch Forecast with tips on getting your feeders ready for these irregular winter visitors.

What does the number '1 billion' have to do with birds, fall migration, and your backyard? Sadly, up to a billion birds die each year from window collisions, but there’s good news. Join Brian and special guest Olivia Carvalho from Birds Canada as they share simple, science-backed ways to protect migrating birds while enjoying them at your feeders and in your yard.

Squirrels – do you love them or loathe them? If you have trees nearby, chances are you have squirrels. In this encore episode, John and Brian take a different look at our furry friends. Whether you deter them or feed them, we all have opinions on the infamous backyard critters. Plus, we have all the deterring and feeding options!

John Schaust returns to critique Brian’s yard (a call-back to ep 50). Does he practice what he preaches? Plus, we catch up with our retired co-host on owl banding, adventures, and how we can all help the birds with high-protein foods for the end of nesting season and peak molting season.

How many goldfinch species can be attracted to your yard? Brian is joined by two WBU store owners (Dripping Springs, TX & Ventura, CA) to talk goldfinches and their differences: seasonality, attracting, nesting, molting, mimicry, and more.

Being seasonally savvy in summer means fewer feeders can be ok, but the key is foundational feeding. Brian explains the benefits of a foundational feeder and food in summer and how it helps Dad (bird dads & people dads).

Have you heard song birds are in trouble? As stewards of our own space, we’ve never been more empowered to make a difference to help save the song birds. Brian shares some simple steps you can implement to make a difference, no matter where you live.

Does it matter where you source your native plants? It turns out—yes, it does. Brian is joined by Mary Phillips, Head of Habitat/Native Plant Impact & Certifications for the National Wildlife Federation, to explain why. They dig into native plant trends, the importance of sourcing responsibly, and what keystone plants are—plus how they benefit both birds and people.

How many bird species visit your yard? Brian shares that now is the perfect time to prepare to attract more bird species to your yard and how it will enhance your enjoyment of the hobby and your well-being.