Backyard Ecology™

Summary
In this episode, Ashley Kennedy and I discuss simple ways that anyone can help eastern bluebirds. Our discussion is based off her recently published research looking at the diets of nestling eastern bluebirds. You can find our discussion of her research and its results in episode 115.
 
3 things you'll learn from this episode
Simple ways to support eastern bluebirds and make a difference without getting overwhelmed.
2 resources for discovering caterpillar host plants.
Some of the interactions between plants and the insects that eat them.
 
Today's guest
Ashley Kennedy is an entomologist who recently published her research on what eastern bluebird nestlings eat. 
 
Resources:
Ashley's research
Gardening for Moths a Regional Guide *
New Research Reveals Diet of Baby Eastern Bluebirds (episode 115)
The Backyard Ecologist's Newsletter
Backyard Ecology™ Community 
* affiliate link – We receive a small commission for purchases made through affiliate links, but it comes at no extra cost to you. All commissions that we receive through these links goes toward producing Backyard Ecology™ content. We appreciate your support.
 
Thank you!
We want to say a big "Thank you!" to all our financial supporters who help us provide free educational content about the plants, pollinators, and wildlife that can be found in our yards and communities.
 
Join our financial supporters in helping us produce free content for everyone.
It doesn't take much if we all work together. If everyone who hears this contributed just $2-3 / month (or the cost of one bottle of soda / month), we would be able to produce a whole year's worth of videos, podcasts, blogs, newsletters, and other free content.
Ways to contribute include:
Monthly contributions. 
One-time donation online.
Mailing a check to Backyard Ecology, P.O. Box 652, Glasgow, KY 42142-0652.

Summary
In this episode, Ashley Kennedy and I discuss the results of her research on the diets of nestling eastern bluebirds. Ashley used GoPro cameras located on active bluebird nestboxes to take pictures of what eastern bluebirds were bringing back to the nest to feed their young. Over the course of several seasons, she obtained over 8,000 pictures which clearly showed food being brought back to the nest. 
 
3 things you'll learn from this episode:
The most common food items brought back to eastern bluebird nestlings, plus some less common and very unexpected prey items.
Some of the reasons why caterpillars are such an important food source for baby birds.
Insights into eastern bluebird food preferences.
 
Today's guest
Ashley Kennedy is an entomologist who recently published her research on what eastern bluebird nestlings eat. 
 
Resources:
Ashley's research 
The Backyard Ecologist's Newsletter 
Backyard Ecology™ Community 
 
Thank you!
We want to say a big "Thank you!" to all our financial supporters who help us provide free educational content about the plants, pollinators, and wildlife that can be found in our yards and communities.
 
Join our financial supporters in helping us produce free content for everyone.
It doesn't take much if we all work together. If everyone who hears this contributed just $2-3 / month (or the cost of one bottle of soda / month), we would be able to produce a whole year's worth of videos, podcasts, blogs, newsletters, and other free content.
Ways to contribute include:
Monthly contributions. 
One-time donation online.
Mailing a check to Backyard Ecology, P.O. Box 652, Glasgow, KY 42142-0652.

Summary
The general impression that many people have is that prior to European settlement the whole eastern U.S. was one giant old growth forest. But that wasn't the case. Using an interdisciplinary approach, researchers over the last several decades have discovered that the eastern U.S. was instead interspersed with a surprising number of diverse ecosystems – only one of which was old growth forest.
 
3 things you'll learn from this episode:
What researchers now think the eastern U.S. looked like 400 years or more ago.
Why we have so many trees now and why it's so easy to believe that everything was once forest.
Why all of this matters and what we should do about it.
 
Additional Resources:
Forgotten Grasslands of the South: Natural History and Conservation * 
2013 Harvard University - Smithsonian study 
2025 State of the Birds Report 
* affiliate link – We receive a small commission for purchases made through these links, but it comes at no extra cost to you. All commissions that we receive through these links goes toward producing Backyard Ecology content. We appreciate your support.
 
Backyard Ecology™ resources:
The Backyard Ecologist's Newsletter
Backyard Ecology™ Community
 
Thank you
Thank you to our amazing Patrons who go above and beyond every month to provide financial support which helps us create so much free content for everyone to enjoy and learn from.

Summary
When it comes to creating habitat, having a written set of goals can be extremely helpful in moving a task from the "I'll get to it someday" category to the "I'm actually going to get this done" category. But all too often, those goals end up being forgotten or abandoned, which can leave us feeling frustrated, overwhelmed, and defeated. 
In this episode, I share how Anthony and I have experienced those same feelings because we've made the same goal-setting mistakes that everyone else makes. Then I'll show you how I've overcome those mistakes and am now able to create realistic habitat goals that are much more likely to be successful and help me achieve our habitat dreams. I also tell you about a special event which will be starting on January 12, 2026.
3 things you'll learn from this episode
Some common frustrations when it comes to creating habitat goals.
Why so many of our habitat goals fail leaving us feeling frustrated, overwhelmed, and defeated.
How to set more realistic habitat goals which are much more likely to be successful.
 
Backyard Ecology™ resources
Step by Step Habitat Challenge: Planning and Prioritizing Your Projects for 2026 
Backyard Ecology™ Community 
 
Thank you
Thank you to our amazing Patrons who go above and beyond every month to provide financial support which helps us create so much free content for everyone to enjoy and learn from.

Summary
Late blooming native plants are crucial sources of pollen and nectar for pollinators. One of my favorite species that blooms in October, and often into early November, is Short's aster (Symphyotrichum shortii). 
3 things you'll learn from this episode:
The biology and life history of Short's aster.
The pollinators and wildlife that use it.
How to incorporate it into your garden.
Resources mentioned:
BONAP's range map for Short's aster 
Plant Life of Kentucky: An Illustrated Guide to the Vascular Flora* 
* affiliate link – We get paid a small commission for purchases made through this link, but it comes at no extra cost to you. All commissions that we receive through affiliate links goes toward producing Backyard Ecology™ content. We appreciate your support.
Other Backyard Ecology™ resources:
Black-eyed Susan: A favorite nectar source for butterflies 
Discover Your Next Steps Habitat Creation Quiz 
Backyard Ecology™ Community 
Thank you
Thank you to our amazing Patrons who go above and beyond every month to provide financial support which helps us create so much free content for everyone to enjoy and learn from.