The Old Naturalist

Birds of the Toledo Area 2026

Unfortunately the Eric and Brandon couldn't get together this month so they decided to have a remote discussion on a topic near and dear to their hearts. Fellow birders and friends Matt Anderson, Tom Kemp, Elliot Tramer, Steve Lauer and Greg Links have updated the wonderful publication Birds of the Toledo Area. In this episode the boys discuss a few of the updates in the new book. Looking forward to interviewing the authors this summer! And if you're excited to check out the new edition just search for it on Amazon.

The Pantanal

What do yellow anacondas and hyacinth macaws have in common? Well...both have been seen by Eric Durbin in the Pantanal, the world's largest tropical wetland. Come along for the ride as The Old Naturalist shows us the wild wonders from central South America.

If It Looks Like a Duck...

Everybody loves ducks, right? They're kind of the best. Our guest this month appreciates ducks as much as anybody. Jackson Bowser is an avid duck hunter, an amateur naturalist, and is currently interning with Ohio's Division of Wildlife. In this episode Jackson gets grilled about his waterfowl knowledge and treats the boys to some tasty mallard duck.

The Lazy Big Year

At some point in every birder's life the idea of doing a Big Year pops into their head. But a true Big Year can be grueling, and Brandon and the Old Naturalist ain't about that. Listen in to this conversation in which the boys discussed the possibilities of the Lazy Big Year!

What Do F's Get?

Well we're a tad tardy on releasing our January episode, but better late than never. On this show the Old Naturalist does something he's never done before: Failed to pass the quiz. Tune in to see if you can best him at his own game.