BIRD HUGGER

Love gardening and birds and want to help Mother Nature? Join host Catherine Greenleaf, former gardening columnist for the Boston Herald Sunday Magazine and a certified wildlife rehabilitator with 20 years of experience rescuing and rehabilitating injured wildlife, for discussions about organic gardening and restoring native habitat to help the birds and other wildlife in your backyard. Catherine Greenleaf talks about the natural history of birds and interviews the leading experts about how to turn your backyard into a native oasis for birds and pollinators.

Rescuing Wild Turtles With Pam Meier
Apr 24, 2025 – 33:50
Saving and Growing Native Seeds With Alexis Doshas
Apr 10, 2025 – 25:05
Your First Vegetable Garden With Maria Rodale
Mar 27, 2025 – 24:46
The Flight Of The Hummingbird With Carole Turek
Mar 13, 2025 – 25:49
Pests: How Humans Create Animal Villains With Bethany Brookshire
Feb 27, 2025 – 26:31
Cats vs. Birds With Grant Sizemore
Feb 13, 2025 – 27:51
Bad Naturalist With Paula Whyman
Jan 30, 2025 – 27:43
BIRD HUGGER CLASSIC: 100 Plants To Feed The Bees With The Xerces Society
Jan 16, 2025 – 31:26
BIRD HUGGER CLASSIC: Planting Native Seeds Outdoors With Heather McCargo
Jan 2, 2025 – 54:44
Season's Greetings! ENCORE PRESENTATION: The Secret Garden With Marta MacDowell
Dec 19, 2024 – 28:19
Protecting The Integrity Of Water With Declan McCabe
Dec 5, 2024 – 28:54
Making Bird Calls With Dan Gardoqui
Nov 21, 2024 – 28:23
ENCORE PRESENTATION: Northeast Native Plant Primer With Uli Lorimer
Nov 6, 2024 – 26:09
The Search For Lost Birds With John Mittermeier
Oct 24, 2024 – 26:07
The Straight Poop On Seabirds With Sea McKeon
Oct 10, 2024 – 24:07
Creating A Native Garden At Your Workplace With Nancy Farwell
Sep 26, 2024 – 30:21
From Wasteland To Wonder With Basil Camu
Sep 12, 2024 – 31:06
New Research Findings On Broad-Winged Hawks With Dr. Laurie Goodrich
Aug 29, 2024 – 23:12
Slow Birding With Joan Strassmann
Aug 15, 2024 – 22:15
ENCORE PRESENTATION: The Benefits Of Bare-Root Plantings With Becky Brewer
Aug 1, 2024 – 18:35
So You Want To Become A Wildlife Rehabilitator With Kai Williams
Jul 18, 2024 – 23:50
How Over-Consumption Intensifies Climate Change with Hannah Evans
Jul 4, 2024 – 24:40
Making Your Yard A Quiet Oasis For Birds With Arline Bronzaft
Jun 20, 2024 – 26:58
Unsolved Wildlife Crimes Report With Megan Stolen
Jun 6, 2024 – 29:56
ENCORE PRESENTATION: The Nature Of Oaks Wth Doug Tallamy
May 23, 2024 – 41:46
How Your Yard Influences Drought and Flood Cycles With Judith Schwartz
May 9, 2024 – 25:26
Rescuing Animals During A Disaster With Dave Crawford
Apr 25, 2024 – 29:20
The Graceful Swallow-Tailed Kite With Gina Kent
Apr 11, 2024 – 25:39
Flaco The Owl: The Experts Weigh In
Mar 28, 2024 – 34:29
The Flight Of The Kestrel With Phil Brown
Mar 14, 2024 – 31:26
Water Harvesting For Your Yard And Gardens With Martha Retallick
Feb 29, 2024 – 25:56
Hatching And Renesting Osprey Chicks With Stephanie Ellis
Feb 15, 2024 – 33:17
Insecticides And Their Impact On Birds With Hardy Kern
Feb 1, 2024 – 30:55
Prepping The Yard For Natives With Kathy Connolly
Jan 18, 2024 – 36:11
Saving Birds After An Oil Spill With Tri-State Rescue
Jan 5, 2024 – 31:02
BIRD HUGGER HOLIDAY SPECIAL With Maria Rodale
Dec 21, 2023 – 25:46
Birding Under The Influence With Dorian Anderson
Dec 7, 2023 – 28:25
Searching For Lost Hikers and Birders With Cathy Tarr
Nov 23, 2023 – 32:59
Pink Flamingo Fever With Dan Lebbin
Nov 9, 2023 – 20:12
Hugger The Broad-Winged Hawk Is On Her Way To Guatemala!
Oct 26, 2023 – 20:21
Native Shrubs For Northeast Landscapes With Emily Baisden
Oct 12, 2023 – 27:34
Don't Touch That Garden!
Sep 28, 2023 – 22:03
Preventing Birds From Striking Windows With Daniel Klem
Sep 14, 2023 – 32:17
Ridding The Horticultural Industry Of Plastic With Marie Chieppo
Aug 31, 2023 – 31:29
Native Plants For Shady Landscapes With Heather McCargo
Aug 17, 2023 – 37:27
Averting The Insect Apocalypse with Dave Goulson
Aug 3, 2023 – 27:44
The Pioneers Of Bird Migration Tracking With Rebecca Heisman
Jul 20, 2023 – 24:35
Building A Community Pollinator Garden With Lynne Parshall
Jul 6, 2023 – 21:14
Creating Native Gardens On A Budget With Alicia Houk
Jun 22, 2023 – 27:04
The Hows and Whys Of Loon Fallout with Marge Gibson
Jun 8, 2023 – 20:52

Recent Reviews

DrewP.Weiner

Great find

Really liking this podcast so far. I found it after looking for more content from Heather McCargo. Would love it if some of the episodes on native plants went into more detail on how to help birds specifically with native plants and trees, and also a titled episode for beginners on how to attract more birds to your yard and create habitats for them.
PixieDust2020

Love this podcast

I am changing my garden over to native plants to help the birds and butterflies and this podcast is helping me so much. Keep up the great work!
Birdie-Diana

One of the best podcast

I have learned so much from this podcast. I thought I was pretty knowledgeable about native plants birding etc. but I have learned something new on each and every episode. Hands-down the best podcast out
bohemiansunchild

Makes My Day

A joy to listen to, Catherine’s content always piques my curiosity and eager to learn more about nature. Her cheerful perspective and passion for wildlife have been a comfort to me. Thank you Catherine, love the show!
commallama26

Truly excellent

I'm only 4 minutes in and am hooked for life. This podcast is pleasant to listen to, and chock full of useful and fascinating information about our natural world and its birds. Excellent pacing and delivery too.
S&LPerkins

Outstanding Podcast!

Even as a podcast junkie, I've never been inspired to go out of my way to write a review for one before, and I only wish there could be 10 stars to click! I love how every episode is packed with interesting and useful information and how Catherine always takes some time to explain how important native plant species are to the health, well-being, and survival of birds. She has a clear agenda for the program and wastes no time getting down to business and keeping the program moving forward. And I love the continuing series of her personal story about how she was inspired to become a wildlife rehabiliator that she includes at the end of each episode. Great work, Catherine! Thank you for sharing your knowledge and enthusiasm in such an engaging way! Can't wait to hear the next one!
Jedisparrow

So glad to find this podcast!

My daughter and I are bonding over our interest in birds and this podcast is becoming a treasured time together. Catherine’s knowledge and enthusiasm really shine through, making listening to her extra special.
JimE2020

A bird lover’s delight

Bird watching, bird behavior, birds’ keys to survival — ms Greenleaf, a seasoned wildlife rehabilitator, evinces a deep love and knowledge of birds and plants.
IBJ784

Thank you for this enlightened podcast

Just listened to this amazing podcast. So incredibly informative! I feel like I took an entire course. So much fantastic information delivered with such a light touch yet perfectly guided hand.
Backyard Mike

News you can use

Packed with good information clearly presented. Every minute you’re learning something you didn’t know. The discussion on lightning could save your life.