In this weeks episode we are so fortunate to have on two wonderful bird ecologists, Sean Mahoney and Peter Motyka out of Northern Arizona University. They recently helped publish a paper (along with researchers Nell Smith, Raemy Winton, Erik Lundgren, Bo Stevens and Matthew Johnson) on bird communities who utilize non-native Russian Olive riparian habitat that dominate the banks of the San Juan River through Utah.
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| Photo of mixed habitat along the San Juan River at Big Sandy, near Lime Ridge/Comb Wash. |
Join us as we discuss this interesting study, the future of riparian habitat in the southwest, the threats of false science, and also offer some great advice to folks who may want to become an ecologist one day.
And stick around for a special High Desert Jamboree with guest Cato Cook from Jakarta, Indonesia where you will hear all about life in this beautiful region, musical traditions, Javan Tiger biology, the captive bird trade, and much more.
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| Special guest Cato Cook (on right) and friends from a bird survey crew in Indonesia. |
Links of Note:
Russian olive habitat along an arid river supports fewer bird species, functional groups and a different species composition relative to mixed vegetation habitats (Research paper by guest Sean Mahoney and Peter Motyka, et al.)
Sean Mahoney (ResearchGate)
Peter Motyka (ResearchGate)
Species Mentioned:
Russian Olive, Elaeagnus angustifolia L.
Tamarisk/Salt Cedar, Tamarix L.
Northern Tamarisk Beetle, Diorhabda carinulata
Southwestern Willow Flycatcher, Empidonax trailii extimus
Western Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Coccyzus americanus occidentalis
Indonesia Links of Note:
Javan Tiger, Panthera tigris sondaica
Javan Tiger Center, Didik Raharyono (Facebook page)
