Season Watch Podcast

A heron-like bird with hilariously wide-set eyes and an upturned bill stares around its bill down at the camera.

Co-hosts Heidi Holtan and Charlie Mitchell wonder at dragonflies, delight in bitterns, and look forward to seeing hummingbirds.Send us a voice memo through Speak Pipe!

USGS biologist Paul Cryan releases a bat carrying a miniature radio transmitter. Researchers are increasingly turning to high-tech methods to try to learn more about the mysterious lives of bats.

Science and Nature

Bats' backs bear tiny trackers as researchers study summer movement

Charlie Mitchell

Charlie Mitchell enjoys interviews with Morgan Swingen (1854 Treaty Authority wildlife biologist) and phenology teacher Michelle Martin.Send us a voice memo through Speak Pipe!

A menacing-looking hawk with bright yellow feet and red eyes perches on a metal bird feeding pole.

Science and Nature

In praise of BirdCast, a marvel of migration monitoring

Heidi Holtan, John Latimer

In a special edition of the pod, co-hosts Heidi Holtan, John Latimer, and Pam Perry look forward at a busy spring migration season. Check out Birdcast!Send us a voice memo through Speak Pipe!

A tiny frog, held carefully by a person, has inflated its throat sac to call.

Science and Nature

Can you hear the peepers sing?

Charlie Mitchell, Andrew Dziengel

Co-hosts Andrew Dziengel and Charlie Mitchell focus on frog and toad calls in this edition of the Season Watch Pod.Send us a voice memo through Speak Pipe!

At least seven yellow-and-black striped garter snakes are intertwined together on the corner of a patch of asphalt. Their heads are facing in similar directions.

Science and Nature

Sneaky snakey: How a sleepy serpent warms up for his springtime ball

Charlie Mitchell, Heidi Holtan

Co-hosts Heidi Holtan and Charlie Mitchell wonder at the mating habits of garter snakes, discuss the overwintering habits of butterflies, and look forward to spring's advance.Send us a voice memo through Speak Pipe!

Large white chunks of ice, which have been rounded by constantly bumping into each other, float on clear water near a stony lake shore.

Science and Nature

Have you spotted the spring's first butterfly yet?

Charlie Mitchell, Heidi Holtan

Co-hosts Heidi Holtan and Charlie Mitchell enthuse about spring's arrival, enjoy a poem from a listener, and inadvertently create a love letter to KAXE.Send us a voice memo through Speak Pipe!

A frozen frog lays splayed out on ice after being unearthed by a hungry duck on Feb. 2, 2023 in St. Cloud.

Science and Nature

Zombie frogs and biological antifreeze: Getting through MN winter

Heidi Holtan, Charlie Mitchell

In this episode, co-hosts Heidi and Charlie discuss snacking, snoozing, and freezing solid. Plus: Andy Tri, the bear guy!

A Barred Owl enjoys a well-deserved rest after eating a chipmunk near Washington D.C. on May 12, 2018.

Science and Nature

Owl see you in the trees

Heidi Holtan, Charlie Mitchell

In this episode, co-hosts Heidi Holtan and Charlie Mitchell discuss Barred Owls, yellow trees, and listen to reports from John Latimer and Rockford Middle School.