Nature

91.3 KBCS · 91.3 KBCS 20201221 – Nature – Winter Solstice It’s Winter Solstice 2020.  Ed Dominguez describes some winter solstice festivities and a rare astronomical phenomenon occurring on the same day. Producer: Ed Dominguez, Yuko Kodama and Jesse Callahan Photo: JLS Photography – Alaska

91.3 KBCS · 91.3 KBCS 20201207 Salmon Run Late fall is the beginning of the salmon run season in the Pacific Northwest.  It’s the time of year salmon make their end of life journey up the tributaries in our region to spawn as their last gesture before they die. Naturalist, Ed Dominguez takes you along the banks ...

This story first broadcast in January of 2018 In this KBCS nature series segment, Ed Dominguez, Seward Park Audubon Center Lead Naturalist, talks to KBCS’s Yuko Kodama about the benefits of allowing fires burn away the undergrowth. They also discuss how the Douglas Fir tree’s thick bark helps protect it from forest fires and why the ...

It’s a low tide weekend in the Seattle area. Check out the sea vegetation and sea life in the tidepools with Naturalist, Ed Dominguez at Meadowdale Beach Park in Edmonds, Washington.  91.3 KBCS · 91.3 KBCS 20200731 Low Tide Exploration With Ed Dominguez Producer: Yuko Kodama Photo: Malingering (the photo has been cropped to a square shape for ...

The Dark Eyed Junko, the bird that marks the winter to some, sounds like a sewing machine.  

In observance of Halloween, Ed Dominguez, Lead Naturalist at the Seward Park Audubon Center, and KBCS’s Yuko Kodama talk vampire bats (not local to our region) on the shores of Andrews Bay in Seattle’s Seward Park. If you have any questions about our local natural flora and fauna, please contact Ed Dominguez and KBCS at news@kbcs.fm Producer: ...

Which birds in our forests have Ewok-like skills in our local forests?  Go for a walk with Seward Park Audubon Center’s Ed Dominguez and KBCS’s Yuko Kodama on the trails of Seward Park. Producer:  Yuko Kodama Photo: Virginia Sanderson Unknown Speaker 0:00 91.3 KBCS music and ideas listener-supported radio from Bellevue College. Unknown Speaker 0:05 …Good day to hit the trails ...

The Yuma Bat, Big Brown Bat and Little Brown Bat share the Puget Sound region with us during the summer months.  In late summer/early fall, the bats migrate to Central Washington to hibernate.  Find out how these small mammals fly, catch their food and take shelter in this special bat series, as Seward Park Audubon ...

Juvenile Bald Eagles are learning to make a living this time of year, while adult eagles feed them.  Follow Seward Park Audubon Center’s Lead Naturalist, Ed Dominguez and KBCS’s Yuko Kodama on a trail in Seattle’s Seward Park as they listen for the young eagles’ calls for food.  Producers: Yuko Kodama and Jesse Callahan Photo: Juvenile Bald ...

What kind of habitat do cattails on our water’s edges provide for the red winged blackbird?  Seward Park Audubon Center Lead Naturalist, Ed Dominguez and KBCS’s Yuko Kodama talk about this habitat and this talkative bird at the Union Bay Natural Area near Seattle’s University District. uko Kodama 0:00 91.3 KBCS music and ideas listener supported radio ...

Find out about ducks who fish. Join KBCS’s Yuko Kodama on the shores of Lake Washington with Ed Dominguez, Lead Naturalist of the Seward Park Audubon Center, and discover Merganser water birds around Seattle. “Common Merganser family” by nicolebeaulac is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 Producers Yuko Kodama and Ruth Bly

Join KBCS’s Yuko Kodama and Ed Dominguez, Lead Naturalist of the Seward Park Audubon Center, for another stroll through Seattle’s Seward Park, as they encounter and discuss our national bird: the bald eagle. “Eagle” by Jeff Power is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 Producers Yuko Kodama and Ruth Bly Unknown Speaker 0:00 91.3 KBCS music and ideas, listener supported radio ...

You may see bright berries left hanging onto branches in the winter cold this time of year.  These berries are a source of food and a stiff drink for our resident birds.  Listen in for more on the antics of birds this season as you join KBCS’s Yuko Kodama and Ed Dominguez, Lead Naturalist of ...

Join KBCS’s Yuko Kodama and Ed Dominguez, Seward Park Audubon Center Lead Naturalist, on another nature walk through Seattle’s Seward Park to discuss the mice, rats, voles, and other rodents in nature. “Wood Mouse on Water” by volesandfriends is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 Producers Yuko Kodama and Ruth Bly

Find out about a couple of breeds of ducks that can be found all-year-round in the Seattle area as KBCS’s Yuko Kodama and Ed Dominguez, Seward Park Audubon Center Lead Naturalist, take another nature walk in Seattle’s Seward Park. “handsome marganser” by marneejill is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0 Producers Yuko Kodama and Ruth Bly

Join KBCS’s Yuko Kodama on another nature walk with Ed Dominguez, Seward Park Audubon Center Lead Naturalist, to find out about when and how algae can throw its environment out of balance in our local lakes. “Algae” by alex_quinn is licensed under CC BY-ND 2.0 Producers Yuko Kodama and Ruth Bly

Find out more about our local Ring-necked ducks. KBCS’s Yuko Kodama speaks with Ed Dominguez, Seward Park Audubon Center Lead Naturalist, as they take another stroll through Seattle’s Seward Park. They talk about how the key characteristic that gave this duck its name may not be so obvious. “Male Ring-necked Duck 1.jpg” by RWShea Photography is ...

Looking to attract more wildlife into your yard? Join KBCS’s Yuko Kodama and Ed Dominguez, Seward Park Audubon Center’s lead naturalist, on another stroll through Seward Park and learn some tips for bird feeders. “house finch” by boxer_bob is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 Producers Yuko Kodama and Ruth Bly

This nature segment focuses on an aquatic rodent found locally, the Mountain Beaver. Join KBCS’s Yuko Kodama and Ed Dominguez, Seward Park Audubon Center Lead Naturalist, on a nature walk through Seattle’s Seward Park. “Burford Lake Beaver #1” by Larry Smith is licensed under CC BY 2.0 Producers Yuko Kodama and Ruth Bly

Sometimes confused with the Blue Jay, meet the Stellar’s Jay, who can mimic others and likes to play. KBCS’s Yuko Kodama and Ed Dominguez, Seward Park Audubon Center Lead Naturalist, hiked the trails of Seward Park and came across the local bird with a playful side. “Steller’s Jay” by shell game is licensed under CC BY-CD-ND 2.0 Producers ...

Join us in another nature walk in Seattle’s Seward Park as KBCS’s Yuko Kodama talks to Ed Dominguez, Seward Park Audubon Center Lead Naturalist, about our local Sword Ferns. Discover what characteristics distinguish them from other ferns and how many Sword Ferns in Seward Park are burdened by a mysterious problem causing them to brown ...

This nature segment highlights local plants that have been traditionally used for healing. KBCS’s Yuko Kodama talk with Ed Dominguez, Seward Park Audubon Center’s Lead Naturalist, and they take another nature walk in Seattle’s Seward Park, to find out more. “Douglas Fir” by diana_robinson is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 Producers Yuko Kodama and Ruth Bly

KBCS’s Yuko Kodama spoke with Ed Dominguez, Seward Park Audubon Center Lead Naturalist, about one tree that was the Tree of Life for the local Duwamish people: the Western Red Cedar. “Thuja plicata” by Eric Hunt is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 Producers Yuko Kodama and Ruth Bly

This KBCS nature series segment focuses on Oak trees in the Puget Sound area. Join KBCS’s Yuko Kodama as she takes a nature walk in Seattle’s Seward Park with Ed Dominguez, Seward Park Audubon Center’s Lead Naturalist. They discuss the tree’s characteristics and scarcity in our area, along with their acorns. “Oak Tree in May” by ...

This nature segment focuses on trees designated as old growth “Heritage Trees” in Seattle. Join KBCS’s Yuko Kodama and Ed Dominguez, Seward Park Audubon Center’s Lead Naturalist, as they discuss some of Seattle’s largest and oldest trees. “Old Growth Douglas fir and western hemlock” by F.Eatherington is licensed under CC BY 2.0 Producers Yuko Kodama and Ruth ...

Conifers are a family of trees which include the Western Hemlock, Douglas-fir, Pine, and many others. This nature segment focuses on how they pollinate. KBCS’s Yuko Kodama takes a nature walk in Seattle’s Seward Park with Ed Dominguez, Audubon Center Lead Naturalist, to talk about how Conifers release pollen and reproduce. Also, find out how ...

How do bears stock up on berries this fall season for their hibernation? KBCS’s Yuko Kodama spoke with Ed Dominguez, Seward Park Audubon Center Lead Naturalist, to discuss why bears eat lots of berries to stock up on energy reserves, in order to make it through the winter season. They also discuss some of our ...

In this nature segment, KBCS’s Yuko Kodama talks with Seward Park Audubon Center Lead Naturalist, Ed Dominguez,  about discuss spiders. Dominguez shares how spiders keep the insect population in check. Dominguez also explains why having spiders around is actually a good thing. “Spider” by Ruth and Dave is licensed under CC BY 2.0 Producers Yuko Kodama and Ruth Bly

Why do leaves change color in the fall? KBCS’s Yuko Kodama joins Ed Dominguez, Seward Park Audubon Center Lead Naturalist, to talk about the magic of the fall season and why this phenomenon occurs. “leaves” by Muffet is licensed under CC BY 2.0 Producers Yuko Kodama and Ruth Bly

Find out about the world of bats. KBCS’s Yuko Kodama talks with Ed Dominguez, Seward Park Audubon Center Lead Naturalist, about how our local bat population help keep the insect population in check, although they are often perceived as being simply pests for us humans. They also discuss how bats make it through the winter. “bat” ...

KBCS’s Yuko Kodama joins Ed Dominguez, Seward Park Audubon Center Lead Naturalist, to talk about why birds in the Pacific Northwest are behaving differently. Find out why some birds in our region are acting like its spring to get a little romance. “Pigeon Paring” by Ingrid Taylar is licensed under CC-BY 2.0 Producers Yuko Kodama and Ruth ...

For this nature series segment, we focus on insects with stingers. KBCS’s Yuko Kodama speaks with Ed Dominguez, Audubon Center Lead Naturalist, about how to avoid yellow jackets and wasps during your autumn walk in the woods. “wasps” by Bert Reimer is licensed under CC BY-ND 2.0 Producers Yuko Kodama and Ruth Bly

This nature segment focuses on a major earthquake event that occurred in Washington state about 1100 years ago. KBCS’s Yuko Kodama talk to Ed Dominguez, Seward Park Audubon Center Lead Naturalist, about how a violent earthquake that occurred about 1100 years ago flung plants and trees into Lake Washington. “Another ghost forest” by Jean-François Chénier is ...

This two-part KBCS nature series segment focuses on how the Seattle is subject to earthquakes as KBCS’s Yuko Kodama speaks with Ed Dominguez, Seward Park Audubon Center’s Lead Naturalist. Part 1 – Yuko Kodama speaks with Ed Dominguez regarding the Seattle Fault Zone and the history of earthquakes in the Puget Sound area Part 2 – Yuko Kodama ...

The Cascade Mountain Range is a massive collection of mountains that spans all throughout Washington. Join KBCS’s Yuko Kodama as she talks to Ed Dominguez, Seward Park Audubon Center’s Lead Naturalist, as they discuss various aspects of the range, including past, present, and potential volcanic activity. “More Than You Ever Know…” by John Westrock is licensed under ...

KBCS’s Yuko Kodama talks with Ed Dominguez, Seward Park Audubon Center Lead Naturalist, about wind patterns in the Pacific Northwest. Find out about the characteristics of the winds in our area and why it is windier on some days more than others. “Wind” by Schaduw Zijde is licensed under CC BY 2.0 Producers Yuko Kodama and Ruth ...

Ed Dominguez, Seward Park Audubon Center Lead Naturalist, shares a story about the 1947 UFO sighting at Mount Rainier. KBCS’s Yuko Kodama joins as they discuss how the mountain’s lenticular clouds are sometimes mistaken for UFOs. “Rainier” by Laurel Fan is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0 Producers Yuko Kodama and Ruth Bly

What do Beethoven and a local bird have in common? KBCS’s Yuko Kodama recently visited Seattle’s Seward Park with Ed Domingez, Audubon Center Lead Naturalist, to discuss the song of a little brown bird in our midst: the Song Sparrow. “Song Sparrow” by jerrygabby1 is licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0 Producers Yuko Kodama and Ruth Bly

This KBCS nature segment focuses on an aquatic mammal named the Muskrat. KBCS’s Yuko Kodama joins Ed Dominguez, Audubon Center Lead Naturalist at Seattle’s Seward Park, to discuss the critter’s features, diet, behaviors, and how it differs from its look-a-like: the Beaver. “Muskrat on Seedskadee NWR” by USFWS Mountain Prairie is licensed under CC BY 2.0 Producers Yuko ...

This KBCS nature segment focuses on a deep diving bird named the Double Crested Cormorant. Learn about how this bird is able to dive longer than others as KBCS’s Yuko Kodama speaks with Ed Dominguez, Audubon Center Lead Naturalist at Seattle’s Seward Park. “Double-crested Cormorant 3-20170406” by Kenneth Cole Schneider is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 Producers ...

This nature segment focuses on the Pacific Madrone, a berry producing local tree. KBCS’s Yuko Kodama recently took a walk in Seattle’s Seward Park with Ed Dominguez, Audubon Center Lead Naturalist, to discuss the unique characteristics and history of this tree. Find out about its name and red berries, which are eaten by many animals. “Madrone Arbutus menziesii” ...

This KBCS nature segment focuses on the horsetail plant, a local plant which has been around since dinosaurs walked the earth. KBCS’s Yuko Kodama took a walk through Seattle’s Seward Park with Ed Dominguez, Audubon Center Lead Naturalist, to discuss the unique characteristics of this plant. Included in the discussion is the fact that horsetail plants reproduce with spores and is ...

This KBCS nature segment focuses on a small bird found locally, the Chickadee. KBCS’s Yuko Kodama joins Ed Dominguez, Audubon Center Lead Naturalist at Seattle’s Seward Park, to find out about the unique characteristics of the two types of Chickadees found in the Seattle area: the Black-capped Chickadee and the Chestnut-backed Chickadee. Also included in the discussion ...

In this nature segment we explore the world of rabbits as KBCS’s Yuko Kodama takes a walk in Seattle’s Seward Park with Ed Dominguez, Audubon Lead Naturalist. They discuss the difference between hares and rabbits and some of the characteristics of the cottontail rabbit. “The rabbit 2” by Tiago Cabral is licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0 Producers Yuko Kodama and Ruth Bly

Find out about a bird called the Purple Finch in this KBCS nature segment. KBCS’s Yuko Kodama talks with Ed Dominguez, Audubon Center Lead Naturalist in Seattle’s Seward Park, about how this bird has brought a new sound to Seward Park. “Ready to Go” by Rick Derevan is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 Producers Yuko Kodama and ...

In this week’s Nature segment, KBCS’s Yuko Kodama talks with Ed Dominguez, Audubon Center Lead Naturalist in Seattle’s Seward Park, about the ups and downs of birds foraging on a tree. Listen as they discuss the interactions of small bird called the Brown Creeper with another bird called the Red-breasted nuthatch. “Red-breasted Nuthatch” by tombenson76 is licensed ...

Find out more about the sights and sounds of one species of bird in our area, the Dark-eyed Junco in this KBCS nature segment. KBCS’s Yuko Kodama speaks with Ed Dominguez, Audubon Lead Naturalist in Seattle’s Seward Park, about the beautiful small sparrow bird. “Dark-eyed Junco” by Henry McLin is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 Producers Yuko Kodama ...

What are those birds singing about? Find out as KBCS’s Yuko Kodama talks with Ed Dominguez, Audubon Lead Naturalist, in Seattle’s Seward Park. They discuss the different types of songs that birds sing as well as their motivation for singing. “Song Sparrow 3/8/1b” by mahlness is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 Producers Yuko Kodama and Ruth Bly

Find out more about Seattle’s official city bird, the Great Blue Heron, and their nesting habits in this KBCS nature segment. KBCS’s Yuko Kodama talks to Ed Dominguez, Audubon Lead Naturalist in Seattle’s Seward Park, as they visit a Great Blue Heron rookery. “Great Blue Heron on Nest” by Mick Thompson is licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0 Producers Yuko ...

In this week’s Nature segment KBCS’s Yuko Kodama talks to Audubon Lead Natualist Ed Dominguez about local plants that attract hummingbirds. Included in the discussion are the Oregon Grape and the Salal plants. “Hummingbird” by tciriello is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 Producers Yuko Kodama and Ruth Bly

Did you know that our forests hold licorice treats? Find out how to spot licorice fern on your next hike with Ed Dominguez, Seward Park Audubon Center lead naturalist, and KBCS’s Yuko Kodama. “ferns” by Muffet is licensed under CC BY 2.0 Producers Yuko Kodama and Ruth Bly

KBCS’s Yuko Kodama joins Seward Park Audubon Center Lead Naturalist, Ed Dominguez, to learn more about how Crows teach their young. Also find out what crows look for when they’re in the market for a home, in this week’s Nature segment. “Nesting Crow” by tim ellis is licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0 Producers Yuko Kodama and Ruth Bly

We go outside to talk about the life force of trees.  The circulation of tons of fluid in them called the Cambium layer.  KBCS’s Yuko Kodama speaks with Seward Park Audubon Center lead naturalist Ed Dominguez. Photo: Courtesy of David Marvin Producers Yuko Kodama and Ruth Bly

We take you out to an owl vometorium.  The place owls go to do their daily duty of sitting on the throne and coughing up the remains of the night before. Seward Park Audubon Center lead naturalist, Ed Dominguez treks through the park with KBCS’s Yuko Kodama. “Barred Owl” by James Mann is licensed under CC ...

KBCS’s Yuko Kodama recently took a walk with Seward Park Audubon Center Lead Naturalist, Ed Dominguez. Find out which traits are unique to this family of birds, and also discover how ravens and crows are different. “Crow” by RDW. Photography is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 Producers Yuko Kodama and Ruth Bly

Maybe you’ve been noticing the hammering sounds on telephone poles and your chimney this season. Our region’s Woodpeckers are preparing for the spring. Ed Dominguez, Seward Park Audubon Center’s Lead Naturalist, takes you on a nature walk through Seattle’s Seward Park with KBCS’s Yuko Kodama to talk about these birds. “Woodpecker” by allspice1 is licensed under ...

KBCS’s Yuko Kodama recently took a walk with Seward Park Audubon Center Lead Naturalist, Ed Dominguez. Take a listen to some of the gulls, Kinglets and song birds they heard on our latest segment on our KBCS nature series,. “Ruby-crowned Kinglet” by Mick Thompson is licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0 Producers Yuko Kodama and Ruth Bly

Recently, KBCS’s Yuko Kodama took a walk in Seward Park with Audubon Center Lead Naturalist, Ed Dominguez to discuss owl habitat. This is part of a new KBCS nature series, to learn about our local urban environment. “Who Are You??” by Big Grey Mare is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 Producers Yuko Kodama and Ruth Bly