In this episode, Bill and Steve dive into a tiny, bustling world - a world that’s hiding on the feathers of the birds we see every day. Joined by Dr. Alix Matthews, postdoctoral research associate in the Department of Biological Sciences at the University at Buffalo, she reveals the strange lives of feather mites — how these barely-visible hitchhikers feed and get around, and whether or not they’re helping or hurting their avian hosts. It’s an episode that proves there’s a whole world hiding on every wing.
This episode was recorded on September 4, 2025 at Walton Woods in Amherst, NY.
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In this episode, Bill and Steve dive into a tiny, bustling world - a world that’s hiding on the feathers of the birds we see every day. Joined by Dr. Alix Matthews, postdoctoral research associate in the Department of Biological Sciences at the University at Buffalo, she reveals the strange lives of feather mites — how these barely-visible hitchhikers feed and get around, and whether or not they’re helping or hurting their avian hosts. It’s an episode that proves there’s a whole world hiding on every wing.
This episode was recorded on September 4, 2025 at Walton Woods in Amherst, NY.
Ep. 64 - Let's Look at the Eclipse! (Not Literally)
The Field Guides
1 hour 28 seconds
1 year ago
Ep. 64 - Let's Look at the Eclipse! (Not Literally)
Who doesn’t love an eclipse? Apparently, wildlife has very mixed feelings about the whole affair.
This month, the guys prepare for the upcoming 2024 total eclipse by looking into the research around how animals react to the moon photobombing the sun for a few minutes. The reactions are not universal, but they are varied. And trying to figure out what the animals are up to makes for a fascinating listen.
The Field Guides
In this episode, Bill and Steve dive into a tiny, bustling world - a world that’s hiding on the feathers of the birds we see every day. Joined by Dr. Alix Matthews, postdoctoral research associate in the Department of Biological Sciences at the University at Buffalo, she reveals the strange lives of feather mites — how these barely-visible hitchhikers feed and get around, and whether or not they’re helping or hurting their avian hosts. It’s an episode that proves there’s a whole world hiding on every wing.
This episode was recorded on September 4, 2025 at Walton Woods in Amherst, NY.
