NaturallyScott

Scott
  • 4.5 (11)
  • NATURE

At least once a week, I’ll bring you the very best of America’s spectacular world of nature — from birds to mammals, to reptiles and amphibians. From soaring mountains to endless plains, from rugged coastlines to rivers and streams.  Each episode will feature an expert guest — a ranger, a researcher, a birder, or an adventurer — someone who has seen what we want to see and been where we want to go. 

  1. 3D AGO

    E53 — Keith Hackland: Birding the Rio Grande Valley from the Alamo Inn

    Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Naturally Scott, Scott sits down with Keith Hackland, owner of the Alamo Inn B&B, Gear and Tours, and one of the best-known hosts in American birding. From the heart of the lower Rio Grande Valley, Keith shares what makes this corner of Texas one of the richest birding regions in the country — and why so many birders come once and then spend a lifetime coming back. Keith reflects on his path from South Africa to South Texas, the restoration of the historic Alamo Inn, and how a building that might have been lost became a home base for birders from around the world. Along the way, he talks about the valley’s remarkable mix of resident species, migrants, rarities, and vagrants, and why birds like Green Jays, Bat Falcons, Muscovy Ducks, Clay-colored Thrushes, and parrots tell a much larger story about habitat, geography, and adaptation. Scott and Keith also explore the culture of the valley itself — the food, the people, the influence of Mexico, the draw of South Padre Island and the ranch country farther west — and how birding here is about more than a list. It is about community, hospitality, and learning to see how birds and people shape one another’s worlds. This is a conversation about place, migration, friendship, and why some birding destinations become part of you. Learn more about the Alamo Inn and birding in the valley at the Alamo Inn B&B, Gear and Tours. For updates, bonus content, and behind-the-scenes notes from Naturally Scott, subscribe here:  https://naturallyscott.kit.com/5fd12c6752

    58 min

  2. MAR 19

    E52 — Bryan Bedrosian: Raptors, Research, and Real Conservation

    Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Naturally Scott, Scott sits down with raptor biologist Bryan Bedrosian, Conservation Director at the Teton Raptor Center, for a wide-ranging conversation about birds of prey, applied science, and what conservation looks like when research is paired with action. Bryan shares his journey into raptor biology and describes the work of the Teton Raptor Center across research, rehabilitation, and education. The conversation explores cutting-edge projects ranging from bioacoustic monitoring of forest owls to long-term studies of great gray owls, including how changing snow conditions may influence their survival and reproduction. A major focus of the episode is golden eagles. Bryan explains emerging evidence of population declines in parts of the West, the complex causes behind those losses, and the practical solutions being developed — from reducing lead exposure through hunter-led initiatives to creating innovative artificial nesting structures that restore lost breeding territories. Scott and Bryan also discuss migration mapping, habitat prioritization tools, ferruginous hawk conservation, and the expanding presence of barred owls in new regions. Throughout the conversation, Bryan emphasizes a central philosophy: conservation science should not only document change but help shape better outcomes for wildlife. This is a conversation about raptors, resilience, and the people working to ensure these powerful birds remain part of our skies. Learn more about the Teton Raptor Center and Bryan’s work at tetonraptorcenter.org For updates, bonus content, and behind-the-scenes notes from Naturally Scott, subscribe here: https://naturallyscott.kit.com/5fd12c6752

    1h 4m

  3. MAR 12

    E51 — John Adams: Inside Biosphere 2

    Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Naturally Scott, Scott sits down with John Adams, Deputy Director and COO of Biosphere 2, for a conversation about one of the most ambitious environmental experiments ever attempted. Often remembered for its early human habitation experiment, Biosphere 2 is far more than a historical curiosity. John explains how the facility continues to operate today as a living laboratory designed to help scientists better understand Biosphere 1 — Earth itself. The discussion explores how large-scale, closed ecological systems allow researchers to study climate processes, water cycles, ecosystem interactions, and the challenges of sustaining life in controlled environments. Scott and John walk through the origins of Biosphere 2, the lessons learned from its early years, and how its mission has evolved into cutting-edge research that informs conservation, climate science, and even future space exploration. Along the way, John shares insights from his nearly three decades at the facility, reflecting on its growth, its enduring relevance, and why curiosity about complex systems remains central to scientific discovery. This is a conversation about experimentation, learning from bold ideas, and the continuing effort to better understand the planet we already inhabit. Learn more about Biosphere 2 and ongoing research at biosphere2.org For updates, bonus content, and behind-the-scenes notes from Naturally Scott, subscribe here:  https://naturallyscott.kit.com/5fd12c6752

    59 min

  4. MAR 5

    E50 — Chad Nelson: Protecting Oceans, Waves, and Beaches

    Send us Fan Mail In this 50th episode of Naturally Scott, Scott Harris sits down with Chad Nelson, CEO of the Surfrider Foundation, to talk about a coastal conservation organization that doesn’t just educate and inspire — it organizes, advocates, and fights for practical outcomes. Surfrider’s work spans five core fronts: plastic reduction, ocean protection, beach access, coasts and climate, and clean water. Chad explains how a movement that began with surfers trying to protect beloved breaks has grown into a national network of volunteers running hundreds of campaigns — from cutting single-use plastics and improving water quality testing, to defending public access along shorelines, to building real solutions for coastal erosion and sea level rise. A major focus of the conversation is offshore drilling. Scott and Chad walk through why Surfrider opposes new offshore drilling across U.S. waters, how the federal leasing process works, what’s being proposed, and what’s at stake for wildlife, fisheries, tourism economies, and coastal communities. This is an episode about the places we love — and what it takes to protect them. Learn more about Surfrider and their campaigns at surfrider.org For updates, bonus content, and behind-the-scenes notes from Naturally Scott, subscribe here:  https://naturallyscott.kit.com/5fd12c6752

    58 min

  5. FEB 26

    E49 — Elizabeth Gray: Bending the Bird Curve

    Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Naturally Scott, Scott sits down with Elizabeth Gray, CEO of the National Audubon Society, for a wide-ranging conversation about birds, climate, hope, and what it really takes to turn conservation losses around. Elizabeth shares the personal experiences that shaped her life in conservation — from childhood curiosity sparked by books, to studying endangered Hawaiian honeycreepers, to witnessing firsthand how climate change affects species that live nowhere else on Earth. The conversation moves through stories of loss, resilience, and recovery, including the return of bald eagles to the Potomac River and what those birds reveal about the health of entire ecosystems. Scott and Elizabeth explore Audubon’s ambitious vision to “bend the bird curve” after the loss of three billion birds in North America, what that goal means across the Americas, and how habitat conservation, climate action, policy, and community science all fit together. They also discuss why birds act as sentinels for the planet, how everyday people can play a role, and why optimism — grounded in real success stories — matters more than ever. This is a conversation about birds, yes, but also about clean water, healthy landscapes, and the belief that restoration is possible when people choose to act. Learn more about Audubon’s work, programs, and how to get involved at audubon.org For updates, bonus content, and behind-the-scenes notes from Naturally Scott, subscribe here:  https://naturallyscott.kit.com/5fd12c6752

    1 hr

  6. FEB 19

    E48 — Emily Fairfax: Beavers, Water, and Wildfire Resilience

    Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Naturally Scott, Scott sits down with ecohydrologist Emily Fairfax of the University of Minnesota to talk about an animal that quietly reshapes entire landscapes: the beaver. What begins as a conversation about hydrology and water quickly becomes a deep look at how beavers function as true ecosystem engineers. Emily explains how their dams slow water, restore wetlands, create wildlife habitat, and even build natural resilience to wildfire. Scott and Emily also explore common misconceptions about beavers, why they are often misunderstood, and how their impact can be seen everywhere from deserts to places like Yellowstone National Park. The discussion reveals how a single species can influence forests, rivers, wildlife, and entire communities in ways most of us never notice. This is an episode about water, wilderness, and why one of North America’s largest rodents may be one of its most important conservation partners. Learn more about Emily’s work at the University of Minnesota. For updates, bonus content, and behind-the-scenes notes from Naturally Scott, subscribe here:  https://naturallyscott.kit.com/5fd12c6752

    59 min

  7. FEB 12

    E47 — Peter Stangel: Managing Forests for People and Wildlife

    Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Naturally Scott, Scott sits down with Peter Stangel of the U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities to talk about forests in a way most people never hear them discussed. Not as scenery.  Not as hiking destinations.  And not even primarily as ecosystems. But as working systems that support both people and wildlife at the same time. Following recent conversations about saving the American chestnut and protecting the redwoods, this episode steps back to look at the forest as a whole. Peter explains what “forest health” really means, why preservation alone is not enough, and how active forest management can be essential to keeping forests healthy, productive, and resilient. Scott and Peter also explore how large nonprofits, foundations, and private philanthropy become involved in forest work, and why investing in forests often means investing in rural communities, clean water, wildlife habitat, and long-term economic stability all at once. This conversation reframes the way we think about forests — not as places we visit, but as systems we depend on every single day. Learn more about the U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities at https://www.usendowment.org For updates, bonus content, and behind-the-scenes notes from Naturally Scott, subscribe here:  https://naturallyscott.kit.com/5fd12c6752

    58 min

  8. FEB 5

    E46 — David Gessner: Vacation with a Purpose

    Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Naturally Scott, Scott sits down with author David Gessner, a writer who never wanted to be called a nature writer — and yet became one of the most important voices helping us understand why wild places and birds matter. David is the author of Return of the Osprey, Soaring with Fidel, Leave It As It Is, and The Book of Flaco, among many others. His work explores raptors, wilderness, obsession, humor, grief, and the deep human pull toward the natural world. Scott first encountered David’s writing early in his own birding journey and found in it a model for how storytelling can make wildlife feel personal, immediate, and essential. The conversation moves through David’s career, his resistance to labels, his love of Theodore Roosevelt’s wilderness, the strange and powerful story of Flaco the Eurasian Eagle Owl in New York City, and a phrase Scott openly admits to borrowing from David: “vacation with a purpose.” This is a conversation about how paying attention to birds, landscapes, and wild stories changes the way we move through the world. Learn more about David and his work at https://davidgessner.com For updates, bonus content, and behind-the-scenes notes from Naturally Scott, subscribe here:  https://naturallyscott.kit.com/5fd12c6752

    1h 8m
See All (53)

4.5
out of 5
11 Ratings

About

At least once a week, I’ll bring you the very best of America’s spectacular world of nature — from birds to mammals, to reptiles and amphibians. From soaring mountains to endless plains, from rugged coastlines to rivers and streams.  Each episode will feature an expert guest — a ranger, a researcher, a birder, or an adventurer — someone who has seen what we want to see and been where we want to go. 

Information

  • Creator
    Scott
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    53
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 NaturallyScott
  • Show Website
    NaturallyScott

You Might Also Like