USFWS/NCTC Thoughts From Home: Your Conservation Podcast from the National Conservation Training Center

NCTC Podcasts
USFWS/NCTC Thoughts From Home: Your Conservation Podcast from the National Conservation Training Center

Welcome to “Thoughts From Home: Your Conservation Podcast from the National Conservation Training Center.” We’re located along the Potomac River in historic Shepherdstown, WV and are home to the US Fish and Wildlife Service. Throughout this series, we’ll be talking with experts, authors and a variety of other guests to bring you the most up-to-date information, events, and happenings here at the National Conservation Training Center. Thanks for listening, and we hope you enjoy.

  1. 07/19/2024

    Dr. Alan Temple: My Unlikely but Delightful Career in Conservation Training and the Kingdom of Electrofishing

    Part 2: The World of Electrofishing, Far-flung Adventures, and Studying the Hammer. After a legendary career as a fisheries biologist at the NCTC, Dr. Temple finally hung up his waders and traded his nets for retirement. However, he did not leave without making a lasting impact! Even in retirement, he continues to influence tomorrow's fisheries practitioners. With a career focused on teaching others, Dr. Temple is still dedicated to training the next generation of biologists in the art and science of electrofishing. Sharing his expertise around the world, he is widely regarded as an innovator in this field. From his early days of deciding his future to his later role as a fish and wildlife technical expert, we capture his story here.

    22 min

  2. 07/17/2024

    Dr. Alan Temple: My Unlikely but Delightful Career in Conservation Training and the Kingdom of Electrofishing

    Part 1: From Crooked Creek to the Mekong River: A Meandering Journey of Growth as a Fisheries Biologist, Educator, and Electrofishing Doctor. After a legendary career as a fisheries biologist at the NCTC, Dr. Temple finally hung up his waders and traded his nets for retirement. However, he did not leave without making a lasting impact! Even in retirement, he continues to influence tomorrow's fisheries practitioners. With a career focused on teaching others, Dr. Temple is still dedicated to training the next generation of biologists in the art and science of electrofishing. Sharing his expertise around the world, he is widely regarded as an innovator in this field. From his early days of deciding his future to his later role as a fish and wildlife technical expert, we capture his story here.

    24 min

  3. 06/20/2024

    A Day in the Life of… Maria Trevino

    NCTC has a variety of visitors from all over the world, visitors who have interesting stories to tell! In the "A Day in the Life of" series in the Thoughts From Home podcast, we will capture some of their stories! Maria Trevino is an Outdoor Recreation Planner and works with the River, Trails, and Conservation Assistance (RTCA) program which is a wing of the National Park Service. RTCA is a national program subdivided into regions that extends the benefits of the NPS to communities, especially those that have been underrepresented or distressed in terms of outdoor recreation and conservation access. In this episode, listen to Cecilia Melton, NCTC Course Leader, talk with Maria about how she makes connections with communities, builds their trust, and her journey to her current position, stationed in her hometown of El Paso.

    32 min

  4. 05/09/2024

    A Conversation with Actress and Conservation Champion, Jane Alexander: How We Can All Protect Birds

    In February of 2024, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Migratory Bird Program hosted a “Multi-Sector Summit to Address Light Pollution and Bird Collisions” at the National Conservation Training Center. This Summit was the first of its kind: a symposium that brought together scientists, medical researchers, engineers, city planners, architects, lighting specialists, conservation groups, federal agencies, various industries, and social scientists to discuss the effects of lights at night on bird migration, dark skies, collisions, as well as human health and safety. The keynote speaker at the Summit was Jane Alexander, award winning actress, author, and conservation champion. Both a captivating storyteller and a birder, we couldn't wait to ask Jane about her love of birds and how she cultivates her passion for protecting birds alongside others. In this episode of the Thoughts From Home podcast, Brian Smith, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Administrator/Assistant Regional Director, talks with her about her passion for birds. You can find more information about the Multi-Sector Summit at https://ow.ly/fvSk50RXUUS. For more information about bird collisions, go to https://ow.ly/vYNO50QIK45 and nighttime lighting at https://ow.ly/WWa450QIK57

    42 min

  5. 04/09/2024

    Nature Based Solutions: Harnessing Nature for a Sustainable Future

    Nature based solutions (NBS) refer to approaches for addressing various societal and environmental challenges by utilizing and working with nature rather than against it. Recently, a workshop was convened at the NCTC to identify priorities for applying NBS. In this episode in the Thoughts From Home podcast, Jake Greenfield, NCTC Course Leader, talks with Lyric Buxton and Matthias Benko, FWS Maintenance and Infrastructure Fellows Program Climate Fellows about how NBS helps us meet our mission and how they became MIFP Climate Fellows.

    15 min

  6. 02/29/2024

    Birds in Flight: Migration and Its Perils

    Join us on a captivating journey through the skies as we explore the fascinating world of migratory birds. Every year, millions of birds undertake incredible journeys, traveling thousands of miles across continents. However, these majestic creatures face numerous challenges along their migratory routes, including one of the most insidious threats: glass collisions. But there's hope on the horizon. Through innovative strategies like dimming the lights during migration seasons, we are working to mitigate the risk posed by glass collisions. In our latest podcast episode, “Birds in Flight: Migration and Its Perils," NCTC Outreach Coordinator, Randy Robinson, talks with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service biologists, Joelle Gehring and Jo Anna Lutmerding, about bird migration, the perils they face, and how you can do your part to help. You can find more information about bird collisions at https://ow.ly/vYNO50QIK45 and nighttime lighting at https://ow.ly/WWa450QIK57

    32 min

  7. 02/16/2024

    History and Archives with Mark Madison, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Historian

    Did you know the NCTC hosts the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Museum and Archives? Step into history with Mark Madison, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Historian, as he talks with Cecilia Melton, NCTC Course Leader, about the unique items in the archives. With over a half million documents, films, artifacts and other interesting items, you can visualize the unique artifacts and hear how they can even be used as teaching tools!

    9 min

  8. 08/24/2023

    Celebrating 50 Years of the Endangered Species Act: The Fascinating Freshwater Mussel

    Have you ever been up close and personal with an endangered freshwater mussel? Matthew Patterson, Fish and Wildlife Biologist and NCTC Course Leader, gives Mike McAllister the inside scoop on endangered freshwater mussels. Listen to where mussels live, why they’re important, what their role is in the ecosystem, and why they are declining. You also will hear all about the brand new and incredible 3D mussel shell project. Matthew has partnered with the Florida Museum of Natural History, the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History and the Chesapeake Bay Foundation to create 3D scans of all 300 species of freshwater mussel in the U.S. in an effort to help folks identify different species. You are sure to learn many fascinating things about the very unique and very cool freshwater mussels that live in the waters of the U.S. as well as why you should bring along a mask and snorkel the next time you head down to the river!

    23 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
6 Ratings

About

Welcome to “Thoughts From Home: Your Conservation Podcast from the National Conservation Training Center.” We’re located along the Potomac River in historic Shepherdstown, WV and are home to the US Fish and Wildlife Service. Throughout this series, we’ll be talking with experts, authors and a variety of other guests to bring you the most up-to-date information, events, and happenings here at the National Conservation Training Center. Thanks for listening, and we hope you enjoy.

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