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Nature in the City

Nature in the City is a segment on Central Standard for listeners looking for insight into what's going on in their backyards.

Joe Werner is currently the conservation coordinator for Kansas City Power and Light Company. He formerly worked as an urban biologist for the Missouri Department of Conservation. He started out his forty-plus years as an urban naturalist by beginning the first Earth Day at UMKC in 1970 as Student Campus Organizer. Joe has served several local nature organizations such as the Missouri Prairie Foundation, The University of Missouri School of Natural Resources Advisory Council, and The Nature Conservancy. He is currently a member of the Kansas City WildLands steering committee.

Larry Rizzo works for the Missouri Department of Conservation as Natural History Biologist in Kansas City.  In addition to monitoring rare and endangered species, he manages the best remaining examples of Missouri’s natural communities. Larry is the founder of Kansas City WildLands, which utilizes volunteers for ecological restoration. He is also the author of a guidebook by the same name, which details the best local examples of our native landscape. As a native Kansas Citian, Larry lives in the metro area with his family, but he occasionally escapes the city for canoe trips to the Ozarks.

NATURE LINKS:
Missouri Department of Conservation
Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks
Lakeside Nature Center 
Operation Wildlife 
Kansas City WildLands 
Burroughs Audubon Society  
Audubon of Kansas   
Kansas City Herpetological Society
The Nature Conservancy - Missouri
The Nature Conservancy - Kansas
Missouri Prairie Foundation
Monarch Watch
Powell Gardens
KC Nature Calendar

Central Standard
9:39 am
Tue April 9, 2013

Nature In The City: KC In Spring

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After a drawn out winter where we in Kansas City found ourselves hibernating through the snow and ice of March, spring has finally sprung. The trees are blooming and the landscape is finally peppered with color as plants and wildlife emerge from dormancy. On this Central Standard, we explore the nature around us as we transition into Spring. 


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Central Standard
11:29 pm
Sun January 27, 2013

Nature In The City: The Dead Of Winter

Credit Bill Anderson / KCUR
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It may be the dead of winter, but there is still plenty of nature to see in the Kansas City area.  Larry Rizzo, natural history biologist, and Joe Werner, biologist and urban ecologist will cover the best places to observe eagles and nesting Great Horned Owls, and explain what's going on pre-February with groundhogs. And we'll also explore how unseasonably warmer weather and a continued drought is affecting animal habits?

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Central Standard
9:52 am
Tue October 2, 2012

Nature In The City: Falling Into Autumn

Credit flickr / Dr.RawheaD
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You might've noticed a few tell tale signs of Autumn: the beginnings of fall foliage in the trees, flocks of birds migrating overhead... But one has to wonder, how did all that dry heat this summer affect our natural world as we fall into the Fall season? And how is the lingering drought impacting local wildlife?

On this Wednesday's Central Standard, we take an early Autumn look at Nature in the City with Larry Rizzo, natural history biologist, and Joe Werner, biologist and urban ecologist.

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Central Standard
1:32 pm
Tue July 31, 2012

Nature In The City: Drought Edition

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Credit Mickl Pickl / Flickr
Credit Mike Stoakes
Mike writes, "Adding a water feature to your backyard is an excellent way to attract birds and wildlife in hot, dry weather!"
Credit Mike Stoakes
Mike writes, "Adding a water feature to your backyard is an excellent way to attract birds and wildlife in hot, dry weather!"
Credit Mike Stoakes
Mike writes, "Adding a water feature to your backyard is an excellent way to attract birds and wildlife in hot, dry weather!"
Photo from listener Kathy who says she's been putting water out for a family of 5 falcons living on her block.
Credit Matt Levi
Listener Matt sent us pictures of his (briefly) resident Barred owl.
Credit Matt Levi
Listener Matt sent us pictures of his (briefly) resident Barred owl.
Credit Matt LEvi
Also from Listener Matt, a deer resting in Harrison Park this summer.
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This summer's drought is affecting everyone: from farmers to daily commuters to animals. Especially animals.

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Central Standard
1:58 pm
Wed June 6, 2012

Nature in the City: Summer Birds, Hiking

Credit Len Blumin / Flickr
Peregrine Falcon
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In Kansas City, we humans have adapted to our hot summer days with central air, trips to the movies and Jones Pool... but how do wild animals do it?

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Central Standard
1:08 pm
Thu March 22, 2012

Nature in the City: Songbirds, Spring Peepers & Wildflowers

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Credit KeyStroke / Flickr
Credit Bill Anderson / KCUR
Redbuds spring to life near the Kauffman Center
Credit Maureen Lunn / Flickr
Credit Bill Anderson / KCUR
Credit mikebaird / flickr
Peregrine Falcon in flight
Credit jeffreyw / Flickr
Purple Martins
Credit CaptPiper / Flickr
Blue-tailed Skink
Credit Bill Anderson
Redbuds bloom along Brush Creek
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On this Thursday's Central Standard, we take a look at Nature in the City in it's most colorful season.

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Central Standard
1:43 pm
Thu February 16, 2012

Nature In The City: Woodcocks & Chorus Frogs

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On this Thursday's Central Standard, a closer look at Nature in the City, from the courtship displays of Woodcocks (a.k.a. Timberdoodles) to the sounds of Western Chorus Frogs.

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