Nature Now

(First airdate: September 12, 2018) Debaran Kelso hosts a return visit from Dr. Fred Sharpe, who continues his examination of Olympic Peninsula prairies with details on the history and current status of camas.

(First airdate: September 5, 2018) Mary Robson welcomes back Fidalgo Island author and nature explorer Bob Jepperson to discuss the effect of drought on beaver ponds and the activities of owls.

(First airdate: August 29, 2018) Host is Nan Evans talks with Port Townsend Marine Science Center Executive Director Janine Boire about problems caused by the buildup of plastics in the ocean.

(first aired August 22, 2018). Nan Evans interviews Jonathan White, author of Tides: The Science and Spirit of the Ocean, in the encore of a May 24, 2017 broadcast where the author discusses how the tides can tell time, change our concept of time, and affect living creatures. Closing music is “The Moon and the Tide,” performed by Derek Gust.

(first aired August 15, 2018). Host Nan Evans interviews Dr. Ginger Armbrust, Director of the University of Washington School of Oceanography, in the second part of a discussion of the unseen world in the ocean.

(first aired August 8, 2018). Darrell and Lorna Smith of Western Wildlife Outreach handle both the hosting and guest duties to discuss the current status of black bears and cougars on the Olympic Peninsula and western Washington, and provide safety tips for recreating, living and working in areas occupied by these large carnivores. Closing music is “Cougar,” performed by Johnny Whitehorse.

(first aired August 1, 2018). Host Mary Robson talks with Gardiner’s Wild Birds Unlimited co-owner Christie Lassen about bird behavior in mid-summer and some odd bird bits that could be in any season. Closing music is “Full Moon,” performed by Blue Jay.

(first aired July 25, 2018). Nan Evans interviews Americorps volunteer Emilee Carpenter and Port Townsend Marine Science Center camper Anabel Moore to learn about the educational opportunities at this summer’s camps. Closing music is “Life is Grand,” performed by Camper van Beethoven.

(first aired July 18, 2018). An encore broadcast of the October 4, 2017 show features former Nature Now host Ken Wilson hosting environmental educator, writer, photographer and naturalist Bob Steelquist for a discussion of interesting creatures and other features of the environment. Closing music is “Foggy Mountain Breakdown,” performed by Earl Scruggs.

(first aired July 11, 2018). Dr. Fred Sharpe visits host Debaran Kelso in the KPTZ studio to present historical details about local prairies and identify locations in our area where portions of prairies still survive. Closing music is “Little Songbird,” performed by Black Prairie.

(first aired July 4, 2018). Joost Besijn, Coordinator of the Jefferson County Noxious Weed Control Board, returns to the KPTZ studio for a further discussion of noxious weeds in the county and how to deal with them. Closing music is “Weeds,” performed by Michael Penn.

(first aired June 27, 2018). Host Nan Evans recorded an interview near the Point Wilson lighthouse with Betsy Carlson, Citizen Science Coordinator at the Port Townsend Marine Science Center, and Mariah Vane, Americorps member and the Marine Mammal Stranding Network Environmental Education Coordinator. They spoke about marine mammal strandings in the Salish Sea and what members of the public should do if they encounter stranded animals along our shore. Closing music is “Stranded,” sung by Van Morrison.

(first aired June 20, 2018). Erin Ryan-Peñeula, Ecosystem Recovery Coordinator of the Hood Canal, Strait and North Olympic Peninsula for the Puget Sound Partnership, joins host Paul Ruben to discuss the Partnership and its role in coordinating the health of the Puget Sound. Closing music is “Puget Sound,” performed by Donato Wharton.

(first aired June 13, 2018). Mary Robson hosts Joost Besijn, Coordinator of the Jefferson County Noxious Weed Control Board, and discusses identification, eradication and other topics related to these pesky growths. Closing music is “Western Bluebird,” performed by Joe Weed.

(first aired June 6, 2018). Debaran Kelso hosts an encore broadcast of a June, 2016 show featuring birder extraordinaire Dr. Fred Sharpe explaining several bird sounds heard in our area. Closing music is “Skyline Pigeon,” performed by Elton John.

(first aired May 30, 2018). Nan Evans interviews Joe Gaydos, author of “Explore the Salish Sea: A Nature Guide for Kids,” to talk about inspiring children to explore and learn about the marine ecosystem that surrounds us. Closing music is “The Salish Sea,” performed by HighRise Lonesome.

(first aired May 23, 2018). Host Mary Robson speaks in the KPTZ studio with Jude Rubin and Peter Bahls of the Northwest Watershed Institute to discuss their mission of Protection, Restoration, Research-Based Assessment and Education and how they implement it. Closing music is “Watershed,” performed by Michael Gettel.

(first aired May 9, 2018). Mary Robson hosts Fidalgo Island resident Bob Jepperson—walker, writer, sound recorder, photographer—to discuss his visions of the coming of spring in his world. Closing music is “Pond,” performed by Vernon.

(first aired May 2, 2018). Scott and Susan Freeman join host Nan Evans via phone to talk about their book, Saving Tarboo Creek: One Family’s Quest to Heal the Land, and their experiences and philosophy gained from the ongoing project to restore the creek. Closing music is “Knob Creek,” played by the Steep Canyon Rangers.

(first aired April 25, 2018). Nan Evans hosts a rebroadcast of Mary Robson’s interview with Christie Lassen of Wild Birds Unlimited in Gardiner, where they discuss details of spring bird migration in our area. Closing music is “Migrating Bird,” a Greek song performed by Stella Marnelaki.

(first aired April 18, 2018). Debaran Kelso hosts birder extraordinaire Dr. Fred Sharpe in a reprise of a show originally broadcast two years ago, explaining how to train your ears to identify bird sounds. Closing music is “Songbird,” sung by Eva Cassidy.

(first aired April 11, 2018). Host Mary Robson talks in studio with Denise Banker—poet, nature observer, and our guide to spring—and discusses her poetry and love of the outdoors. Closing music is “Hummingbird,” by The Weepies.

(first aired April 4, 2018). Port Townsend Marine Science Center Aquarist Ali Redman, and Americorps volunteer and educator James Swanson, join host Nan Evans in studio to discuss changes at the Marine Exhibit for the upcoming season, including expanded opportunities to learn more about the intriguing sea life around us and efforts to conserve the ecosystems of the Salish Sea. Closing music is “Marine Science,” performed by Curtis Schwartz.

(first aired March 28, 2018). Frequent guest Christie Lassen of Wild Birds Unlimited in Gardiner joins host Mary Robson in the KPTZ studio to discuss the many aspects of bird song. Closing music is “Spring,” sung by Tracy Chapman.

(first aired March 21, 2018). Dr. Mark Elbroch, ecologist, storyteller and lead scientist for Panthera talks with host Paul Ruben about coexisting with mountain lions, their behavior, and human encroachment. Closing music is “Mountain Music,” performed by Alabama.

(first aired March 14, 2018). Kate Dwyer’s 2014 interview with Washington DFW wildlife biologist Paul DeBruyn is rebroadcast, with Debaran Kelso hosting the remainder of this show that discusses the snow geese and swans of the Skagit Delta. Closing music is “Swan,” performed by Right Said Fred.