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Michael Hawk (Nature's Archive)

@naturesarchive.bsky.social

290 followers 310 following 71 posts

Father, nature advocate, technologist, science communicator. Creator of Nature's Archive podcast, founder of Jumpstart Nature. Ex-Google engineer/manager. https://naturesarchive.com https://jumpstartnature.com/podcast

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Michael Hawk (Nature's Archive) @naturesarchive.bsky.social · Nov 14

Hi, Bluesky! I’m Michael, and I'm all about helping people connect with nature and take action to protect it! If you’re into nature, science, or simply curious about what you can do for our planet, read on! 👇 #Intro #Nature #Conservation

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Michael Hawk (Nature's Archive) @naturesarchive.bsky.social · 20d

Did you know plants communicate with sound? And tiny insects "speak" by sending vibrations through plant stems? Amy Martin is exploring the incredible ways plants and animals communicate, and shares her experiences on Nature's Archive #nature #podcast! naturesarchive.com/2025/09/16/a...

Michael Hawk (Nature's Archive) @naturesarchive.bsky.social · Aug 7

Check out my latest interview with @scitalker.bsky.social Jocelyn Bosley! Environmental topics are complex and difficult to communicate - Jocelyn helps us with effective approaches and examples. To my surprise, sometimes it is best to LEAN IN to the complexity! naturesarchive.com/2025/08/05/s...

Michael Hawk (Nature's Archive) @naturesarchive.bsky.social · Apr 17

Dr. Judith Gobin recently appeared on Nature's Archive #podcast discussing deep sea ecosystems, their wonder, and the threats the face. Check it out! #marineecology #oceans #oceanecosystems
naturesarchive.com/2025/03/25/d...

Image of Dr. Judith Gobin along side a whale swimming in the ocean

Michael Hawk (Nature's Archive) @naturesarchive.bsky.social · Mar 6

This was one of the most fun episodes I've recorded, talking #earthquake #geology w/ @drwendyrocks.bsky.social! Hear what causes earthquakes, why no two are ever the same (even if they have the same magnitude), and why the Richter scale is no longer used! #podcast naturesarchive.com/2025/03/04/e...

#111: Earthquakes: Myths, Surprises, and Hidden Dangers with Dr. Wendy Bohon

Dive deep into the fascinating world of earthquakes with Dr. Wendy Bohon as she demystifies seismic science, elaborates on the misconceptions and risks, and recounts her eclectic journey from a the…

naturesarchive.com

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Michael Hawk (Nature's Archive) @naturesarchive.bsky.social · Mar 2

Why protect or reintroduce large carnivores? @jonnyhhanson.bsky.social shows us - and how to support those who see these animals as a threat. It's an amazingly insightful conversation on Nature's Archive #podcast #lynx
#carnivores #wolfreintroduction #coexistence

naturesarchive.com/2025/02/11/c...

#110: Why We Need Apex Predators – Coexistence with Dr. Jonny Hanson

Dr. Jonny Hanson dives into the provocative discussion around reintroducing apex predators like lynx and wolves, revealing the complex tapestry of ecological and human interaction. His insights exp…

naturesarchive.com

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Michael Hawk (Nature's Archive) @naturesarchive.bsky.social · Feb 23

#nativebees #pollinators #pollinatorfriendly

Michael Hawk (Nature's Archive) @naturesarchive.bsky.social · Feb 23

This Mason Bee (Osmia sp.) was patrolling our blooming sage plants yesterday afternoon. Here it is sitting on some old, dead leaves, which almost look a bit like leather.
San Jose, CA

Small, hairy bee with green speckled eyes, blond hair, and some irredescent green on its body, mixed with black stripes on the abdomen. It is perched on some gray/brown thick curled leaves.

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Michael Hawk (Nature's Archive) @naturesarchive.bsky.social · Feb 22

#lepidoptera #butterflies

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Michael Hawk (Nature's Archive) @naturesarchive.bsky.social · Feb 22

Early season butterflies are flying here in the Bay Area! Sara Orangetip and Sonoran Blue (listed as "vulnerable"). San Jose, CA

Sara Orangetip butterfly nectaring on a white flower. The butterfly has orange tipped wings with black fringe. The underwings have dark gray splotches with yellow fringing.

Sonoran Blue butterfly on a birt patch. It has blue upperwings with black and white fringes, and orange/red spots on each wing.

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Michael Hawk (Nature's Archive) @naturesarchive.bsky.social · Feb 17

Hah! I talk about this concept a lot, too! I've had many such instances myself, but it's usually more like "I only thought there were two or three species of <organism>" but then I come to learn there are hundreds!

Michael Hawk (Nature's Archive) @naturesarchive.bsky.social · Feb 6

Margo and the CFMC's partnerships with CalFire, Nature Conservancy, and other organizations demonstrate what can be done with perseverance, science, and traditional ecological knowledge.

You can find this episode on any podcast app - look for "Nature's Archive".

Michael Hawk (Nature's Archive) @naturesarchive.bsky.social · Feb 6

Our latest #podcast is a must-listen! I had the honor of speaking with Margo Robbins, co-founder of the Cultural Fire Management Council, about her vital work as a leader and advocate for traditional indigenous use of fire.

#culturalfire #wildfire #yuroktribe

naturesarchive.com/2025/02/03/c...

#109: Cultural Fire with Margo Robbins

In a world besieged by devastating wildfires, Margo Robbins passionately champions cultural burning practices that not only secure community bonds but also protect biodiversity. This episode reveal…

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Michael Hawk (Nature's Archive) @naturesarchive.bsky.social · Feb 1

Here's an Eastern Cottontail I saw last summer, for comparison.

An Eastern Cottontail sitting on a gravel path, showing much smaller ears.

Michael Hawk (Nature's Archive) @naturesarchive.bsky.social · Feb 1

I wrote about this further in my monthly Nature's Archive newsletter, which you can subscribe to at naturesarchive.com/contact/

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Michael Hawk (Nature's Archive) @naturesarchive.bsky.social · Feb 1

Desert Cottontail rabbits have very large ears, especially compared to their Eastern Cottontail counterparts. Why is this? Like many animals in warm climates, they have longer appendages to help dissipate heat! This is known as "Allen's Rule", discovered by a 19th century biologist. #ecology

A Desert Cottontail rabbit in a grassy area, with large backlit ears, showing the structure of the veins within.

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Reposted by Michael Hawk (Nature's Archive)

Jumpstart Nature @jumpstartnature.bsky.social · Jan 25

There's a multi-front invasion across the globe, threatening birds, frogs, insects, agriculture, and even us. Our latest #podcast explores invasive species and what we can do to slow the advance. Inspiring and educational!

jumpstartnature.com/invasive-spe...

#invasivespecies #biodiversity

A "wanted" poster highlighting two invasive species: a colorful spotted lanternfly, and climbing english ivy.

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Reposted by Michael Hawk (Nature's Archive)

Daniel Swain @weatherwest.bsky.social · Jan 25

New Weather West post: "Widespread rain in SoCal to temporarily alleviate fire concerns by Sunday; SoCal drought still likely to expand rest of winter." I also discuss upcoming debris flow risk in fire zones. #CAwx #CAwater #CAfire #LAfires #DebrisFlows weatherwest.com/arch...

Widespread rain in SoCal to temporarily alleviate fire concerns by Sunday; SoCal drought still likely to expand rest of winter - Weather West

Extraordinarily sustained winter fire weather episode continues in SoCal through Saturday, but dramatic shift to come Southern California is now well into its driest start to the ostensible "rainy season" on record, and this week we've been topping things off with single-digit humidity and balmily warm temperatures. Moderate to strong offshore wind conditions have continued

weatherwest.com

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Michael Hawk (Nature's Archive) @naturesarchive.bsky.social · Jan 23

It's January, yet Gray Hairstreaks are flying in San Jose, CA. The abnormally warm and dry winter has caused my native sage to start blooming early, attracting this subtly beautiful butterfly. #lepidoptera #butterflies #biodiversity #nativeplants

A gray hairstreak butterfly, with gray wings adorned with orange, white, and black spots, feeds on purple flowers of a sage plant. The hairstreak has two thin tails on its wings, which is said to be why it is called a hairstreak.

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Reposted by Michael Hawk (Nature's Archive)

Strange by Nature Podcast - Your Weekly Weird Nature @strangebynaturepodcast.com · Dec 30

You wanna watch me feed a Great Horned Owl? Here you go. #Owl #Nature #Naturalist

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Reposted by Michael Hawk (Nature's Archive)

Strange by Nature Podcast - Your Weekly Weird Nature @strangebynaturepodcast.com · Jan 15

New Episode!

Male #wasps that “sting” with their genitalia.

Irritating #caterpillar hairs in your eyes.

The endangered Dragon Blood #Tree.
#Nature #Podcast #Strange #Scicomm
www.podbean.com/wlei/pb-uwbq...

Surprise! Defensive Genitalia

Victoria kicks things of this week with a fascinating new study on Potter wasps showing that the males actually can defensively "sting" even though they don't have a classic stinger. If you are a fan ...

www.podbean.com

Michael Hawk (Nature's Archive) @naturesarchive.bsky.social · Jan 22

Dr. Walt Koenig discusses the phenomenal lives of some of the most amazing birds - Acorn Woodpeckers - along with the phenomenon of acorn masting.

One teaser: did you know Acorn Woodpeckers primarily eat insects, not acorns?

#acornwoodpeckers #naturepodcast

naturesarchive.com/2025/01/13/a...

Image of Dr. Walt Koenig and an Acorn Woodpecker holding an acorn in its beak.

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Michael Hawk (Nature's Archive) @naturesarchive.bsky.social · Dec 24

Bird's Nest Fungi! No matter how many I see, I'm always astonished at this tiny miracle of fungus. This photo shows various stages! As they mature, they open up creating a cup with "eggs" (periodoles) that contain many (millions?) of spores. #mycology #fungi

Macro photo of at least eight tiny bird's nest fungi. Five are yellow/orange nubs about 1 cm wide. Three are mature grey cups with very light blue/grey "eggs" of spores. There is a small leaf affixed to one side of the small twig upon which these fungi are growing.

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Michael Hawk (Nature's Archive) @naturesarchive.bsky.social · Dec 17

I'm always extra excited when I find insects with obligate relationships with native plants because these insects are the foundation of the food web.

Insects like these convert photosynthesized energy to forms that spiders, birds, and other animals can use. It's nature's life support system.

Michael Hawk (Nature's Archive) @naturesarchive.bsky.social · Dec 17

It happily meandered onto my finger as I was manipulating the leaves to get better photos.

I've seen a few lace bugs in the wild (different species, which depend on different plants), but this is a first for my yard.

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Michael Hawk (Nature's Archive) @naturesarchive.bsky.social · Dec 17

Look at this amazingly alien creature I found in my backyard today: a Toyon Lace Bug, Corythucha incurvata.

As you might guess, it was found on my backyard Toyon, along with several dozen of its relatives.

#biodiversity #nativeplants

Tiny brown insect with huge bulging eyes and clear wings sitting on my fingernail.

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