This is the Colorado Plateau: Science, Research and News

Episode 46: Riparian Habitat and Bird Ecology

noreply@blogger.com (This is the Colorado Plateau: Science, Research and News) — Fri, 05 Jul 2019 15:55:00 +0000

Listen to Episode 46 HERE...

In this weeks episode we are so fortunate to have on two wonderful bird ecologists, Sean Mahoney and Peter Motyka out of Northern Arizona University. They recently helped publish a paper (along with researchers Nell Smith, Raemy Winton, Erik Lundgren, Bo Stevens and Matthew Johnson) on bird communities who utilize non-native Russian Olive riparian habitat that dominate the banks of the San Juan River through Utah.


Photo of mixed habitat along the San Juan River at Big Sandy, near Lime Ridge/Comb Wash.

Join us as we discuss this interesting study, the future of riparian habitat in the southwest, the threats of false science, and also offer some great advice to folks who may want to become an ecologist one day.

And stick around for a special High Desert Jamboree with guest Cato Cook from Jakarta, Indonesia where you will hear all about life in this beautiful region, musical traditions, Javan Tiger biology, the captive bird trade, and much more.

Special guest Cato Cook (on right) and friends from a bird
survey crew in Indonesia.

Links of Note:

Russian olive habitat along an arid river supports fewer bird species, functional groups and a different species composition relative to mixed vegetation habitats (Research paper by guest Sean Mahoney and Peter Motyka, et al.)

Sean Mahoney (ResearchGate)

Peter Motyka (ResearchGate)

Species Mentioned:

Russian Olive, Elaeagnus angustifolia L.

Tamarisk/Salt Cedar, Tamarix L.

Northern Tamarisk Beetle, Diorhabda carinulata

Southwestern Willow Flycatcher, Empidonax trailii extimus

Western Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Coccyzus americanus occidentalis

Indonesia Links of Note:

Javan Tiger, Panthera tigris sondaica

Javan Tiger Center, Didik Raharyono (Facebook page)

Episode 45: Spring Foraging and Urban Composting

noreply@blogger.com (This is the Colorado Plateau: Science, Research and News) — Sat, 22 Jun 2019 17:25:00 +0000

Listen to Episode 45 HERE...

Desert Rhubarb (photo by Ron Wolf)

Our resident Plateau forager, nutritionist and culinary artist Ashley Doyle once again takes us on a walk through the Plateau, foraging for a few of the hundreds of edible and medicinal plants that pop up in the springtime. And this spring has been plentiful in our region with a much needed heavy snowpack this winter and many rainstorms during the solstice transition period.

Ashley talks about the tasty and elusive morel mushroom, the spicy and plentiful wild mustard and the interesting plant known as desert rhubarb. Desert rhubarb is one of those plants where a portion of it is edible, a portion of it can be used topically, and a portion of it is dangerous.

Also Ashley takes a trip to interview an expert in urban composting, Ryan Gordon and they discuss everything from simple ways to set up your own composting area at your home, the do's and don'ts of composting, the dangers of many chemical based gardening products, and some great resources for urban composting too.

Also, Ryan is offering up his services to folks in northern Arizona, free of charge, so if you have ever wanted to start composting and want the great advice from expert, you can contact him at gordongardenconsulting@gmail.com anytime.

Ashley Doyle, Ryan Gordon and some healthy compost.

Links of Note:

Morel Mushroom (Identification Guide)

Wild Mustard - Sinapsus arvensis (NRCS Resource page)

Desert Rhubarb - Rumex hymenosepalus (The Foragers Path Resource page)

Jeff Lowenfels (Author's webpage, as mentioned by Ryan Gordon)

Probiotic Farmers Alliance (Facebook group page, as mentioned by Ryan Gordon)

Episode 44: Endangered and Threatened Species Conservation

noreply@blogger.com (This is the Colorado Plateau: Science, Research and News) — Sat, 22 Jun 2019 16:36:00 +0000

Listen to Episode 44 HERE...

Tune in today for a special show all about a successful technique utilized for the conservation of endangered and threatened species known as captive breeding.

Narrow-headed Gartersnake, photo by George Andrejko.

From California Condors to the Kanab Ambersnail to the Narrow-headed Gartersnake, captive breeding is not only helping to increase these imperiled populations but also ensuring their genetic diversity.

The main enclosure at the Vivarium.

We also take a trip down to the Narrow-headed Gartersnake Vivarium, led by herpetologist Erika Nowak, that is a one of a kind captive breeding facility here in northern Arizona that is helping to rescue snakes out of wildfire areas, as well as helping to increase the population of this imperiled snake. I was so fortunate to sit down and interview three of the amazing student researchers involved with the Narrow-headed Gartersnake Vivarium captive breeding program, and get their unique perspectives on the important work they are doing, on their path to becoming a scientist and how snakes are so often misunderstood.

One of the great things with the Vivarium is that you can check out a livestream of one of the enclosures.

And if you would like to help contribute to the efforts of the Gartersnake Research Project and the Vivarium, you can always donate to them right here (Just look for the 'Donate Today' button on the right.).

Also if you would like to join in the effort as a citizen scientists you can turn in your sightings of Narrow-headed Gartersnakes ( as well as any gartersnake) right here.

Links of Note:

Gartersnake Research Project

Narrow-headed Gartersnake (Identification Page)

California Condor (Information Page)

Kanab Ambersnail (Information Page)

Why are there missing episodes?

noreply@blogger.com (This is the Colorado Plateau: Science, Research and News) — Sat, 22 Jun 2019 15:55:00 +0000

Warm Greetings friends, just wanted to make a quick post here to explain why there are some missing episodes in this ongoing saga of science radio right here.

I have gotten quite a few emails wondering where Episode 1, Episode 36 and now Episode 43 are, and am now willing to reveal the secret behind these lost episodes...and the secret is...I am not very good with this whole technology thing...sigh...

So the very first Episode was all about the origins of the show, and the Colorado Plateau in general, and then I had on my very first guest who was none other than the legendary Ed Kabotie, an

Ed Kabotie, Hopi/Tewa artist and musician.

extraordinary artist and musician (front-man of Tha Yoties) who spoke about his life growing up on the Plateau and on Hopi, about the importance of water and of community, about the Rumble on the Mountain event that year, and he did a spectacular rendition of his song The River live in the studio (I even had to sit on the ground holding a microphone to his guitar). Anyway, I was so excited to do my first live show, and to be talking with Ed, that I completely forgot to record it. So it was lost forever, into the airwaves and into space, and I began bringing a little placard into the studio with me after that that simply said 'Hit Record You Idiot!'. Ed and I finally did another episode together (Episode 34) and we have one planned for the fall titled 'The Alternative History of the Americas' so stay tuned for that one!

And that little placard helped me have a great run...until Episode 36.

Members of one of the epic Grand Canyon Youth trips.

Episode 36 was all about the Colorado River and I was trying to take listeners on a journey from the headwaters of the Colorado River beginning at La Poudre Pass in the Southern Rocky Mountains of Colorado, at just under 2 miles above sea level, and eventually hitting the sea at the Gulf of California 1, 450 miles later. I encouraged listeners to get out a map and follow along and talked about places like Blackrocks where the river is nearly 100 feet deep, and the Kawuneeche Valley and Ruby Canyon and of course Cataract and the Grand Canyon. And the guest was none other than Tory Syracuse the Development and Communications Director for Grand Canyon Youth, a Flagstaff nonprofit that provides expeditions on the rivers of the Southwest to youth from all backgrounds. It was an amazing interview and very emotional as well, and even though I did hit record, the thumb-drive I was recording to failed and once again a beautiful episode was lost to all but those who tuned in live. But not to worry! Tory and I devised another show for the future where I will interview some of the kids who learned so much from the river and through the tireless efforts of Grand Canyon Youth.

Finally we get to the lost Episode 43...an episode devoted to bird watching on the Plateau. There was no guest this time around, just a fun journey on interesting bird species of the Plateau, riparian habitat and special place of note, as well as the joys and amazing benefits that one gets from bird watching. It was a simple show, a happy show, and a doomed show. I deleted the only file of the recording during a computer cleanup, and that show is lost forever.

Your humble host, Christopher Calvo (bottom left) with dear
friends from a Birding Club outing in FLagstaff, AZ.

So here is to that never happening again, and to another long run of no technical difficulties (I hope). Thanks so much for all the emails and for continuing to tune into this homemade science show, friends.

- Christopher Calvo

Plateau on the Radio: Episode 42 Extraction and Exploitation on the Plateau

noreply@blogger.com (This is the Colorado Plateau: Science, Research and News) — Thu, 30 May 2019 17:11:00 +0000

Listen to Episode 42 HERE...

The footprints of many oil and gas drilling rigs surrounding the White River
in Utah, a tributary of the Green. Photo by Taylor McKinnon.

Journey with us today as we look to Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, and Fantasy Canyon in Utah, Chaco Canyon in New Mexico, Red Gap Ranch and areas near the Petrified Forest in Arizona, and learn about the harmful practices of gas, oil and mineral extraction.

Our wonderful guest today is Lisa Test of the effective grass-roots organization No Fracking AZ, who guides us through the definition of fracking, the lack of regulations, and the very real threats due to fracking happening right now within the Coconino Aquifer, one of the cleanest aquifers in the world, right here on the Plateau. Also find out what you can do to help with their important efforts here in our region.

Lisa Test and friends from No Fracking AZ educating
officials at a meeting in Arizona.

Links of Note:

No Fracking AZ - Website

No Fracking AZ - Facebook

Plateau on the Radio: Episode 41 Plants of the Plateau with Sara Souther

noreply@blogger.com (This is the Colorado Plateau: Science, Research and News) — Sat, 30 Mar 2019 16:35:00 +0000

Listen to Episode 41 HERE...

This week we focus in on the many plants of our region, specifically endemic and culturally sensitive plants.

Wildflowers in northern Arizona - photo by Lawrence Busch

As we all know the Colorado Plateau region is truly a special place, but one of the things that defines our area being so special is that we have the most endemic plants of any region in the US. And for those that might not know, endemic means that those species are found here and nowhere else. Some would argue that this fact is due to the huge size of the Colorado Plateau, spreading across four states and many sovereign tribal nations, but it is actually due to the environmental complexity that we have ranging from the alpine tundra to the high deserts as well as all the important stresses that these plants face in often harsh conditions, leading to the evolution of many new and distinct species. Biologists and other researchers have documented more than 3,000 vascular plants here on the Plateau, and of those 3,000 plants, 10% of them are endemic, and that is a very big number.

Sara Souther (NAU)

Our guest this week is plant ecologist and conservation biologist Sara Souther (Landscape Conservation Initiative), a truly wonderful person who is helping to launch the Tribal Nations Botanical Research Collaborative, a region wide inventory of the ten culturally sensitive plants that are out there. And this effort is really great because it relies on Citizen Scientists just like you to report data as you recreate and explore the forests of northern Arizona. By utilizing the iNaturalist app and taking photos you can help foragers from the tribes, scientists, and land managers better understand the ecology of these species as well as provide information on areas where sustainable harvesting can take place.

Sara and I also discuss her roots as a forager in West Virginia, the plight of the American Ginseng plant, and the importance of exploring the relationship between the plants and the people who utilize wild food, medicinal and culturally sensitive plants, and what that relationship can say about these communities themselves.

Also the mystery of the recent Juniper tree die-off all around the Plateau region, specific threats to endemic plants of our area, and local music by Sap Dabblers, Tha' Yoties, Sihasin and more!

Further Information and Reading:

Sara Souther's ResearchGate (links to research papers by the guest)

iNaturalist - Tribal Nations Botanical Research Collaborative

Further Information on Species mentioned by Sara Souther and the Host:

American Ginseng

Coyote Tobacco

Emory Oak

Blue Grama

Jones Cycladenia

Kachina Daisy

Utah Juniper

One-seed Juniper

Plateau on the Radio: Episode 40 The San Francisco Peaks

noreply@blogger.com (This is the Colorado Plateau: Science, Research and News) — Sat, 23 Mar 2019 17:07:00 +0000

Listen To or Download Episode 40 HERE...

The San Francisco Peaks - Photograph by Kate Graham

Join us this week as we celebrate the unique beauty of the San Francisco Peaks, in northern Arizona.
Our guest is author and ecologist Gwendolyn Waring, who recently put out a wonderful book titled 'The Natural History of the San Francisco Peaks', and this book is a thorough one, from the formation of the Peaks through multiple eruptions over several million years, to the Pleistocene era and the glacial impacts on the mountain itself, to many of the plants and animals and fungi that made their way to this isolated mountain island and somehow managed to survive. It is beautifully written, mixing science with love, and is a book that anyone could pick up and truly enjoy no matter what.

Gwendolyn shares some experiences on the San Francisco Peaks, discusses the adaptation that many species have made to survive in this often inhospitable environment, talks about the future of the peaks with climate change and mind, and so much more. A truly remarkable person, whose science and life experience on the Plateau and beyond is vast indeed.

Quaking Aspen off the 151 on the slopes of the San Francisco Peaks.
Photograph by Kate Graham.

Also, a spotlight on the Quaking Aspen, the San Francisco Peaks Groundsel, and we share the voices of the Star School students and staff, an off the grid charter school in Northern Arizona, who created a film titled 'Dook'o'oosliid' all about their connection to the sacred San Francisco Peaks.

And for High Desert Jamboree we play some mountain music for you, and hear some memories of the Peaks by resident forager of This is the Colorado Plateau; Ashley Doyle, and local photographer Kate Graham.

The San Francisco Peaks as viewed from the high desert of the
volcanic field. Photograph by Frank Schively.

Further Information and Reading:

A Natural History of the Intermountain West by Gwendolyn Waring

Doo'ko'oosliid - Short Film by the middle school students of the Star School

Species mentioned by Gwendylon Waring and the host:

San Francisco Peaks Groundsel - Packera franciscana

Corkbark Fir - Abies lasiocarpa var. arizonica

Limber Pine - Pinus flexilis

Southwestern White Pine - Pinus strobiformis

Quaking Aspen - Populus tremuloides

American Pipit

Clark's Nutcracker

American Three-toed Woodpecker

Mexican Spotted Owl

Red Squirrel

Plateau on the Radio: Episode 39 Plateau Foraging with Ashley Doyle

noreply@blogger.com (This is the Colorado Plateau: Science, Research and News) — Wed, 06 Mar 2019 14:07:00 +0000

Listen to Episode 39 HERE...

Join guest host, nutritionist and forager Ashley Doyle for another episode all about delicious food and great ways to forage your own fridge during the cold months. Ashley discusses ways for us all to get geared-up for the upcoming Spring foraging season, choosing the best field guides for your region, and the properties of herbs when utilizing them for different medicines. Also a great interview with urban farmer Summer White about Roots Micro Farm here in Flagstaff, AZ, about being part of the community, and about growing micro-greens in your own home as a great way to get fresh greens during the winter. All that and more with music by hvnnibeat$ out of Flagstaff and Namaste Humble from Brooklyn, NY.

Roots Micro Farm, a beautiful example of an urban farm in Flagstaff, AZ

Plateau on the Radio - Episode 38 Plateau Films and the Flagstaff Mountain Film Festival

noreply@blogger.com (This is the Colorado Plateau: Science, Research and News) — Sat, 16 Feb 2019 18:55:00 +0000

Listen to Episode 38 HERE...

This week we are giving science a break and heading to the movies in honor of the Flagstaff Mountain Film Festival, an epic event that has taken place in our region since 2003.

We explore some of the famous films that were shot around the canyons and buttes, rivers and towns of the Colorado Plateau, and also spotlight some of the future filmmakers of our region. Students at the Star School, an off the grid elementary/middle school in northern Arizona write, direct and produce their own short films on everything from alternative power to storytelling and traditional practices.

Our wonderful guests this week are Dr. John Tveten, the Executive Director of the Mountain Film Festival who also once hosted a couple of spectacular radio shows out of Hopi on KUYI, Amy Martin a documentary photographer who uses her camera's lens to increase awareness, understanding and compassion across physical and social barriers, and John 'Verm' Sherman a bouldering pioneer, creator of the bouldering V-scale, and a spectacular wildlife photographer who uses his photography to spread awareness on the plight of the endangered California Condor.

Photograph by Amy Martin, part of the Todos Dignos series.

Photograph by John Verm Sherman of one of the
critically endangered California Condor .

Further Info:

Flagstaff Mountain Film Festival

Star School Student Film Projects

Amy Martin Photography

John 'Verm' Sherman Photography

Plateau on the Radio - Episode 37 Wildlife Issues and Killing Contests on the Plateau

noreply@blogger.com (This is the Colorado Plateau: Science, Research and News) — Sat, 09 Feb 2019 18:03:00 +0000

Listen to Episode 37 HERE...

Coyote in the grasslands (photo by Greg Kramos, USFWS)

There is a terrible practice out there friends that we all need to know about...it is hard to look at, and difficult to stomach, but important to shine a spotlight on it so that we can try to change things.

They are called Wildlife Killing Contests, and chances are they are happening on public lands near you. Each year thousands of coyotes, foxes, bobcats, prairie dogs, crows, and even wolves are targeted in these horrific events where contestants win prizes and awards for killing the animals. These contests are largely un-monitored by state and federal wildlife agencies, and it is up to folks like you and advocates like our great guest Betsy Klein to put a stop to them.

Betsy, who is the founder of I AM WOLF NATION, and co-founder of Plan B to Save Wolves, educates us on what these killing contests are, the misinformation given for their existence, and shares with us how to best assist in the effort to ban wildlife killing contests in Arizona, and in your neck of the woods.

The end result of a horrific contest (photo courtesy of Southwest Environmental Center)

Also on the program, micro-trash and the impacts on wildlife, lead-poisoning among one of the most periled species on the Plateau; the California Condor, and something positive you can do to assist birds during the cold months courtesy of our resident forager extraordinaire Ashley Doyle.

Special thanks to Emily Renn of Grand Canyon Wolf Recovery for helping to set this episode up.

Further Information:

I AM WOLF NATION (A Call to Action Group)

Plan B to Save Wolves (Organization)

A Death of Ethics: Is Hunting Destroying Itself? (Article by Todd Wilkinson, mentioned in the interview)

Project Coyote (Organization)

Killing Games: Wildlife in the Crosshairs (movie trailer mentioned in the interview)

Sedona Wolf Week (Regional Event happening March 25th -30th, 2019)

Plateau on the Radio: Episode 35 Plateau Politics and the Government Shutdown

noreply@blogger.com (This is the Colorado Plateau: Science, Research and News) — Fri, 25 Jan 2019 16:20:00 +0000

Listen to Episode 35 HERE...

As the longest government shutdown in history continues, we turn our attention to all the negative impacts that are taking place in the Plateau and beyond, and in the spirit of community radio we even try to bring you the other side of the coin and worked hard to bring you a comprehensive list of the positive impacts this government shutdown is having on people and places.

Signs in many National Parks this month urge visitors to please
take care of the place during this government shutdown.

We update you on the current state of National Parks around our region like Zion, Arches and the Grand Canyon, as well as incidents that have occurred in other National Parks around the country. And in our Notes from the Field segment we look at news from the government shutdown perspective on the impacts in regards to safety in our Public Lands, and important postponed fire management work around the West, as well as impacts that you might not have even suspected (for all you craft beer drinkers out there).

Trash cans overflowing in Yosemite National Park, CA

Also we hear from you dear listeners and your opinion on the government shutdown. All that and some good tunes to get us through the hard times. Tune in, and thank you so much for listening!

Plateau on the Radio Episode 34: Rumble on the Mountain

noreply@blogger.com (This is the Colorado Plateau: Science, Research and News) — Fri, 18 Jan 2019 17:44:00 +0000

Listen to Episode 34 HERE...

We are happy to be back on the air after a nice winter hibernation, and on today's episode we will be highlighting one of the truly great community events that takes place annually here on the Colorado Plateau and that is the Rumble on the Mountain happening this Saturday January 19th in Flagstaff, AZ. This year is the fifth year of the Rumble and the topic they are highlighting is the ongoing legacy of Uranium Mining on the Colorado Plateau, a hugely important subject for the health of communities here on the Plateau, and a subject that does not get the spotlight it truly deserves.

'Rumble on the Mountain' by Ed Kabotie

We have some recordings from the very first Rumble on the Mountain that we will share with you, where the focus was on the utilization of reclaimed wastewater on the San Francisco Peaks, an area held sacred by all the sovereign Nations of the Plateau. The recordings include the audio of a piece by Sarah Weatherby entitled 'How and How Not to Ski', a moving performance and speech by the chair of the Havasupai tribe Rex Tilousi, a call to action by Moran Henn, and a Call to Holiness by Vernon Masayesva, the former chair of the Hopi Tribal Council. Also music by Tha Yoties, and Ed Kabotie.

And in the second hour we play some tunes by past and current performers of the Rumble on the Mountain, including Innastate, Sage Bond, and Sihasin. We also get to hear from organizer Ed Kabotie himself with a phone interview where we discuss the origin and metamorphosis of the Rumble on the Mountain event, the connection between uranium, arsenic, water and how we treat one another, as well as an update on his travels of late to Washington DC and California where he brings his messages from the land and people of the Plateau to all who will listen.

Ed Kabotie at the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian

Further Reading/Links:

Ed Kabotie - The Alternative History of America (performance at the Hopi Festival 2018 at the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian)

Sarah Weatherby - How and How Not to Ski (presentation)

HaulNo (Facebook page of organization spotlighted at this years Rumble on the Mountain)

Rumble on the Mountain (Facebook page of the event)

Plateau on the Radio: Episode 32 Fall Foraging with Ashley Doyle

noreply@blogger.com (This is the Colorado Plateau: Science, Research and News) — Fri, 09 Nov 2018 15:55:00 +0000

Listen to Episode 32 HERE...

It's that time of the season again friends, and now that crisp autumn is all around, guest host, forager and nutritionist Ashley Doyle is back on the air to bring you some great knowledge on foraging the Colorado Plateau.

Guest Host and forager extraordinaire, Ashley Doyle.

This time around she discusses medicinal and nutritional properties of Common Mullein, Mormon Tea, Snakeweed, Pinyon, and also how some foraging isn't just for eating but for crafty folks too.

If you would like to get a hold of Ashley Doyle with questions or some of your own knowledge on Fall Foraging the Colorado Plateau region, you can drop her a line at thecoloradoplateau@gmail.com, and she would love to hear from you.

An invasive plant found everywhere on the Plateau,
Common Mullein, is quite the useful plant indeed.

Further Reading:

Common Mullein Resource Page

Snakeweed Resource Page

Mormon Tea Resource Page

Pinyon Pine Resource Page

Coyote Melon Resource Page

Plateau on the Radio: Episode 31 The Tale of Everett Ruess

noreply@blogger.com (This is the Colorado Plateau: Science, Research and News) — Fri, 02 Nov 2018 18:49:00 +0000

Listen to Episode 31 HERE...

Everett Ruess in the 1930's, photo by Dorothea Lange.

On this episode of our radio hour we explore the short but full life of Everett Ruess, an artist and wanderer who disappeared in the heart of the Grand Staircase-Escalante in 1934.

Join us as we look at his past, hear some of his writings, and listen to some songs inspired by one of the great Plateau mysteries.

Inscription found by Greg Funseth and photographed by David Roberts

Further Reading:

Finding Everett Ruess by David Roberts - If you can stand a whole bunch of badly placed advertisements you can read all of this great and extremely informative work by David Roberts via the link provided.

EverettRuess.net - a page by Everett's family.

Plateau on the Radio: Episode 30 Biological Soil Crust

noreply@blogger.com (This is the Colorado Plateau: Science, Research and News) — Fri, 02 Nov 2018 18:29:00 +0000

Listen to Episode 30 HERE...

Tune in to the radio hour to learn all about something that is near and dear to our hearts...Biological Soil Crust.

Biological Soil Crust in Canyonlands National Park, UT (Photo by Bill Bowman)

Join us as we open up the Colorado Plateau Classroom and attend an entertaining lecture by soil ecologist Jayne Belnap and learn all about this amazing life form, the ecosystem services it performs, and about efforts to restore it in areas it was destroyed.

The recording is courtesy of a great program put on in Aspen, CO called Naturalist Nights and was put on by the great folks at the Aspen Center for Environmental Studies and recorded beautifully by The GrassRoots Community Network.

And as always friends remember...Don't Bust The Crust!

Further Reading:

Research Paper Links by Jayne Belnap via Resarch Gate

A Field Guide to Biological Soil Crusts by Roger Rosentreter, Ph.D., Matthew Bowker, Ph.D., Jayne Belnap, Ph.D. Free to download the .pdf file.

Crust 101 by SoilCrust.org - a great resource for all things crust.

Biological Soil Crusts - a 2 page hand-out, ideal for classrooms or informational booths.

Forest Rangeland Soil Ecology Lab at Northern Arizona University

Plateau on the Radio: Episode 29 The Murder of Johnny Elden Jr.

noreply@blogger.com (This is the Colorado Plateau: Science, Research and News) — Wed, 26 Sep 2018 20:39:00 +0000

Listen to Episode 29 HERE...

On this weeks episode we embrace a new pillar (as we like to call them) of our show. We are all about science, culture, nature and community, but today we will add history into the mix as the Plateau region is rich with many interesting tales. Join my wonderful guest, historian and author John Westerlund, as we dive into the story of the 1887 murder of six year old Johnny Elden Jr. in northern Arizona, shot by a wayward bullet from an angry muleskinner...or was he? And if it is not young Johnny Elden Jr. in the very famous gravesite at the base of Mount Elden, then who is in there?

Give a listen and find out, friends...

The well known gravesite of 6 year old Johnny Elden Jr.

And if you would like to purchase a copy of the Journal of Arizona History that features the 25 page article, “Flagstaff Pioneer John Elden: Murder and Mystery - Myth and History” by historian John Westerlund you can find it at both Pioneer Museum, 2340 N. Fort Valley Road in Flagstaff, AZ, and Riordan Mansion State Historical Park, 409 W. Riordan Road also in Flagstaff.

And John Westerlund's book titled 'Arizona's War Town: Flagstaff, Navajo Ordnance Depot, and World War II' can be purchased at the The University of Arizona Press.

Cover of Journal featuring John Westerlund's
article, with painting by Catherine Sickafoose.

Finally, if you are intrigued by this weeks episode and want to learn more about Arizona history, then head over to the archives of The Journal of Arizona History where you can read articles going back to 1965. And please consider donating to the great folks at the Arizona Historical Society

Plateau on the Radio: Episode 28 Celebrating Poetry and Literature

noreply@blogger.com (This is the Colorado Plateau: Science, Research and News) — Fri, 14 Sep 2018 18:44:00 +0000

Listen to Episode 28 HERE...

On this weeks Episode we put science in the backseat and focus in on poetry and literature on the Plateau, as the great Northern Arizona Book Festival kicks off this week in Flagstaff, AZ.

In our very first phone interview (getting fancy these days!), we were extremely honored to have on the Poet Laureate of the Navajo Nation (2015-2019), Laura Tohe. Laura spoke about her childhood, her early encouragement by a professor to embrace her writing skills, life on the Dine Nation, and her many wonderful works of poetry. No Parole Today is a prose memoir on her experiences attending a government school for Native children and the challenge it presented to her socially, culturally, and expressively, and another book we discussed was Tséyi' - Deep in the Rock, Reflections on Canyon de Chelly where she collaborates with photographer Stephen Strom.


Author, Scholar of Native American Literature and Poet Laureate of the Navajo Nation, Laura Tohe.

Also we had on the Executive Director of the Northern Arizona Book Festival, Jesse Sensibar to talk about the origin of the Book Festival as well as the other literary events Flagstaff has to offer writers and the community including the Narrow Chimney Reading Series, Poetry Slams and the Juniper House Reading events. Jesse also has a new book coming out titled Blood in the Asphalt: Prayers from the Highway where he chronicles a lifetime spent as a tow truck driver on the lonely highways of the American Southwest.

Author and Executive Director of the Northern Arizona Book
Festival, Jesse Sensibar

Special thanks to poet and DJ Erik Bitsui for helping to set this show up. Could not have done it without him.

Head to the links below to find these great books mentioned above for purchase and support Plateau writers:

No Parole Today by Laura Tohe

Tséyi' - Deep in the Rock, Reflections on Canyon de Chelly

Blood in the Asphalt: Prayers from the Highway by Jesse Sensibar

Further Information:

Narrow Chimney Reading Series

Juniper House Readings

Plateau on the Radio: Episode 27 Bats of the Southwest

noreply@blogger.com (This is the Colorado Plateau: Science, Research and News) — Sat, 01 Sep 2018 19:11:00 +0000

Listen to Episode 27 HERE...

This week on your favorite regional science show we explore the wonderful world of bats. An often misunderstood, but incredibly important part of our planet, especially right here in the Southwest.

We talk with the amazing biologist and bat researcher Clarissa Starbuck (Northern Arizona University) all about bats of our region, the things bats do for humans and the ecosystem that many folks might not realize, and about her important research regarding bat populations, landscape movements and how to lessen impacts from wind turbines in northern Arizona. Also, some info on how to get bats into your bat houses, and news from the white-nose syndrome front, a disease that is devastating bat populations in much of the US.

The Hoary Bat, one of our guest Clarissa Starbuck's
favorite species. Photograph by J. N. Stuart.

For more on bat and wind turbine fatalities check out this paper by Horn et al: Behavioral Response to Bats and Operating Wind Turbines

To learn more about White-nose Syndrome check out the White-Nose Syndrome Response Team's page.

And for more about proper placement of Bat Houses (Bat Boxes) head on over to Bat Conservation International.

Also on this weeks show, and continuing on this weeks High Desert Jamboree, the after-hours of your regional science show we discuss the recent news that several monitoring and adaptive management science programs are set to be completely de-funded on October 1st. This will impact important science taking place on the Colorado River in Grand and Glen Canyon as well as the San Juan River Basin, and would devastate regional scientists livelihoods. For more on this important story please check out our friend Science and Technology reporter Melissa Sevigny's great report.

Plateau on the Radio: Episode 26 The Pecos Conference

noreply@blogger.com (This is the Colorado Plateau: Science, Research and News) — Fri, 17 Aug 2018 17:33:00 +0000

Listen to Episode 26 HERE...

In all my years of being knee deep in science here on the Colorado Plateau, I have had the great opportunity of attending many science conference all over the place, and the Pecos Conference was by far the best I have ever seen for so many different reasons that you will hear all about during this episode.

So please, come take a field trip with me out to base of the San Francisco Peaks in northern Arizona, where the Pecos was held this year. And for those that might not know, the Pecos Conference is a southwest archaeology gathering and has been going strong since the 1920's. Hear from some of the attendees and organizers as they share memories of the Pecos, their research, and their hopes for the future of this truly unique and worthwhile science conference.

The main tent of the Pecos, where all the magic happens.

Special thanks to Archaeologists Michael Terlep, Kim Spurr and David Purcell for making it happen, and truly hope to do more field trip episodes in the future.

And a deep thanks to all the folks who lent their voices, their memories and their passions to this episode. I think I had enough interviews for two programs, and can't thank you enough.

Plateau on the Radio: Episode 25 Wildfires

noreply@blogger.com (This is the Colorado Plateau: Science, Research and News) — Fri, 03 Aug 2018 13:54:00 +0000

Listen to Episode 25 HERE...

Join us for a special edition of your humble regional science show all about wildfires, megafires, and the women and men that fight them.

Forest fire beneath dark skies. Photo by astrosherpa

In this edition we will attend a lecture with Forest Ecologist Paul Hessburg all about the history of fire suppression and how we have created the ingredients for mega-fires that are larger than 100,000 acres. Also a discussion on how to prevent these wildfires through thinning and prescribed burns, and why ponderosa pines are fire dependent. And finally we look towards the wildland firefighters, true heroes of the West and especially of our region. We will see what it is like to attend Fire School, hear a great report about Hotshots, and an audio postcard from some of the elite Smokejumpers, and find out about what exactly that red stuff is that they dump from planes onto fire lines.

A Smokejumper headed into the wild.

If you would like to learn more about how to become a Wildland Firefighter head over to the National Wildfire Coordinating Group for some great information and answers to some of your questions.

Plateau on the Radio: Episode 24 Rock Art of the Plateau

noreply@blogger.com (This is the Colorado Plateau: Science, Research and News) — Fri, 27 Jul 2018 14:31:00 +0000

Listen to Episode 24 HERE...

Look closely in many places on the Plateau and it is almost inevitable that you will find at least one piece of rock art. From the smallest spiral tucked away somewhere to whole panels of petroglyphs and pictographs, sometimes along a canyon wall for as far as you can see.

San Juan Anthropomorphs which date to the Basketmaker II Period
- Bears Ears National Monument, UT.
Photo by Alan Kressler

Our great guest interview this week is with archaeologist Michael Terlep who extensively studied the enigmatic cup and channel petroglyphs of the Arizona Strip and Grand Staircase-Escalante. Michael shares with us the idea of Landscape Theory, the importance of working with the Nations of the Plateau to bring about a complete understanding of rock art, and some great places on the Plateau to go gaze at rock art and let your mind wander to ancient times.

One of the many Cup and Channel Petroglyphs.

An enhanced version of the debated Mammoth petroglyph at Upper
Sand Island, UT, that Michael Terlep mentioned.
Enhanced photo by Ekkehart Malotki

Also on the show: The importance of peer-review, Notes from the Field all about a new dinosaur species discovered on the Plateau and myths surrounding rattlesnakes, and an Audio Postcard from the Plateau by contributor Ashley Doyle.

Check out some of archaeologist Michael Terlep's amazing research below:

Water, Pitch, and Prehistoric Indexes: An Analysis of Cup and Channel Petroglyphs (Terlep, 2013. American Indian Rock Art, Volume 39, 2013)

From the Canyon to the Staircase: Expanding the Paleolithic Presence in the Arizona Strip (Bryce and Terlep, 2017)

Archaeological and Historical Survey of Ebon Atoll, Republic of the Marshall Islands (Terlep, 2013)

Plateau on the Radio: Episode 23 The Monsoon

noreply@blogger.com (This is the Colorado Plateau: Science, Research and News) — Fri, 20 Jul 2018 17:58:00 +0000

Listen to Episode 23 HERE...

In this special edition of your favorite regional science hour we dive into the most beautiful time of year on the Plateau...the Monsoon Season.

White Pockets area on the AZ/UT border after a nice rain storm.
Photo by Ryan Lima.

Join me as we learn about the origin of the name Monsoon and how this annual weather pattern develops. We also explore the ancient life within desert potholes, or ephemeral pools that fill up during this magical time of year and have living fossils existing within. And finally we talk about being safe out there in the wilds as you are exploring the Plateau region, and how to best avoid flash floods and lightning strikes, and so much more.

Also, regional music from New Mexico with Native Roots, and from Hopi with Casper Lomayesva and friends.

Below is a footage of a flash flood at Lower Antelope Canyon on the Diné Nation from 2013. In some areas this portion of the slot canyon is 40 feet deep.

Plateau on the Radio: Episode 22 Wild Horses on the Plateau

noreply@blogger.com (This is the Colorado Plateau: Science, Research and News) — Fri, 13 Jul 2018 13:53:00 +0000

Listen to Episode 22 HERE...

Photograph by Jay Mark Redelsperger

This week brings us out to the high deserts of the Colorado Plateau where the wild horses of the Diné Nation struggle to survive during this seemingly unending drought. But there is always hope when things seem the darkest, and a grassroots effort started by local folks in Gray Mountain and Flagstaff called Gray Mountain Horse Heroes has stepped up to help the horses in any way they can. We interview four of the Horse Heroes, Paul Lincoln, Glenda Seweingyawma, Eileen Taggart and Billie McGraw on the origin of their meeting, the difficulties and joys of helping so many horses in the area, and ways in which we all can help too. The efforts of this group have not only been healing the horses, but also has been bringing the community of Gray Mountain and the surrounding area together.

From Left to Right: Emery, Paul and Glenda

Also, a history of horses in North America, and music by Sihasin as well as John Trudell and Annie Humphrey.

Further Information:

Please consider joining the Facebook Group: Gray Mountain Horse Heroes to join in the efforts.

If you would like to donate monetarily to the group you can do so at Wildhorse Ranch Rescue, or by purchasing gift cards for the group at Olsen's Grain in Flagstaff for hay and feed.

A recent article by Emery Cowan about the efforts at Gray Mountain: In the midst of drought, volunteers bring food and water to Gray Mountain wild horses

Check out the report mentioned in the show by the Navajo Nation Department of Fish and Wildlife titled Survey of Free Ranging Horses on the Navajo Nation

Special thanks to Glenda Seweingyawma and Jay Mark Redelsperger for the use of their photos. And special thanks to Environmental and Science Reporter Emery Cowan of the Arizona Daily Sun for helping to make this episode happen.

Plateau on the Radio: Episode 21 Foraging the Colorado Plateau with Ashley Doyle

noreply@blogger.com (This is the Colorado Plateau: Science, Research and News) — Fri, 06 Jul 2018 14:49:00 +0000

Listen to Episode 21 HERE...

This week your regular humble host, Christopher Calvo took a backseat as guest host extraordinaire, master chef and nutritionist Ashley Doyle took us on a journey through the Plateau to forage for wild and delicious foods, dyes and medicine too.

Guest host and Plateau forager Ashley Doyle

From the gathering of Dandelions on many riparian throughout the Plateau, to Lobster and King Bolete mushrooms in the monsoon drenched slopes of the San Francisco Peaks, to cooking with Amaranth in Ashley's kitchen out in the volcanic fields of northern Arizona, to Biscuit Root in the Canyon Country of Utah. Ashley also walks you through how to make simple tinctures and vinegars with your harvest utilizing things that are probably already in your kitchen right now. This will be a seasonal series on the radio show so please get in touch with Ashley at thecoloradoplateau@gmail.com or on the Facebook page and let her know your favorite foods to forage in your neck of the woods and your favorite recipes too.

Ashley harvesting the fruit of the
Prickly Pear in northern AZ.

For other great resources in harvesting foods on the Plateau check out the following links:

And to get involved with some classes that focus on wild food, look into the wonderful Forager's Path School of Botanical Studies.

Plateau on the Radio: Episode 20 Sacredness and Environmental Protection

noreply@blogger.com (This is the Colorado Plateau: Science, Research and News) — Sat, 30 Jun 2018 17:19:00 +0000

Listen to Episode 20 HERE...

In the first part of our show this week we explored the protection of areas on the Plateau that are sacred to the many sovereign Nations that have called this region home since the very beginning.

At Zuni Salt Lake for instance, sacred area to the Zuni, Acoma, Laguna, Hopi and Taos pueblos. There are annual pilgrimages to Zuñi Salt Lake to harvest salt, for both culinary and ceremonial purposes. Ancient roadways radiate out from the lake to the various pueblos and ancestral pueblo sites, such as Chaco. The lake itself is home to the Salt Mother deity, known to the Zuñi as Ma'l Okyattsik'i. When the coal industry came around, a grassroots effort from the pueblos and environmental groups helped to stop the water table from being pumped out of the unique and precious area.

Zuni Salt Lake on the southern edge of the Plateau (AirPhoto)

At the Confluence of the Little Colorado and Colorado Rivers a massive tourist area dubbed Grand Canyon Escalade threatened to go in to an area considered extremely sacred to all tribes who have connections to the Grand Canyon as either an emergence place or a place of historic and modern importance. A group called Save the Confluence and many local people helped to stop this from happening.

The Little Colorado on its journey to the Grand Canyon (OARS)

And the decades long fight to prevent a ski area on the San Francisco Peaks from expanding and then later from using treated sewage water to make artificial snow is still being fought in the courts, primarily by the Hopi Nation but backed many other people and tribes who consider this mountain to be extremely sacred.

We also were extremely honored to talk to Jim Enote from Zuni, the CEO of the Colorado Plateau Foundation.

Jim Enote, farmer, fisherman, and so much more...
Still taken from the film Counter-Mapping by
Adam Loften & Emmanuel Vaughan-Lee)

Jim is responsible for helping to create the efforts surrounding the ideas of counter-mapping, a revisionist effort to elaborate Zuni history and cultural survival independent from the non-Zuni narrative, using Zuni language and Zuni aesthetics and sensibilities as they artistically map their region. We discussed Jim's history, his family, farming, building homes and the difference between trying to converge Native knowledge with science, and keeping them separate while having respect for both. It was one of the best conversations we ever had on the air, and hopefully paved the way to future shows with Jim whenever he is in town again.

To see a great video in regards to counter-mapping with Jim, head over to Emergence Magazine and prepare to be extremely moved.

And if you are interested in supporting the wonderful efforts of the Colorado Plateau Foundation as they strive to help protect sacred and endangered lands, water, language, and sustainable community based agriculture, or are a Native-led group looking to apply for a grant, head over to their website to learn more.

And stay tuned for future news in regards to a new PBS Series titled Native America that will feature Jim and will be airing this Fall.