Episode 11: Charley Eiseman, Freelance Naturalist and Bug Tracker Extraordinaire

Thank you for listening to the Audible Café
podcast!


Today I am very happy to share my interview with freelance
naturalist, photographer, and intrepid Bug Tracker, Charley
Eiseman. Charley stalks all manner of critters alone or with his
wife, Julia, in the woods and fields of his native Massachusetts
and across the US. Since 2011, he has focused his attention and
his camera extensively on leafminers and galls — of which there
are an astounding number — documenting with great care and
precision all the stages of their lives. In fact, he has
co-written a book on the  subject (see below).


Insects live quite fascinating lives, whether in the air or under
cover of the leaves and stems all around us. I had the great
pleasure of not only an interview with Charley about his work,
but a tour of his wonderfully rewilded (and pleasantly buggy)
acre on a quiet country road in northern Massachusetts.


Charley conducts plant and wildlife surveys for various
nonprofits, state agencies, and universities throughout his
native Massachusetts and in neighboring states. He holds an MS
from the University of Vermont's Field Naturalist Program and a
BS in wildlife and fisheries conservation and management from the
University of Massachusetts. Despite his current focus on
insects, he assures us that he is an extreme generalist with a
passion for learning about all living things and their
interconnections.


Thank you, Charley, for being so generous with
your time and with your wonderful yard, so full of life and food
for wildlife and humans alike!


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Thanks again, and have a great week!


SHOW RESOURCES


Charley Eiseman’s Website —
http://charleyeiseman.com/


Charley’s Blog, BugTracks


Tracks & Sign of Insects and Other Invertebrates: A
Guide to North American Species by Noah
Charney; Charley
Eiseman


BUY THE BOOK HERE


UPCOMING EVENTS with Charley:


October 8th — slideshow/talk for the Cambridge
Entomological Club in Cambridge entitled “Life in a Leaf: The
Wonderful World of Leafminers.” 

October 9th — “Native Plants as Insect Habitat” a
slideshow/talk for Athol Bird & Nature Club, Athol, Mass



Eagle Hill Institute in Steuben, Maine — where
Charley does week-long seminars.


Bug Guide website — Charley Eiseman’s images and
pages


iNaturalist website