Michael Hawk (Nature's Archive)
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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
naturesarchive.bsky.social
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...
Three images, with a pod of dolphins swimming at the top, the Nature's Archive podcast logo on the lower left, and Amy Martin standing on a vista with hair blowing in the wind on the lower right.
September 20, 2025 at 8:56 PM
naturesarchive.bsky.social
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...
A photo of Jocelyn Bosley on the right, and a satellite view of the Earth on the left, with the Nature's Archive logo just above. Title of the image reads "Does science communication have room for emotion and complexity? Jocelyn Bosley's approach."
August 7, 2025 at 1:10 PM
naturesarchive.bsky.social
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
April 17, 2025 at 3:28 AM
naturesarchive.bsky.social
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
March 6, 2025 at 6:53 PM
naturesarchive.bsky.social
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
March 2, 2025 at 6:49 PM
naturesarchive.bsky.social
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.
February 23, 2025 at 5:47 PM
naturesarchive.bsky.social
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.
February 22, 2025 at 2:53 PM
naturesarchive.bsky.social
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…
naturesarchive.com
February 6, 2025 at 1:56 PM
naturesarchive.bsky.social
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.
February 1, 2025 at 10:22 PM
Reposted by Michael Hawk (Nature's Archive)
jumpstartnature.bsky.social
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.
January 25, 2025 at 11:36 PM
Reposted by Michael Hawk (Nature's Archive)
weatherwest.bsky.social
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
January 25, 2025 at 12:56 AM
naturesarchive.bsky.social
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.
January 23, 2025 at 5:42 PM
Reposted by Michael Hawk (Nature's Archive)
strangebynaturepodcast.com
You wanna watch me feed a Great Horned Owl? Here you go. #Owl #Nature #Naturalist
December 30, 2024 at 3:18 AM
Reposted by Michael Hawk (Nature's Archive)
strangebynaturepodcast.com
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
January 15, 2025 at 6:50 PM
naturesarchive.bsky.social
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.
January 22, 2025 at 7:58 PM
naturesarchive.bsky.social
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.
December 24, 2024 at 11:11 PM
naturesarchive.bsky.social
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.
December 17, 2024 at 5:49 PM
Reposted by Michael Hawk (Nature's Archive)
humanbyweight.bsky.social
Give the gift of hundreds of cicadas and wasps this year with the Owlfly Holiday Sale! Books are 20% off with the coupon code HIBERNATE, now through December 31st.
www.owlflyllc.com/publishing
Two books are propped upright against a wooden cabinet, titled "The Cicadas of North America" and "The Social Wasps of North America". Both books show many colorful examples of the respective insects on their covers. Various holiday ribbons, garlands, and lights are strewn about the edges and foreground of the photo, which I shamelessly pilfered from my mom's attic.
November 25, 2024 at 6:18 PM
naturesarchive.bsky.social
Flashback to June 11, 2023, when I stumbled upon a few hundred Pacific Chorus Frogs (tree frogs) along an urban San Jose, California creek. #amphibians #naturephotography #urbanwildlife
Multiple pacific tree frogs lined up on a thing and narrow plant leaf. Tiny pacific tree frog staring at the photographer Profile view of a pacific tree frog with green and black strips, hiding in a plant with a beautiful faded green background
December 4, 2024 at 7:54 PM
naturesarchive.bsky.social
Paraphrased: Sun’Agri attributed the gains to the ability to optimize the microclimate, moderating temperatures, increasing humidity, and reducing irrigation needs by 20% to 70%.

It also helps protect against frost. As a result, plants' survival rates improve, with mortality reduced by 25% to 50%
November 30, 2024 at 10:59 PM
naturesarchive.bsky.social
New byte measure dropped.
bedupolker.bsky.social Isopod Fan Account @bedupolker.bsky.social · Nov 26
An oldie from Inktober 2018: trilobyte
Three panel black and white comic. Panel 1. A smiling eel-like primitive fish shows off it's new iPhone in front of it to two trilobites. Fish dialogue: check out my new phone! It's got 16 gigabytes it can hold! Trilobite dialogue: oh yeah? How many trilobites can it hold? Panel 2: the fish looks on, concerned, as the two trilobites crawl onto the phone and others join. Panel 3: the fish looks upset, its phone is buried in several trilobites. Fish dialogue: please stop
November 26, 2024 at 3:34 AM
naturesarchive.bsky.social
Ants are perhaps THE MOST incredible classification of organisms on Earth (in my opinion). So I was delighted for ant specialist @chloejelley.bsky.social to appear on Nature's Archive #podcast in this week! I'll add a couple crazy facts I learned in this thread. naturesarchive.com/2024/11/25/a...
#106: Why Ants Might Be the Most Interesting Creatures on Earth with Chloe Jelley
Ants are the amazingly interesting, but overlooked heroes of our ecosystems, outnumbering us in staggering numbers and exhibiting complex social structures. Their surprising behaviors, from farming…
naturesarchive.com
November 25, 2024 at 7:15 PM
Reposted by Michael Hawk (Nature's Archive)
amonthei.bsky.social
Not on Instagram much anymore (only letting myself check it on desktop) but I love when my non-fire/forestry friends send me rage-bait videos about how "they're clear cutting our old growth!" and ask me what my thoughts are on it.
November 24, 2024 at 10:08 PM
Reposted by Michael Hawk (Nature's Archive)
elizkolbert.bsky.social
Vanuatu's statement on the outcome of #COP29 sums it up nicely: “It’s not enough. It was never going to be enough.”
November 24, 2024 at 12:08 AM
naturesarchive.bsky.social
Backyard nature observations can be downright amazing. Check this Aphid Wasp looking for an aphid to lay it's egg in, but a cadre of ants are protecting those aphids! Why? Learn more next Monday when Nature's Archive #naturepodcast releases our ant episode with @chloejelley.bsky.social!
An aphid wasp, which lays its eggs in aphids, approaches a flower bud covered in over 100 aphids. But a half dozen ants are protecting those aphids.
November 21, 2024 at 12:31 AM