Welcome, Backyard Naturalists! In this special episode, we're thrilled to have the incredible Stan Tekiela join us, a true Renaissance man in the world of nature. With over 40 years of experience as a naturalist, Stan brings a wealth of knowledge to our backyard. A gifted photographer, tour leader, and columnist in more than 20 newspapers, his biweekly column reaches over 750,000 readers.   Brace yourselves, listeners, as Stan is also the author of an astounding 190 books and CDs, not to mention his extensive wildlife sounds library. Today, we dive into the fascinating realm of uncommon facts about common birds, a topic inspired by Laurie's encounter with Stan at a conference. Get ready to be tested and amazed as we explore the avian world with a true expert.   Join us in welcoming Stan Tekiela to The Backyard Naturalists podcast—where curiosity takes flight!   If you have ideas for topics that you'd like us to pursue, send us a message either on our Facebook page or our website. We would really like to hear from you.   Connect with the Backyard Naturalists on the Web, Facebook and Instagram.   Please visit and support our presenting sponsor, Backyard Birds at http://www.thebirdfoodstore.com/. A mecca for bird lovers and bird watchers, Backyard Birds is an independent family-owned business located in Matthews, NC (next to Dairy Queen), just southeast of Charlotte.   Thanks for listening to The Backyard Naturalists.  We hope you have a day filled with the wonders of nature. Get outside and take a walk on the wild side! Please don’t forget to leave a 5-star review for The Backyard Naturalists podcast.   Production services for The Backyard Naturalists podcast are provided by Downtown Podcasting. To start a conversation on how you can have a podcast, simply send an email to [email protected].   While recording the Backyard Naturalists podcast, Debbie and Laurie enjoy coffee provided by the Good Cup Coffee Company  in Matthews, North Carolina. Follow Good Cup Coffee on Instagram and look for them at the Matthews Community Farmer’s Market  this Saturday morning.