Get to know your neighbors: listening to Illinois wildlife with Brodie Dunn

Get to know your neighbors: listening to Illinois wildlife with Brodie Dunn

Author: Abigail Garofalo, Amy Lefringhouse, Erin Garrett October 23, 2025 Duration: 53:07

If you learn to listen for wildlife, you’ll start finding it everywhere. Learning a bird’s song or an insect’s call means you can sense them even when they are out of sight or pick out their call from a chaotic audio background that the brain normally filters out. There are side benefits too; sometimes an animal’s call is the only way to identify it, and it’s often the easiest way to share nature with friends. Learn more about wildlife sounds from Voice of the Wild's Brodie Dunn.

Check out Brodie's Voice of the Wild Podcast
See the Everyday Environment Periodical Cicadas episode

Community Science Resources: 

Identification Resources: 

Sounds heard throughout the episode: 

  • Common raccoon sound by iNaturalist user Aleksandr Berdnikov
  • Wood duck chick sound by iNaturalist user Danasasso
  • American toad sound by USGS 
  • Eastern Gray Squirrel sound by iNaturalist user k2018lena
  • Common nighthawk sound by iNaturalist user Ben Johnson
  • Lyric cicada sound by iNaturalist user Gabriel Diggs
  • Walker's cicada sound by iNaturalist user Brian Wulker
  • Dickcissel south by iNaturalist user Christopher Hensel
  • Chimney swift sound by iNaturalist user Chris Harrison
  • Least flycatcher sound by iNaturalist user Ty Smith
  • Gray catbird sound by iNaturalist user Megan Hanson
  • Eastern chipmunk sound by iNaturalist user Christopher Hensel
  • Brown thrasher sound by iNaturalist user Christopher Hensel
  • Indigo bunting sound by iNaturalist user Christopher Hensel
  • Brown thrahser sound by iNaturalist user Christopher Hensel
  • Northern mockingbird sound by iNaturalist user Christopher Hensel
  • Blue jay sound by iNaturalist user Christopher Hensel
  • House finch sound by iNaturalist user Christopher Hensel
  • Red-eyed vireo sound by iNaturalist user Christopher Hensel

Share your own Everyday Observation

Was there something about this topic we didn’t cover? See something cool in nature? Let us know! Send us your question or share your everyday nature observation with us at go.illinois.edu/EEconnect, and we may share it in a future blog or podcast.


Questions? We'd love to hear from you!
Abigail Garofalo aeg9@illinois.edu, Erin Garrett emedvecz@illinois.edu, Amy Lefringhouse heberlei@illinois.edu 

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Hosted by Abigail Garofalo, Amy Lefringhouse, and Erin Garrett, Everyday Environment Podcast is a conversation about the natural systems that shape daily life in Illinois. It’s not just about distant wilderness; it’s about the water from your tap, the trees on your street, the birds at your feeder, and the energy powering your home. Each episode pulls on a single thread-be it soil health, local wildlife, or sustainable practices-to reveal the whole intricate web we’re a part of. You’ll hear clear explanations and practical insights that make the science of our surroundings accessible and immediately relevant. The goal is to move beyond abstract concepts and foster a tangible, deeper understanding of how these environmental connections work right outside our doors. Tune in for thoughtful discussions that equip you with knowledge about the air, land, and water in your own community, making the complexities of our shared ecosystem feel a little more familiar and a lot more connected to the choices we make every day. This podcast is one part of a broader educational effort, designed to engage curious residents who want to look a bit closer at the world around them.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 50

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