Episode 22: Birdology with Ranger Keith
Synopsis
Modern birds fossils have been dated back to 60 million years ago where they first came onto the scene after the end of the Cretaceous Period, and more widely known as the end of the age of Dinosaurs. Birds are fascinating organisms that help our environment in many ways. This episode features a renown Guest, Ranger Keith, a professional Birder. Throughout the episode, Keith will convey what Birdology is, why birds are important for our ecosystems and what the Anthropocene is doing to our bird populations. To hear/watch this beautiful content or connect with Ranger Keith, check out the content below:
Full Audio Version
Meet the Guest Star
Keith Paluso
AKA Ranger Keith, is a West Tennessee-based naturalist, environmental educator, content creator, and musician.
Keith’s interest in nature began at a very early age, mostly in reptiles and amphibians. By the time he was 15, he was teaching nature classes and leading trips at various camps and workshops. After graduating high school, Keith pursued a degree in Environmental Biology at The University of Tennessee at Martin, where he was a founding member of the UTM Ecology Club.
While I’m college Keith began working for Tennessee State Parks as a Park Naturalist, leading trips through the swamps at Reelfoot Lake, caring for the many environmental education animals (mostly raptors and snakes) at the park, and rehabilitated numerous birds of prey. His time at Reelfoot Lake sparked his love of birding, and he has been hooked ever since.
Upon graduating from UTM, Keith decided at the last minute to ditch his plans for graduate school and was hired on as a full-time Park Ranger for TN State Parks. While a Park Ranger, in addition to his emergency operations and management duties, he developed the interpretive aspects of his parks, including a weekly environmental education class for adults with intellectual disabilities.
In 2017 Keith was reaching career burnout. His wife, Bethany, suggested that he pick up a hobby that did not involve the parks in any way, so he began making music after having put all his guitars away for the previous ten years. Within a few months he found himself in an audition for Seaon 15 of NBC’s The Voice, where he made it to the Top 24. He was then asked to join 3x Grammy Winning band Blood, Sweat, and Tears, and began touring with them internationally as lead singer.
During the brunt of the pandemic while dealing with stress, Keith had begun to use birding as a mindfulness practice, and decided to share that via TikTok. Having gone back to work as a Park Ranger to support his family, Keith recorded videos before and after his shifts at the park. The reception of those videos online was extremely supportive so he ultimately decided that if touring were ever a possibility again, he would return to it. so that he could feature birds and ecological systems in places other than West TN. In the summer of 2021, he left the parks and began slowly doing just that.
YouTube Video
