A.j. DeRosa

1 week ago | projectupland.com | A.j. DeRosa

In 1887, Frederick Webster, a taxidermist from Washington, D.C., wrote a short article in a scientific journal. In it, he described dissecting a woodcock from Martha’s Vineyard that had a crop filled entirely with ferns. Why did this woodcock stray from its usual diet of invertebrates? A.J. and Gabby, hosts of the Project Upland Podcast, search for the answer—only to uncover the surprising story of invasive worms in North America.

1 month ago | projectupland.com | A.j. DeRosa

As upland hunters, we are no strangers to the public lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). The opportunity to hunt a wide swath of wild native and even non-native birds on these landscapes represents some of the largest access opportunities in the country. We share BLM land with many of America’s other interests, including energy, livestock grazing, and timber harvesting. For the most part, when done correctly, these activities have minimal impact on the multiple-use landscape.

1 month ago | projectupland.com | A.j. DeRosa

In this episode, Gabby and AJ explore the mystery of ruffed grouse drumming—starting in the 1700s, when naturalists first theorized about the sound, and tracing the evolution of human technology that finally unlocked the truth behind this unique behavior. Along the way, they talk to biologist Alaina Roth, Wisconsin’s statewide ruffed grouse specialist, who sheds light on grouse life history, drumming counts, and how technology is transforming wildlife surveys.

1 month ago | projectupland.com | A.j. DeRosa |Gabriela Zaldumbide

In this episode, Gabby and AJ talk about the North American Upland Bird Hunting Survey, which has been conducted annually since 2018. The eighth iteration of this survey explores everything from hunting dogs and shotguns to upland bird species—and just how much and how people hunt them. The 2025 edition includes an expanded opinion section covering current and historical policies, environmental issues, and political leanings.

2 months ago | projectupland.com | A.j. DeRosa |Gabriela Zaldumbide

In this episode, Gabby and AJ talk to Mark Avery, author of A Message from Martha. As a biologist and conservationist, Mark takes us back in time to reconstruct the biology, habitat, and final era of the Passenger Pigeon. The Passenger Pigeon’s extinction is one of the most dramatic extinction stories of the 20th century, resulting in the loss of the most numerous bird on Earth.