Upcoming Virtual and In-store Programs
Why Birds Matter-The Threats They Face-How We Can Help
Stella Miller, WBU
Thursday, January 23 at 7pm
The New York Times, Washington Post, NBC News and countless other news outlets have headlined the devastating news that since 1970 we have lost 29% of our bird populations. According to the 2019 “State of the Birds Report”, that’s just about THREE BILLION birds. The 2022 report sounds an alarm about steep population losses in virtually all habitats. The report identifies 70 Tipping Point species that have lost half or more of their breeding population since 1970, and are on tract to lose another half or more in the next 50 years. But why should we even care? And what can we do to help? This program will explain why birds matter, the perils they face, and how we can, as individuals and communities, work together to help protect them.
About the speaker: Stella Miller is the Communication, Education and Outreach Manager at Wild Birds Unlimited of Syosset and the former president of Huntington-Oyster Bay Audubon. Since 2006, Stella has spearheaded conservation advocacy efforts including co-founding the Preserve Plum Island Coalition, coordinating various habitat restoration projects, a youth mentoring program and a national campaign to save raptors at landfills. Currently, she is also a member of the Palisades Interstate Parks League of Naturalists, a founding board member of Reel Earth Films and a public speaker, presenting programs and classes on a variety of bird related topics.
The Secret Love Lives of Birds
Doug Robinson, PhD
Thursday, February 13th at 7pm
It may be February, but Spring is just around the corner...and it is the breeding season for many birds, but what does that entail? Before nestlings can be produced, a lot has to happen! From claiming territories to enticing a partner to raising young, tonight we will cover the basics, the mysteries, and the complexities of avian reproduction of some common, and not-so-common, birds of Long Island.
About the speaker: Dr. Robinson is an Associate Professor of Biology at Mount Saint Mary College in Newburgh, NY. Dr. Robinson conducts behavioral and population biology research on birds and has spent decades following American Crows and their lives. His experiences have taken him around the world and include long-term stays on remote islands investigating seabird foraging biology, as well as supporting the well-being of Kākāpō in New Zealand. Dr. Robinson teaches Ecology, Anatomy and Physiology, Evolution, and Conservation Biology of New Zealand Flora and Fauna at the Mount.