Events

Jared Clarke

Join us for an overview of birds & birding at the eastern edge of Canada & North America. From spectacular seabird colonies to lush boreal forests and puffins to warblers, Newfoundland & Labrador offers a unique blend of habitats and a wide diversity of birds - along with may other natural and cultural highlights to enjoy along the way.

Jared Clarke grew up on the northeast coast of Newfoundland and was introduced to the outdoors at a very young age, mostly by his grandfathers. Always a nature enthusiast, he became interested in birds while working for a local conservation group. Jared soon became one of the most avid birders in the province. Despite his “official” training as a health researcher (Ph.D. Medicine), his love of nature and sharing it with others increasingly led him astray. He currently runs a small bird and nature tour business, called Bird•The•Rock, and routinely leads trips at home and abroad for various tour companies. You can follow his adventures at www.birdtherock.com.

Note: This meeting will be held in person at the meeting house and via Zoom. Zoom signon will start at 7:15 to enable the meeting to begin at 7:30.

Andrew Farnsworth

BirdCast is a collaborative project that employs the expertises of computer scientists and ornithologists to harness the power of big data to study movements of birds and, more broadly, capture the spectacle of bird migration. I will be speaking about monitoring bird migration with data collected by citizen scientists and the US weather surveillance radar network to forecast where, when, and how many birds will migrate and to observe these movements in near real-time at a continental scale. I will discuss magnitudes and extents of migration, challenges of monitoring birds' nocturnal movements at scales relevant to their biology, and ways we use radar to remotely sense interconnected patterns in time and space. Birds truly represent dynamic and global communities, and recent trends in methods and analyses showcase what may be the future of bird migration research and conservation to study birds' complex roles in terrestrial, aerial, and aquatic systems. In the age of big data and observation, the potential of what remains for us to learn is inspiring.

Andrew Farnsworth is a Visiting Scientist in the Center for Avian Population Studies at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Andrew began birding at age 5 and quickly developed his long-standing fascinations with bird migration. His current research applies remote sensing technologies, including weather surveillance radar, audio and video recording and monitoring tools, citizen science datasets, and machine learning techniques, to study bird movements. Andrew received his BS in Natural Resources from Cornell, MS in Zoology from Clemson University, and PhD in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from Cornell University. He lives in New York, NY with his wife Patti and two daughters Aja and Elle. Andrew is also active in his family foundation, whose mission includes support for climate change education, promoting women's health and rights, children's education, and land conservation. He is also a musician when time and space allow.

Note: This meeting will be held in person at the meeting house and via Zoom. Zoom signon will start at 7:15 to enable the meeting to begin at 7:30.

Will Williams - Sustainability Director – Borough of West Chester

Mr. Williams will present on past, present, and future projects, initiatives, and policy related to ecological sustainability and habitat restoration in the borough. Will is a Chester County native and avid birder, who lived in West Chester for 12 years and worked for the borough for six. Recent additions to his lifelist include a Yellow-billed Cuckoo in Delaware, a Cerulean Warbler in Chadds Ford, and a Great Tit in Morocco.

Note: This meeting will be held in person at the meeting house and via Zoom. Zoom signon will start at 7:15 to enable the meeting to begin at 7:30.

Tina Morris

As the bald eagle, our national symbol, was facing extinction in the continental U.S. in 1976, Tina Morris was beginning her graduate work at Cornell University. By luck and circumstance, she was selected to reintroduce the species into New York State in the hope that eagles could repopulate eastern North America.  Young, female, with no experience, she faced the challenges of saving this iconic bird while striving for acceptance in the unfamiliar male-dominated world of raptor biology. Playing mother to seven eagles forced her to transcend the isolation of field research to rescue an endangered species while in turn rescuing herself.

Tina completed her graduate work in ornithology and wildlife biology at Cornell in 1978, writing her thesis on the adaptations of hacking techniques to reintroduce bald eagles. Following her studies at Cornell, she worked for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Nature Conservancy for several years, focusing on endangered species and critical habitat conservation, before embarking on a 23-year career teaching English and biology. Since her retirement in 2020, she has devoted her time to her own writing, especially creative non-fiction with a science or nature focus. Thirty years ago, with four children in tow, Tina and her husband bought a farm in northern Massachusetts, which they manage as a wildlife sanctuary, promoting biodiversity and habitat protection for species in decline.

Note: This meeting will be held in person at the meeting house and via Zoom. Zoom signon will start at 7:15 to enable the meeting to begin at 7:30.

Nancy Fraim

Nancy's presentation covers all aspects of a bluebird’s life during the year and how we can help them survive and thrive. It includes everything from identifying a bluebird, to nesting behaviors, as well as how to attract and protect them. The power point is filled with many photos and video clips which she had taken throughout her years as monitor. Lots of tips and tricks will be presented for not only bluebirds but other cavity nesters too.

Nancy Fraim taught elementary students for 39 years. After retiring, Nancy became Chester County Coordinator for the Bluebird Society of PA, a Board member and Membership Chair. She shares her bluebird knowledge on BSP’s Facebook page and gives many talks to schools and organizations.
Nancy and her husband live in Downingtown.

Note: This meeting will be held in person at the meeting house and via Zoom. Zoom signon will start at 7:15 to enable the meeting to begin at 7:30.