Audubon Afternoon: Glaciers to the Open Ocean, Using eBird to Study Rare Bird Behavior
Will Brooks describes how he used eBird data to study birds on glaciers, an enigmatic ecosystem, and birds lost offshore, a rarely observed event.
Photo: Antarctic Shag, Sunil Singh/Audubon Photography Awards
Original program date: January 12, 2025
Will Brooks describes how he used eBird data to study birds on glaciers, an enigmatic ecosystem, and birds lost offshore, a rarely observed event. The eBird app has transformed birding and promises to do the same for ornithological research. With 930,000 users and 1.6 billion bird observations, eBird captures rarely observed events that would have been missed by the few observers in a more traditional study. Ebird records, made possible by birders, give researchers the opportunity to tackle new scientific questions, producing new findings. Based on these studies and his perspective as a birder, Brooks provides tips on how you can make your eBirding more useful for science.
Will Brooks has been an avid birder for 18 years. His interest in scientific research emerged in college at the University of Puget Sound, when he discovered that birds were great for studying broader patterns in the natural world. He completed an undergraduate research project studying how song may drive speciation in sparrows before spending a few years gaining field research experience. He now studies bird responses to deforestation in Malaysian Borneo as part of his PhD at University of Puget Sound.
Audubon Afternoon: Raptor Senses and Abilities
Secret Garden Birds and Bees will share some of the amazing things we’ve learned about raptor adaptations – from vision and hearing to beaks and talons.
Photo: Red-shouldered Hawk, Evelyn Garcia/Audubon Photography Awards
Original program date: June 2, 2024
Did you know that barn owls are the only raptors with a pectinate talon – like a tiny comb – to preen their feathers? You probably know that eagles have excellent eyesight, but do you know how their vision is tested? Why don’t hawks fall off their perch while they sleep? Is it because one side of their brain sleeps while the other is awake to hold on – or is it something else? Do you know why owl eyes are more forward facing than hawk eyes? It might not be what you think! Do you know why screech owls sometimes have smelly poop? Secret Garden Birds and Bees will share some of the amazing things we’ve learned about raptor adaptations – from vision and hearing to beaks and talons.
Audubon Afternoon: Raptor Rehab with Liz Dennison
Liz Dennison will join us to talk about what rehabbers actually do to help injured or sick birds recover, how they give orphaned raptors the best chance of survival in the wild, some of the more interesting cases they’ve seen, and the physical and emotional toll of being a rehabber.
Photo: Red-shouldered Hawk, Peter Brannon/Audubon Photography Awards
Original program date: June 4, 2023
This year’s topic is “Raptor Rehab,” presented by Secret Garden Birds and Bees. Liz Dennison will join us to talk about what rehabbers actually do to help injured or sick birds recover, how they give orphaned raptors the best chance of survival in the wild, some of the more interesting cases they’ve seen, and the physical and emotional toll of being a rehabber. Liz will also give practical information about what you can do if you find an injured wild animal. She will be bringing several live raptors for this program! A great opportunity to see birds of prey up-close.
Audubon Afternoon: Restoring Migratory Bird Wintering Habitats in Latin America and the Caribbean with Marci Eggers
Marci Eggers is the Director of Migratory Bird Habitats in Latin America and the Caribbean for the American Bird Conservancy (ABC). In this role, she oversees ABC’s efforts to protect and restore priority landscapes that migratory birds depend on in their non-breeding grounds.
Photo: Marci Eggers
Original program date: March 12, 2023
Watch this recording of our live Audubon Afternoon for a presentation by Marci Eggers, “Restoring Migratory Bird Wintering Habitat in Latin America and the Caribbean.” Marci Eggers is the Director of Migratory Bird Habitats in Latin America and the Caribbean for the American Bird Conservancy (ABC). In this role, she oversees ABC’s efforts to protect and restore priority landscapes that migratory birds depend on in their non-breeding grounds. ABC works in collaboration with ranchers, farmers, and local communities that depend on the health of the natural environment for their livelihoods. ABC also works on innovative finance solutions to advance migratory bird conservation.
Audubon Afternoon: Birds of a Feather with Carla Dove
Watch this recording of our live Audubon Afternoon to learn more about the work of Dr. Carla Dove, a scientist with the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, who does specialized research in the microscopic identification of feathers.
Photo: Carla Dove
Original program date: January 22, 2023
Watch this recording of our live Audubon Afternoon to learn more about the work of Dr. Carla Dove, a scientist with the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, who does specialized research in the microscopic identification of feathers. Her presentation offers beautiful images of microscopic feather structures that she uses to help identify birds at the lab. She also shares stories and answers questions from the audience about the Smithsonian Museum's collection of 500,000 bird specimens.
Audubon Afternoon: The Evolution of Birds with Douglas Futuyma
Join Douglas Futuyma, Distinguished Professor Emeritus in the Department of Ecology and Evolution at Stony Brook University, for a presentation on how birds evolved and continue to evolve.
Book cover courtesy of Douglas Futuyma
Original program date: March 27, 2022
We all learned that dinosaurs died out 65 million years ago - but now we know that they are still with us today. Join Douglas Futuyma, Distinguished Professor Emeritus in the Department of Ecology and Evolution at Stony Brook University, for a presentation on how birds evolved and continue to evolve. How did birds become so diverse, and spread throughout the world? Why are many of them so brightly colored? Join us to learn the answers to these questions and more. Youth 14+ who are interested in science and animals may enjoy this presentation.
Audubon Afternoon: Birds of Jamaica with Dr. Herlitz Davis
Join Dr. Herlitz Davis for a personal journey through Jamaica, from Cockpit Country to the Blue Mountains.
Photo: Dr. Herlitz Davis
Original program date: November 14, 2021
Join Dr. Herlitz Davis for a personal journey through Jamaica, from Cockpit Country to the Blue Mountains. Dr. Davis will introduce you to the fascinating Avifauna of Jamaica through stories of his life growing up in nature, and through his doctoral research at George Mason University and the Smithsonian Institution. If you like good coffee, if you like hummingbirds and owls, if you like adventure, you will like this presentation!
Audubon Afternoon: Birds and Urban Noise with Dr. David Luther
Urban environments are among the most highly modified habitats on the planet. Dr. David Luther’s research has focused on how human activity has modified habitats and altered ecological processes around the world.
Photo: Courtesy of Dr. David Luther
Original program date: June 6, 2021
This program begins with ASNV’s annual membership meeting from 2021.
Urban environments are among the most highly modified habitats on the planet. Dr. David Luther’s research has focused on how human activity has modified habitats and altered ecological processes around the world. Acoustic communication is a critical component of reproductive success in many species. His lab at George Mason University studies how human noise affects the behavior and survival of a diversity of birds species.
Due to some technical difficulties during the presentation, some of the bird vocalizations are hard to hear. You can listen to them clearly here.
Audubon Afternoon: John Magee
Join us as we welcome John Magee, award winning landscape designer and host of The Native Plant Podcast.
Photo: Rain garden, John Magee
Original program date: March 21, 2021
Join us as we welcome John Magee, award winning landscape designer and host of The Native Plant Podcast.
John Magee has been designing and building landscapes in the Washington DC Metro area and beyond for the past 25 years. After receiving his B.S. degree in Agriculture from the Ohio State University and spending a few years training and showing horses, he settled into the industry as the General Foreman of Pennsylvania’s highest award-winning landscape firm. While in Pennsylvania, he became a volunteer at Hawk Mountain Sanctuary and not only did he meet his wife there, but he was introduced to habitat gardening and the use of native plants in the landscape. He now operates his own award-winning design firm (Magee Design) in the beautiful countryside of Middleburg, VA where he also enjoys kayaking and taking long walks with his wife and dog. He created and hosts the “Native Plant” podcast and hosts and produces the “Protecting what Matters” podcast in partnership with the Department of the Interior’s “National Invasive Species Council” Secretariat.
Audubon Afternoon: Dr. Sahas Barve
Join us as we’ll learn how birds stay warm in cold weather and extreme elevations. Dr. Sahas Barve is an avian evolutionary ecologist and currently a Peter Buck Fellow at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History where he studies how birds stay warm in the high Himalayas.
Photo: Dr. Sahas Barve, Jennifer Renteria
Original program date: January 17, 2021
Join us as we’ll learn how birds stay warm in cold weather and extreme elevations. Dr. Sahas Barve is an avian evolutionary ecologist and currently a Peter Buck Fellow at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History where he studies how birds stay warm in the high Himalayas. He is also an avid birder and hopes to see 6000 bird species by the time he is 60. Learn more about him here.
Audubon Afternoon: Dr. Amanda Gallinat
Dr. Amanda Gallinat is an ecologist who studies how environmental change affects plants, birds and their interactions. Her recent research focuses on the effects of climate change on the timing of seasonal biological events in the northeast.
Photo: Hermit Thrush, Jeremiah Trimble
Original program date: September 13, 2020
“Climate Change and its Effect on Food for Migrating Birds”
Dr. Amanda Gallinat is an ecologist who studies how environmental change affects plants, birds and their interactions. Her recent research focuses on the effects of climate change on the timing of seasonal biological events in the northeast, including fruit ripening and bird migration, and how these climate-driven changes alter food availability for birds in autumn. Amanda's research incorporates the historical field notes of Henry David Thoreau, long-term bird banding records, museum specimens and field observations. Her work has been featured by National Audubon, The Wildlife Society and American Scientist. Amanda has a B.A. from Carleton College and a PhD from Boston University. She is currently a postdoctoral research fellow at Utah State University.