Speaker Series

Kao Thao, Minnesota State Park Naturalist, will present “Stories from a POC Environmentalist.” Kao believes that we, as Minnesotans, are fortunate to have abundant parks and wildlife spaces supported by some of the best environmental protection practices in the nation. In addition to telling stories of his own experiences as a person of color (POC) […]

Wildlife Ecologist Michael Joyce will present “Distribution and Ecology of Fishers in Southern Minnesota.” Fishers are cryptic forest carnivores in the weasel family native to Minnesota. They have expanded their range in Minnesota over the last two decades, moving into southern Minnesota, including the greater Twin Cities Metro area. Michael will discuss a general history […]

Karla Bloem will present “Real Life Great Horned Owl Soap Opera.” The presentation will only be available via Zoom Join Meeting  We are limited to 95 participants so join early. A real-life soap opera has played itself out over the past 19 years between more than 25 captive and wild Great Horned Owls, forming the basis […]

Kara Snow will present “The Breeding Ecology of Boreal Chickadees in Northern Minnesota.” Kara will share her research and findings related to Boreal Chickadees with us. The MN DNR lists Boreal Chickadees as a species in great conservation need (SGCN), with declines attributed to habitat loss, degradation, and fragmentation. However, the specific impacts of fragmentation […]

Rebecca Heisman will discuss her book "Flight Paths - How a Passionate and Quirky Group of Pioneering Scientists Solved the Mystery of Bird Migration." ** THIS IS A ZOOM ONLY PRESENTATION ** We've all heard amazing facts about bird migration—the long distances that birds travel, the ways that they navigate, etc. But did you ever […]

 Dominant science's impact on Indigenous peoples in historical and contemporary contexts ** THIS IS A ZOOM ONLY PRESENTATION ** Dr. Smiles will speak on how modes of ‘dominant’ science have historically been used in ways that have negatively affected Indigenous peoples in historical and contemporary contexts. They will then turn to how Indigenous scientists have […]

Storytelling that honors our bird relatives - Birds of Ojibwe Legends Change in Venue **Zoom Only** Winter is traditionally storytelling season in our Native communities in Minnesota.  So many Ojibwe legends (Aadizookaanag) honor our bird relatives.  They were here before we were, so they are considered our elders, teachers, and essential food sources.  They don't […]

Tim Mitchell will present “The Road to Recovery? Roadside Habitat for Pollinators.” Habitat loss is the primary factor behind the decline of pollinators.  Roadside rights-of-way represent a substantial area of publicly managed land that can serve as potential pollinator habitat. However, roadside risks are associated with them. Tim’s two-part talk will explore his research quantifying […]

John Gregor, ColdSnap Photography, presents “The Birds of Mexico.” John Gregor, who has 45 years of professional photography experience and lives part of the year in Mexico, will show the variety of birds found in Mexico and talk about where the best birding spots are, how to locate birds in the wild, and tips on […]

Mags Rheude and Mags Edwards present “Chimney Swift Conservation and Community Engagement.” Mags Rheude, a biologist with the US Fish and Wildlife Service, will introduce the Twin Cities Urban Bird Treaty Program and their research on the efficacy of free-standing chimney swift towers in the Twin Cities. The Twin Cities hosts over 70 freestanding swift […]

Gregg Severson Presents - Birding Honduras Honduras is a gem of neotropical birding, with many fantastic locations and stunning birds. However, despite this abundant natural beauty, it is less established […]