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KVAS Meetings for 2020-2021PLEASE NOTE: PROGRAMS WILL BE PRESENTED ONLINE UNTIL FURTHER NOTICETues., September 22, 2020 at 6:00 PM (Online via Zoom) -- Doug Tallamy -- Birds and Native Plants: A Virtual PresentationDr. Tallamy will present a talk about the importance of homeowners growing caterpillar food (in the form of native plants) in their yards as a way to counteract the tremendous loss of the world's natural habitats, which has caused plummeting populations of birds. He will include tips on planning your native plant gardens. The talk is presented by Venice Area Audubon and Audubon Florida. Doug Tallamy is the author of "Bringing Nature Home" and "Nature’s Best Hope". He is professor and chair of the Department of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology at the University of Delaware. Tues., October 27, 2020 at 7:00 PM (Online on YouTube) -- Anna Forsman -- The UCF Purple Martin ProjectPurple Martins are North America's largest swallows. Dr. Anna Forsman will give a presentation about the Purple Martin Project she started on campus, with information on the history of the special relationship that Purple Martins have developed with humans in North America and how scientists and citizens continue to interact with these birds to promote their conservation and a greater understanding of their biology and ecology. You can use this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TWXf6XCtcZo&feature=youtu.be Anna Forsman, PhD is a Biology professor and the Genomics Lab Research Coordinator at the University of Central Florida. Tues., November 24, 2020 at 7:00 PM (Online on YouTube) -- Larry Rosen -- Birds and Wildlife of Southern AfricaLarry will take you to several locations in South Africa on a bird and wildlife safari, with a side trip to Victoria Falls on the Zambia/Zimbabwe border. He will not be able to resist showing you some plants from the Cape Floral Kingdom, which has the most dense plant diversity in the world. To watch, use this link: https://youtu.be/p4oyXSnrQzY Larry Rosen is a retired Research Analyst and former KVAS President who enjoys traveling the world when it is more normal. Tues., January 26, 2021 at 7:00 PM (Online on YouTube) -- Lauren Puleo -- Catbirds and Climate ChangeLauren will talk about her research with Gray Catbirds and how their migration patterns are affected by climate change. To watch, use this link: https://youtu.be/2aqpHv6rfFE Lauren Puleo is a senior at the University of Central Florida. She is a Biology major and an undergraduate researcher in Dr. Anna Forsman’s Wild Symbioses Lab. She is researching how migratory birds like the Gray Catbird may be altering their migratory timing because of climate change effects. She is a 2019 alumna of Audubon Florida's Conservation Leadership Initiative (CLI) and is currently President of the UCF Audubon on-campus chapter, Knighthawk Audubon. Tues., February 23, 2021 at 7:00 PM (Online on YouTube) -- Jason Fischer -- Disney and Avian ConservationDr. Jason Fischer will present a program about Disney's involvement with bird conservation. To watch, use this link: https://youtu.be/lcc6p-ouj8Y Dr. Jason Fischer is a Conservation Program Manager for avian projects with Disney Conservation. Ever since he first started taking pictures of birds as a child, he has been fascinated by birds and our relationship to them. His graduate research focused on avian urban ecology, and he now brings this passion to managing Disney’s avian conservation efforts. His work involves supporting international avian conservation efforts with the Disney Conservation Fund and developing research and engagement programs focused on the bird species that call Walt Disney Parks and Resorts home. Tues., March 23, 2021 at 7:00 PM (Online on YouTube) -- Paul Eisenbrown -- Wildlife of the Kissimmee ValleyPaul will treat us to his wonderful nature photography, much of it Bald Eagles and other birds, mostly in the Kissimmee Valley where, he says, " It seems like there is always something new to see." From Paul: "Simply put I am just someone who enjoys the outdoors and tries to put what I see in photographs. I have always been interested in nature and spent a lot of time hiking and observing through the years before taking up the camera. Eagles are my favorite subject. I can spend hours watching their behavior. " To watch, use this link: https://youtu.be/_jiYYJNYnIo Paul Eisenbrown works at Valencia College West Campus in the Biology Department. His job is preparing labs for the students, mostly by culturing bacteria and making media for Microbiology classes. Tues., April 27, 2021 at 7:00 PM (Online on YouTube) -- Andrea Ayala -- Do Backyard Chickens Cause Disease in Wild Birds?Backyard chicken coops are increasingly popular. Can backyard chickens cause disease in wild birds? Focusing primarily on the Newcastle disease virus, Andrea will present the results of her research on viral transmission between backyard chickens and wild birds in the Athens, Georgia area. To watch, use this link: https://youtu.be/Jpqvp8-DS5I Andrea Ayala is an NSF Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Yale University. She earned her PhD from the University of Georgia's College of Veterinary Medicine and a Master's in Ecology from the Odum School of Ecology. When she is not performing research on pathogens in wild birds, she can be found birding or hiking with her dogs. Tues., May 25, 2021 at 7:00 PM (Online on YouTube) -- Reinier Munguia -- Woodpeckers: Nature’s WoodworkersMeet the woodpeckers, a group of highly adapted birds with the ability to chisel through wood better than a power tool and without suffering any injuries. Their work goes beyond the building of a simple shelter or gathering food. When they finish their breeding cycle, many will leave a suitable home ready for other birds and mammals. They are considered a keystone species in forest ecology, and an indicator of forest health. But are we doing the right thing to help them survive? This program will answer many of these questions and will take the audience into the life of nature’s woodworkers. To watch, use this link: https://youtu.be/WdZzkyRO3qI Reinier Munguia is a full-time naturalist and nature photographer based in Lakeland, Florida. His work has appeared in various publications including books, magazines, and scientific publications. In his spare time, he leads photography workshops in exotic destinations including Galapagos, Costa Rica, and Panama, among others. He spends a great amount of time documenting wildlife and their struggles in our constantly changing environment. Email: Kissimmee Valley Audubon Society or the Webmaster |