Who are these people walking around with binoculars having so much fun?
And how do you get into the world of “Birding” anyway?
Scott Flamand, Alachua Audubon Vice-President, will share his delight and his expertise on this fascinating hobby.
Come. You won’t “egret” it!
Join local Audubon travelers Lloyd Davis and Pat Bartlett as they share their adventures of recent travel to Cuba. They will share their experiences of seeing the country, meeting people and viewing bird life. But not just bird life. We have been promised to hear about dragonflies, snakes, lizards, butterflies, and tiger beetles too.
This sounds really wild!
Social begins 6:30 pm. Talk begins at 7 pm.
Come hear about the amazing wildlife and landscapes of Southern Africa, including Lesotho! Listen to stories of a recent trip to this biodiverse and endemic-rich zone by Audubon travelers Adam and Gina Kent. The talk will focus on birds, but will also touch on other interesting aspects of the region such as mammals and fascinating landscapes. Learn about a diversity of natural communities including emblematic tropical woodland, the desert-like karoo, and fynbos, a shrubby heathland that looks more like something out of a Mediterranean garden than one’s typical vision of Africa.
Social time 6:30-7pm.
“So near, and yet so far away. . .” For half a century, Cuba was the mystery island for American birders and nature lovers. The island held an alluring charm enhanced by its inaccessibility. With the easing of travel restrictions in the past few years, travel to Cuba has become possible. Join two travelers as they guide you through the former terra vetita, where mule-drawn carts are common and tour buses are about the only vehicles on the roadways. We will visit the larger nature preserves for birds, visiting coastal mangrove, scrub land, savanna and swampland habitats. You’ll learn a little about the landscape, meet native wildlife and the endemics like the Cuban pygmy owl, the trogon, and the bee hummingbird. Your presenters will be Pat Bartlett and Rob Norton who combined forces to bring you this presentation.
Social time 6:30 – 7:00
Dragonflies and Damselflies are fascinating and conspicuous
components of our insect fauna. There are 169 species recorded
from Florida and 116 species have been found in Alachua County.
This program will cover basic biological facts about the group,
including anatomy, life cycle, reproduction, behavior, habitats, and
feeding. The non-technical discussion will be illustrated with
photographs of many local species. Presented by Dr. Franklin
Snelson, Jr.
Thursday, December 7, 2017 Millhopper Library, 3145 NW 43rd St., Gainesville.
6:30 social time, 7:00 program begins
Join Audubon traveler Erika Simons as she shares her adventures on a small ship cruise of the Southwest Alaska Inside Passage. The small ship not only allowed her to make new friends with her fellow travelers but also made daily off-boat activities possible. Passengers were offered kayaking, paddle boarding, beach meanders, bushwhacking, and photography. Wildlife viewing was often enhanced during these activities. Erika will share her photography of this adventure.
Location is the Millhopper Public Library, 3145 NW 43rd St, Gainesville, FL 32606, USA
Social time 6:30 p.m. Program 7:00 p.m.
Florida’s Charismatic Microfauna
Presented by Paul Moler
Social Time 6:30, program 7:00 p.m.
Although the vast majority of Florida’s wildlife species are invertebrates, most receive little attention. The important roles played by bees and butterflies are generally well known, but many other species toil away anonymously providing important ecosystem functions. Still others may not be major players but are nonetheless behaviorally or morphologically fascinating (“cool”). This program will introduce a select few of the less familiar members of our local fauna.
Scott Flamand, retired science teacher from Buchholz High School and former president, current vice president of Alachua Audubon Society will tell about a recent trip with a nature guide through northern India. Scott was very excited to be able to take this trip and we will find this an outstanding presentation about what he saw and learned in northern India.
Social Time 6:30, program 7:00 p.m.
Ginny Stibolt, a life-long gardener with a Master of Science degree in botany, will speak on topics from the book, Climate-Wise Landscaping: Practical Actions for a Sustainable Future by Sue Reed and herself. The book was published by New Society Press in 2018. The authors have taken an optimistic approach, with hundreds of actions that people can take to accomplish at least one of 3 objectives: 1) to help the landscape survive climate change, 2) to help wildlife survive climate change, and 3) to help mitigate climate change. Since moving to Florida in 2004, Ginny has written 4 peer-reviewed books on Florida gardening, all published by University Press of Florida. In addition, she has written hundreds of gardening and nature articles for various publications.
Social Time 6:30, program 7:00 p.m.
Southeast Asia has roughly 20,000 islands scattered throughout the Pacific and Indian Oceans, and this talk provides an introduction to 2 of them, Bali and Borneo. Isolated, islands are hotbeds of speciation, and most birdwatching trips to the region focus on the endemics found throughout.
Join us as Chris Burney briefly gives a background of the islands with maps, and spend the bulk of the presentation covering the highlights with pics and illustrations from two months of travel.
Social Time 6:30, program 7:00 p.m.
Southeast Asia has roughly 20,000 islands scattered throughout the Pacific and Indian Oceans, and this talk provides an introduction to 2 of them, Bali and Borneo. Isolated, islands are hotbeds of speciation, and most birdwatching trips to the region focus on the endemics found throughout.
Join us as Chris Burney briefly gives a background of the islands with maps, and spend the bulk of the presentation covering the highlights with pics and illustrations from two months of travel.
Social Time 6:30, program 7:00 p.m.
By starting with planting the wrong plants in the wrong place, Ann Wiley learned well what it takes to create a safe living space for songbirds. Learn beautiful and effective landscaping principals that contribute to the survival of our feathered friends.
Social Time 6:30, program 7:00 p.m.
Adam and Gina Kent share photos and stories from their three-week trip through southern Africa. This presentation will highlight birds and other wildlife from five countries, three World Heritage sites, and countless beautiful landscapes.
Please note that due to Millhopper Library having changed their evening hours, our programs will now start at 6:30pm, and socializing will begin at 6:00pm.
Alaska is a destination of unparalleled scenery and exciting birds and wildlife. Anne Casella will give a presentation based on her 12-day birding trip to Nome, Denali and Seward in June 2018.
Please note that due to Millhopper Library having changed their evening hours, our programs will now start at 6:30pm, and socializing will begin at 6:00pm.
The Northern Mockingbird is our Florida State Bird and Floridians love hearing its rich repertoire of calls and songs. A UF researcher is studying this bird right here in our Northwest Gainesville neighborhoods! Is there more song diversity in urban or rural Mockingbirds? What has been learned?
Please note that due to Millhopper Library having changed their evening hours, our programs will now start at 6:30pm, and socializing will begin at 6:00pm.
Saving Wildlife – Serving Community: Injured, orphaned, displaced wildlife
are only part of our mission. Equally important are human interactions and
conservation efforts.
Note: This talk precedes an Alachua Audubon field trip to look for birds on
the grounds of Sunrise Wildlife Rehabilitation in High Springs the following
Saturday, February 22. Public welcome.
Please note that due to Millhopper Library having changed their evening hours, our programs will now start at 6:30pm, and socializing will begin at 6:00pm.
Sunrise Wildlife Rehabilitation, located on 20 acres in the heart of High Springs, is dedicated to the rescue and rehabilitation of injured, displaced, or orphaned wildlife. They are well known for educational programs designed to instill in their audience an appreciation and love for wild animals. The programs feature their “wildlife ambassadors,” including a Barred Owl, a Great Horned Owl, a few Eastern Screech-Owls, and a Virginia Opossum.
We will tour the flight cages and get up close to the owls and opossum. We will also walk the trails around the property in search of warblers, bluebirds, and woodpeckers.
Directions:
Nordmann’s Greenshank is one of the most endangered shorebirds on our
planet. Listen to Philipp Maleko tell of his adventures in Eastern Russia
working with Russian ornithologist wading through bog and forest to study
this rare animal.
Please note that due to Millhopper Library having changed their evening hours, our programs will now start at 6:30pm, and socializing will begin at 6:00pm.
Over the last 15 years, Drew Fulton’s photography has taken him to some incredible and unexpected places. From the swamps of Florida Everglades to the outback of Australia, from the sea floor in Turkey to the high forest canopy of Borneo, join Drew as he takes you on a journey through his lens and shares some of the natural history stories he experienced along the way.
Millhopper Library, 6:00 social time 6:30 program