Wild Stories from the History of Bird Migration Research

Rebecca Heisman, author of Flight Paths, will join us via Zoom to present an interesting and informative program for our community!

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 wonder how we figured all of this out? While working for the American Ornithological Society, Rebecca Heisman became fascinated with the varied and creative techniques that scientists have used to study bird migration, and this eventually became the basis for her book Flight Paths: How a Passionate and Quirky Group of Pioneering Scientists Solved the Mystery of Bird Migration. In her talk, she'll share some surprising stories from the history of bird migration research and discuss why understanding migration is so crucial for bird conservation.

Bio: Rebecca Heisman is an award-winning science writer who lives in Walla Walla, Washington, and has worked with organizations including the Audubon Society, the American Bird Conservancy, the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, and the American Ornithological Society. Flight Paths is her first book.

This program is open to the general public who may attend as guests of the Grand Rapids Audubon Club.

Michigan Natural Features Inventory and the Search for Rare Natural Communities

Jesse Lincoln - Michigan Natural Features Inventory

Jesse has spent 14 seasons as an ecologist at Michigan Natural Features Inventory (MNFI). The work takes him all over the state to some of our most unique and intact natural places. It is a perspective not always available to most people and he enjoys sharing images and lessons learned from our wild places. MNFI is our State’s Natural Heritage program. What does that mean? Find out during the presentation when Jesse will show highlights from projects around the state and talk about important efforts which guide the conservation of Michigan’s native biodiversity.

Ecological Assessments and Conservation Practices in the Lower Grand River Watershed

Wendy Ogilvie - Lower Grand River Organization of Watersheds

The Grand River is the longest river in Michigan, at 262 miles, flowing from its headwaters in Jackson County to its mouth at Grand Haven, where it enters Lake Michigan. The entire Grand River Watershed encompasses about 5,000 square miles. Due to its size, the management of the river is divided into 3 sections, Upper, Middle, and Lower. The Lower Grand River watershed covers nearly 3,000 square miles of land in all or parts of 9 counties in West Michigan. The Lower Grand River Organization of Watersheds (LGROW) has a mission to understand, protect, and improve the natural resources of the Lower Grand River Watershed for all to enjoy. This presentation will provide a summary of some of the work that LGROW does to fulfill its mission and highlight the West Michigan Coastal Corridor project, which was initiated by Audubon Great Lakes 2021 report, Grand River Coastal Corridor.

Community Science in West Michigan 

Travis Kurtz - Community Science Coordinator, John Ball Zoo 

Throughout the presentation we will learn about the different community science projects that the John Ball Zoo is spearheading locally. Public participation within projects like these help protect and conserve our local biodiversity, and are extremely important for helping conservation scientists gather data to make fact-driven decisions within their management of our natural landscapes. One of the projects we will learn about, the City Nature Challenge, is a part of a worldwide bioblitz hosted by iNaturalist the last weekend of April. Join us as we learn about the importance of all of the projects that are lead by the John Ball Zoo in 2024, and discover how members of the Grand Rapids Audubon Club can become more involved with community science locally. 

Maddison Chaffer (Son Visual) is a muralist, community organizer, and woodsman. Their large scale pubic artworks can be readily found around Grand Rapids and greater Michigan area. Drawing inspiration from the natural world, Maddie often works with species native to the Great Lakes region. With the radical visibility of public art, Maddie hopes to reach audiences who may not have regular access to nature. By combining outreach, organizing, art, and their deep love for the earth, Maddie aims to foster local connections between art and activism.

See examples of their art here: https://www.sonvisualco.com/

This program is open to the general public who may attend as guests of the Grand Rapids Audubon Club.

Event held in the Donnelly Center, located at 157 Woodward Lane SE between Fulton Street and Robinson Road. Parking is available in Lots "S" and "T" off Woodward Ln. The center entrance is on the north side of the building.