Birds, Forest, Nest Checks & Netting
May 6, 2023
Held on Sievert Rohwer’s property
7564 Cultus Bay Rd
Whidbey Island
9 am – 3 pm thereabouts
Class size limited to 24
FREE -with suggested Donation of 300.00 to Burke Museum Ornithology
3 Respected Scientist and Researchers:
I’m super excited to say we finally have found a time for a FUNDRAISING class for Ornithology at the Burke Museum. The class will be taught by Professor Emeritus and Curator of Birds, Dr Sievert Rohwer as well as new Curator of Birds, Dr Alejandro Rico-Guevara.
Scott Freeman, author of the most used Biology textbook for undergraduates as well as Saving Tarboo Creek, will lead two walks through the forested wetlands.
All donations will be added to the Endowment for Ornithology.
Insructors:
Sievert Rohwer continues his research on avian behavior and feather function and volunteers to help Ornithology at the Burke. He was instrumental in developing the Burke’s Ornithology collections, which are unsurpassed in the Northwest and an international resource for the study of birds. The Burke’s bird collections are mostly new and data rich, and international in scope. Its collection of extended wings is much the largest in the world, and the avian tissue collection for genetic studies has been the basis for hundreds of scientific publications. This opportunity for you to give locally will have global impact because the Burke’s avian collections are used internationally.
New Curator of Birds, Dr Alejandro Rico-Guevara is an evolutionary biologist and behavioral ecophysicist. His scientific research has focused on nectar-feeding animals with an emphasis on hummingbird bill morphology and biomechanics. Alejandro is from Columbia and is expanding his dissertation work on hummingbirds to explore the many independent origins of nectar feeding in the avian tree of life.
Dr.Scott Freeman, biologist, author and reforester will lead the forest walk along the paths of Sievert’s property. Scott has written the most widely used Biology undergraduate textbook as well as the book, Saving Tarboo Creek with his wife Susan. They took on a life time project, continuing in Susan’s grandfathers ( Aldo Leopold ) inspiration to reforest damaged land.
Scott is a well respected author with a science paper on more effective ways to teach biology, that has been cited more than 8,500 times, far beyond the 1,000 considered a citation classic. He is a delightful, well spoken human and you will learn much from his knowledge of the land and forests.
Dr Scott Freeman – author and biologist – leads forest walks
Dr Alejandro Rico-Guevara doing hummingbird fieldwork
High-speed cameras allow Dr. Rico-Guevara to study fighting behaviors of hummingbirds out in the field.
Dr Sievert Rohwer Professor Emeritus & Curator of Birds with mist net at an earlier class.
Old snag in the woods at Sievert’s property – donated to the Whidbey Camano Land Trust
Bird & duck nests will be found!
Sievert leading a Land Trust tour
One of 4 ponds on the property with bridge over the spillway.
Two male Indigo-capped Hummingbirds (Amazilia cyanifrons), photographed by Dr Alejandro Rico-Guevara.
These inspiring ornithologists will illustrate how they have used collections to ask new questions that have lead to discoveries that satisfy our curiosity and enrich our knowledge of the world around us. They will also review the stature and nature of the Burke collections with examples that illustrate how museum collections are vital to scientists, artists, and others that use them.
We’ll start the day setting up mist nets to harmlessly catch and release birds ( a method used in much research ) and check active bird nests in both boxes and natural nest sites throughout Sievert’s forest paths.
Both men will give power point presentations of some of the research work they have done, with great photos and plenty of time for questions.
Mary’s homemade pie, Barb’s gluten & sugar free treats, and hot beverages provided – you bring your lunch.
All profits from this class will go into the Ornithology endowment for field work. Sievert’s presentation will include a brief overview of discoveries about western birds supported by this fund and important to their conservation.
Class is free with a
Suggested Donation 300.00 to benefit the Ornithology Department at the Burke – class size limited to 20
Donate what you can please.
Please email mfisher@whidbey.com to let me know if you can donate more or less than suggested donation.