Virtual Speaker Series
We will be taking precautionary measures due to the COVID-19 pandemic by no postponing our hosting of public gatherings, such as our speaker presentations, until it can be deemed safe. Until then, we will be hosting speaker events virtually.
Our "Virtual Speakers Program" kicks off in January 2021.
Check the events calendar for updates at: www.plumasaudubon.org/calendar
If you missed a speaker program, don't fret! You can watch our programs any time on our YouTube Channel!
Our "Virtual Speakers Program" kicks off in January 2021.
Check the events calendar for updates at: www.plumasaudubon.org/calendar
If you missed a speaker program, don't fret! You can watch our programs any time on our YouTube Channel!
Past Programs:
January
"Ten years in the Himalaya: an ichthyological journey" by Dr. Ryan Thoni
Dr. Ryan Thoni is an ichthyologist specializing in studying the diversity and evolution of Himalayan fish fauna. His research spans the Himalayas with a strong focus on Bhutan, Nepal, and the Tien Shan and Pamir Ranges in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. As climate change, hydroelectric production, and increased development in this region of the world continue to imperil aquatic biodiversity, Thoni is making inventory efforts to help document the unknown biodiversity in hopes that it can be preserved before it is lost forever without ever being known to science. 2021 marks his 10th year working in Asia. His talk will focus on his exploration of the diversity of freshwater fishes including stories from Bhutan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.
"Ten years in the Himalaya: an ichthyological journey" by Dr. Ryan Thoni
Dr. Ryan Thoni is an ichthyologist specializing in studying the diversity and evolution of Himalayan fish fauna. His research spans the Himalayas with a strong focus on Bhutan, Nepal, and the Tien Shan and Pamir Ranges in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. As climate change, hydroelectric production, and increased development in this region of the world continue to imperil aquatic biodiversity, Thoni is making inventory efforts to help document the unknown biodiversity in hopes that it can be preserved before it is lost forever without ever being known to science. 2021 marks his 10th year working in Asia. His talk will focus on his exploration of the diversity of freshwater fishes including stories from Bhutan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.
February
"Northern Saw-whet Owls" by Ken Sobon
What do you know about Saw-whet Owls? If you’re like most of us, probably not much. But
these little birds are all around us, year-round, fighting out their fierce lives in our forests and
woodlands. Come learn about these neighbors from Ken Sobon, director of the Northern Saw-
whet Owl Research and Education Project in Northern California.
Ken Sobon is an avid birder, field trip leader, Vice President of Altacal Audubon Society, and is
now the Northern California representative on Audubon California board of directors. For the
past five seasons he has been the Director of the Northern Saw-whet Owl fall migration
monitoring project. In addition, Ken has been a science teacher to middle school students in
Oroville since 1995. He has shared his love of science and birding with his students both in the
classroom and in field.
"Northern Saw-whet Owls" by Ken Sobon
What do you know about Saw-whet Owls? If you’re like most of us, probably not much. But
these little birds are all around us, year-round, fighting out their fierce lives in our forests and
woodlands. Come learn about these neighbors from Ken Sobon, director of the Northern Saw-
whet Owl Research and Education Project in Northern California.
Ken Sobon is an avid birder, field trip leader, Vice President of Altacal Audubon Society, and is
now the Northern California representative on Audubon California board of directors. For the
past five seasons he has been the Director of the Northern Saw-whet Owl fall migration
monitoring project. In addition, Ken has been a science teacher to middle school students in
Oroville since 1995. He has shared his love of science and birding with his students both in the
classroom and in field.
If you missed Ken's presentation, you can watch it here!
March
When: Thursday, March 11th @ 7:00pm
Where: You can access this presentation via ZOOM
Join Zoom Meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/8161774732?pwd=K1kxclF2RXlFSnpyNlo5cEtoNlIwUT09
Meeting ID: 816 177 4732
Passcode: Bird
"A multi-year analysis of Aechmophorus grebe breeding populations on Lake Almanor" by Lindsay Wood
Hydroelectric production in the Lake Almanor basin continues to threaten our beloved grebes, Aechmophorus clarkii and Aechmophorus occidentalis. Western and Clark’s grebes are interbreeding colonial nesters that have historically nested at Lake Almanor numbering in the thousands. While adult populations are still found in the thousands, reproductive success has been hindered as the bird’s floating aquatic nests are continually beached as a result of reservoir operations. This presentation focuses on the water management decisions and the subsequent effects on grebe reproductive success.
Lindsay wood is an alumnus of Chico State and has ten years of environmental consulting experience with a special interest in water policy. She is a wildlife biologist and has conducted fisheries, avian, and herptile research throughout the Sacramento River watershed. Lindsay began studying Aechmophorus grebes in 2014 as a part of the Altacal Audubon's project on Thermalito Afterbay in her hometown of Oroville. Since working with Plumas Audubon Society, she has observed the colony abandonment at Lake Almanor for the past three breeding seasons and is the primary author of Plumas Audubon Society's 10 year report, "A multi-year analysis of Aechmophorus grebe breeding populations at four Northern California Lakes."
When: Thursday, March 11th @ 7:00pm
Where: You can access this presentation via ZOOM
Join Zoom Meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/8161774732?pwd=K1kxclF2RXlFSnpyNlo5cEtoNlIwUT09
Meeting ID: 816 177 4732
Passcode: Bird
"A multi-year analysis of Aechmophorus grebe breeding populations on Lake Almanor" by Lindsay Wood
Hydroelectric production in the Lake Almanor basin continues to threaten our beloved grebes, Aechmophorus clarkii and Aechmophorus occidentalis. Western and Clark’s grebes are interbreeding colonial nesters that have historically nested at Lake Almanor numbering in the thousands. While adult populations are still found in the thousands, reproductive success has been hindered as the bird’s floating aquatic nests are continually beached as a result of reservoir operations. This presentation focuses on the water management decisions and the subsequent effects on grebe reproductive success.
Lindsay wood is an alumnus of Chico State and has ten years of environmental consulting experience with a special interest in water policy. She is a wildlife biologist and has conducted fisheries, avian, and herptile research throughout the Sacramento River watershed. Lindsay began studying Aechmophorus grebes in 2014 as a part of the Altacal Audubon's project on Thermalito Afterbay in her hometown of Oroville. Since working with Plumas Audubon Society, she has observed the colony abandonment at Lake Almanor for the past three breeding seasons and is the primary author of Plumas Audubon Society's 10 year report, "A multi-year analysis of Aechmophorus grebe breeding populations at four Northern California Lakes."
April
When: Thursday, April 29th @ 7:00pm
Where: You can access this presentation via ZOOM
Join Zoom Meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/8161774732?pwd=K1kxclF2RXlFSnpyNlo5cEtoNlIwUT09
Meeting ID: 816 177 4732
Passcode: Bird
"Avian Acoustic Monitoring in the Northern Great Basin" by Danielle Miles
Across the northern Great Basin, many land stewardship agencies such as the Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Forest Service are clearing large tracts of pinyon and juniper woodlands to restore sagebrush habitat. These conifer removal projects to restore habitat for sagebrush-dependent species, such as the Greater sage-grouse, provide experimental replicates for investigating the most effective use of passive recording devices and the sensitivity of acoustic indexes to detect management impacts on avian community composition. During my PhD at the University of Nevada, Reno, I spent 4 summers collecting sound files to assess the effectiveness of passive recording and acoustic indices for avian biodiversity assessment in sagebrush and conifer habitats. In addition to discussing these new technologies, I will present some preliminary conclusions about song bird responses to conifer removals.
Danielle is an ecologist, educator, and advocate for student empowerment. Currently, she is working towards completion of her PhD in Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation Biology at the University of Nevada, Reno (2021). Danielle describes her work as "a delicate balance between research and course instruction". The topics she is most interested in are:
When: Thursday, April 29th @ 7:00pm
Where: You can access this presentation via ZOOM
Join Zoom Meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/8161774732?pwd=K1kxclF2RXlFSnpyNlo5cEtoNlIwUT09
Meeting ID: 816 177 4732
Passcode: Bird
"Avian Acoustic Monitoring in the Northern Great Basin" by Danielle Miles
Across the northern Great Basin, many land stewardship agencies such as the Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Forest Service are clearing large tracts of pinyon and juniper woodlands to restore sagebrush habitat. These conifer removal projects to restore habitat for sagebrush-dependent species, such as the Greater sage-grouse, provide experimental replicates for investigating the most effective use of passive recording devices and the sensitivity of acoustic indexes to detect management impacts on avian community composition. During my PhD at the University of Nevada, Reno, I spent 4 summers collecting sound files to assess the effectiveness of passive recording and acoustic indices for avian biodiversity assessment in sagebrush and conifer habitats. In addition to discussing these new technologies, I will present some preliminary conclusions about song bird responses to conifer removals.
Danielle is an ecologist, educator, and advocate for student empowerment. Currently, she is working towards completion of her PhD in Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation Biology at the University of Nevada, Reno (2021). Danielle describes her work as "a delicate balance between research and course instruction". The topics she is most interested in are:
- Novel acoustic methodologies for studying wildlife community ecology
- Faunal responses to vegetation alterations especially from conifer removal projects
- Impacts of mammalian disease and predation on faunal communities in talus habitats
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