Community
Associate Professor Andrew George, who now serves as the program chair for the local Audubon chapter, has planned monthly beginner bird walks the first Saturday of each month at 8 a.m. His next walks are planned for Sept. 10, Oct. 1, Nov. 5, and Dec. 3. Locations include public lands such as Wilderness Park and Prairie State Park.
They are free and open to the public, and all ages and abilities are welcome. Details can be found on the the Sperry-Galligar Audubon Society Facebook page.
George also has lined up an informative semester of free programs featuring expert speakers. The programs will be held at PSU at 7 p.m. in Room 102 of Yates Hall and they are free and open to the public.
Sept. 29
Kansas flyways: the current and future of understanding birds’ movements
Presented by Alice Boyle, Kansas State University
Why is Kansas such an interesting place to study bird movement? Learn from Boyle — an internationally recognized scholar — about new discoveries, an exciting new initiative that already is transforming the study of bird migration, and how automated telemetry could dramatically improve our understanding of how birds use our grasslands.
Oct. 27
Fantastic Birds and Where to Find Them
Presented by Mary and Alex Marine, Pittsburg State University
From coast to coast, beaches to mountain ridges, cities to wilderness, fantastic birds are everywhere! Join us on an adventure across the USA as Mary and Alex recount stories and share pictures of amazing birds, stunning landscapes, close encounters with wildlife, and interesting bird projects of which they've been a part!
The Marines, who are graduate students of George, also have planned a photo exhibit for The Root Gallery at Root Coffeehouse & Creperie, as well as a few talks open to the public that will focus on various aspects of birding.
Dec. 1
The Kansas Birding Trail & Wildlife Viewing
Jenn Rader, Kansas Dept. Wildlife & Parks
Learn from Rader, who directs the Southeast Kansas Nature Center at Schermerhorn Park in Galena, Kansas, how a new program with KDWP came together, the importance of wildlife viewers in the realm of outdoor recreation today, and about a new program to promote women in the outdoors.
About Andrew George
George joined the faculty at PSU in 2016 and teaches courses in ornithology (birds), herpetology (amphibians and reptiles), wildlife ecology and management, terrestrial field ecology, principles of ecology, and general biology.
He and his students are conducting two important field research projects: they’re working closely with the Missouri Department of Conservation to study the long-term effects of forest management on bird communities as part of the 100-year Missouri Ozark Forest Ecosystem Project, and with support from the Kansas Department of Wildlife & Parks are working on a project to study and help protect Kansas’ only colony of the federally endangered gray bat.
He and his colleague, Associate Professor Christine Brodsky, have developed a long-term project to monitor mined-land ecosystems, with a special focus on birds, herpetofauna, and invasive plants.
Questions?
Contact George or call 620-235-4030.
