Programs for 2020-21
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The Piedmont Bird Club conducts a program in conjunction with its monthly meeting. Programs feature local, state, and (sometimes) national experts speaking on a variety of topics relevant to birds and birding. Programs are open to the public. We encourage all interested persons to attend.
Bird Club programs are usually held on the third Thursday of each month, October through April, beginning at 7:00 pm and ending at about 8:45 pm. This year they will probably all be held via Zoom; please watch our home page and this page for further information. Later programs will be added as they are confirmed. Thursday, October 15, 2020Recorded PBC Program – Birds and Marine Life in Antarctica: Environmental Threats and ConservationThe PBC's first meeting of the season was a joint meeting with the T. Gilbert Pearson Audbon Society, held on October 15 through the Zoom online platform. PBC and TGPAS members Ann van Sant and Roberta Newton shared photos and described the birds and other wildlife they observed during a cruise to Antarctica in January, 2019. Ann's stunning photography showed the variety of birds found on icebergs, at sea and on land; as well as species of whales and seals. Roberta discussed threats to the environment including the rise in ocean temperature and microplastics; and conservation efforts in Antarctica to protect the environment above and below the water.
If you weren’t able to attend this presentation, you can watch the recording by clicking here. Thursday, November 19, 2020Recorded PBC Program – Why Birds? The Importance of Birds to Conservation in North CarolinaThe PBC's second meeting of the season was held on November 19 through the Zoom online platform. Scott Anderson from the NC Wildlife Resources Commission discussed his perspective on the future of bird conservation in our demographically changing state. Winding through the NC Birding Trail, a proposed NC Bird Atlas, and other efforts by the NC Wildlife Resources Commission and partners, Scott highlighted conservation on the national scale and its local implications.
If you weren’t able to attend this presentation, you can watch the recording by clicking here. Thursday, December 17, 2020Recorded PBC Program – 2020 PBC Members Photo ShowIn this annual Holiday tradition, presented this year via Zoom, PBC members shared some of their favorite bird photos they have taken this year. It's always a treat to see what a talented group of photographers we have in the club.
If you weren’t able to attend this presentation, you can watch the recording by clicking here. Thursday, January 22, 2021Recorded PBC Program – Utilizing Modern Tools for Good Old-fashioned BirdingThe PBC's January program was held on January 22 through the Zoom online platform. PBC member Matt Wangerin described how he uses technology to enhance his birding, including websites, birding apps, and e-Bird. The e-Bird site and app are especially valuable tools for finding hot birding spots in an area, for researching sightings of particular species, and for uploading lists of birds seen during an outing.
If you weren’t able to attend this presentation, you can watch the recording by clicking here. |
Thursday, February 11, 2021Recorded PBC Program – Bird Conservation for the 21st CenturyThe PBC's February program was a joint meeting with the T. Gilbert Pearson Audubon Society, held on February 11 through the Zoom online platform. Curtis Smalling, Director of Conservation for Audubon North Carolina, discussed some of the projects, science, and policy work that is helping shape bird conservation across the globe and right here in our state. Climate and resilience, forest protection and management, marsh conservation in the face of sea level rise, urbanization, and a deepening understanding of the full life cycle of our birds all have taken bird conservation in new and exciting directions. Curtis pointed out places and projects where we can be a part of this exciting time for birds and communities.
If you weren’t able to attend this presentation, you can watch the recording by clicking here. Thursday, March 18, 2021
Recorded PBC Program – Nestwatch: How Citizen Science has Advanced the Study of Avian Reproduction
The PBC's March program was held on March 18 through the Zoom online platform. Robyn Bailey, project leader for Nestwatch at Cornell Lab of Ornithology, discussed the Nestwatch citizen science program. Anyone who wishes to observe bird nests, whether in a nest box or in the wild, can submit their data to Nestwatch. Robyn discussed how to participate in this long-running endeavor, as well as highlighting several examples of interesting scientific research that has been conducted using Nestwatch data. She also gave a tour of the Nestwatch website, showing the many resources it contains, including nest box plans and information on common nesting birds.
If you weren’t able to attend this presentation, you can watch the recording by clicking here. Thursday, April 15
Recorded PBC Program – Bluebird Nest Box Monitoring Basics: Data Collection, Mystery Solving, and Surprises!The PBC's April program was held on April 15 through the Zoom online platform. PBC Conservation Committee member Barbara Haralson discussed how to establish bluebird boxes and monitor the nesting birds that occupy them, including identifying different species' nests and eggs, protecting the box against pests and predators, and recording and reporting data on nest production and success. She highlighted PBC's bluebird box monitoring project at Price Park and Country Park, discussing how PBC members can get involved with this important citizen science effort.
If you weren’t able to attend this presentation, you can watch the recording by clicking here. |