FCAS Presents
JJ Audubon
"The gay bunting erects his white crest, and gives utterance to the joy he feels in the presence of his brooding mate; the willow grouse on the rock crows his challenge aloud; each floweret, chilled by the night air, expands its pure petals; the gentle breeze shakes from the blades of grass the heavy dewdrops."
J. J. Audubon, engraved by H. B. Hall, based on a painting by Henry Inman. Engraving from The Life of John James Audubon, the Naturalist, edited by his widow. New York: G. P. Putnams' Sons, 1894.
The Benefits of Urban Birds
Dave Leatherman
Birder, Entomologist, Writer
Thursday, March 9, 2017
Fort Collins Senior Center, 1200 Raintree Dr.
Social Time: 7 p.m.; Program 7:20 p.m.
Dave Leatherman will speak on how we have all enjoyed birds near where we live, whether it be in our yards, at feeders, during a walk, or on the way to work. They are beautiful, interesting, and sooth our souls. In those simple, emotional ways they benefit our life and raise its quality. But what about the other things birds do? They fill niches in food webs, moderate insect populations, alert us to changes in our climate, serve as "canaries in the coal mine", pollinate flowers, enhance the germination and distribution of plant seeds, facilitate the recycling of dead trees, build houses for one another, and much more. In this presentation, we will explore benefits bird provide each other, us and myriad additional members of the natural world. Dave will include ways you can help them accomplish their many jobs.
Dave served as the forest entomologist for the Colorado State Forest Service from 1974 to 2005 where his major responsibilities included all aspects of Mountain Pine Beetle, teaching, and surveys. He is an avid birder, active in the Colorado Field Ornithologists, has seen 449 species in the state, and has been part of finding four First State Records, including a Couch's Kingbird seen in Lamar last Spring.
Join us! This program is free and the public is welcomed. 