Speakers

Hawaii is tragically known as the endangered species capital of the world and the archipelago is home to approximately one third of all endangered species in the United States. We will introduce you to Hawaii’s rare endemic birds, from petrels to honeycreepers, share the threats they face, and highlight the conservation initiatives in place to help save them from the brink of extinction. 

About Our Speaker

As a tremendous lover of birds and wildlife, Mandy Talpas has dedicated her life to avian conservation. After working in the field with birds in northeastern United States, the remote forests of southeastern Peru, and the islands of Hawaii, she launched Hawaii Bird Tours. She is honored to support Hawaii’s people, culture, land, and wildlife conservation efforts through ecotourism, as Hawaii’s only bird tour operator.

Date: Thursday, September 18 (7pm)

Location: Online via Zoom

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84537864022?pwd=ChAnB8cHWE2iWaGbqTq5CGPZyEd3cc.1

Passcode: 206218

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Bats consume large quantities of insects each night. Learn about these fascinating flying mammals with Mary Jean Quirk, the founder of NorCal Bats.

About Our Speaker

Mary Jean (Corky) Quirk is the founder of NorCal Bats, an organization that provides care for injured bats and educational programs for libraries, school, nature programs, fairs and other events throughout the region. Corky has been working intensely with native bats since 2004 and has educated thousands of people. She works with injured and orphaned bats, returning them to the wild and keeps a captive colony of non-releasable bats for use in education. She is permitted through the CA Department of Fish and Wildlife and the USDA. Corky also is responsible for maintaining www.norcalbats.org She is also an experienced environmental educator who got her start with Camp Fire Boys and Girls.  She has an undergraduate degree in natural resource planning and interpretation from Humboldt State University.   She teaches three days a week at Yolo Basin Foundation, a wetland education program in the Sacramento Valley, in addition to her work with bats.

Date: Thursday, October 16 (7pm)

Location: Online via Zoom

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86441286536?pwd=BGDmOr9REVbTmRfnNwCmNqZ4wgiGgf.1

Passcode:173735…

Learn about the biology of these charismatic birds, the largest North American shorebird: their habitats, nesting requirements and migratory journey. Learn how satellite technology is uncovering some of their mysteries and is connecting communities from the mountains of Idaho to coastal California.

About Our Speaker

Heather Hayes is a research biologist and the Community Science Coordinator for the Intermountain Bird Observatory (IBO) in Boise, Idaho. In addition to the Long-billed Curlew Satellite Tracking program, Heather has worked on the 8-state Western Asio flammeus
Landscape Study (WAfLS) community science program for Short-eared Owls, and the IBO’s Hummingbird Monitoring Program.
Heather loves integrating her fieldwork with education, not only in the K-12 classroom but also in Hunter’s Education.

Date: Thursday. July 24 (7pm)

Location: Online via Zoom

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83897582723?pwd=1Nc6IbOGx1PXlnVqAVBJKSUS9DFL7l.1…

Chelsea will be sharing her thoughts and perspectives on “Nest Building”. No, not bird nests per say, but rather the spaces we build to create a lasting community with our fellow birders.

About Our Speaker

Chelsea Connor is the co-founder of Black Birders Week, a 2024 GGBA Birding for Everyone Fellow, and an MS candidate at SFSU.

Date: Thursday, May 15, 2025 (7pm)

Location: Online via Zoom

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86714178233?pwd=l4bsUnQAmdRESjJ25qdNzI2aXZp4St.1

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In this talk, Aaron will discuss the connections that created and define the Delta
from its formation to its ecology and biodiversity. The talk will also explore some of the
ecological and social complexities the Delta embraces and faces.

About Our Speaker

Aaron N. K. Haiman has been a student of nature his entire life. He spent countless hours
birding across California and has lived and birded in the California Delta for over a decade.
Aaron volunteered from a young age with numerous bird research organizations before
attending the University of California, Berkeley (BS in environmental science), rotating through
several bird-focused internships, attending the University of California, Davis (MS in avian
science and a second MS in animal behavior), working for the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta
Conservancy, and now as a Senior Environmental Scientist at the Wildlife Conservation Board.
Beyond his formal career, Aaron leads bird walks for a variety of organizations, mentors high
school students on ecology and sustainability, leads a youth bird-a-thon team for Point Blue
Conservation Science, gives presentations on birds and habitat restoration, has written for
multiple science websites, and creates content for his own blog, social media platforms, and
YouTube channel all under the A Birding Naturalist handle.

Date: Thursday, June 26 (7pm)

Location: Online via Zoom

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83516705279?pwd=a76VLb7FhDsDqGxt2HE9XChkKQHrbW.1

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