Program Night: If not me then who? DanFroehlich

Citizen scientists: Why birding matters in the 21st century Birdwatching has gone mainstream in the past 30 years. For many birders, birding is its own reward.  But is there more?  Birders can dispute identifications, compete for “Big-Day” species totals, and argue about the latest taxonomic shifts.  Or we can find ways to build meaning into our birding.  This presentation is about value-added opportunities for bird enthusiasts.  The internet phenomenon, the political climate, and, well, climate change itself all call for citizen engagement to better understand our avian neighbors and their needs. Join me as we explore the role of citizen scientists in the 21st century.  While we’ll focus on the context for citizen science, I’ll also offer some resources for local engagement.

Daniel Froehlich biographical notes:
I’m dedicated to conservation by improving understanding.  Growing up in both Germany and the US revealed the prevalence of misunderstanding in cross-cultural communication.  Discovering an injured Flicker that recovered from a window strike revealed the universal urgency of the language of Nature, even in neighborhood birds.  Researching how birds replace their feathers revealed the rigor of the modern scientific approach to understanding the world around us. Building community by engaging people with birds through scientific understanding is itself the greatest revelation.  Dan is a founder of Puget Sound Bird Observatory

The meeting will start at 7:00; however, you are welcome to come at 6:30 for social time.  Dan's presentation is FREE and open to the public - invite a friend.

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