Main Program: Cooperation and conflict in the communal world of the Acorn Woodpecker Walt Koenig Acorn Woodpecker, best known for their unique habit of storing acorns by the thousands in special structures known as “granaries”, exhibit one of the most complex social systems of any bird. Family groups of this species, sometimes numbering a dozen or more birds, contain multiple breeders of both sexes, a rare phenomenon called “polygynandry”, along with young from prior years that serve as “helpers-at-the-nest”. Based…

Main Program: Soundscapes to Landscapes Dr. Leo Salas and David Leland The earth’s biodiversity and associated ecosystem services are in a severe state of decline due to human pressure, however, our knowledge of these changes and impacts is often incomplete and limited to few and small areas. Join us to learn how Soundscapes to Landscapes is using a combination of multiple technologies and the power of citizen/community scientists to fill this data gap – starting with a focus on Sonoma…

Birding Information: Local Birds from MDAS Photo Contests Krista Vossekuil, MDAS Education Chair Krista Vossekuil will share some of the photos from the MDAS Photo Contests! Check out all the amazing entries and enjoy pictures of some of our incredible local birds. Bullock's Orioles, Morgan Territory, photo by Jerry Britten Main Program: Emperors of the Ice: Ecology and physiology of an iconic Antarctic predator, the emperor penguin Dr. Gitte McDonald Emperor penguins are the largest species of marine bird, and perhaps…

Birding Information: Eagle Scout Nest Box Projects Georgette Howington, Nest box monitor for the California Bluebird Recovery Program Georgette Howington will introduce several Eagle Scouts who completed Nest Box and other projects to help birds and wildlife in our community. Be inspired by their hard work and ingenuity! Main Program: A Gallop Through the Galapagos Wayne Narr The Galapagos Islands sit in isolation more than 1000 km west of northern South America. This small, remote archipelago has had a strong…

Birding Information: MDAS President Jerry Britten will present highlights of his summer Alaskan birding trip to the High Arctic Tundra and the Anchorage area. Main Program: Gardening for Birds with California Native Plants Eddie Bartley and Noreen Weeden You can have a beautiful native plant garden that attracts amazing birds, butterflies and other wildlife. Learn about the benefits of local, native plants and some of the wonderful birds that are drawn to this place and to these plants. We will…

Birding Information: Mt. Diablo Audubon Society is way ahead of a lot of other bird conservation groups. We help birds where they live year round, not just where we see them around Diablo. Many of California’s birds are migratory, and spend half the year south of the border. We financially support conservation groups in Latin America where birds winter, but also where the species and habitats are much more numerous and diverse than around here. Juan Pablo Galván Martínez, our Conservation…

Birding Information: The Race to Bring Northern White Rhinos Back from the Brink of Extinction Jill Hedgecock Northern white rhinos were deemed functionally extinct in March 2018 after the death of Sudan, the last male rhino. Currently, only two females remain on the planet. Jill Hedgecock will describe science’s innovative solution to hopefully save the species. Jill Hedgecock has long-standing roots with MDAS, serving as the International Conservation Coordinator in the early 1990s. She has a master’s degree in Environmental…

Birding Information: Highlights Of The 2022 Christmas Bird Counts  Jerry Britten, MDAS President Mt. Diablo Audubon Society President Jerry Britten will report highlights of the 2022 Christmas Bird Counts. Main Program: Highlights of a Career in Journalism Joan Morris Joan Morris will talk about the highs, lows, and crazy assignments she had during her 44-year career as a newspaper reporter and columnist — assignments that included a double homicide on her first day on the job, a mass shooting in Concord…

A 27 Year Wildflower Journey: The Making of Beauty and the Beast: California Wildflowers and Climate Change Rob Badger and Nita Winter Rob Badger and Nita Winter take you behind the scenes on their 27-year journey photographing wildflowers throughout California and the West. It began in 1992 when they discovered and fell in love with California's spectacular wildflower blooms in the Mojave Desert's Antelope Valley California Poppy Preserve. Photographing these beautiful landscapes and individual flowers evolved into their documentary art…

Native Bird Connections Jenny Papka The birds and people of Native Bird Connections offer experiences that go beyond the ordinary. From school programs tailored to the national standards to presentations for seniors, scouts and special interest groups, they strive to immerse the audience in an intimate view of a wild bird's behavior, life choices and needs. Regardless of age, participants find themselves personally connecting with a living being through empathy and awe, emerging inspired. Native Bird Connections are privileged to…

Ornitherapy: Watching birds: not only fun, it’s good for you!  Holly Merker Learn why getting your daily dose of Ornitherapy is just what the doctor ordered….Long to-do lists, digital demands, people to connect with- life can be busy! If we allow birds and nature to slow us down, we are practicing “selfcare”. Research shows that exposure to nature actively reduces stress, depression, and anxiety, while helping build a stronger heart and immune system. Birds are gateways into deeper experiences with…

The Magic of Central America: Costa Rica’s Birds and Ecology Benny Jacobs-Schwartz Costa Rica has long been regarded as one of the top tropical birding destinations in the world and with good reason! This small Central American country is roughly the size of West Virginia yet is home to ~5% of the world’s biodiversity, 900+ species of birds with 47 avian endemics to the country! During our presentation, we’ll visit a variety of ecosystems including the cloud forest, the Caribbean…

The Mt. Diablo Audubon Society will meet Thursday, June 1, in the McHale Room of the Pleasant Hill Community Center at 320 Civic Drive, Pleasant Hill, 94523.   Everyone is welcome to bring a snack to share, if they wish. Parking is free.   6:30 PM Doors Open 7:00 PM Birding Info: Winners of the MDAS photo contest 7:25 PM Announcements 7:40 PM Refreshments and Raffle 8:00 PM Main Program: Antarctica *as a conservation organization we encourage you to bring…