Monthly Presentations
HOPE CHURCH
77 West 11th Street, Holland
7:00 PM -- Commons Hall
Social Time: 6:30 PM
All programs are free
|
Sep 12 |
The Birds of
Paradise of New Guinea Douglas Klein, Barry County Birding Club Located just north of Australia, New Guinea is the world’s second largest island. Known for its high percentage of endemic species of flora and fauna, the species that stand out are the Birds of Paradise. Join us as Doug presents a sweeping story of New Guinea and these fascinating birds, their unusual behaviors, songs and plumages. His program will feature videos from Cornell University and National Geographic Society showing the birds’ life histories, mating displays and researchers of the birds, including local photographer Tim Leman, and biologist Ed Scholes. Accompanying Doug is friend Tom DeVries who will also share intimate stories from his three years as a missionary in New Guinea, learning their history and customs. A fascinating program you won’t want to miss. Doug Klein is currently the President of the Barry County Bird Club, residing near Hastings Michigan, and has been birding for fifty years and is a graduate of Michigan State University. He lives in Hastings, MI with his wife and children. Doug also serves on the Barry County Parks and Recreation Commission, and he worked to create the Thornapple Birding Trail in Barry County in 2019. |
|
Oct 10 |
Costa Rica, Pura
Vida Bill Sweetman & Larry Burke, Naturalists and Trip Leaders Costa Rica, a country in Central America, not quite the size of West Virginia, is home to a staggering 900 species of birds, about 80-90 of which are endemic or near endemic. Join us as Bill shares his adventures throughout Costa Rica from vast beaches to massive 13,000-foot mountains, rain forests and jungles galore. We’ll be treated to images of this large diversity of birds captured by Larry as they traverse the country's tropical location - only 8-11 degrees north of the equator. Come and learn why Costa Rica is likely the most "green" country on earth. Bill Sweetman is a retired teacher, spanning all levels junior high through college, for more than half of his 80+ years. His birding interests also encompassed three fourths of that time. Originally from New Jersey where his birding roots began, he’s settled in West Michigan, and is a member of the American Birding Association; as well as National, Michigan and Grand Rapids Audubon Societies. His contributions include Christmas Bird Counts, Breeding Bird Survey route for the US Fish and Wildlife Service in Wexford County, and monitoring a local “patch” and reporting to ebird. He has been a frequent field trip leader for Grand Rapids Audubon and for the CALL (seniors) program at Calvin College. Upon retirement in 2001, he developed Bsweettours LLC, an ecotourism business, leading tours to birding hotspots throughout the US (including Alaska) and Central America. Larry has been a recreational birder for nearly a half century and discovered the fun of bird photography six years ago. Many of the images will be from Larry’s talented lens. |
| Nov 14 |
Antarctica-Falklands, South Georgia & the Antarctic
Penninsula Martin Blagdurn, Birding Enthusiast In November 2022 Martin boarded the cruise ship Ocean Diamond from the port of Ushuaia in southern Argentina. Beginning a 3 week voyage of a lifetime to the continent of Antarctica, including the West Falklands, the East Falklands, Shag Rocks, South Georgia, the Iceberg A-76A, the Antarctic Peninsula, and finally the South Shetland Islands, before returning via the Drake Passage. The trip was organized by Rockjumper Birding Tours and so 150 participants were birdwatchers, (10 leaders) , and 30 were wildlife photographers (2 leaders). All our landings, via zodiac boats, were targeted at endemic species and seabird colonies. When cruising between destinations there was constant activity viewing pelagic birds, whales, and icebergs. Martin will share wonderful photos and video clips that he took, along with a video that was put together by Quark, the expedition company, from clips and pictures taken by many of the participants. Join us for a presentation of a lifetime. Martin Blagdurn is a longtime Michigan birder, previously active in the Detroit Audubon, then Grand Rapids, and now lives in Douglas with his wife Catherine, active now in Holland Audubon. Martin served on the Whitefish Point Bird Observatory Fund Raising Committee for 14 years. He also established the Anchor Bay CBC in the late 70's and still helps organize the count each year. Martin has travelled throughout the USA & Canada, Central & South America, Africa, Australia, Europe, and the Caribbean, Antarctica was his 6th continent and Asia is on his bucket list. Mostly he is enjoying retirement and does a lot of his birding at home in his yard. |
|
Dec 12 |
Hawaiian Birds Lonny Garris, Birding Enthusiast Maui may not be the largest Hawai’ian Island, but the birds are no less impressive. Lonny will share with us his trip to this second largest island back in September 2020, during a trip celebrating his wife's birthday, where he birded as much as she let him, and where he managed to expand his life list by many beautiful and magnificent birds, some only found on these archipelago islands. You’ll be wowed by the scenery from mountainous terrain to gorgeous beaches, and no surprise, birding in Maui leaves you breathless. Join us for a memorable experience. Lonny is somewhat new to birding, having caught the ‘bug’ only 4 years ago when a LeConte’s sparrow stopped by his backyard, enticing him enthusiastically on new adventures in birding. He immediately misidentified the sparrow as a Savannah sparrow, beginning his new education in the nuances of sparrow identification. He is currently a board member of the Owashtanong Islands Audubon Society in Grand Haven. |
|
Jan 9 |
Birding the
Australian Outback Steve Hamberg, HAC President, World Traveler Australia, that elusive ‘down under’ country, is about the same size as the USA, yet only the coastal areas are fertile enough to grow crops, most of the country's center is desert. Join us as Steve takes us to the center, ie: the Outback of the State of South Australia, starting in the sizable coastal city of Adelaide. His journeys then take us through the country center where towns of populations of only 15 can be found. There can be long stretches where no one is living, making it necessary to carry food, water, spare tires and a satellite cell phone. Even then, there are a few areas with savanna grasslands and scattered woodlands, and despite the intense heat and harshness of the landscape, there are a number of birds that live here, and Steve will share his adventures and amazing images you don’t want to miss, throughout this challenging environment. Steve Hamberg is a retired Holland physician who enjoys birding all over the world. Historically accompanied by his wife Angie, who enhanced his programs with her photography, he has been to 91 countries in almost 40 years, and has a staggering life list of 7677 species of birds. He hopes to continue this avian passion, with Angie’s blessing, for years to come. |
|
Feb 13 |
The Young & the
Restless: Juvenile Birds Figuring Out Life Ken Cook, Photographer and World Traveler Join Holland Audubon members as Ken Cook takes you through a photography journey dealing with birds and animals that are just starting out in life and exploring their new surroundings. One of the fascinating experiences while photographing birds and mammals, is to see how the very young deal with their new surroundings, and how the parents nurture and care for them, regardless of where this takes place. Parental control of the young, feeding behaviors and learning new life experiences leads to many, sometimes comical photographic opportunities. As happens often many of these opportunities happen in the spur of the moment and leads to unexpected, and pleasing experiences. His programs are always a treat, his images are wonderful and we always learn special tips for creating unique and stunning images to enjoy. A Holland native and graduate of Hope College, Cook has honed his 30-plus year photography passion to specialize in landscapes, nature and wildlife. He has traveled to many countries to pursue his passion, but currently is focused on our winged friends within North America. a charter member of the North America Nature Photography Association, as well as a member of the Holland Friends of Art, Holland Area Arts Council and the Tulip City Camera Club. You can view his work and/or contact him at www.kencookphotography.com. |
| Mar 12 | Purple Martins:
Backyard Friends Penny Briscoe, Master Naturalist Most ‘pets’ require daily attention, lots of food, extra space and time in our lives which can seem demanding, however, Penny has a secret she’s going to share. Join Holland Audubon Club as we learn the joys and benefits of Purple Martins, friendly and entertaining aerial acrobats, the largest of the swallows, they are the perfect backyard pets. Purple Martins prefer raising their young in colonies close to humans—and the species found east of the Rockies (Progne subis) no longer nests in natural cavities. These lovely, dark-colored songbirds with feathers of a purple sheen are one hundred percent dependent on humans for nesting houses or gourds for breeding. While thousands of Purple Martin “landlords” provide that housing, in the Great Lakes area, in particular, Purple Martin numbers are declining sharply. Penny will share what you can do to attract Purple Martins to your home and effectively manage a colony. While helping this native songbird that is in danger, your reward will be enjoying, up close, their entertaining chick-rearing routine, flying expertise, and bubbly, cheerful twitters. Penny Briscoe has been a Purple Martin landlord for 38 years, hosting the same successful long-standing colony on Barton Lake just south of Vicksburg. Penny is a Purple Martin mentor for the nation-wide Purple Martin Conservation Association and has earned Master Naturalist designation through the Michigan Conservation Stewards Program, MSU Extension Services, and is actively involved in establishing a native plant habitat on the Briscoe properties. A retired public high school educator, Penny has enjoyed teaching others about Purple Martins and colony management, and has been volunteering her time in Michigan by encouraging more landlords in order to increase Michigan’s Purple Martin population. More recently she has been working with Michigan Audubon in this endeavor. |
|
Apr 9 |
Habitat
Conservation in Ottawa County
Lucas Timmer, Conservation Engineer In the last five decades North America has seen a decline of nearly 3 billion birds, a whopping 30 percent, and many of those birds we find locally declining in Ottawa County. Our significant growth and development in Ottawa County, over those same decades, has been a significant factor in this local dramatic decline in bird populations. To help birds out, we as birders need to band together to advocate for bird habitat to our community to help reverse these declines. Join Holland Audubon Club as Lucas Timmer, a local civil engineer who works on infrastructure projects throughout the county, and a passionate birder, shares some insights on concrete examples of how we as birders can present the plight of birds to our community, and by doing so, see real benefits occurring for our bird friends. Lucas will discuss why we should care about bird habitat conservation locally, what habitats for birds need to be conserved in our area, what work has been done so far by Lucas and local birders to conserve habitat for birds, and what our future work and goals should be. Lucas will also go into detail how both the Owashtanong Islands Audubon Society and Holland Audubon Club were able to work with Park Township to provide nearly 30 acres of grassland habitat for grassland birds, which have seen the most significant decline of all birds in North America over the last five decades (53%). Lucas Timmer is a resident of Holland with his wife Molly and children Florence and John. Birds have always been an interest to Lucas (Adelie penguins are his favorite animal) but birding as a hobby did not take root until spring of 2020 during the pandemic. As a now avid birder, Lucas has been enjoying using his skillset as a civil engineer to promote critical habitat as the head of OIAS Habitat Preservation Committee. |
| Mar 13 | Nature
Photography in MI & Beyond Jon Flemming, Photography Instructor |