Programs & Main Events

All Chapter meetings till further notice will be conducted virtually on ZOOM, please contact Don for more information – Greatauk4@gmail.com

Upcoming Sept. 11, 2024 7:30 pm

Virtual Program: Urban Biodiversity, Nearby Nature, and Environmental Justice, presented by Charlie Nilon

Charlie Nilon retired in August 2024 as the William J. Rucker Professor in the University of Missouri’s School of Natural Resources. Nilon’s research considers the impact of urbanization on wildlife habitats, populations and communities. From 1997-2017 he was a co-principal investigator on the Baltimore Ecosystem Study (BES), one of two urban ecosystems included in the National Science Foundation’s Long-Term Ecological Research program. His work with the BES focuses on understanding how ecological and socioeconomic factors influence bird species composition and abundance. Because urban areas are homes for people as well as wildlife, Nilon’s research also considers the role of nature as part of an individual’s day-to-day environment, and environmental justice issues associated with access to nature. Nilon and his students have worked on projects in Columbia, Kansas City and St. Louis that seek to understand how people perceive open spaces in their neighborhood. Since 2010 Nilon has been a principal investigator on three different synthesis projects that are compiling data from more than 150 of the world’s cities. The projects seek to understand global patterns of biodiversity in cities, the filters that shape species composition in cities, and the social and ecological factors that shape patterns of abundance in cities, and apply that information to management, conservation and planning programs.

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Upcoming October 9, 2024 7:30 pm

Zach Steinhauser Purple Martin Documentary

A wildlife filmmaker based in Columbia SC and recently completed a feature-length film about Purple Martin and migratory bird conservation titled Purple Haze.

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All programs and events are free and open to the public. We are supported by memberships and donations.

If you have suggestions or would like to help with future programs, please contact Marilyn Sadowski  msadowskibcas@gmail.com