Guest Speakers
Guest Speakers
General Meeting Information
Our monthly meeting begins at 6:30 PM on the third Monday of the month (except for the months of June, July, August and December) at the First United Methodist Church, 1551 Montgomery Drive, Santa Rosa.
As always, the public is invited to these free programs.
Monday, March 16th, 2026. 6:30pm
Understanding Recent Technological Advancements in Avian Acoustics
Jerry Cole, Acoustic Avian Biologist at The Institute for Bird Populations
Join Jerry Cole for a gentle introduction to bioacoustics (the study of sounds produced by animals), and an overview of recently developed technologies for the automatic identification of bird sounds. The talk will cover the technology underpinning automatic bird sound identifies, including BirdNet and Merlin Sound ID, and discuss hardware available for automatically capturing bird sounds at home or on the go.
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Jerry Cole has a M.S. in Biology from the University of North Dakota where he studied the effects of grassland management on birds in tallgrass prairie. He has worked on various avian projects throughout the West, ranging from tracking Clark's Nutcrackers to helping capture California Condors in southern California. Currently, Jerry works on analyzing bird point count and acoustic survey data collected within California, Colorado, and other western states.
Monday, April 20th, 2026. 6:30pm
Helping Wildlife Cross the Road: Protecting Amphibians with the Newt Brigade
Christyne Davidian, Chileno Valley Newt Brigade (CVNB) Captain
Sarah Millus, Biologist at Center for Environmental Management of Military Lands
Our speakers will offer insights into amphibian conservation and wildlife crossing. Chileno Valley Newt Brigade (CVNB) is a voluntary group concerned about vehicles on Chileno Valley Road running over newts and other amphibians trying to get to and from Laguna Lake to breed. The presentation will cover how the CVNB got started; amphibian species and biology; current conservation efforts and CVNB statistics; and the proposed wildlife crossing,
Monday, May 18, 5:30pm to 8pm
Madrone Annual Potluck Picnic
Spring Lake Regional Park
5:30pm - 6:30pm Join us for a tour of Spring Lake Environmental Center followed by short bird walk.
6:30pm - 8pm. Bring something good to eat and to share. Please bring your own plate and utensils. Cold drinks will be provided.
Location: Shady Oaks Picnic Area. Located to the left immediately after you enter the park by the Channel Drive and Violetti Roard entrance.
The Ernestine Smith Scholarship recipient will be introduced.
