​BSBO proudly introduces our new
​Birds at Home Virtual Learning Series
sponsored by Zeiss
Although the way we gather has changed, we can still come together virtually to celebrate birds, birding, and bird conservation!

Join BSBO and our outstanding lineup of speakers for fun, informative, interesting, and uplifting virtual presentations and workshops - delivered to you in the comfort of your own home! 
About the series
Pricing
BSBO Members: FREE
Students: FREE
Non-members: $5.00

Click here to join our flock!
Privacy
Any private information submitted to Black Swamp Bird Observatory (including email) will never be shared or sold to third parties.  
Using Zoom
If you are new to Zoom and are unsure of how it works, feel free to contact BSBO at: staff@bsbo.org

Click here for a link to Zoom's website and a quick tutorial.

Or here for a list of
​Zoom FAQs.

Check back often as we're adding more keynotes and workshops each month! 

Saturday Evening Keynotes

December

Birdsong for the Curious Naturalist 
​with Donald Kroodsma
Once you are attuned, I would claim, every singing bird becomes interesting. There’s never “justa robin,” for example, or chipping sparrow, or whatever it is that you’re listening to. No, there’s more to be heard, something beyond the ID that can forever captivate the curious listener. As a result, you’re never “done” with birds, never done listening to the most common of birds, such as​ ​. . . robins, thrushes, sparrows, chickadees, blackbirds, buntings, starlings, mockingbirds, thrashers, tanagers, wrens, grosbeaks, cardinals, and, oh my, warblers galore . . . you name it. Not a bad bird anywhere. Each one captivating. Somehow, sadly, we’ll have to limit the number of performers to fit into the confines of the allotted time.​
Date: Saturday, December 5
Time: 07:00 PM EST
Duration: 45 min with a 15 min Q&A
About Donald
Donald Kroodsma is an authority on birdsong and professor emeritus of ornithology at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. As a research scientist, he published widely on birdsong for more than 50 years, receiving life-time achievement awards from the American Ornithologists’ Union, the Wilson Ornithological Society, and the American Birding
Association. More recently he has authored books that introduce the general public to birdsong: The Singing Life of Birds (winner of the John Burroughs Medal), The Backyard Birdsong Guides, Birdsong by the Seasons, Listening to a Continent Sing: Birdsong by Bicycle from the Atlantic to the Pacific, and most recently Birdsong for the Curious Naturalist. He lives in
Hatfield, Massachusetts.
Birds and People: A Powerful Connection
​with Kimberly Kaufman 
With rich, vibrant colors, beautiful and bizarre songs, intricate nests, and astonishing feats of migration, birds enrich our lives in myriad ways. In this lively and beautifully illustrated presentation, Kimberly Kaufman will explore a few of the reasons she believes birds captivate us beyond any other aspect of nature, and why natural areas are essential components of our quality of life.
Date: Saturday, December 19
Time: 07:00 PM EST
Duration: 45 min with a 15 min Q&A
About Kimberly
Kimberly Kaufman is an Ohio native whose lifelong love of the outdoors grew into a passion for birds in the 1990s. She monitored nesting Bald Eagles for the Ohio Division of Wildlife and ran bluebird trails before she began banding migrant songbirds for the Black Swamp Bird Observatory (BSBO). Kimberly became the observatory's education director in 2005 and then executive director in 2009, a position she still holds. Kimberly played a key role in starting the highly successful Ohio Young Birders Club, a group for teenagers that has served as a model for youth programs. She also co-founded The Biggest Week In American Birding, now one of the largest spring birding events on the continent. She is a contributing editor to Birds & Blooms magazine and co-author of the Kaufman Field Guide to Nature of New England and Kaufman Field Guide to Nature of the Midwest. In 2015, Kimberly received the American Birding Association's prestigious Chandler Robbins Award in recognition of her contributions to bird education and conservation. 

January 2021

Good Photos, Happy Birds: How Ethical Approaches Help You Get the Shot
​with Melissa Groo
In this presentation Melissa will talk about how making birds comfortable with our presence, and staying attuned to their behavior and their biology helps both our photography and the birds. She'll also share a few ideas on how to make our photos go to work for birds, to aid in their conservation.
Date: Saturday, January 9, 2021
Time: 07:00 PM EST
Duration: 45 min with a 15 min Q&A
About Melissa
Melissa Groo is a wildlife photographer, writer, and conservationist with a passion for educating people about the marvels of the natural world. She believes that photography can be both fine art and a powerful vehicle for storytelling, and considers herself a “wildlife biographer” as much as a wildlife photographer. It is her mission to raise awareness and change minds about not only the extrinsic beauty of animals, but also their intrinsic worth.

Melissa is an Associate Fellow with the International League of Conservation Photographers. Since 2016, she's written a bimonthly column on wildlife photography for Outdoor Photographer magazine. She also serves as a contributing editor to Audubon magazine, and as advisor to the National Audubon Society on photography content. She's a faculty member of the Summit Series of Photography Workshops. Her work is represented by the National Geographic Image Collection.

In 2017, Melissa was awarded the Katie O'Brien Lifetime Achievement Award by Audubon Connecticut, for demonstrating exceptional leadership and commitment to the conservation of birds, other wildlife, and their habitats. She also received NANPA's Vision Award, given to a photographer every 2 years in recognition of early career excellence, vision and inspiration to others in nature photography, conservation, and education.

Melissa is passionate about ethics in wildlife photography. She advises the National Audubon Society on ethics in photography, and created their Guide to Ethical Bird Photography with Kenn Kaufman. She has also advised National Wildlife Magazine and NANPA (North American Nature Photography Association) on guidelines for ethical wildlife photography, and served as Chair of NANPA's Ethics Committee from 2014-18. She remains on the committee as a member, and also serves on the NANPA Conservation Committee. You can read more about her thoughts on ethics in Outdoor Photographer articles here and here. She has also recently written on the issue for National Geographic: How to Photograph Wildlife Ethically.

In 2020, the Cornell Lab of Ornithology released "Bird Photography with Melissa Groo," an online masterclass in beginning bird photography. It comprises almost 40 videos featuring Melissa's instruction. Melissa's association with the Lab goes back to when she worked in the Bioacoustics Research Department from 2000-2005 on elephant communication. She was a research assistant for scientist Katy Payne on The Elephant Listening Project, and spent field seasons in the rainforest of central Africa studying forest elephants in the wild, where she learned to listen deeply and watch closely.

Her photographs and articles have been published in numerous magazines including Smithsonian, Audubon, Outdoor Photographer, National Wildlife, Living Bird, and Natural History. Her completed magazine assignments include a story for Audubon on American flamingos on Great Inagua in the Bahamas, and several for Smithsonian magazine: endangered Rothschild's Giraffes in Uganda, Spirit Bears in British Columbia's Great Bear Rainforest, the spring migration of Sandhill Cranes in Nebraska,  Snowy Owls at the nest in Utqiagvik, Alaska, and, most recently, Hudsonian Godwits in Chile (not yet published). 

In the first few months of 2020, Melissa worked on assignments for National Geographic, Audubon, and Smithsonian, traveling to Chile, California, and Florida.

Melissa has received awards and honorable mentions in national and international photography competitions, including Audubon (2015 Grand Prize winner), Nature’s Best, and NANPA. Her fine art prints are in personal and corporate collections, and have been exhibited in numerous private galleries as well as a number of public venues, including the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. In 2017, the Melissa Groo Gallery was installed at Audubon Greenwich's Kiernan Hall in Greenwich, Connecticut.

TBA
​with Jennie Duberstein 
Description coming soon!
Date: Saturday, January 23, 2021
Time: 07:00 PM EST
Duration: 45 min with a 15 min Q&A
About Jennie
Bio coming soon!
Registration Will
Open SOON

February 2021

TBA
Description coming soon!
Date: Saturday, February 6, 2021
Time: 07:00 PM EST
Duration: 45 min with a 15 min Q&A
Registration Will
Open SOON
TBA
Description coming soon!
Date: Saturday, February 20, 2021
Time: 07:00 PM EST
Duration: 45 min with a 15 min Q&A
Registration Will
Open SOON

March 2021

Opposing Threats for a Salty Sparrow: Understanding Seaside Sparrow Nest-predation in the Face of Climate Change
​with Corina Newsome
Bird species native to Georgia’s coastal marshes are experiencing rapid changes to their habitat, specifically in the form of sea level rise. In Seaside Sparrows, sea level rise directly threatens breeding success through nest flooding. This threat is compounded by increased exposure to predators when they elevate their nests to avoid future flooding. Corina will share her recent findings regarding the threat of nest predation, along with interesting and unexpected footage from the secret lives of Seaside Sparrows.
Date: Saturday, March 6, 2021
Time: 07:00 PM EST
Duration: 45 min with a 15 min Q&A
About Corina
Corina Newsome is the Community Engagement Manager for Georgia Audubon and a biology Master’s student at Georgia Southern University. Corina, who began in the field of wildlife conservation as a zookeeper, currently conducts research to conserve the MacGillivray's Seaside Sparrow and connects people with birds across the state of Georgia. Having experienced the hurdles faced by people of color interested in wildlife careers, she has founded several programs to encourage high school students from underrepresented demographics to consider careers in wildlife sciences. Corina’s mission is to center the perspectives and leadership of historically oppressed communities in wildlife conservation, environmental education, and exploration of the natural world.  
TBA
Description coming soon!
Date: Saturday, March 20, 2021
Time: 07:00 PM EDT
Duration: 45 min with a 15 min Q&A
Registration Will
Open SOON

April 2021

TBA
Description coming soon!
Date: Saturday, April 3, 2021
Time: 07:00 PM EDT
Duration: 45 min with a 15 min Q&A
Registration Will
Open SOON
TBA
Description coming soon!
Date: Saturday, April 17, 2021
Time: 07:00 PM EDT
Duration: 45 min with a 15 min Q&A
Registration Will
Open SOON

Tuesday Evening Workshops

December

Optics 101: Purchasing, Adjusting,
​and Caring for Optics 
While it's possible to enjoy birds without binoculars, having good optics can make all the difference in the world. Buying binoculars can be overwhelming and intimidating, but we can help! In his workshop, BSBO Outreach Director, Jason Guerard, will cover all the basics to help you better understand this important bird observation tool, and help you know what to look for to find the binocular that's right for you! 
Date: Tuesday, December 8
Time: 07:00 PM EST
Duration: 45 mins with a 15 min Q&A
Woodpeckers of the Midwest: Identifying and Attracting the Hammerheads
Observant, bold, and personable, woodpeckers are one of the first group of birds to enter our lives and inhabit our yards. Woodpeckers often begin our journey into bird identification with their recognizable shape and behavior, and their resident nature keeps them close to our homes for year-round observation (sometimes a little too close!)

In this workshop we'll explore the woodpeckers that call the Midwest home, offering identification tips, clarification on some of those odd names, and ways to attract these charismatic birds to your yard. And if home repair isn't in your budget, we'll offer some advice for keeping these carpenters away from your siding! 
Date: Tuesday, December 22
Time: 07:00 PM EST
Duration: 45 mins with a 15 min Q&A

January 2021

Birding Skills 101: Simple tips to take your birding skills to the next level 
In this fun and unintimidating workshop, the BSBO team will share some simple ways to improve your birding skills. This workshop will be great for those who are just getting started in birding. 
Date: Tuesday, January 12, 2021
Time: 07:00 PM EST
Duration: 45 mins with a 15 min Q&A
Appreciating and Identifying Sparrows
​Presented by Kenn Kaufman
Because they're not as colorful and flashy as other birds, sparrows are often overlooked and underappreciated. In this workshop, internationally-renowned bird expert, Kenn Kaufman, will shed some brighter light on these fascinating and handsome birds, and share some tips to help identifying these birds less intimidating. 
Date: Tuesday, January 26, 2021
Time: 07:00 PM EST
Duration: 45 mins with a 15 min Q&A
About Kenn
A lifelong naturalist, Kenn Kaufman did not really focus on birds until the age of six, but since then he has tried to make up for lost time, pursuing birds in all fifty states and on all seven continents. Now working as a freelance editor, writer, and book producer, he and his wife Kim make their home in Oak Harbor, Ohio.

​Kenn is a field editor for Audubon magazine, and writes a regular column for Birder’s World magazine. Most of his energy currently goes into book projects, including his own field guide series, Kaufman Field Guides, published by Houghton Mifflin Company of Boston. This series now includes volumes on North American birds, butterflies, mammals, insects, a Field Guide to Advanced Birding, and a regional guide to Nature of New England and Field Guide to the Nature of the Midwest, which was published in April 2015. In spring 2005, Kaufman Field Guides published the first Spanish-language guide to North American birds. Kenn’s other books include Lives of North American Birds, Kingbird Highway, and Flights Against the Sunset. His latest book, A Season on the Wind: Inside the World of Spring Migration, was published in spring 2019. He has also written scores of magazine articles and columns on I.D. topics, and has taught I.D. workshops all over the U.S. and Canada. To learn more about the Kaufman Field Guide series, click here.

February 2021

How To Be A More Responsible Birder
Birding is an easy activity and you don't have to be an expert to enjoy birds. But the more you know about the ethics of birding the safer and more fun it will be. From using playback (playing the recording of a bird's song to lure it closer) to guidelines for keeping a list of birds you've seen, this workshop will provide some basic guidelines to make your experience safer and more enjoyable. 
Date: Tuesday, February 9, 2021
Time: 07:00 PM EST
Duration: 45 mins with a 15 min Q&A
Why is my Cardinal Bald? Understanding Molt for Better Bird Identification
Birds molt to maintain the feather qualities that help them fly and keep them warm and dry. The subject of molt can be quite complex and complicated, but we'll break it down to some basic tips to help participants better understand how it impacts bird identification. (And we'll tell you how molt makes some of your favorite backyard birds look bald and wonky sometimes!) 
Date: Tuesday, February 23, 2021
Time: 07:00 PM EST
Duration: 45 mins with a 15 min Q&A

March 2021

Understanding Bird Family Groups for Better Bird Identification 
Ducks, hawks, shorebirds, herons... Many groups of birds have easily recognizable shapes. But what about the songbirds? This large group of birds comprises more than half of all bird species and ranges widely in size and shape; from the enormous Common Raven, to the minute Golden-crowned Kinglet. With a group so big, knowing what family to look in is often the first step to identification. In this workshop the BSBO team will breakdown the families that make up the "songbirds," highlighting the features and behaviors that make a warbler a warbler, a flycatcher a flycatcher, and many more!       
Date: Tuesday, March 9, 2021
Time: 07:00 PM EST
Duration: 45 mins with a 15 min Q&A
Where to Go Birding in Ohio
Ohio has an amazing number of great places to go birding! In this workshop, experienced birders from around the state will share tips for visiting their favorite birding destinations. 
Date: Tuesday, March 23, 2021
Time: 07:00 PM EDT
Duration: 45 mins with a 15 min Q&A

April 2021

Birding and Nature Exploration with Families
​Birding is a wonderful family activity! In this fun and interactive workshop, the BSBO team will share some great ideas to make your next outdoor adventure super fun for exciting for the whole family! 
Date: Tuesday, April 13, 2021
Time: 07:00 PM EDT
Duration: 45 mins with a 15 min Q&A
Getting to Know the Other​ Blue Birds
Eastern Bluebirds and Blue Jays get all the love, but they aren't the only blue bird species that we see in Ohio. In this workshop the BSBO team will help give the OTHER blue birds some love, including Indigo Bunting, Blue Grosbeak, Tree Swallows, and White-breasted Nuthatch, to name a few. 
Date: Tuesday, April 27, 2021
Time: 07:00 PM EDT
Duration: 45 mins with a 15 min Q&A