BSBO Proudly Introduces Our New 
Birds at Home Virtual Learning Series
sponsored by Zeiss and the Frederick S. Upton Foundation

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! 

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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.

members access to recordings

Recordings Open to the Public

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

*Times listed are in Eastern Time Zone

September

Intro to iNaturalist

Presented by Black Swamp Bird Observatory Staff

iNaturalist is a social network for sharing biodiversity information. It is a way to connect people with nature and to generate scientifically valuable biodiversity data from observations.

iNaturalist is a global network that can offer identification suggestions, keep a record of observations, and allow users to participate in community science projects. Join Black Swamp Bird Observatory staff to learn more about this free app!​

Date: Tuesday, September 21, 2021
Time: 07:00 PM EDT
Duration: 45 mins with a 15 min Q&A

Rails: The migration of secretive birds

Presented by Auriel Fournier, PHD, Director of Forbes Biological Station, Illinois Natural History Survey.

Rails are among a group of birds known for their secretive behavior and the challenges of studying their migration and other natural history. Auriel will present on her research to better understand the migratory patterns of rails, and what habitats they use, to help us better understand how wetlands across their annual cycle can be managed to meet rails' needs, as well as other wetland birds.

Date: Saturday, September 25, 2021
Time: 07:00 PM EDT
Duration: 45 mins with a 15 min Q&A

October

Love in the Off-Season

Presented by Laura Erickson

Some birds don't stay with their mate for longer than it takes to raise a single brood of chicks, and some don't form a pair bond at all. But some birds really do mate for life. How do they sustain their pair bond during the many months of the year when they aren't nesting? There are almost as many approaches as there are species. Laura will focus on some of the species she covered in her new book, The Love Lives of Birds, such as Trumpeter Swan, Bald Eagle, Piping Plover, Common Loon, American Crow, Black-capped Chickadee, and the species that may be the most faithful of all, the Florida Scrub-Jay.

Date: Saturday, October 23, 2021
Time: 07:00 PM EDT
Duration: 45 mins with a 15 min Q&A

December

Macro to Micro: Photography with Bridge Camera

Presented by Simon Tolzmann

Good photos do not need to be taken with a $10,000 camera setup. Disposable cameras can take some of the most artistic photos possible, at the same level of intricacy as a DSLR. Using a point and shoot is my happy medium, and the capabilities never cease to impress. Salamanders posed on logs, flowers growing on the forest floor, birds perched in trees, soaring on thermals, or foraging on the ground are all common sights through my viewfinder. The secrets to micro to macro point-and-shoot photography are waiting to be shared. ​

Date: Tuesday, December 14, 2021
Time: 07:00 PM EDT
Duration: 45 mins with a 15 min Q&A

This presentation is sponsored by Hunt's Photo & Video.