​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
*Times listed are in Eastern Time Zone

February

The Awe-some of it All: How Nature Took Me Under its Wing with Nicole Jackson
In times of hardship, adversity, and finding your purpose, we often find it difficult to seek out help or don't have the tools needed to restore ourselves. Although some might find it hard to believe, nature can be one of those helpers. Join nature enthusiast, Black birder, and environmental educator for an intimate discussion on her journey of finding her voice and using meaningful nature experiences as a means to create hope, healing, and joy.
Date: Saturday, February 6, 2021
Time: 07:00 PM EST
Duration: 45 min with a 15 min Q&A
About Nicole
A nature enthusiast, avid bird watcher, and Cleveland native, Nicole is an alum of the School of Environment and Natural Resources at The Ohio State University. There she earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Education and Interpretation (2011). She is an environmental educator who has worked for various non-profits implementing programs across for the past decade in Columbus focused on conservation, gardening, green jobs, and outdoor recreation. Her main goal as an educator is to help people of color find access to local resources that connect them to fun nature experiences and become environmental stewards. Nicole is always looking for opportunities to learn something new and help others see the brilliance and lessons of the natural world around them. Some of her recent roles include Natural Leader of the Children & Nature Network, a member of the National Parks Conservation Association's Next Generation Advisory Council, co-organizer of Black Birders Week, and founder of Black in National Parks Week.
Mental Health and the Restorative Power of Nature with Jasmine Cupp
Getting fresh air, feeling the sun, and listening to birds seems to lift our spirits. It’s no accident that humans can feel refreshed by being immersed in nature. Join Black Swamp Bird Observatory’s Jasmine Cupp for a candid talk about mental health and the restorative power of nature. Learn about nature therapy and the science behind what it does to our minds and bodies.
Date: Saturday, February 20, 2021
Time: 07:00 PM EST
Duration: 45 min with a 15 min Q&A
About Jasmine
Jasmine is the Administrative Coordinator at Black Swamp Bird Observatory and has been with the organization since 2018. She has an honor’s associate’s degree in communication and was previously the editor of The Beacon, an Ottawa County community newspaper, where she received regional recognition for her reporting and editorial.

March

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.  

Tuesday Evening Workshops
​*Times listed are in Eastern Time Zone

January

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

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

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

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
Picture
Photo by Sarah Blodgett
Backyard Beauties: Photographing Birds at Home with Marie Read
Want to take beautiful photos of birds? Stuck at home with travel plans on hold? No worries—there are great photo opportunities all year round right outside your door. In this lively presentation, acclaimed wildlife photographer Marie Read shares lots of practical advice to help you turn your backyard into a bird photography paradise. She’ll reveal insider tips and creative techniques for capturing beautiful shots of the birds that share your yard, including using photo equipment and blinds, creating attractive and naturalistic setups, working with bird feeders and natural food plants, action and flight shots, and more. Plus tips to increase the avian diversity of your yard for even more photo opportunities using bird-friendly gardening practices.
Date: Tuesday, April 20, 2021
Time: 07:00 PM EDT
Duration: 45 mins with a 15 min Q&A
About Marie
Wildlife photographer/author Marie Read has forged a career out of capturing special moments in birds’ lives, creating images that combine beauty with impactful storytelling. While she loves to travel in search of subjects for her camera, her central New York backyard has given her some of her most memorable shots. Marie’s award-winning photos are published nationally and internationally in magazines, books, and calendars. She’s won awards and honorable mentions in numerous contests, including Bird Photographer of the Year 2020, NANPA Showcase 2021, Share The View, Audubon Photography Awards and Nature’s Best. Her articles and photo essays about bird behavior and bird photography have appeared in Living Bird, Bird Watching, Nature’s Best, and Wild Planet, among others. Marie has authored or co-authored five books, most recently Mastering Bird Photography: the Art, Craft and Technique of Photographing Birds and Their Behavior (Rocky Nook) published 2019.
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
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All rights reserved

The mission of the Black Swamp Bird Observatory is to inspire the appreciation, enjoyment, 
and conservation of birds and their habitats through research, education, and outreach.

We are located at the entrance of the Magee Marsh Wildlife Area
| 13551 W. State Route 2  |  Oak Harbor, Ohio 43449  |  419.898.4070  |