Migratory birds and climate change program, Oct. 4

Ecologist Amanda Gallinat, PhD will talk climate change as it relates to migrating birds at the Northern Neck of Virginia Chapter of the National Audubon Society-sponsored event Monday, October 4 at 7:00 pm via Zoom. Dr. Gallinat is postdoc with the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and an ecologist with the USA Phenology Network. (Phenology is the study of seasonal and cyclic natural phenomena among plants and animals.)

According to the announcement in the September 23 Rapp Record, "Dr. Gallinat's research focuses on how environmental change affects plants, birds, and their interactions. Her work incorporates current research and historical data such as the actual field notes of Henry David Thoreau, long-term bird banding records, museum specimens and field observations."

One of Dr. Gallinat's interests is birds and fruit and she writes on her website, "Compared to spring events, autumn events have received little attention in climate change and phenology research. However, autumn events like fruit ripening and autumn bird migration have important ecological function; birds use fleshy fruits to fuel migration and in turn they act as seed dispersers for plants."

To participate in the event, email nnaudubon@gmail.com and an email with instructions will be returned.