Events explore connections between birds, science, and all of us
MADISON, WI (September 10, 2024) — The Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts & Letters is excited to announce the Birds and Beyond event series in partnership with the BIPOC Birding Club of Wisconsin, Color in the Outdoors, and Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance (SoWBA). The series exploring the intricate world of birds begins this August and culminates in a keynote with esteemed naturalist Christian Cooper in March of next year.
“Exploring birds connects to a myriad of topics – across the sciences, through the arts, and into pressing current events,” said Erika Monroe-Kane, Executive Director at the Wisconsin Academy. “We hope that through this series bird enthusiasts and lovers of the outdoors will learn more about birds and the world we inhabit. This series will stoke curiosity and deepen connections to Wisconsin’s beautiful natural areas.”
Set in diverse landscapes throughout Wisconsin, each of the four events will examine how birds are connected to broader scientific topics such as conservation, climate change, water quality, and astronomy. In addition to the keynote with Cooper, speakers will include biologist Davin Lopez, astronomer Dr. Robert Mathieu, GIS and field data manager Amanda Tokuyama, crane biologist Hillary Thompson, program manager Danielle Washington, and art collections curator Amalia Wojciechowski.
“As a founder of the BIPOC Birding Club of Wisconsin, increasing diversity in birding in the state, pushing the conversation about who a birder is and looks like, and creating safe spaces for people of color to bird and explore the wonders of natural Wisconsin have been a fundamental part of what we do,” said Dr. Galligan. “I am thrilled to be a part of ‘Birds and Beyond’ because there is such a need to eradicate barriers of exclusivity so that we may truly diversify birding. Highlighting diverse voices, experiences, and accomplishments is a must in order for anyone and everyone to feel comfortable and welcome in nature and for children to be able to see themselves in a conservation-related field. Voices like Christian Cooper’s are instrumental in highlighting this need, creating a path for necessary change, and inspiring a whole new generation of birders from all walks of life.”
Each event will be live-streamed to a virtual audience. Those who attend in-person will have the opportunity to join the featured speakers on outings to explore some of Wisconsin’s most scenic natural areas.
Registration is free and now open for the first event, Birds and Astronomy, at Newport State Park near Ellison Bay, WI; and for Birds and Water, in October at the Urban Ecology Center in Milwaukee, WI. Tickets for the March 2025 keynote with Christian Cooper will be available in December 2024.
Details and information about each event in the series, including how to register, can be found at www.wisconsinacademy.org/birds-and-beyond.
