Public Speaking and Other Appearances

New Initiative:
Birds & Beans, The Good Coffee

 Black-throated Green Warbler: nests in northern forest, often winters in shade-coffee plantations in Central America.
Bird conservation experts recognize that coffee grown in the traditional way, in the shade, provides a habitat that supports many wild birds -- not only tropical species, but migrants from the north. New strains of coffee grown in the sun provide essentially no bird habitat at all, and require far more pesticides and fertilizers, so these plantations are less healthy for the local people as well. I'm joining with scientist and writer Bridget Stutchbury, famed nature writer Scott Weidensaul, and a consortium of New England coffee roasters to promote the use of certified bird-friendly, fair-trade, organic coffee. More information on this new initiative will be available early in 2009.
New Project:
Classic Rock with 6-7-8-OH
My wife Kim and I got together because of our intense interest in birds and nature, but then we discovered that we also had a shared passion for rock music. We're currently involved in a classic-rock band, 6-7-8-OH, based in Port Clinton, Ohio. The band has played benefit concerts for local causes but we'll also be playing at several birding-related events in the near future. You can read some entries about the intersection of birding and rock music at our blog.
My Public Speaking Schedule for 2009

This is only a preliminary schedule as many events are still being added. This page will be updated during the year as more information becomes available.

Argentina, Falkland Islands, South Georgia Island, Antarctic Peninsula, and Drake Passage: January 3-26. I'll be a leader and lecturer on an expedition cruise organized by Victor Emanuel Nature Tours.

Jekyll Island, Georgia: February 23-25. Kim and I will be delivering a keynote talk and a couple of other programs and workshops at the conference of the Bird Education Network.

Eastern Massachusetts: March 6-8. Details are still being worked out, but I'll be presenting at least three programs during this time, including at least one for Massachusetts Audubon.

Boise, Idaho: March 14. Speaking at the annual banquet of the Golden Eagle Audubon Society.

Port Clinton, Ohio: March 20-22. Teaching at least one workshop (and probably performing a gig with our rock band) as part of the weekend of celebration revolving around the annual banquet of the Black Swamp Bird Observatory.

Corpus Christi, Texas: May 1. I'll be giving the banquet address at the 40th anniversary convention of the American Birding Association.

Chetumal, Quintana Roo, Mexico: June 16-20. I probably won't be speaking here, but I'll be taking an active part in the event of the year for anyone with an interest in butterflies and moths. It's the third conference on Neotropical Lepidoptera, combined with the annual meeting of The Lepidopterists' Society and the Association for Tropical Lepidoptera. I'm on the Executive Council of The Lepidopterists' Society and we're looking forward to this chance to increase communication among all who study butterflies and moths throughout the Americas.

Tucson and Sierra Vista, Arizona: early August. Plans are still in development, but I'll be giving some programs here as part of the celebration of the 60th anniversary of the Tucson Audubon Society.

Lakeside, Ohio: September 17-20. I'll be one of the keynote speakers at the biennial Midwest Birding Symposium.

A partial list of my public speaking engagements from 2003 through 2008 is available here.