Early Spring Migration Bird Walk

Spring is a wonderful time for appreciating and learning about birds as migrants return and males begin to sing in earnest, defending their territories and attracting mates. With practice, it is easy to recognize different species by their songs and calls, and even come to know something about the sex, age, and distinct behaviors of individual birds. Join naturalist and ornithologist Nat Wheelwright for a nature walk on the Reserve's trails, listening and looking for birds.

*Please note: The rain date for this program is May 5.

About the Presenter

Nathaniel T. Wheelwright is a Bowdoin Biology Professor Emeritus and co-author (with Bernd Heinrich) of The Naturalist’s Notebook. He earned his B.S. in Biology from Yale University (1975) and a Ph.D. in Zoology from the University of Washington (1982).

Following a Carr Postdoctoral Fellowship at the University of Florida (1982-1984) and a Visiting Assistant Professorship at Cornell University (1984-1986), he joined the faculty at Bowdoin College. As Director of the Bowdoin Scientific Station on Kent Island, New Brunswick (1987-2004), he established a long-term, on-going study of the population biology and behavioral ecology of Savannah sparrows and tree swallows and the pollination biology of island plants. His dissertation research on seed dispersal by fruit-eating birds in Costa Rica has led to long-term investigations of the reproductive ecology of tropical trees and the publication with Nalini Nadkarni of Monteverde: Ecology and Conservation of a Tropical Cloud Forest (Oxford University Press, 2000) and Monteverde: ecología y conservación de un bosque nuboso tropical (Bowdoin Scholars' Bookshelf, Book 3, 2014).

With support from the Fulbright Foundation, the National Science Foundation, and Bowdoin College, he has taught and conducted research while living with his family in Spain, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Botswana, Ecuador, and New Zealand.