February 5, 2009: General Meeting, 7 pm

Sooty Tern

Strangers to the Ground:  The Birds of Tern Island, Hawaii

presented by Matthew York

Matthew York is a graduate of Baylor University.  He did his Masters’ work for Sul Ross State University concentrating on life ecology of Montezuma Quail (Cyrtonyx montezumae) in the Davis Mountains, Texas.

In addition to having an interest in birds as far back as he can remember, he has served as an Avian Wildlife Biologist with several species and organizations.  These include work with Golden-cheeked Warblers (Dendroica chrysoparia) for The Nature Conservancy at Fort Hood,  Seabird Field Assistant at Hawaiian Islands National Wildlife Refuge on Tern Island Field Station with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service:

Matt rescues a Hawaiian Green Sea Turtle at Tern Island

This past year he served as Avian Field Biologist with the Institute for Wildlife Studies.  There, he was a part of the San Clemente Island Loggerhead Shrike (Lanius ludovicianus mearnsi)  Recovery and Monitoring Project.  This endangered subspecies is found only on San Clemente Island, the southernmost member of the Channel Islands off the coast of Southern California.  Recently moving back to Texas to be closer to home and loved ones, he will be working for Texas A&M analyzing habitat characteristics, nesting locations, and presence or absence of the Black-capped Vireo (Vireo atricapilla) in portions of central Texas.

Please join us February 5, 2009, at 7 p.m. at Rose Park Activity Center, Room A, South 7th and Barrow Streets. Our meetings are free and open to the public.

A Laysan Albatross (l) saunters past a pair of Black-footed Albatrosses during their bonding dance on Tern Island

Note: February field trips and other activities will be added as soon as they are confirmed.