The world around us on Phenology today

Staff Phenologist John Latimer talked about how winter affects the critters and mentioned Bernd Heinrich's "Winter World - The Ingenuity of Animal Survival". We love to hear what you are seeing in the natural world around you - email us or call our talkback line 218-999-9876.

Phenology-related programs happening in the listening area - this Thursday at the Forest History Center from 6-8pm:

Birds in Flight: The Art and Science of How Birds Fly with Carrol Henderson-DNR

They soar and they glide, they flap and they flutter, they swoop and they plummet. Solo or en masse, in formation or pas de deux, birds in flight are in their element, their airborne behavior as varied and distinctive as their plumage.

Join us for a special family program, to learn insights into spotting and identifying birds with flight with special guest, Carrol Henderson-DNR. This will be a great opportunity to see Henderson's exquisite close-up photographs of airborne birds, as well as detailed information based on firsthand research. Participants will appreciate hearing about the beauty of an iridescent hummingbird pollinating a flower, the majesty of a condor soaring above the Andes, the impressive spectacle of migrating geese in Minnesota, black storks in Kenya, or Swainson's hawks in Bolivia. The program will deepen our appreciation of the beauty of birds, and the fascinating science of how, precisely, birds fly.

Carrol Henderson has been the supervisor of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Nongame Wildlife Program since 1977. He Has a Bachelors of Science in zoology from Iowa State University (1968) and a Master of Forest Resources degree in ecology from the University of Georgia (1970).

During the past 32 years Henderson has developed a statewide program for the conservation of nongame wildlife that has received both national and international recognition. He has helped plan and carry out restoration of peregrine falcons, bald eagles, eastern bluebirds, river otters and trumpeter swans in Minnesota. He is involved in promoting wildlife tourism, and he has provided leadership in promoting nature tourism projects in Minnesota, Manitoba, Costa Rica and the Amur region of eastern Russia. He and his wife Ethelle have led 47 birding trips during the last 20 years throughout Latin America, New Zealand, Kenya and Tanzania.

Henderson is the author of eight books including Woodworking for Wildlife, Landscaping for Wildlife, Wild About Birds, the DNR Bird Feeding Guide, and the Field Guide to the Wildlife of Costa Rica. He is Co-author of the Travelers Guide to Wildlife in Minnesota and Lakescaping for Wildlife and Water Quality. Recent books include Oology and Ralph's Talking Eggs and Birds in Flight: The Art and Science of How Birds Fly.

Date: Thursday, February 19, 2009 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Location: Forest History Center, Grand Rapids, MN 55744
Info and Registration: University Extension Office-Itasca County 218-327-7486