Bird Walk on St. George Island

APALACHICOLA - Visiting scientists Alan Kneidel, Armando Aispuro, and Melanie Mancuso will lead a bird walk on St George Island Monday, April 20, 1:00pm (rain date Tuesday, April 21).  Environmental Cooperative Science Center, in cooperation with the Apalachicola National Estuarine Research Reserve will host the walk to help residents and visitors learn about bird identification and view our local birds. The walk will be at ANERR’s Unit 4 Property off of 6th Street East on St George Island.

Armando Aispuro received his BS in Wildlife from Humboldt State University. Since then, he has worked in tropical America and Asia, and the US studying various aspects of avian ecology, evolution, and conservation. He will be investigating barrier islands as resources for migrating birds at Apalachicola National Estuarine Research Reserve. He is advised by Dr. Christopher Heckscher at Delaware State University.

Alan Kneidel has been studying Nearctic-Neotropical songbird populations of St. George Is-land since 2013. He is examining how changes in weather patterns such as wind direction or precipitation can affect energy expenditures of migrants crossing the Gulf of Mexico. His research indicates that Florida barrier island serve as a significant stopover site for these birds.

Melanie Mancuso is from New Orleans and received her B.S. in Biological Sciences from the University of New Orleans in

2009.  She has worked on various research projects across the United States with a range of organisms including threatened and endangered species.  Melanie is currently a student at Delaware State University pursuing a M. S. degree in the Natural Resources program.  Her research involves the study of barrier island ecosystems as a vital resource for migrating avian species and the potential effects of global climate change.  Her research is being conducted at Apalachicola National Estuarine Research Reserve, Florida.  She is advised by Dr. Christopher Heckscher.

Please wear appropriate footwear for walking on trails and bring your binoculars!  RSVP to Megan.Lamb@dep.state.fl.us  or call (850) 670-7709.

Where:  Meet at 6th Street East on the Bayside, St. George Island, ANERR’s Unit 4 Property

WHAT:  Bird ID walk

WHEN:  Monday, April 20, 2015, 1:00 PM (rain date Tuesday, April 21)

 COST:   No Charge

Bird Walk Flyer