2021 Summer Nature Talk Series

Description

2021 Summer Nature Talks
Accessible through our YouTube channel:  https://www.youtube.com/LoonOrgNH/.
Thursdays, July 8 - August 26.  Talks start at 7pm
 
July 8 – Bill Gassman – Loon Nest Cam:  Through the Lens
The LPC Live Loon Nest Cam is now in its 8th season. It’s come a long way in that time & now has seen viewers from all 50 states & 201 countries. Bill Gassman, LPC’s volunteer Loon Cam Operator & Guru, has been a large part of this success. Join us as he shares some of the most interesting things we have seen & learned through the camera, as well as behind-the-scenes detail about how the camera works & the logistics of getting it up & running.
 
July 15 –  Iain MacLeod – Ospreys of the NH Lakes Region
2021 marks 25 years since Ospreys returned to nest in the Lakes Region. Now about 16-18 pairs nest in the region, & over the quarter century, Iain has watched more than 340 chicks fledge from local nests. Iain will discuss finding new nests in remote beaver ponds & installing nesting platforms to entice new pairs to settle. He will also share some of what he has learned from satellite tagging over a dozen NH Ospreys & following their journeys to South America and back.
 
July 22 – Dave Govatski – Wildlife of the White Mountains
This illustrated program features the natural history of many of our iconic species such as black bear, moose, snowshoe hare, bobcat, & American marten. Dave will introduce us to insects, reptiles, amphibians, & birds that make our mountains their home. He will discuss trends in wildlife populations, such as range expansion and contraction, & provide tips on where and when to see wildlife.
 
July 29 – Jim Vernon – Geology of the Lakes Region
This talk will focus on geologic features of the New Hampshire Lakes Region. The talk will summarize millions of years of geologic history, from mountain building, to ancient volcanoes & seas, to ice ages that led to the landscape we see today.
 
August 5 – Chris Martin – Gray Ghosts and Old Fence Posts:  Searching for Northern Harriers
Sometimes called marsh hawks, state-endangered Northern Harriers hover & glide low over open fields & marshes while hunting voles, snakes, and frogs. Their low buoyant flight, upswept wings, & white rump patch are very distinctive. For more than three decades, NH Audubon raptor biologist Chris Martin has recruited, trained, & supervised an enthusiastic corps of volunteer field observers who monitor state endangered & threatened birds of prey.
 
August 12 – Mark Pokras – Wondrous and Strange Loons
Over the last 100+ years there’s been an amazing amount of research on Common Loons. But, nearly all of it has been looking at loons from the outside—studying their behavior, migrations, & vocalizations. Tonight we’ll discuss how little is known about Common Loons from the inside—their anatomy & physiology—& describe some of the research challenges for the future.
 
August 19 – Jim Paruk – Loon Lessons: Uncommon Encounters with the Great Northern Diver
Jim Paruk is a Professor of Biology at St. Joseph’s College, in Maine, & has been studying Common Loons across North America for the past 28 years. His recent book,<u> Loon Lessons: Uncommon Encounters with the Great Northern Diver </u>(University of Minnesota Press), that takes an evolutionary approach to understanding their behavior & life history strategy.
 
August 26 – John Rockwood & Harry Vogel – End of Season Report           
Wildlife photographer John Rockwood will share photos & video of local loon families from two southern NH lakes, from arrival through August. LPC Senior Biologist/Executive Director, Harry Vogel, will present trends in New Hampshire’s loon population & preliminary statistics on how loons fared in NH this year.