Weminuche Audubon meeting to explore John Martin Reservoir

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By Jean Zirnhelt | Weminuche Audubon Society

Members of the Weminuche Audubon Society invite you to join us for an exciting program at our March chapter meeting on Wednesday, March 16, at 6:30 p.m. 

This month we will explore an important bird habitat located in southeastern Colorado, John Martin Reservoir. Almost 400 species of resident and migratory birds have been documented spending time at this site on the high desert prairie near the small town of Hasty. Our presenter for the evening will be Dr. Sara Harrod.

Harrod grew up near San Antonio, Texas, and was introduced to birdwatching by a neighbor while in high school. She attended Texas A&M University and earned a bachelor of science in zoology. She went on to study songbirds while earning a Master of Science in wildlife ecology from Texas State University and a Ph.D. in environmental sciences from Arkansas State University. She is now a natural resources specialist with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at John Martin Reservoir, where she leads the piping plover and interior least tern monitoring program and conducts public outreach.

Harrod will be speaking about two of John Martin’s imperiled shorebirds, the piping plover and interior least tern. The presentation will include a brief overview of John Martin Reservoir, the biology of plovers and terns, conservation issues these birds face, what the Army Corps of Engineers and its partners are doing and ways people can help protect nesting plovers and terns.

This meeting will be held online via Zoom. The link to join will be posted at the events listing on our website, weminucheaudubon.org. Meeting virtually will allow us to hear from our presenter in eastern Colorado who would not be able to join us in person.

Audubon events are open to the public and we welcome all interested parties to join us in learning about these fascinating birds and area.