georgia aUDUBON mONTHLY mEETINGS
Join us for our free monthly meetings every 4th Sunday of the month from 3:30 to 5:30 PM at Manuel's Tavern located at 602 N. Highland Ave., NE., Atlanta, GA 30307. Our monthly meetings are free and open to the public. Please join us! Free parking is readily available to the south of the building. Food and drinks are available for purchase.
In-person Georgia Audubon Monthly Meetings are currently on hold due to COVID-19. We are offering many of these programs as webinars instead. Please check out our Digital Resources page to see recordings of past webinars and to learn about upcoming Virtual events. We look forward to resuming in-person events when it is safe to do so!
Webinar: Georgia Audubon July Monthly Meeting
Sunday, July 25, at 3:30 PM
Free
Plastic Pollution and the Albatross of Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge
Midway Atoll is home to the world’s largest breeding colony of albatross. It is also where the largest nesting colonies of Laysan and Black-footed Albatross are found. Previous data show that nearly 100% of albatross chicks at Midway have plastic pollution in their digestive tract. Since the 1970’s the amount (weight) of this plastic load shows an increasing trend. Plastic pollution has been identified as a likely and problematic source of organochlorines (and possibly heavy metals) for these two seabirds. Both seabird species feed in ocean areas with exceptionally large concentrations of plastic pollution (due to “gyres” occurring near the breeding site), and they transfer this contaminant containing plastic directly to their developing young through regurgitation of meals throughout the annual breeding season. The albatross has become a poster child for the dangers of increasing levels of plastic pollution in our oceans.
About the presenter: Wayne Sentman is the director of conservation travel programs at Oceanic Society, the oldest marine focused non-profit in America, and is also the President of the Friends of Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge having lived on Midway from 1998-2002. Wayne completed his Master’s degree at Harvard University conducting research on the potential impacts of marine plastic pollution on the albatross populations at Midway Atoll. At Oceanic Society, Wayne designs mission-driven expeditions that support conservation of marine species and habitats, and that strive to deliver transformational experiences to motivate pro-ocean behavior changes.
Sunday, July 25, at 3:30 PM
Free
Plastic Pollution and the Albatross of Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge
Midway Atoll is home to the world’s largest breeding colony of albatross. It is also where the largest nesting colonies of Laysan and Black-footed Albatross are found. Previous data show that nearly 100% of albatross chicks at Midway have plastic pollution in their digestive tract. Since the 1970’s the amount (weight) of this plastic load shows an increasing trend. Plastic pollution has been identified as a likely and problematic source of organochlorines (and possibly heavy metals) for these two seabirds. Both seabird species feed in ocean areas with exceptionally large concentrations of plastic pollution (due to “gyres” occurring near the breeding site), and they transfer this contaminant containing plastic directly to their developing young through regurgitation of meals throughout the annual breeding season. The albatross has become a poster child for the dangers of increasing levels of plastic pollution in our oceans.
About the presenter: Wayne Sentman is the director of conservation travel programs at Oceanic Society, the oldest marine focused non-profit in America, and is also the President of the Friends of Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge having lived on Midway from 1998-2002. Wayne completed his Master’s degree at Harvard University conducting research on the potential impacts of marine plastic pollution on the albatross populations at Midway Atoll. At Oceanic Society, Wayne designs mission-driven expeditions that support conservation of marine species and habitats, and that strive to deliver transformational experiences to motivate pro-ocean behavior changes.
Wilson's Plover, by Dan Vickers.
August Monthly Meeting
Georgia's Coastal Bird Conservation
Sunday, August 22, at 3:30 PM
FREE
Join us for a panel on the coastal avian conservation happening in Georgia!
This panel will feature Dr. Abby Sterling, shorebird biologist with Manomet, Tim Keyes, wildlife biologist with the Coastal Resources Division of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Adam Betuel, Conservation Director for Georgia Audubon, and Sergio Sabat-Bonilla, Georgia Sea Grant Fellow with Georgia Audubon.
Georgia's Coastal Bird Conservation
Sunday, August 22, at 3:30 PM
FREE
Join us for a panel on the coastal avian conservation happening in Georgia!
This panel will feature Dr. Abby Sterling, shorebird biologist with Manomet, Tim Keyes, wildlife biologist with the Coastal Resources Division of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Adam Betuel, Conservation Director for Georgia Audubon, and Sergio Sabat-Bonilla, Georgia Sea Grant Fellow with Georgia Audubon.
Save the Date for 2021 Holiday Party & annual Meeting
We are planning to host our annual Holiday Party and Annual Meeting as an IN PERSON event at Manuel's Tavern on Sunday, December 5, from 3:00 to 5:00 PM. Look for more information here or in future issues or our Wingbars or BirdBuzz newsletters. We can't wait to see everyone!
