Sierra Foothills Audubon Society’s April Meeting
What: Warblers
Who: Ed Harper
Where: Community Room, Nevada County Library, Maidu Avenue, Nevada City
When: April 3rd, 7:30 PM
Warblers comprise a diverse and alluring component of our avifauna. Better regarded for their beauty rather than their song, warblers are always a delight to encounter. Frequently an identification challenge, these small birds always engage our interest. For some species, the dazzling colors of the breeding season are replaced by challenging identifications in the fall. Their natural history is also remarkable and varied whether it be a unique foraging behavior or a peculiar nesting strategy. Some species strain our imagination by their daunting and prolonged migrations. Ed Harper will share his extensive experience and knowledge of this exciting group of birds through a series of appealing photos combined with a lively and informative presentation.
Ed Harper’s interest in birds goes back to his early childhood when he was growing up in Montana. It was there his interest and love of natural history blossomed. Always a teacher at heart, Ed taught mathematics at American River College (ARC) from 1969 until his retirement in 2003. With his passion for birding, Ed has also taught a variety of classes in field ornithology for the ARC Extension. He designed and taught many popular classes including bird song, migration, introduction to the birds of the Sacramento area, and various classes on field identification for birds of prey, shorebirds, and gulls.
An experienced world traveler, Ed Harper has traveled to all the continents in search of birds. An avid photographer, he has photographed around 2000 species of birds. Some of his photos are found in books and periodicals whereas other images highlight talks and slide lectures. In North America alone, he has photographed over 750 species of birds. Starting out as a tour leader for the Massachusetts Audubon Society in 1981, Ed now operates Sandpiper Journeys with his wife, Susan Scott. Together they have conducted many birding and natural history tours throughout the world.
