Posted on January 15, 2018 at 03:57:28 PM by Ken MacDonald
Five Amigos by Ken MacDonald, on Flickr
We're just 4 days away from the January Meeting of the Midland-Penetanguishene Field Naturalists Thurs. Jan. 18, 2017 7:30 PM Wye Marsh Wildlife Centre
MPFN Members FREE; Non-members and guests are asked to consider making a $5 donation
Our Guest Speakers
The Nature BFFs
(that's text speak for Best Friends Forever)
Their topic: A South Dakota Nature Safari
Ian Cook, Alex Mills, Mike Ferguson, Chris Evans and Mike Melius like nothing better than to explore nature in each other's fine and knowledgeable company. They will tell us of their recent safari in the Great Plains, the Badlands and the Black Hills of South Dakota, the Ontario Rainy River District as well as their search in Michigan for the elusive Kirtlands Warbler. We're not exactly sure how many of the BFFs will be on hand for this tag team presentation. Mike Melius lives in South Dakota, so we'll be very surprised if he shows up, Mike Ferguson has a bit of a commute from the GTA, so he may be weather-dependent. Ian, Alex and Chris are all from the Barrie area and stalwart members of the Brereton Field Naturalists. So we're counting on them.
Here's bios of all 5 BFFs
Michael Melius
I grew up on a farm in eastern South Dakota, USA, and have been a SD resident most of my life. Having prairie around me all my life has made it my native landscape. I studied physical sciences in high school and college but eventually found biology interested me more. I started birding in 1978 when some Gray Jays flew into a campsite in the Black Hills, looking for handouts. Moving to the Black Hills area in 1982, I started exploring the extensive shortgrass prairies around there, which sparked an interest in botany which I've kept up to this day.
Mike Ferguson
Although an avid outdoorsperson from my teens, with an interest in knowing the names of the things around me, and with a university education in zoology, career and family took me in other directions. I have returned to a keen interest in nature, particularly birding, since 2010. Originally from London Ontario, I have lived in Oshawa for the past 25 years.
Ian Cook
Ian Cook has been a naturalist since he was 6 years old growing up in London Ont. Over the years birds, fish, flowers, reptiles, insects and photography have vied for his attention. He has lived in Barrie, Ont. For almost thirty years and is a past president of Barrie’s Brereton Field Naturalists Club, and has travelled extensively pursuing his interests.
Alex Mills
Alex Mills has been a Simcoe County naturalist since before he was a teen. His interests in natural history are broad, and he has spent some of his adult life as a professional ornithologist. He is currently a biology professor at York University, where he teaches courses in population ecology, evolution, migration, and conservation biology and where he continues to research bird migration. He is currently President of Barrie's Brereton Field Naturalists' Club.
Chris Evans
Chris Evans retired in 2012 after 35 years working as an Electrical Engineer with Hydro One. He’s an avid naturalist, nature photographer, canoeist and yoga instructor. Currently he is the Past President of the Brereton Field Naturalists’ Club (BFNClub), and is their Ontario Nature “Nature Network Rep”. He has represented the BFNClub on advisory and review panels for the Minesing Wetlands Management Plan. He is a regular volunteer leader at many Nature Conservancy of Canada Butterfly and Dragonfly counts. Since 2011 he has coordinated and compiled the Barrie Christmas Bird Counts. Chris has partnered with the NVCA in the Annual Christmas Bird Count for Kids since its inception in 2013.
As usual we will be fundraising by selling our 50/50 tickets and our MPFN Magic Bean Soup.
MPFN Memberships are Family $45, Single $25, Under 30 FREE
Please invite your friends and neighbours to try out the MPFN. Nature needs Naturalists.
Once again we will be running our GREAT NATURE BOOK SALE. You can bring along any used nature books you'd like to donate. Books donated will be resold for what the buyer thinks they're worth with all proceeds going to club operations.
Don't forget to Lug-A-Mug for refreshments after the meeting.
Thanks to Ellen Dennig for providing name tags for all members. Don't forget to pick yours up on the way into the meeting and then leave it in the box on your way out.
See You Thursday Night
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Contact Bob Bowles if you have questions about the Simcoe County Bird and Nature Board
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