Monthly Programs
Our monthly programs feature a guest speaker presenting a subject of interest to those who love birds. We have nine programs a year (no program in July, August and December), on the second Thursday of the month, and they are open to all. Drop by and enjoy the company as we all learn something new from our featured guest. See our Calendar or Events List for upcoming programs.
Next General Meeting Program: Thursday, February 13, 2025
Under the Surface: Bird Bones and Skeletons with David Lukas
The program is online only. Please register on this event’s page.
Tune in at 7 p.m. for announcements and business. The program begins at 7:30 p.m.
Birds are exquisitely designed creatures of the air, but have you ever thought about how the underlying structure of a bird’s bones and skeletons help birds move and fly? Flight is not just a matter of flapping your wings harder, it actually requires many special adaptations and compromises that impact all aspects of a bird’s life.
In this presentation, we will learn about some of the fascinating adaptations we can observe when we look at a bird’s skull, beak, eyes, wings, legs, and feet. Many of these features are hidden by feathers, yet they uniquely shape every aspect of what we see when we watch birds. Expect to come away with a new understanding and appreciation for the hidden mechanics of how birds eat, sleep, and move, along with an understanding of how feathers interact with a bird’s skeletal structure.
The program is free and open to the public. Register to attend on Zoom. You will receive the link when you sign up.
This illustration of a Rock Dove's skeletal head features the long, skinny bone called the jugal, the forward motion of the jugal pushes the upper beak upward. The result of this jaw mechanism is that one muscle pulling down on the lower jaw of a bird triggers a series of mechanical movements that opens the upper bill at the same time.
Source: Manual of Ornithology by Proctor and Lynch
Photo by David Lukas
Scleral rings may help support inner structures of the eye.... Animals that move rapidly, have the most robust scleral rings, indicating that these thick rings are used to protect the eye during intense changes in pressure in the air and in the water.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scleral_Ring
David Lukas is a well-known naturalist and author based in the Methow Valley. He has written seven books and contributed chapters to another 40 books on a range of nature topics. He has also led thousands of natural history tours, classes and workshops.
See the Gallery of Past Programs below
Click to read the descriptions and many have links to the video or audio recording
Banner Photo: Jann Ledbetter