DATES: Oct 14, 21, 28, & Nov 4, 11, 18

LOCATION: New Life Church, 28 Tracey Lane, Collingwood

TIME: 10:00 am - 12:00 pm

COURSE FEE: $30

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Birds in Our Lives
Peter Middleton

Oct 14: The World of Birds

This lecture will trace the long thread of evolution which leads from the primordial landscapes and oceans of pre-history to the emergence of the species that span the globe today.

Oct 21: Birds and Human Culture

Birds have fed, warmed, inspired and enriched the human reality over the centuries. This lecture will explore the intimate connection between ourselves and the birds around us.

Oct 28: The Lives of Birds

Birds are the most widely distributed vertebrates on the planet. This lecture will look at the physical and behavioural adaptations which have enabled birds to survive, in an ever-changing world of seasons and environmental constraints.

Nov 4: What of the Future?

As human populations continue to explode, the impacts of our species upon the planet’s ecology is increasingly one of change and devastation. This lecture will explore some of the threats, research and conservation efforts which are now being applied to the future preservation of bird species on the planet.

Nov 11: Birdwatching

Birding is recognized as one of the fastest growing recreational hobbies in North America.  This lecture will introduce the basic equipment, field guides and observation skills required to enter the field.

Nov 18: Avian Celebrations

This final lecture will address several subjects that have not yet been covered, including birdsong and how it is produced, nests and how they have evolved, important birding areas and endangered species.  It will conclude with a celebration of the unique gift of birds in our lives.

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Peter Middleton is a retired outdoor education teacher and principal. He is also a respected field ornithologist who has contributed to many projects including the Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas, North America Breeding Bird Surveys, Grey-Bruce Records Committee and Endangered Species Recovery Programs. He is currently president of the Owen Sound Field Naturalists.  Since retiring in 1998, he has led tours to many areas of the globe, to observe birds, animals and plants, and interpret natural environments. His lecture to GTLLI on Antarctica in September 2006 was extremely well received.