American Robins. Photo by Mary Keith
Birds Do It, Bees Do It – Migrate, of Course, with Speaker Mary Keith
Socializing: 6:45 p.m.
Meeting starts: 7 p.m.
Program starts: 7:15 p.m.
About the presentation: Mary will discuss why, where, and when birds migrate. She will also explain how we are finding out so much more about migration, and how birds know where they are going.
Mary Keith
About the speaker: Mary Keith has been birding most of her life. She grew up in rural Pennsylvania where she spent most weekends in the state parks and woods. She has lived and birded in Florida since 1992. Her degrees have nothing to do with birds (Chemistry and Food Science), but they have supported a life of work around the world where she managed to watch birds as well. She retired from the University of Florida Extension Service and now has more time to lead bird walks for the Tampa Audubon Society (TAS), watch birds, monitor Bald Eagle nests and wading bird colonies, count Florida Scrub Jays, help organize the Florida Birding and Nature Festival, and participate in Christmas Bird Counts. She gives talks to various groups around the area about birds and birding, including helping with the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute program that TAS teaches annually. She has served as a mentor for Audubon Florida’s Conservation Leadership Initiative, and worked with several local university students or projects. She was president of TAS and currently is serving as the organization’s chair of the Conservation Committee. In 2023 she was elected to the Board of Directors for Audubon Florida as a regional representative for the Gulf Coast region.
Rufous Hummingbird. Photo by: Sandy Reed