Program Topic

Amy Spencer is the Executive Director and Co-Founder of the Los Angeles Bat Rescue (LABR). She has over 15 years of direct animal care experience and regularly lectures on the natural history and conservation of bat species. She is passionate about working to ensure a safe space for LA’s bat populations so that they can co-exist with our urban community now and in the future.

Los Angeles Bat Rescue was created to address the huge absence of bat rehabilitation in Los Angeles County. Our primary objective is to rescue, heal, then release. Other wildlife agencies within Los Angeles either will not accept bats or immediately euthanize them upon intake. LABR is also committed to educating the public with science-backed, fact-based information on bats and how they can safely be members of our community.

Breaking away from the South Bay Wildlife Rehab in 2023, two volunteers founded the Los Angeles Bat Rescue(2024). LABR is now a small, 100% volunteer-run, 501(c)(3) permitted by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and the US Department of Agriculture. We are biologists, licensed rehabilitators, educators, students, and corporate professionals from a wide range of backgrounds, united by a deep appreciation for Southern California’s native bat species. Please look for more information on our organization and on the bats of our community on our website at www.losangelesbatrescue.org.

Program Format

Hybrid meeting - It is your preference: Join in person or online.  

In person:

• Address: First Friends Church, 13205 Philadelphia St., Whittier.

• Entrance: The entrance is on Washington Ave.

• Parking: Parking is available in the parking area behind the church and along Washington Ave.

Online: please RSVP here and we will send you a link to the meeting.

The program is free and open to the public.

Program Topic

Dr. Kathleen Barry will talk about the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers project on the Whittier Narrows Dam Safety Modification.

Kathleen has been a member of the Whittier Area Audubon since 1991. She has served on the Board of Directors for many years and is currently the Conservation Chair.

She has represented Whittier Area Audubon's interests and concerns regarding the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers project on the Whittier Narrows Dam Safety Modification since late 2021. The USACE has created a new 105 acre habitat in the Whittier Narrows Natural Area. WAAS members have been actively involved in supporting this new habitat and Dr. Barry will talk about this project and restored habitat.

Kathleen Barry is a Family Physician who practiced in Whittier until her recent retirement. 

Program Format

Hybrid meeting - It is your preference: Join in person or online.  

In person:

• Address: First Friends Church, 13205 Philadelphia St., Whittier.

• Entrance: The entrance is on Washington Ave.

• Parking: Parking is available in their parking area behind the church and along Washington Ave.

Online: please RSVP here and we will send you a link to the meeting.

The program is free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be served.

To cap off our Chapter year, join us at the Community Center to share food and photos.

Bring an appetizer, main dish, or dessert to share. Bring your own plate, utensils, and cup.

If you would like to share your favorite photos from this year, bring a thumb drive with up to 25 photos.

The program is in-person only.

NEW LOCATION! This year our meeting location has changed.

• Address: First Friends Church, 13205 Philadelphia St., Whittier.

• Entrance: The entrance is on Washington Ave.

• Parking: Parking is available in the parking area behind the church and along Washington Ave.

The program is free and open to the public.

Program Topic

Nancy Fluharty, Development Director, and Allyson Brooks, Community Engagement Manager of the Sierra Hills Foothills Conservancy will be our speakers for the May 21, 2026 meeting. 

They will talk about the high impact work they have been doing. They will present virtually. 

The grasslands, foothills, and forests between Yosemite and Kings Canyon National Parks provide land for farms and ranches, a home for native plants and wildlife, and a source of clean water. Sierra Foothill Conservancy honors our natural and cultural heritage by protecting these resources and ensuring that present and future generations will continue to experience and enjoy the land in this region.

SFC is a non-profit land trust, rooted in the local community, protecting open spaces for preservation and for future generations.

About the Presenters

Allyson Brooks grew up in the Sierra Nevada Mountains near Shaver Lake where she developed a passion for everything outdoors; from land conservation and studying biology to physical activity. Most of the endeavors that Allyson has chosen throughout her life remain to involve science, conservation, immersion in the outdoors, and movement. She was a whitewater river guide on the Kings River for four years. She was a zookeeper and environmental educator. She has taught science to all levels of students, including Junior College Biology. Unfortunately, Allyson and her family lost her childhood and current home during the Creek Fire of the Sierra Nevada in 2020. This devastation has sparked an interest in helping to protect the mountains that she loves by volunteering as the volunteer coordinator for Creek Fire recover efforts (erosion control, fuels reduction, plantings, etc.).

Allyson received her master’s degree in a combination of Biology and Education and her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology, Ecology Option from the California State University, Fresno.

Allyson has been the Community Engagement Manager for Sierra Foothill Conservancy for 8 years. It is her dream job! She runs the education, outreach, and volunteer programs, assists in development, is highly involved in Tribal partnerships, and is a land steward. Some of her duties include running SFC’s youth field trip program, all hikes and classes, events, volunteer days, outreach presentations, coordinating all docent activity and involvement, Tribal relationships, community partnerships, educational partnerships, grant-writing, fundraising, and stewardship tasks such as fence-building and repair, trail maintenance, preserve maintenance, rangeland program assistance, and any other on-the-land tasks necessary for ecological stewardship of SFC properties.

Allyson lives with her two incredible children. She loves cycling, hiking, camping, puzzles, and anything she can do outdoors, especially with her family and friends! She joined the SFC team in 2018 and is thrilled to be a part of protecting the land that she considers home!

Nancy Fluharty was born and raised in Mariposa, CA where she spent her childhood exploring the foothills and learning about the local plants and wildlife. She moved back to Mariposa in December of 2015 after spending fifteen years in education. She is thrilled to call the foothills home once again and feels honored to be part of SFC - a dynamic, meaningful organization. She is passionate about conservation because of the unique balance and sustainability it offers to local working landscapes, and looks forward to helping build even stronger ties between community members and the land. In her free time Nancy enjoys making pottery, hiking, trail-running, reading, and spending time with her husband and two kids. In addition to serving as Sierra Foothill Conservancy’s Development Director, Nancy assists with SFC's outdoor and youth education programs and community conservation initiatives.

Program Format

Hybrid meeting - It is your preference: Join in person or online.  

In person: NEW LOCATION! This year our meeting location has changed.

• Address: First Friends Church, 13205 Philadelphia St., Whittier.

• Entrance: The entrance is on Washington Ave.

• Parking: Parking is available in the parking area behind the church and along Washington Ave.

Online: please RSVP here and we will send you a link to the meeting.

The program is free and open to the public.

Program Topic

Deanna Woirhaye will present "Moments in Nature: How I became a certified Naturalist."

With so much hardship and violence in the news lately, Deanna Woirhaye, an award-winning photographer in Whittier's art scene, feels it's vital to remember that beauty and peace still endure. Whether by stepping directly into nature or exploring the world through art, one can find the tranquility we desperately need to recharge. In her upcoming presentation, Deanna will share her interest in bringing more well-being into her community through the art of photography, the pathway that led to Deanna's becoming a certified California Naturalist.

Program Format

Hybrid meeting - It is your preference: Join in person or online.  

In person: NEW LOCATION! This year our meeting location has changed.

• Address: First Friends Church, 13205 Philadelphia St., Whittier.

• Entrance: The entrance is on Washington Ave.

• Parking: Parking is available in the parking area behind the church and along Washington Ave.

Online: please RSVP here and we will send you a link to the meeting.

The program is free and open to the public.

Program Topic

California Condors - Back from the Brink: An introduction to this magnificent, critically-endangered species including a brief overview of the California Condor Recovery Program

This presentation will include natural history details about the critically-endangered California condor from their emergence during the Pleistocene through their decline and their eventual status as “extinct in the wild”.  The Condor Recovery Program, which has successfully reintroduced California Condors into the wild, will be discussed including captive breeding efforts, how the wild flock is managed, and ongoing threats.

About the presenter

Maria Montag is the Board President of Friends of California Condors Wild and Free, a non-profit that works in partnership with the US Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), who manage the two National Wildlife Refuges (NWR) northwest of Los Angeles that protect the historic nesting sites of the critically-endangered California Condors; Bitter Creek NWR and Hopper Mountain NWR.

She is also a USFWS Maintenance Volunteer performing defensible space activities on refuge. 

While not a trained biologist, she is an avid student of these birds and welcomes the opportunity to share her love of these fascinating birds with you today.

Program Format

Hybrid meeting - It is your preference: Join in person or online.  

In person: NEW LOCATION! This year our meeting location has changed.

• Address: First Friends Church, 13205 Philadelphia St., Whittier.

• Entrance: The entrance is on Washington Ave.

• Parking: Parking is available in the parking area behind the church and along Washington Ave.

Online: please RSVP here and we will send you a link to the meeting.

The program is free and open to the public.

Program Topic

Sandra von Arb, field biologist and co-author of the Dragonflies of California with Kathy Biggs will speak about Whittier’s Wonderful Dragonflies.

About the presenters

Kathy Biggs has been a nature lover all her life. When she built a wildlife pond in the backyard in 1996, dragonflies arrived and she found her true passion. Wanting to share her passion, she developed websites for her wildlife ponds, and California Dragonflies. As her interests grew, she developed a Southwest Dragonflies website and recently Dragonflies and Damselflies of Colima, Jalisco and Nayarit, Mexico.

The websites matured and grew into Kathy's becoming the author of California’s first Dragonfly Guide, Common Dragonflies of California, the Southwest’s first dragonfly guide, Common Dragonflies of the Southwest, also a Dragonfly Color and Learn Book with illustrations by Tim Manolis. She has developed a  completely interactive eGuide, Dragonflies of the Greater Southwest and her latest publication Dragonflies (Anisoptera) of California which she co-authored with Sandra von Arb. 

Kathy surveys for dragonflies in California and the greater southwest. She manages the eGroup CalOdes and is a member of several other Odonate groups. She tracks flight data and distribution for California and the greater southwest. Kathy is a member and Vetter for Odonata Central, iNaturalist and also for Sandra's Western Odonata Facebook page. She loves to teach about the Dragonflies.

Sandra von Arb has been a professional wildlife biologist focusing on sensitive and endangered species in northern California, southern Oregon, and northern Illinois for 30 years. She is a co-founder of Biodiversity Education and Research Foundation (BEAR Fdn) whose mission is to foster ecological stewardship through science and education. She discovered her passion for dragonflies surveying for the endangered Hine's Emerald Dragonfly in northern Illinois over 10 years ago. She brought that passion back to California and Kathy Biggs took her under her wing as a mentor which eventually led to co-authoring the guide book Dragonflies (Anisoptera) of California.

Program Format

Hybrid meeting - It is your preference: Join in person or online.  

In person: NEW LOCATION! This year our meeting location has changed.

• Address: First Friends Church, 13205 Philadelphia St., Whittier.

• Entrance: The entrance is on Washington Ave.

• Parking: Parking is available in the parking area behind the church and along Washington Ave.

Online: please RSVP here and we will send you a link to the meeting.

The program is free and open to the public.

Program Topic

Cristhian Mace, Natural Areas Biologist with the Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation, will be our speaker.

The 2025 Eaton Fire and subsequent winter storm surges dramatically reshaped Eaton Canyon Natural Area, altering more than 190 acres of habitat at the wild land urban interface. 

Mace will share how fire and flooding, long-standing ecological forces in the San Gabriel Mountains, are unfolding under modern pressures such as climate change, invasive species, and heavy recreational use. 

Drawing on post fire baseline studies using vegetation assessments, iNaturalist, and eBird, the presentation will highlight early signs of native plant and wildlife recovery alongside areas heavily impacted by sedimentation , channel migration, and erosion. These findings are guiding restoration priorities, invasive species management, and long term monitoring efforts that incorporate traditional ecological knowledge and community science, offering lessons for protecting bird habitat and biodiversity across Southern California fire adapted landscapes.

The presentation will be given in person.

Program Format

Hybrid meeting - It is your preference: Join in person or online.  

In person: NEW LOCATION! This year our meeting location has changed.

• Address: First Friends Church, 13205 Philadelphia St., Whittier.

• Entrance: The entrance is on Washington Ave.

• Parking: Parking is available in the parking area behind the church and along Washington Ave.

Online: please RSVP here and we will send you a link to the meeting.

The program is free and open to the public.

Program Topic

This is your chance to show your favorite photos from this year. Bring a thumb drive with your photos and some holiday goodies to share. (Kindly limit your photos to 25.)

Program Format

In person only.

NEW LOCATION! This year our meeting location has changed.

• Address: First Friends Church, 13205 Philadelphia St., Whittier.

• Entrance: The entrance is on Washington Ave.

• Parking: Parking is available in the parking area behind the church and along Washington Ave.

The program is free and open to the public.

Program Topic

Robb Hamilton will speak about local “patch” birding in the Colorado Lagoon in Long Beach.

“Patch birding” develops a different mindset — focusing on one local spot, which may not be much of a well-known “hotspot,” rather than driving long distances looking for birds where all the other birders go. This allows birders to achieve good coverage throughout the year, and across multiple years, to capture inter-annual variability. 

Robb will share his work on the illustrated checklist in eBird for the Colorado Lagoon, and demonstrate the useful information it provides for birders who are not familiar with the location.

Robb has been working on establishing baseline conditions before the major change of completing the open channel between the lagoon and Alamitos Bay, so that he can evaluate the extent to which the new channel and associated landscaping/restoration affects the birdlife in the lagoon.

Program Format

Hybrid meeting - It is your preference: Join in person or online.  

In person: NEW LOCATION! This year our meeting location has changed.

• Address: First Friends Church, 13205 Philadelphia St., Whittier.

• Entrance: The entrance is on Washington Ave.

• Parking: Parking is available in the parking area behind the church and along Washington Ave.

Online: please RSVP here and we will send you a link to the meeting.

The program is free and open to the public.

Program Topic

Journey to California's Channel Islands, often called the "Galapagos of North America"will be presented by Tim Lopez, Interpretive Park Ranger and Environmental Educator at the Whittier Area Audubon's Meeting on Thursday, October 16, 2025 at 7:30 p.m. at First Friends Church, Fellowship Hall, 13205 Philadelphia St., Whittier, CA. 90601.(562)698-9805 The speaker will present virtually but it will be a hybrid meeting where it can be watched live on a screen in the meeting room as well. The parking lot is in the alley off of Philadelphia St. behind the Church or there is street parking. 

This presentation explores the natural and cultural history of these remarkable islands--where unique wildlife, ancient Chumash heritage, and dramatic landscapes come together. From towering sea cliffs to hidden kelp forests, discover why the Channel islands are one of the most biologically diverse and culturally rich places in the United States., and learn how their story continues to shape our understanding of wild places.

Tim Lopez is a park ranger and storyteller from Southern California. His work has taken him from the historic sites and old growth forests of New York City to the remote beauty of the Channel islands. With a background in education and storytelling, Tim specialized in connecting people to the natural world through history, and personal narrative. Whether guiding a hike, facilitating a workshop, or sharing stories on stage, stimulating brings a passion to landscapes, wildlife, and the human stories that shape our parks.

Program Format

Hybrid meeting - It is your preference: Join in person or online.  

In person: NEW LOCATION! This year our meeting location has changed.

• Address: First Friends Church, 13205 Philadelphia St., Whittier.

• Entrance: The entrance is on Washington Ave.

• Parking: Parking is available in the parking area behind the church and along Washington Ave.

Online: please RSVP here and we will send you a link to the meeting.

The program is free and open to the public.

Program Topic

Our own Linda Leroy will be sharing her Birds of Whittier Narrows. For all who have seen Linda’s photos at photo share events, her bird photography is excellent and she is a regular presence in the Narrows. 

Program Format

Hybrid meeting - It is your preference: Join in person or online.  

In person: NEW LOCATION! This year our meeting location has changed.

• Address: First Friends Church, 13205 Philadelphia St., Whittier.

• Entrance: The entrance is on Washington Ave.

• Parking: Parking is available in their parking area behind the church and along Washington Ave.

Online: please RSVP here and we will send you a link to the meeting.

The program is free and open to the public.

IMPORTANT: THIS MEETING WILL TAKE PLACE ON WEDNESDAY, JUNE 18TH.

To cap off our Chapter year, join us at the Community Center to share food and photos.

Bring an appetizer, main dish, or dessert to share. Bring your own plate, utensils, and cup.

If you would like to share your favorite photos from this year, bring a thumb drive with up to 25 photos.

The program is in-person only and will take place at the Whittier Community Center, located at 7630 Washington Ave. Whittier.

The program is free and open to the public.

Program Topic

"Modern Conservation: Exploration, Education, Action" will be the topic presented by Los Angeles Zoo and Botanic Gardens docent, John L. Peel at our meeting on Thursday, May 15, 2025 at 7:30 p.m.

Peel provides zoo tours for all ages. He provides lectures and multi-media presentations on reptiles, mammals, birds, and bugs. He has visited 38 zoos and wildlife rescue programs across the country. He is also a professional part-time animal keeper in the Enrichment Department at the Zoo, researching, designing and building custom apparatus that promotes health and well-being for every species. John is the board parliamentarian of the Association  of Zoo and Aquarium Docents and Volunteers, an international organization.

Peel started rescuing injured, captured, and mistreated wild animals more than 50 years ago and continues to assist in the homing and relocation of snakes.   

He has also been a docent for the Puente Hills Habitat Authority, guiding tours exploring the flora and fauna in California.

John is a graduate of UCLA and Cal State University Fullerton. He worked with families, adolescents, and children in direct service and administrative positions in various social service academic, faith-based, and health care organizations for nearly 40 years. John founded two adoption agencies during his 29 years as CEO.

Program Format

Hybrid meeting - It is your preference: Join in person or online.  

In person: the meeting will take place at the Whittier Community Center, located at 7630 Washington Ave. Whittier. Please wear a mask.

Online: please RSVP here and we will send you a link to the meeting.

The program is free and open to the public.

Program Topic

Scott Rashid will present on the Northern Goshawk. The Northern Goshawk is a large and powerful hawk that inhabits the mountains of the west. In March these magnificent birds, about the size of a Common Raven, begin courtship in the mountains above 8000 feet. They construct large stick nests near the tops of large aspen, ponderosa or lodgepole pine. The female lays two to three light blue eggs and feeds her nestlings as the male delivers prey. 

These birds’ prey upon a wide variety of items. These massive hawks are fearless while pursuing their prey through the forest. They do this with impressive speed and power, often overtaking their prey in short bursts of powerful flight.

During the program you will see images and videos of these truly impressive birds in their preferred habitat. You will learn how they prepare their prey for consumption, how they feed their young, how they defend their nest and young and much more.

Program Format

Hybrid meeting - It is your preference: Join in person or online.  

In person: the meeting will take place at the Whittier Community Center, located at 7630 Washington Ave. Whittier. Please wear a mask.

Online: please RSVP here and we will send you a link to the meeting.

The program is free and open to the public.

Program Topic

"After the Fires," will be the topic presented by Eric Strauss and Lisa Fimiani, both from the Center for Urban Resilience (CURes) at Loyola Marymount University.

With the aftermath of the January fires still with us, we are going to examine the impact of fire--and the almost constant threat of fire -- on our region. Eric Strauss is the executive director of the Center for Urban Resilience (CURes) at Loyola Marymount University. He is an expert in urban ecology and studies ways humans and nature can better coexist.

Our co-speaker is Lisa Fimiani, who is The Drollinger Environmental Leadership Fellow with Loyola Marymount University's Center for Urban Resilience (CURes). She will talk about landscaping to lessen the risk of fires. She is a certified Master Gardener and Restoration Specialist.

Program Format

Hybrid meeting - It is your preference: Join in person or online.  

In person: the meeting will take place at the Whittier Community Center, located at 7630 Washington Ave. Whittier. Please wear a mask.

Online: please RSVP here and we will send you a link to the meeting.

The program is free and open to the public.

Program Topic

Scott Rashid has been studying small owls for more than 30 years. His presentation, "Small Mountain Owls" covers the natural history of the Northern Pygmy, Northern Saw-whet, Flammulated, and Boreal Owls that inhabit the mountains of the west. During the presentation, he will be discussing teach species courtship activities, vocalizations, nest site preferences, preferred prey, egg laying, young, and post fledgling activities.

Scott has had the Northern Pygmy-Owls, Flammulated Owls, and Northern Saw-whet Owls nesting in the same tree in different years. which shows that in Colorado these three specie prefer the same habitat. 

During the presentation, we will see images and videos of each species' that only Scott has found as he has documented the first Flammuated Owl nest and Boreal Owl nest in the history of Rocky Mountain National Park.

Program Format

Hybrid meeting - It is your preference: Join in person or online.  

In person: the meeting will take place at the Whittier Community Center, located at 7630 Washington Ave. Whittier. Please wear a mask.

Online: please RSVP here and we will send you a link to the meeting.

The program is free and open to the public.

Program Topic

Bruce Everett will be sharing his photos and stories of the Puente Hills Habitat.

Program Format

Hybrid meeting - It is your preference: Join in person or online.  

In person: the meeting will take place at the Whittier Community Center, located at 7630 Washington Ave. Whittier. Please wear a mask.

Online: please RSVP here and we will send you a link to the meeting.

The program is free and open to the public.

Program Topic

This is your chance to show your favorite photos from this year. Bring a thumb drive with your photos and some holiday goodies to share. (Kindly limit your photos to 25.)

Program Format

In person only.

The meeting will take place at the Whittier Community Center, located at 7630 Washington Ave. Whittier.

The program is free and open to the public.

Program Topic

Citizen Science in Mindo, Ecuador will be presented by Whittier Audubon member, Susana Guerrero. Last summer, Susana participated as a citizen science volunteer in Mindo, Ecuador on a bird banding project. Susana has participated in previous citizen science projects involving avian studies, this is her fifth. She will present photos taken while participating on the project and share details about her experience.

Program Format

Hybrid meeting - It is your preference: Join in person or online.  

In person: the meeting will take place at the Whittier Community Center, located at 7630 Washington Ave. Whittier. Please wear a mask.

Online: please RSVP here and we will send you a link to the meeting.

The program is free and open to the public.

Program Topic

The presentation highlights updates about the Habitat Authority's restoration, preservation, wildfire preparedness and how it serves the local communities. Now in its 30th year as an agency, its financial challenges will be discussed as well, along with information about Measure PH which was unanimously put on the November election ballot by the Habitat Authority's Board of Directors for consideration by voters.

https://www.habitatauthority.org/measureph/

Bios

Michelle Mariscal is the ecologist for the Puente Hills Habitat Preservation Authority (Habitat Authority). She has a Master’s degree in Ecology from the University of California Riverside. Her responsibilities include coordinating the ecological activities of the Puente Hills Preserve and helping to monitor the long-term sustainable health of the Preserve’s natural resources in balance with recreation.

Andrea Gullo is the Executive Director of the Habitat Authority. She has 29 years' experience in natural land management, and previously worked for several park agencies including California State Parks. She holds a Master's degree in Urban Planning from UCLA. She has served as President and Board Member for several local and national nonprofit organizations. At the Habitat Authority, she is responsible for managing and/or supervising all agency activities.

Program Format

Hybrid meeting - It is your preference: Join in person or online.  

In person: the meeting will take place at the Whittier Community Center, located at 7630 Washington Ave. Whittier. Please wear a mask.

Online: please RSVP here and we will send you a link to the meeting.

The program is free and open to the public.

Program Topic

"Raptor Quest: Chasing America's Raptors" will be presented by Author and Photographer, Scott Harris.  Harris will present his program remotely but can be watched live on the screen at the Community Center as well as virtually.

Scott Harris spent 17 months chasing 53 raptors across 34 states--his version of a Raptor Big Year. The program will be about his adventures, misadventures, successes and failures. From 36-degree days, to ones over 100 degrees, to just getting on the bird just in time, to the frustrations of missing one by minutes. It's about the birds--of course--but it is also about the people he met, the things he learned and why he's already working on his next adventure.

Scott Harris will present a program of photographs of raptors and his journey to find 53 of the Raptors that call the Lower 48 States home. It took him 17 months and more than 100,000 miles of travel across 34 States. 

He is the author of a brand new book, "RaptorQuest, Chasing America's Raptors."

Harris is retired and lives with his wife in South Carolina.

Program Format

Hybrid meeting - It is your preference: Join in person or online.  

In person: the meeting will take place at the Whittier Community Center, located at 7630 Washington Ave. Whittier. Please wear a mask.

Online: please RSVP here and we will send you a link to the meeting.

The program is free and open to the public.

To cap off our Chapter year, join us at the Community Center to share food and photos.

Bring an appetizer, main dish, or dessert to share. Bring your own plate, utensils, and cup.

If you would like to share your favorite photos from this year, bring a thumb drive with up to 25 photos.

The program is open to the public and is free.

The program will take place at the Whittier Community Center, located at 7630 Washington Ave. Whittier.

Program Topic

Larry and Jennifer Schmahl will share stories and pictures from their recent nature tour of Northern Ecuador.

Program Format

Hybrid meeting - It is your preference: Join in person or online.  

In person: the meeting will take place at the Whittier Community Center, located at 7630 Washington Ave. Whittier. Please wear a mask.

Online: please RSVP here and we will send you a link to the meeting.

The program is free and open to the public.

Program Topic

John Beynon, past President of the Whittier Area Environmental Coalition (WAEC) will speak about the origins of  Earth Day and how Whittier celebrates it. The talk will be presented live at the community center, and you can join in person or online.

Beynon graduated with a decree in architecture from MIT in 1959.  He worked for UNESCO for 32 years, stationed in Paris and Bangkok. He was the lead architect of an international team tasked to introduce low-cost innovations in school design. During his final six years with UNESCO, he served as director of development cooperation in Education. Tasks included leading multi-disciplinary teams to assess and plan national educational systems including the Palestinian Authority and Bosnia Herzegovina. 

Since retirement in 1996 he headed the United Nations Association Chapters in Boulder, Colorado and Whittier. With the Whittier Chapter, the Whittier Area Environmental Coalition , WAEC was formed. WAEC is open to all Whittier Area organizations contributing to protect the environment. The Whittier Area Audubon Chapter is one of those organizations. The main event of the WAEC is the Earth Day event which will take place earlier in the week.

Program Format

Hybrid meeting - It is your preference: Join in person or online.  

In person: the meeting will take place at the Whittier Community Center, located at 7630 Washington Ave. Whittier. Please wear a mask.

Online: please RSVP here and we will send you a link to the meeting.

The program is free and open to the public.

Program Topic

"Dark-eyed Juncos: Adaptations to the Urban Environment" will be presented by Ellie Diamant and Samuel Bressler.

Ellie Diamant is a behavioral ecologist and evolutionary biologist interested in the interaction between human-caused environmental change and wildlife response, particularly birds in the built environment. She is currently a Zuckerman Postdoctoral Scholar at Ben Gurion University of the Negev. Previously she conducted her doctoral research at UCLA with Pamela Yeh. She explored how populations respond to multiple stressor interactions, with an emphasis on the pattern and process of behavioral and morphological adaptation in an urbanizing songbird, the Dark-eyed Junco, across Southern California cities.

Sam Bressler is a Biological Consultant with LSA Associates, Inc. specializing in the birds of Southern California. He is also a long-time volunteer and former board member of Sea and Sage Audubon Society and compiles the organization's Puente-Chino Hills Christmas Bird Count.

Dark-eyed Juncos are a model species to study urban adaptation and response in California. Diamant and Bressler will discuss their six years of research into how juncos are being shaped by the urban environment and the patterns and processes underlying their adaptation to the urban environment . Dark -eyed Juncos exhibit differences and similarities in morphological evolution across Southern California , potentially in relation to behavioral innovation. Behaviorally, urban juncos have lower fearfulness across cities and nivel nesting behavior. The COVID-19 pandemic provided an opportunity to explore how these behaviors are shaped by human activity, demonstrating key insights on behavioral adaptations to city living.

Program Format

Hybrid meeting - It is your preference: Join in person or online.  

In person: the meeting will take place at the Whittier Community Center, located at 7630 Washington Ave. Whittier. Please wear a mask.

Online: please RSVP here and we will send you a link to the meeting.

The program is free and open to the public.

Program Topic

"Birds of Sri Lanka" will be the topic presented by Dinara De Silva.

Dinara is the 12 year-old who astonished us with her photos at our December photoshare. Currently she is studying in Sti Lanka and is in the 7 th grade. Dinara enjoys going on many birding trips. This program will focus on a birding trip to a rain forest and will show the birds found there. She will also show common Suburban birds and discuss their behavior. Suburban common wetland birds will also be featured. 

Dinara has been interested in birding and wildlife for about three years and photography for about two years. She uses a Canon R500 with a Sigma 75 to 200 lens.

Program Format

Hybrid meeting - It is your preference: Join in person or online.  

In person: the meeting will take place at the Whittier Community Center, located at 7630 Washington Ave. Whittier. Please wear a mask.

Online: please RSVP here and we will send you a link to the meeting.

The program is free and open to the public.

Program Topic

Andrea Jones, Director of Conservation for Audubon California, will speak about the latest science and conservation projects at the Salton Sea and Owens Lake. Despite record breaking snowpack this past winter across the west, saline lake ecosystems are facing continued long-term water declines-- threatening habitat, birds, and surrounding communities. Learn more about Audubon's incredible network of chapters and advocates that make significant progress in protecting this irreplaceable network of habitats through science and policy efforts.

Andrea Jones is Director of Conservation for Audubon California. For the past 15 years, she has worked with staff and the network of Audubon chapters across the state to implement conservation projects at high priority Important Bird Areas. In particular, she has focused on leading Audubon's conservation efforts along the coast and in estuaries, focusing on restoration, advocacy and engagement. Her work has also included providing science expertise and negotiating conservation agreements at saline lakes, including Owens Lake and Salton Sea. She oversees efforts in priority bird species and serves as the spokeswoman for bird conservation across California. Prior to California, Andrea worked at Massachusetts Audubon where she served as the Director of the Coastal Waterbird and Grassland Bird Programs.

Program Format

Hybrid meeting - It is your preference: Join in person or online.  

In person: the meeting will take place at the Whittier Community Center, located at 7630 Washington Ave. Whittier. Please wear a mask.

Online: please RSVP here and we will send you a link to the meeting.

The program is free and open to the public.

Program Topic

At the December meeting, we will share bird and nature photographs. Bring your photos to share on a flash drive to the meeting in person. Also please bring cookies to share.

Program Format

Hybrid meeting - It is your preference: Join in person or online.  

In person: the meeting will take place at the Whittier Community Center, located at 7630 Washington Ave. Whittier. Room 3. Please wear a mask.

Online: please RSVP here and we will send you a link to the meeting.

The program is free and open to the public.

Program Topic

Bruce Everett, volunteer at the Puente Hills Habitat Preservation Authority, will speak on “Hiking the John Muir Trail.” This trail, named after the 19th century naturalist, is a long distance trail in the Sierra Nevada mountain range in California passing through Yosemite, King’s Canyon and Sequoia National Parks.

Everett is a retired neurosurgeon who volunteers as a docent at the Puente Hills Habitat Authority. His talk will include birds and flora and fauna on this Trail. 

Program Format

Hybrid meeting - It is your preference: Join in person or online.  

In person: the meeting will take place at the Whittier Community Center, located at 7630 Washington Ave. Whittier. Room 1 & 2. Please wear a mask.

Online: please RSVP here and we will send you a link to the meeting.

The program is free and open to the public.