Thursday, January 10 at 7 p.m. Marissa Ahlering will present  "Grassland Birds in the Upper Great Plains" at  Runge Nature Center.

       Ahlering, a postdoctoral researcher with the University of Missouri, will explain her research on habitat selection behaviors of Baird's and grasshopper sparrows.

      She is currently studying population genetics of savanna elephants and will also present pictures of grassland birds from Africa which she

has studied.
      “From a scientific perspective,” Ahlering says, “they are two obligate grassland species with very different geographic distributions. They provide a good contrast for my habitat  selection study.

      “From a personal perspective, I really love Ammodramus sparrows because they are fun to watch. My interest also stems from cheering for the underdog because grassland sparrows are dramatically under appreciated.”

 

Michael Leahy, Natural Areas Coordinator for Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC), will speak February 14  at 7 p.m. at Runge Nature Center.

      Leahy’s program will feature a slide presentation of Missouri’s diverse landscapes and highlight some of its 168 designated natural areas.

      Since 1977 the Missouri Natural Areas System (NAS) has endeavored to conserve our state’s natural communities

and geological sites. Designated natural areas help to conserve Missouri’s biological diversity; provide valuable outdoor laboratories for teachers and scientific studies, and
offer visitors a glimpse at what the state looked like 200 years ago.

      The face of Missouri has changed greatly in the last 200 years. Vast acreages have felt the impact of agriculture, urban sprawl, highway construction, dams and reservoirs, mining, and stream channelization.  NAS preserves some of the best examples of Missouri's great variety of natural communities and features.