Brooks Library hosts in-person Audubon Society programs

The Southeastern Vermont Audubon Society (SVAS) is offering in-person programs at the Brooks Memorial Library, 224 Main Street, on Tuesday, August 18 and Tuesday, September 15. Both programs start at 7 pm and will take place in the third floor community room.

The August program is “Grassland Bird Conservation,” presented by Kate McKay, Windham County Natural Resources Conservation District Avian Technician. Grassland birds are declining faster than any other group of birds in the Northeast. McKay will discuss these declines as well as management strategies to help protect these species on public and private property, and will share information about the Connecticut River Valley Grassland Bird Project, which offers free site visits, management tips, and financial compensation to participating farmers and land managers in southeastern Vermont and southwestern New Hampshire.

The September program is “Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge,” with Michael Clough, naturalist and science educator. Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge is the only place in the world with wild red wolves, one of the most endangered mammals on earth. In 2023, Michael Clough traveled to Alligator River from his home in Marlboro with a bucket list of things to see and do: see a wild red wolf, get a little too close to a black bear, get a good photo of an alligator, see a wild venomous snake, and find shark teeth on the beach. Clough’s successes with that list and experiences around the refuge will be the topic of this interactive talk with emphasis on the status of red wolves, human interactions with the natural world, and some slides from the trip.

Go to https://brookslibraryvt.org/ or https://www.sevtas.org/.