The next installment of TNI's Speaker Series comes from Joel Greenberg, Research Associate at Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, Chicago Academy of Sciences, and the Field Museum, Chicago, IL. Greenberg is the author of "The Echoes of Their Wings: The Life and Legacy of the Passenger Pigeon." This year marks the 100th anniversary of the last passenger pigeon, Martha, which occurred on September 1, 1914. This talk explores the story of the species, which numbered in the billions, how they were exploited for food and recreation, and highlights the important lessons that their extinction presents to those of us in the 21st Century.
Greenberg has been a birder/naturalist over 45 years, and has shared his love and knowledge of nature and conservation by authoring three books, writing numerous articles, co-hosting a radio show, blogging on Birdzilla.com, and lecturing widely. Since the summer of 2009, he has been working exclusively on passengerpigeons, for he is writing the first book on the species in over 50 years. The book came out for publication in late 2013. His total immersion in the literature over that time led to his heavy involvement in Project Passenger Pigeon.
Greenberg has accumulated a vast array of passenger pigeon material and illustrations in preparation for his book and public presentations. This even includes the acquisition of his own passenger pigeon, named Heinrich after the 19th century composer who wrote a major symphony about the bird. Greenberg uses his passion and humor in telling the poignant story of this species, which also includes the interesting human characters who populate the bird's history. But this is not just about the past: there is no better cautionary tale to the proposition that no matter how abundant something is it can be lost if we are not careful in our use. What happened to the passenger pigeon is relevant to us and those who come after.
Join him and friends of TNI for this special presentation. The day begins with a bird walk at 8 a.m. and the book signing/presentation beginning at 10 a.m. For more information on this event please contact Patti Brown, Education Director of The Nature Institute, at (618) 467-2521 or pbrown@TheNatureInstitite.org.
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