From garbage dump to grassland bird oasis: Young, Gifted & Wild About Birds with Shannon Curley and Jose Ramirez-Garofalo, March 24.
Shannon Curley and Jose Ramirez-Garofalo will talk about the amazing transformation that made Freshkills Park an important habitat for grassland birds.
March 14, 2022 — Young, Gifted, and Wild About Birds returns on Thursday, March 24, with a presentation on one of the more amazing bird success stories of the 21st century — the transformation of the world’s largest garbage dump into a grassland oasis teeming with Sedge Wrens, Grasshopper Sparrows, Savannah Sparrows, and Eastern Meadowlarks.
The location is Freshkills Park on Staten Island. Shannon Curley, Ph.D., and PH.D.-candidate Jose Ramirez-Garofalo, who have been conducting research there for five years, will talk about the park and its birds.
Their presentation is called “Grassland Birds Are Thriving In The Least Likely Place.”
They’ll also discuss whether the lessons they’ve learned apply to Connecticut, where grassland birds have been declining for years.
Dr. Curley is an ecologist with the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation, and an adjunct professor at CUNY College of Staten Island. She studies the effects of climate change on birds, focusing on changes in species distributions, migration patterns, and community composition.
Ramírez-Garofalo is a Ph.D. student in the Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Natural Resources at Rutgers University. His research interests include species distribution under climate change, grassland ecology, and the natural history of the New York City Area.
They have amazing stories about their bird adventures at Freshkills, and a trove of fascinating photos and maps to share.
Thursday, March 24, 7 p.m., on Zoom.
Sign up today! Tickets are $8 for Connecticut Audubon members and $10 for non-members.
Buy tickets for Shannon Curley's & Jose Ramirez-Garofalo's presentation
