Each fall, billions of songbirds leave North America on an epic journey to their faraway wintering grounds in Central and South America, where many live in tropical forests shared by toucans, howler monkeys and jaguars.
Dozens of species have experienced serious, long-term population declines that are driven in part by the threats that these birds face on the migration and while in the tropics.
But only recently has it been possible to track the entire migration of individual songbirds to find out how they accomplish their 10,000 kilometer round trip and to map out critical habitats used during migration.
On Friday, April 22, Dr. Bridget Stutchbury, professor of biology at York University in Toronto, will reveal her migration tracking results for Purple Martins and Wood Thrushes and will discuss how her research can help save songbirds in a presentation at 2 p.m. in Hardin Hall 107, 3310 Holdrege St. A reception will follow.
Stutchbury will be joined by Joanne Jackson, film producer for “The Messenger,” which explores the deep-seated connection between humans and birds and warns that the uncertain fate of songbirds might mirror that for humans.
The film moves from the northern reaches of the Boreal Forest to the base of Mount Ararat in Turkey to the streets of New York. It brings viewers face-to-face with a remarkable variety of human-made perils that have devastated thrushes, warblers, orioles, tanagers, grosbeaks and many other airborne music-makers.
The problems birds face are central to the documentary's story, so it was essential to find a way to create imagery that would tell it. Jackson will share her insight into the research and behind-the-scenes filmmaking for "The Messenger."
The film will premiere later that night at 7:30 p.m. at the Mary Riepma Ross Media Arts Center, 313 N. 13th St. A question-and-answer session with Stutchbury and Jackson will follow.
Purchase tickets to view the film at theross.org.
The School of Natural Resources, The Wild Bird Habitat Store and Nebraska International Migratory Bird Month are sponsors for the dual event.
For more information about the film, visit songbirdsos.com.
More details at: http://go.unl.edu/i5vw