Stratford Hall lies at the heart of eastern Virginia’s prime overwintering habitat for Tundra Swans, Ruddy Ducks, Buffleheads and other waterfowl visitors. Some fly thousands of miles each fall from the shores of the Arctic Ocean, while others make their way from North America’s Prairie Pothole region to the Northern Neck’s sheltering rivers, creeks and ponds. Andrew Dolby’s illustrated presentation at 9:30 a.m. on January 11, 2014, in the duPont Library will provide identification tips and natural history information for the ducks, geese and swans that make Virginia their winter home. Dr. Dolby’s talk will be followed by a field trip to a nearby waterfowl-watching hotspot. Binoculars and a spotting scope will be provided.
The cost for the program is $10 per person. Pre-registration is required. Please email or call Jon Bachman at 804-493-1972 to sign up for the program.
About the Instructor:
A behavioral ecologist who holds a Ph.D. from Ohio State University, Andrew Dolby is an Associate Professor of Biology in the University of Mary Washington’s Department of Biological Sciences. Dr. Dolby’s research interests include the evolution of bird song complexity and its function as a mate choice signal, mixed-species flocking behavior, and the avian physiological stress response. Andrew teaches courses in ornithology, animal behavior, ecology, biology and evolution for Mary Washington. He is a member of the American Ornithologists’ Union.