Inaugural Summer 2014 Seminar Presented by Dr. John Faaborg

By Johnica Morrow

Last night we kicked off our 2014 summer seminar series with an excellent talk by Dr. John Faaborg and some tasty air-popped popcorn. Dr. Faaborg is teaching Ornithology for the station during this first summer session. He has been teaching this class for many years and has introduced students to all kinds of local birds. His talk was titled: Technology and Traveling Birds. 

Dr. John Faaborg just before his presentation.

It begins...

Dr. Charles Brown, a long-time cliff swallow researcher here at CPBS, introduced Dr. Faaborg with a brief summary of the ornithologist’s educational background and research interests.

Dr. Charles Brown introducing Dr. Faaborg.

Dr. Faaborg began his presentation by discussing tried and true methods for tracking birds. He then launched into a discussion of new and exciting technologies that are being used to more precisely trace the migrational patterns of all kinds of birds. From bird bands and radio transmitters to geolocators, stable isotopes, and Doppler radar, we have come a long way in understanding where birds go and how they get there.

Students wait anxiously for the
first presentation of the summer.

Students wait anxiously for the
first presentation of the summer.

Faaborg and Brown reminisce about previous years at CPBS.

This first seminar of the summer had a great turn out. Students from both of the classes that are currently in progress here at the station took a break from studying and working on projects to attend. We also had professors, researchers, and staff members present.

Next week’s seminar will be given by yours truly (Johnica Morrow in case you missed the author line) and will cover behavioral modification in hosts of the parasite Toxoplasma gondii.