Monthly Programs
Our monthly programs feature a guest speaker presenting a subject of interest to those who love birds. We have nine programs a year (no program in July, August and December), on the second Thursday of the month, and they are open to all. Drop by and enjoy the company as we all learn something new from our featured guest. See our Calendar or Events List for upcoming programs.
Next General Meeting Program: Thursday, February 13, 2025
Under the Surface: Bird Bones and Skeletons with David Lukas
This is a virtual meeting only. Please register for the Zoom link here. Please save the link on your calendar, then sit back in the comfort of your home. The event opens at 7 p.m. for announcements and the program begins at 7:30 p.m.
This illustration of a Rock Dove's skeletal head features the long, skinny bone called the jugal, the forward motion of the jugal pushes the upper beak upward. The result of this jaw mechanism is that one muscle pulling down on the lower jaw of a bird triggers a series of mechanical movements that opens the upper bill at the same time.
Source: Manual of Ornithology by Proctor and Lynch
Birds are exquisitely designed creatures of the air, but have you ever thought about how the underlying structure of a bird’s bones and skeletons help birds move and fly? Flight is not just a matter of flapping your wings harder, it actually requires many special adaptations and compromises that impact all aspects of a bird’s life.
In this presentation we will learn about some of the fascinating adaptations we can observe when we look at a bird’s skull, beak, eyes, wings, legs, and feet. Many of these features are hidden by feathers, yet they uniquely shape every aspect of what we see when we watch birds. Expect to come away with a new understanding and appreciation for the hidden mechanics of how birds eat, sleep, and move, along with an understanding of how feathers interact with a bird’s skeletal structure.
David Lukas is a well-known naturalist and author based in the Methow Valley. He has written seven books and contributed chapters to another forty books on a tremendous range of nature topics. He has also led thousands of natural history tours, classes, workshops, and presentations.
Banner Photo: Jann Ledbetter