Outreach
I love doing outreach! Outdoors, plus birds (usually), and lots of fun! I received my Girl Scout Gold Award and am a lifetime member of Girl Scouts, so a lot of my outreach is targeted towards the scouting community. I also participate in outreach activities with several organizations I am affiliated with and with the EEB program at Texas A&M. Here are just some of the activities I have done with great kids and adults!
Texas Master Naturalists- I was asked to give a presentation about wild turkeys in Texas and my research to the El Camino Real Chapter of the Texas Master Naturalists. I had a great time meeting the members and answering questions about turkeys, mentioned in their blog here.
Camp Howdy- A yearly day camp for all the Girl Scout troops in Bryan/College Station. My wonderful friend Alexis Earl (now kicking butt as a PhD student at Columbia) joined me to teach Girl Scouts about bird song, migration, and museum specimen viewing!
Museum specimens provide kids with an up-close experience with birds
Practicing birdwatching with a stuffed animal blue jay
Alexis teaching everyone about bird songs
Mist netting with the Schubot Center of Avian Health- Along with other graduate students, vet students, and professors, we set up mist nets in public parks and invite the public to attend. We demonstrate bird handling, measurements, and bleeding while discussing distinguishing features to identify species and unique behaviors.
Outreach isn't just for kids says the gray catbird!