Messengers of the Landscape: Bird Language of the Laguna Workshop with wildlife ecologist, Meghan Walla-Murphy

Join us for this early morning adventure to learn about the Laguna de Santa Rosa and the many bird species that call it home! Have you ever wondered what that bird is singing in your backyard? Are you curious about more than identification and want to know what the birds are saying and why? Through quiet observation, mapping, and group discussion we will decipher the different calls of bird language and become keen observers of behavior. Birds are the messengers of the landscape, and once you begin to recognize territorial calls, alarm calls, and juvenile begging calls, the ecology of the Laguna and other Sonoma County open spaces will become new places of wonder and discovery. Hot drinks and snacks will be provided in Heron Hall before heading out into nature. This outing will take place mostly outdoors, and will involve a short walk to Irwin Creek (~1/2 mile roundtrip) on fairly flat but uneven ground, with lots of sitting, listening, and watching. All ages are welcome, but if you are under 14 years of age, please bring your adult. If the forecast is for rain, we will cancel and provide full refunds.

Meghan Walla- Murphy has had the great fortune of being able to combine her passions for animal tracking, writing and people into vocations of habitat conservation and public awareness. As an educator, wildlife ecologist and writer of books, essays and articles, Meghan strives to help people connect to their external and internal landscapes through observation and tracking. In addition to a formal academic background, Meghan has had the privilege of tracking across the U.S. and internationally with indigenous cultures who continue to live close to the land. This academic and practical training has given Meghan the ability to meet and unravel some of our most pressing environmental, social, and political challenges from many diverse perspectives. Some of Meghan’s current work projects in California include a habitat connectivity project in Sonoma County, a black bear project in the California’s North Bay Area, and a Russian River Watershed Collaborative. In addition, Meghan is faculty in the Natural Resource Management Department at Santa Rosa Junior College and an instructor for University CA Master Naturalist Program. To contact Meghan or read more about her background and work, please visit her website.