Lecture: Birds, Forests, and the Earth We All Share

Scott Weidensaul, conservationist, author and lecturer, will take us on a fascinating journey following the migration pathways of songbirds from Latin American coffee farms to the boreal forests of Canada—stopping at Merck Forest along the way. He’ll explore how forest management plays a crucial role in biodiversity and bird conservation, emphasizing the importance of structural complexity, early-successional habitats, and sustainable forestry.

Discover how Merck Forest’s land stewardship supports bird populations and learn how conservation practices across the hemisphere—from certified shade coffee farms to Indigenous-led land protections—are vital to ensuring the survival of species like the wood thrush, cerulean warbler, and golden-winged warbler. This program will include an engaging talk followed by an optional guided field walk to see Merck Forest’s active habitat management areas.

There is no charge for this lecture, however we would appreciate your registering HERE so that we will know how many guests to expect.

Scott Weidensaul is a Fellow of the American Ornithological Society. His writings have appeared in dozens of publications, including Audubon, Living Bird, Bird Watcher’s Digest and National Wildlife, among many others. He lectures widely on conservation and nature, and directs ornithological programs for National Audubon’s famed Hog Island Center on the coast of Maine. In addition to writing about wildlife, Weidensaul is an active field researcher whose work focuses on bird migration. He is a co-director of Project Owlnet, a collaborative effort among nearly 125 banding and research stations across North America studying owl migration, and for more than 25 years he has directed a major effort to study the movements of northern saw-whet owls, one of the smallest and least-understood raptors in North America. Learn more about his career HERE.