Thirty-five people attended the first event of the Mascoma Chapter's Winter Speaker Series Monday night at Hanover's Howe Library to hear Dr. Rosalind Renfrew of the VT Center for Ecostudies give an update about her research into the declining numbers of Bob-o-links across much of their range. Dr. Renfrew talked about her team's discovery of a major Bob-o-link wintering ground in the rice fields of Bolivia and their research into the impact of rice vs. other grains on the Bob-o-link diet. Attendees also heard about other challenges facing Bob-o-links including pesticide use by Bolivian rice farmers, loss of habitat both in Bolivia and the U.S. as well as mowing during the bird's breeding and nesting season.

The next event in the Winter Speaker Series will take place Monday, January 9th, 2012. It will feature celebrated wildlife photographer Jim Block of Etna, NH who will talk about "Birding with a Camera." The talk begins at 7 p.m. at the Howe Library and is free and open to the public.

 
Mascoma Chapter of New Hampshire Audubon