Upcoming Public Programs

All BRSS programs are free and open to the public

Many programs offered are virtual using the Zoom app — see details below`

Wednesday October 16th @ 7:00PM

the nuts and bolts of wildlife rehab

Zoom call with suzie gilbert

This lively presentation will provide a window into the world of wildlife rehabilitators, whose mission is to heal injured wild animals and return them to their homes—a feat easier said than done. Thirty-year veteran bird rehabilitator Suzie Gilbert will recount tales of mishap, misidentification, and the occasional miracle, as well as describe why a sense of humor is a required part of the profession.

Suzie Gilbert has been a wild bird rehabilitator for 30 years. She worked for the Hudson Valley Raptor Center for 11 years before opening Flyaway, Inc., her own all-species bird rehab center, out of her home. She is the author of the children's book Hawk Hill (Chronicle Books); her bird rehabbing memoir Flyaway: How A Wild Bird Rehabber Sought Adventure and Found Her Wings (HarperCollins); and the comic, suspenseful wildlife thriller Unflappable (Perch Press), which was one of Audubon Magazine's “Three Best Summer Reads of 2020”. She has written numerous environmental columns and articles and was the wildlife rehab blogger for the birding website 10,000 Birds.

Wednesday November13th @ 7:00PM

Zoom call with Erica deluca

Certain plant species can have serious impacts on an ecosystem, the plants and animals that live in that ecosystem, and even human health. Many of the species that we now consider invasive were introduced through the horticulture industry and remain popular landscape plants today. We will talk about how to identify the most common problematic plant species around the New York City region and what kind of impacts they have. Control methods that can help minimize further damage to the environment or human health are possible and will be discussed.

Erica DeLuca is a restoration practitioner who has worked in forest ecosystems within New York City for the past 15 years, including New York Botanical Garden for the past 13 years. The focus of her work is invasive plant management and how to effectively control these species while limiting impacts on the ecosystem and the environment. She has a B.S. from Michigan State University in environmental biology & zoology and an M.S. from Lehman College in geographic information science. She also teaches invasive plant identification and management at the New York Botanical Garden School of Professional Horticulture.

Wednesday January 15th @ 7:00PM

Zoom call with walter jahn

Dr. Walter Jahn will offer a presentation on the evolution of birds from their dinosaur ancestors through their diverse fossil groups to the many bird families we see today. Using materials from his more than 25 years of teaching Prehistoric Life at Orange County Community College and his courses and Audubon projects on modern birds, Dr. Jahn will give a thorough overview of these dinosaur descendants whose variety enriches our modern world. His videos (and songs) can be previewed on his YouTube channel at drjahn41.

Dr. Walter Jahn received his doctorate in biology from Temple University and a masters in education from Widener University. He has taught a range of biology courses at Orange County Community College for over 27 years. In addition to his teaching, he has served as a Peace Corps volunteer, Boy Scout & Girl Scout leader, board member of the Orange County Audubon Society and Bashakill Area Association, and as a sanctuary steward for the Audubon Sanctuary at 6 1/2 Station near Goshen, NY.

Wednesday February 5th @ 7:00PM

Zoom call with daniel robert sullivan and katelynn cooper

No one has ever paddled the entire length of the Bronx River—until now. Two underqualified adventurers explore history and disparity when they launch in Westchester’s richest neighborhood and come ashore in the nation’s poorest, the South Bronx.

 The Bronx River has a bad rap. Polluted? Yeah, in some parts. Full of tires and cars? Yeah, it used to be. But these fleeting eras of negative human impact have not destroyed the things that make the Bronx River one of the most striking waterways in North America: sky-high bluffs that encase a paddler on both sides, rocky waterfalls powerful enough to grind tobacco into snuff through the 19th century, countless deep channels hiding beaver and gargantuan carp, and an urban landscape that runs from pastoral to postapocalyptic. The Bronx River is an outdoor adventure-seeker’s paradise. The Bronx River begins in prosperity and ends in America’s most extreme poverty, and this is the first documented journey down its entire length.

 In their presentation, authors Daniel Robert Sullivan and Katelynn Cooper will share images, stories, and passages from their book, reflecting on the challenges and absurdities of their journey. They will discuss how their lack of paddling expertise made the adventure unpredictable but rewarding, sharing anecdotes about navigating both physical and environmental obstacles. The presentation will highlight the contrasts they encountered, from untouched landscapes to postindustrial urban scenes, and explore the Bronx River’s role in shaping local industry—from 19th-century tobacco mills to its use as a dumping ground for vehicles. Through historical insights and personal reflections, they offer an emotional account of their journey and the disparities along this unique waterway.

Daniel Robert Sullivan and Katelynn Cooper are the authors of Braving the Bronx River: A 23-mile Kayak from Westchester to Rikers Island.

Daniel Robert Sullivan is an actor, playwright, and educator. He wrote the award-winning Prospect High: Brooklyn, produced worldwide, and Lockdown: Await Further Instructions, both praised for their compelling teenage characters. He is also the author of three books: Braving the Bronx River, Becoming a Jersey Boy, and A Liberal's Journey Through Conservative America. Holding a dual MFA in Acting & Directing from UMKC, Daniel has been a Master Teaching Artist at Roundabout Theatre Company for over two decades. His acting credits include leading roles in Dear Evan Hansen, Jersey Boys, and Motown the Musical, as well as performances with top regional theatres.

Katelynn Cooper is a Project Manager at VaynerMedia. Previously, she held a similar role at Known, serving as the Project Manager for such clients as Hulu, Max, and Rockefeller Center. Before a career in marketing, Katelynn served as a Stage Manager on Broadway and National Tours for notable productions such as Dear Evan Hansen, My Fair Lady, Matilda, and School of Rock. Outside of work, she enjoys NYC history, river walks, dollar-oyster happy hours, and the pursuit of the perfect deli sandwich.

Wednesday March 5th @ 7:00PM

Zoom call with julie zickefoose

Why and how do baby songbirds develop so quickly, some launching into flight only 11 days after hatching? In 2002, Julie Zickefoose began to draw and paint wild nestlings day by day, bearing witness to their swift growth. Over the next 13 years, Julie would document the daily changes in 17 bird species from hatching to fledging. Her book Baby Birds is the enchanting result, with more than 500 life studies that hop, crawl, and flutter through its pages. In this talk, Julia shares her influences as well as her artistic process, a must-see for the aspiring natural history artist. Art and science blend in every Zickefoose pursuit, as the scientist’s relentless curiosity joins the artist’s quest for beauty. The work, wonder and fun of studying nestlings, including being foster mother to orphaned hummingbirds, chimney swifts, and bluebirds make for an irresistible and highly inspirational presentation.

Julie Zickefoose lives and works quietly on an 80-acre wildlife sanctuary in the back country of Whipple, Ohio. She is a prolific writer and painter who was an All Things Considered commentator for five years. Her illustrated work, The Bluebird Effect, was an Oprah's Book Club pick in 2012. After 37 years of contributing art and writing to Bird Watcher's Digest, Julie recently became Advising Editor to the new and improved BWD Magazine. Her heavily illustrated books include Natural Gardening for Birds, Letters from Eden, The Bluebird Effect, and Baby Birds: An Artist Looks Into the Nest. Her newest book is Saving Jemima: Life and Love With a Hard-Luck Jay, the intimate story of how an orphaned bird can save a soul. Learn more at juliezickefoose.com.

Wednesday April 16th @ 7:00PM

in person at eastchester library

The Everglades is the largest subtropical wilderness in the United States! Join Tom Tyning for an exploration of the remarkable mix of physical and biological aspects that make the Everglades a unique ecosystem. Major efforts are underway to restore the natural flow and quality of water to Everglades National Park, where an astounding mix of subtropical organisms exists. Professor Tyning will briefly describe the history and ecological importance of this enormous “river of grass”, and highlight some of the Everglades’ 360 species of birds, as well as its reptiles, insects, wildflowers and other natural wonders.

Tom Tyning has been a professor of Environmental Science at Berkshire Community College since 1999. Previously he was a field biologist and master naturalist for the Massachusetts Audubon Society for 24 years. He also served as an adjunct professor in the Environmental Studies program at Antioch New England Graduate School (Amphibian Biology, Ornithology, Field Entomology, Reptile Biology); at Springfield College (Ornithology); and at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (Botany). He is the author of A Guide to Amphibians and Reptiles (Little, Brown and Co), and served for 15 years as Managing Editor of the scientific journal Herpetological Review. For 25 years he wrote a nature column for the Union-News in Springfield, MA. He consucts field research on vernal pools, rare salamanders butterfly populations and endangered snakes in western Massachusetts, and was instrumental in jump-starting the installation of salamander tunnels in Amherst, MA. Tom received his BS (Wildlife Biology) and MA (Organismic and Evolutionary Biology) from UMass Amherst.