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Presentations:
"The Marvels and Mechanics
of
Avian Flight"
&
"Global Warming and
Potential Impacts on Birds"
Presentation:
"The Marvels and
Mechanics of Avian Flight" -
Dr. Eldon Greij, former professor and
founder of “Birder’s World” magazine, will lead festival-goers
through the beauty and fascinating adaptations of bird flight
and migration using beautiful illustrations, magazine-quality
photographs and his many years studying bird life.
Dr. Greij will illustrate how birds generate lift and thrust,
why wing sizes and shapes are so different, what mechanisms
prevent stalling, why some birds flap and others soar, and
compare bird flight to airplanes.
The hummingbird's special flying skills will be highlighted
during this year’s presentation.
Presentation:
"Global Warming
and Potential Impacts on Birds" -
Global warming is one of today's greatest
challenges. Dr. Greij will review evidence and causes of climate
change, as well as the potential biological impacts of future
climate change critical to the success and survival of many bird
species.
Using available data, Greij will speculate on how climate change
may affect such factors as bird behavior, migration patterns,
nesting schedules and production of young, as well as the
emergence of important food sources such as insects.
His talk will also challenge us with ways to reduce our
individual contribution to global warming.
Dr. Eldon Greij
Eldon Greij is a native of North
Dakota and now lives in western Michigan. He studied biology,
specializing in ecology and ornithology, and received his Ph.D.
from Iowa State University in 1969. He was a member of the Hope
College faculty until 1987 when he left to launch “Birder’s
World” magazine. In 1995 he sold the magazine to Kalmbach
Publishing Company of Waukesha, Wis., and continued as editor
through 1998, and still writes a column for the magazine. He
continues in a part-time capacity as a writer, speaker, nature
tour leader and consultant. Much of this effort is focused on
his love of birds and birding. Dr. Greij and his wife Maxine
have a home in Holland, Mich., and spend much of the year at
their cottage on the Muskegon River near Newaygo.
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