May Meeting: “Endothermy in the Air: Climate Change and the Challenges Birds Face Managing Body Temperature” by Dr. Don Powers
May 20 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm EDT
Summary: Climate change creates conditions that push birds to their limits. Flying birds produce a large amount of internal heat, and the way their feathers are positioned for aerodynamics makes it harder for them to get rid of that heat. This is particularly true for hummingbirds, which our speaker has spent a career studying. This family, already fascinating for their aerodynamic prowess, display equally impressive behaviors to beat the heat. Come and learn just how they do it.
Don Powers is Emeritus Professor of Biology at George Fox University and a recent transplant to Delaware. He remains active in field research and the mentoring of undergraduate and graduate students, many of whom have successful academic careers. For more than 40 years the primary focus of Dr. Powers’ research has been hummingbird energetics with specific emphases on thermoregulation, total daily energy expenditure, competition, torpor, dietary requirement, and flight.
The meeting is held in person at Ashland Nature Center and is streamed online via YouTube Live. The in person meeting is open to everyone, but the YouTube Live presentation is for DOS members only.
Members in good standing will receive an email with the link to YouTube Live prior to the meeting. If you are not a member and would like to attend virtually, please consider joining DOS.
We look forward to seeing you soon!