2011-2012 "Speaking of Nature" Lecture Series
FLCC Muller Field Station
6455 County Road 36
Honeoye, New York
Please join us for an exciting and informative lecture series at the Muller Field Station of Finger Lakes Community College. Presentations by college faculty, staff and local scientists are free and light refreshments will be provided. Seating is limited and reservations are required for each program. For more information and to make reservations, call Nancy Lawson at 585-785-1257.
Thursday, October 13, 7:00-8:30 pm
Imperiled Parasites: New York's Native Freshwater Pearly Mussels with Jenny Landry and Amy Mahar, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. That’s right, native freshwater pearly mussels--not zebra, or quagga or Asian clams. Unlike their more infamous and invasive relatives, the pearly mussels of our lakes and streams are native to Western New York and are among the most imperiled groups of animals in North America. Join us for an evening discussion of these fascinating yet faceless creatures, including their alluring reproductive strategies and parasitic lifestyle. Jenny and Amy will shell out information about their ecological importance and the current threats facing pearly mussels. Find out why Animal Planet ranked them as the animals with the "Most Extreme Appendages" and what New York State is doing to conserve these important members of our aquatic ecosystems in our local watersheds. Learn how you can "mussel in" on the action!
Tuesday, November 8, 7:00-8:30 pm
New Zealand with Sarah Meyer, Finger Lakes Institute, Geneva, NY. Sarah spent two weeks traveling throughout the north and south islands of New Zealand with her sister in 2009. This presentation will provide a visual journal of their experiences horseback riding in Te Anau; cruising Milford Sound; admiring botanical gardens in Auckland and Christchurch; cycling on Waiheke Island; sailing in Lake Taupo; hiking in the Fiordland National Park; and exploring the icy Franz Joseph and Fox Glaciers. With only one hotel night stay, the adventuresome sisters experienced all this while living out of a Subaru Forester.
Tuesday, December 6, 7:00-8:30 pm
Iceland - Land of Fire and Ice with Nadia Harvieux, Environmental Outreach Educator at Muller Field Station. Iceland is often referred to as the Land of Fire and Ice—ever wonder why? What forces of nature are at work in this geologically active location? How have glaciers and volcanoes shaped this small northern island into a landscape of rugged beauty and incredible diversity? Join us for a presentation recounting a geologic field study in Iceland.
Thursday, January 26, 7:00-8:30 pm
Mastodons in Your Backyard with Becky and Vaughn Buchholz. Great Ice Age creatures once roamed the Finger Lakes landscape but only rarely does one find evidence in their backyard! After an introduction to common features of ice age mammals and renderings of their distinctive appearances, our authors will share their intriguing story of discovery. Replicas of mastodon and mammoth skeletons will be available for viewing this evening. Join us and get your picture taken with these fantastic creatures.
Wednesday, February 22, 7:00-8:30 pm
The Adirondacks: New Mountains Carved from Ancient Rocks with Bruce Gilman. A complex geologic history hides within the beauty of New York State’s Adirondack Park. You will learn about the role of old volcanoes, eons of erosion, recent uplift of the mountain mass and very recent Ice Age effects. Bruce’s goal to climb all 46 Adirondack High Peaks quickly transformed into a quest to begin to understand the formative processes that have produced such an exquisite landscape. Join Bruce for an illustrated program highlighting mountain climbers, mountain summits, mountain beauty, and come away with a “mountain” of new knowledge!
Thursday, March 22, 7:00-8:30 pm
Vernal Pools: Environmental and Engineering Values with Bill Hershey. Vernal pools in woodlands and successional fields are critical breeding habitat for many amphibian species and are important components of natural communities. These small wetlands also have rain water retention values that aid greatly in storm attenuation. Preservation, restoration and creation of these often unprotected significant features can benefit the people and ecology of the southern Honeoye Valley. Come learn what they are, what species live there, how they benefit us and how we can help conserve them.
Wednesday, April 4, 7:00-8:30 pm
The Dragonflies of New York with Michael & Jacob Stanyard. Mike Stanyard, field crop specialist with Cornell University Cooperative Extension, and his son Jacob will share with the group their love of observing, collecting, and displaying dragonflies. They have been collecting odonates from NY, MI, PA and FL for the past five summers. There are 134 different species of dragonflies and 58 species of damselflies in New York alone. The pair will show how to identify dragonflies down to the family level, demonstrate what equipment is needed to catch this evasive insect, preserve and display specimens and of course show off their own collection.
Wednesday, May 2, 7:00-8:30 pm
Butterflies as Botanists with Steve Daniel. This talk will take a closer look at our butterflies, many of whom have very specific relationships with plants. If you're interested in butterflies, it's a great help to know something about our flora. And botanists will find a new world opens as they learn the connection of some special butterflies to some of their favorite plants. This talk will explore some of these interrelationships, and will include some stunning imagery of these beautiful six-legged creatures.
Saturday (morning), June 2, 7:00-9:00 am
Birds of the Southern Honeoye Valley with Sasha MacKenzie, Finger Lakes Community College. For nature lovers that are early risers, this morning walk along the field station’s hiking trails will fascinate you with sightings of brightly colored songbirds in their breeding plumage. You will also learn details about bird ecology including their use of natural habitats and artificial nest boxes. Some binoculars can be borrowed from the field station but, if you have your own, please bring them with you. Limited to 15 people so make your reservation early.
Saturday (morning), June 9, 7:00-9:00 am
Channel Paddle with Nadia Harvieux, Environmental Outreach Educator at Muller Field Station. Canoe or kayak through the beautiful Honeoye Inlet wetlands and learn about their importance for water quality protection and wildlife habitat. We will also look for sign of wetland mammals, including beaver, muskrat and river otter. Some college boats can be provided but you are encouraged to bring your own. Limited to 12 people so make your reservation early.
Thursday (evening), June 14, 6:00-8:00 pm
Channel Paddle with Bruce Gilman, Finger Lakes Community College. Canoe or kayak through the beautiful Honeoye Inlet wetlands and learn about the role of wetlands in protecting the water quality of Honeoye Lake. Also learn about wildlife and wetland plant indicators. Some college boats can be provided but you are encouraged to bring your own. Limited to 12 people so make your reservation early.
Tuesday (evening), June 19, 6:00-8:00 pm
Channel Paddle with Berna Ticonchuk, Finger Lakes Community College. Canoe or kayak through the beautiful Honeoye Inlet wetlands. You may catch a glimpse of a beaver or river otter. Some college boats can be provided but you are encouraged to bring your own. Limited to 12 people so make your reservation early.