Saturday, January 28, 2012 2:00 PM

Creatures of the Sea...from the Wacky to the Wonderful! with Todd Gardner

Why don’t fish get crushed under the pressure of the deep sea? How can whales hold their breath for so long? If corals have been around for more than 300 million years, why are they in such grave danger over a small increase in global temperature? Why do sharks really attack people? In which species does the male become pregnant and carry the babies? What does a marine biologist fear most in the water? These and many other questions will be answered as we spotlight some well known, as well as some underappreciated marine creatures and their remarkable adaptations that make them so fascinating to us.

Todd Gardner is a biologist at the Long Island Aquarium in Riverhead, NY and a professor of Biology at Suffolk County Community College. He has an extensive background in marine sciences and has written numerous scientific and popular articles about his research and experiences collecting, keeping, and culturing marine organisms. Between graduating high school in 1988 and returning to his Suffolk County roots in 2002, Todd’s career as a marine biologist has taken him on adventures around the world, during which time he completed a Master’s degree (researching nutritional needs of baby seahorses), worked on the production of a National Geographic Explorer film, and as a commercial aquaculturist in Puerto Rico. Todd’s current work at the Long Island Aquarium involves caring for exhibits, leading collecting excursions, and of course, continuing his aquaculture research behind the scenes. To date, he has successfully raised more than 40 species of marine fish. In his spare time, Todd dives, photographs marine life, competes in triathlons, and plays in a blues band.

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Saturday, February 4, 2012 10:30 AM

Owl Discovery and Craft Program for Kids at The Farm at Oyster Bay

Have you ever wondered what an owl eats for dinner? Do you want to know how they find their dinner? Why are they such excellent hunters? Can they really see in the dark? Just how many owls live on and visit Long Island? Join the Huntington-Oyster Bay Audubon Society as we learn the interesting behavior and life-cycle of the several species of owl which frequent our area. After the interactive program, we will turn crafty and create pine cone owls to take home, as well as dissect a pellet to see just what it is that an owl eats. A special gift goes to the child with the biggest “prize” inside their pellet!

Each participant will be provided with material for their pine cone owl, as well as a pellet of their own, which they will be able to dissect and examine. Hurry to sign up: group size limited to 20! Please call 516-695-0763 to register. Program presented by Stella Miller, Kelly Simmons and Amelia Weitman.

Location: 510 Split Rock Road, Oyster Bay, NY

Directions to the Farm at Oyster Bay: Route 25A to Split Rock Road. (Split Rock Road is just east of Route 106 in East Norwich).  Make right if coming from west, left if coming from east. Third driveway on left.

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Wednesday, March 14, 2012 7:00 PM

World Class Travelers: Bird Migration on Long Island

Long Island is an exceptional place to study bird migration, owing to its diversity of habitats and geographic position. This talk will survey some of the many places on Long Island where migrating birds can be seen, with special attention devoted to shorebirds during spring, pelagic birds from land during summer, and the visible migration of hawks and many other species during fall. Bird migration occurs throughout the year on Long Island, and birders can deepen their appreciation of birds and their insights into avian ecology by looking for seasonal movements at unexpected times and in unexpected places.

Shai Mitra has studied birds in the northeastern United States and around the world for more than thirty years. He received a BA in Biology from Cornell University in 1989 and a PhD in Evolutionary Biology from the University of Chicago in 1996. From 1996-2000 he operated a major bird-banding station at the Fire Island Lighthouse, on the South Shore of Long Island. Currently, he is an Assistant Professor of Biology at the College of Staten Island, with research interests in the areas of avian ecology, evolution, and conservation. Shai is Editor of The Kingbird, the quarterly publication of the New York State Ornithological Association; co-compiler of bird records for the New York City and Long Island region; Chair of the Rhode Island Avian Records Committee; and co-compiler of three Christmas Bird Counts on Long Island and Rhode Island.

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Monday, April 9, 2012 7:00 PM

Bats: Fact and Fiction with Bill Schutt, PhD

Bats are essential to the health of our ecosystems. They are important predators of pests and pollinators and seed dispersers for countless plants. Despite this, these wonderful animals have gotten a really bad rap!

Centuries of myths and misinformation still generate needless fears and threaten bats and their habitats around the world. Bat populations are declining almost everywhere. White Nosed Syndrome is decimating bat populations at an alarming rate with over a million bats lost thus far. Losing bats would have devastating consequences for natural ecosystems and
human economies.

Tonight we will discuss the natural history of bats, dispel some myths, discover why they are such an important component in our natural world and learn about the threats that are facing bats around the world.

Bill Schutt earned his Master’s degree in biology from Geneseo State College. He then attended Cornell, receiving his Ph.D in zoology. After graduating in 1995, Bill taught for three years at Bloomfield College in New Jersey while simultaneously working on a Post-Doctoral Research Fellowship at the American Museum of Natural History with bat expert Nancy Simmons. In 1998, Bill accepted a faculty position at Southampton College (Long Island University). In 2005, he transferred to his undergraduate alma mater, C.W. Post College , where he is currently an Associate Professor of Biology (teaching undergraduate and graduate courses in Evolution, Mammalogy, Vertebrate Paleontology, and Vertebrate Anatomy). Additionally, Bill has strong ties to the American Museum of Natural History, where he is a Research Associate in the Department of Mammalogy. He is the author of the critically acclaimed book “Dark Banquet: Blood and the Curious Lives of Blood-Feeding Creatures” and is currently working on his next book titled: "You Are What You Eat: A Natural (and Unnatural) History of Cannibalism “ scheduled to be published in the spring of 2013.

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