OBSERVATION POINT: BIRDING AT THE MOUNT ST. HELENS NATIONAL VOLCANIC MONUMENT — April 5, 2023
OBSERVATION POINT: BIRDING AT THE MOUNT ST. HELENS NATIONAL VOLCANIC MONUMENT — April 5, 2023
(ONLINE)
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 5, 2023
7:00PM - 8:00PM PACIFIC TIME
VIA ZOOM (CLASS WILL BE RECORDED AND AVAILABLE FOR ONE WEEK)
Registration closes at 6:00pm the evening of the class. Be sure and reserve your spot!
INSTRUCTOR:
GINA ROBERTI
On May 18, 1980, a cataclysmic event occurred at Mount St. Helens as the north flank of the volcano slid off in one of the largest landslides in recorded history, unleashing a powerful eruption. This eruption buried 230 square miles of existing old-growth forest with hundreds of feet of volcanic debris. In some places closest to the crater of the volcano, almost no living organisms survived. Ash from the eruption blew across the United States and megatons of logs and volcanic debris clogged up rivers, lakes and streams. The eruption dramatically reshaped the landscape, creating a mosaic of habitat types that are now home to a diverse suite of birds.
In 1982, the Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument was designated to protect the land closest to the volcano as a place for research, recreation and education. Today, home to more than 80 species of nesting birds, the Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument offers unique birding opportunities. Join us as we take a tour through the diverse mosaic of habitats created by the 1980 eruption and learn about where to see some of Mount St. Helens’ signature birds. This interactive presentation will excite and prepare you for birdwatching in the Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument. Bring your questions and curiosities!
TUITION: $10 - $25 SLIDING SCALE (PLUS PROCESSING FEES)
The link to the Zoom meeting will be sent out a day or two before class.
SUPPORT NATURE CONNECTION: Please consider making an additional donation to help TreeSong, a 501(c)(3) non-profit. Anything helps and we thank you in advance!
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has." — Margaret Mead
Processing fees are only applied to tuition amounts, never donations.
About the instructor:
Gina grew up exploring the wetlands and coastline of southern Rhode Island and then the rocky outcrops of New England through the earth science and geology program at Brown University. Gina’s passion for field-based education led her across the country, where she worked as a naturalist and educator in the Colorado Plateau, Snake River Plain, the Klamath-Siskiyou mountains, and the North Cascades. In each of these places she taught thousands of youth and adults about earth science in a variety of field-based and classroom settings. She received a Masters in Education from Western Washington University in a joint program with the North Cascades Institute.
Gina currently lives in Portland, Oregon where she works as an educator with the Mount St. Helens Institute, coordinating field trips and teaching about community resilience and volcanic hazards. Gina strongly believes in the value of education to inspire awareness, appreciation and stewardship for the natural world. When Gina’s not thinking about volcanoes you’ll most often find her enjoying the company of birds, foraging native foods, and riding her bicycle. Contact Gina at gina.m.roberti@gmail.com.