OPAS Program: “Deep Birding: Exploring the Past, Present, and Future of Birds in a Rapidly Changing Climate”

Description

Presenter: Steve Hampton Wednesday, November 18, 2026 at 7:00 PM Dungeness River Nature Center Free to Attend Come early for cookies. From large-scale habitat changes associated with European colonization to rapid climate change today, the birds of North America have faced, and will face, dramatically changing habitats across the continent. Examining the past, present, and future of our birds, we will explore why some are adapting, and some are not. Steve Hampton is an award-winning writer who integrates stories of Indigenous history, climate change, and birds. He is an enrolled citizen of Cherokee Nation and has been birding since he was 7 years old. With a PhD in natural resource economics, he worked for the California Department of Fish & Wildlife for 25 years, where he was involved in oil spill response, seabird restoration, and coordination with Native communities. He currently serves as the Conservation Chair and CBC compiler for Rainshadow Bird Alliance in Port Townsend. His article in the December 2022 issue of Birding magazine summarized the scientific research on birds and climate change.