Researcher Thomas A. Thompson will discuss the critical research he is undertaking on Alabama’s breeding population of cerulean warblers (Setophaga cerulea) a species of highest conservation concern.Discover how deforestation is affecting cerulean warblers and how researcher Thomas A. Thompson is working to make a difference in a seminar Thursday, Dec. 19, at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
Hosted by UAB Libraries, this event is part of its Sustainability in Focus speaker series and is presented in partnership with Alabama Audubon. The one-hour seminar will be at 5 p.m. in UAB’s Mervyn H. Sterne Library, room 174, 917 13th St. South. The event is free and open to the public. Learn more details.
In Alabama, cerulean warblers (Setophaga cerulea) are designated as a Priority One species of highest conservation concern. Bankhead National Forest is one of the cerulean’s southernmost breeding locations in the United States and one of only a few breeding locations in the state. Once considered common breeders throughout multiple counties, cerulean warbler populations have been negatively impacted by factors such as the loss of mature contiguous deciduous forest.
Thompson, an Alabama A&M graduate student and recipient of a Walter F. Coxe Grant, will discuss the critical research he is undertaking on Alabama’s breeding population of cerulean warblers in Bankhead National Forest and take questions. A member of The Wildlife Society and an associate wildlife biologist, Thompson is passionate about conservation and preserving natural resources for future generations. Originally from Austin, Texas, he has worked with a variety of different species from boreal toads (Anaxyrus boreas boreas) in the mountains of Colorado to brown tree snakes (Boiga irregularis) on the island of Guam.
This series offers engaging talks from guest speakers on environmental stewardship, sustainability and energy efficiency, focusing on practical ways to make positive changes. Learn about sustainability work from others and explore how to create a greener community.