Natural History Speaker Series |
The Friends of Boyd Hill Nature Preserve and the St. Petersburg Parks and Recreation Department present the annual Natural History Speaker Series (NHSS), a program that offers fascinating presentations on the natural and cultural history of Florida by individuals who are authorities in their fields.
Admission is free and open to the public.
Second Thursday of each month (October - April) at 7 p.m. | Hammock Hall at Boyd Hill Nature Preserve 3010 31st St S, St. Petersburg, FL 33712 |
October 10 | Microplastics are tiny shreds or particles of plastic that enter our environment through many different ways, including through a load of laundry, the wear and tear via road tires, and even through toothpaste. How much is floating in the waters of Tampa Bay, and what threats does it pose to marine life and to humans? Come and find out as our speaker presents her findings. | Speaker Bio: Amy Siuda is a marine ecologist, biological oceanographer, and Associate Professor of Marine Science at Eckerd College. Her research focuses on marine plankton ecology, from organismal to population and community levels. She is passionate about raising awareness and educating on the plastic marine debris problem. She earned her B.A. in Biology and French from Middlebury College in Vermont in 1997 and PhD in Oceanography from the University of Connecticut in 2007. |
November 14 | Bird populations vary by species and various environmental factors, such as habitat quality, pesticide use, urbanization, predation by cats, climate change, etc. Come and find out how well birds in Florida are faring considering these challenges and conservation efforts. | Speaker Bio: Dave Goodwin is a retired schoolteacher and an avid birdwatcher. He is a founding member and two-time president of the Florida Ornithological Society and was a Regional Coordinator of the Florida Breeding Bird Atlas Project II. He has participated in numerous annual Christmas Bird Counts. He also led Boyd Hill’s summer Nature Adventure Camp for over 30 years. |
December 12 | The trees that line our streets and beautify and shade our homes make up our urban forests. Come and learn more about the trees that grow in St. Petersburg and the challenges they face from climate change, air pollution, insects, and disease, etc., and tips on how you can take better care of your own trees. | Speaker Bio: Dean Hay is currently an Urban Forester and Sustainability Coordinator for the City of St. Petersburg. He has a demonstrated history of working in the environmental design industry. He is a strong systems and design professional with a Masters of Landscape Architecture with a Green Infrastructure focus from the University of Michigan. |
January 9 | Have you wondered what species of snakes are found at Boyd Hill Nature Preserve? Come join us as our speaker introduces the diversity of snakes at the preserve and how you can identify them. Learn about these misunderstood creatures, their role in nature, and how you can safely enjoy viewing them. | Speaker Bio: George L. Heinrich is a field biologist and environmental educator specializing in Florida reptiles. His company, Heinrich Ecological Services, is based in St. Petersburg, Florida and conducts wildlife surveys, research, and natural history programming. He is a graduate of Memphis State University. |
February 13 | Gopher tortoises are an integral part of Boyd Hill’s upland habitats. Have you walked the trails at Boyd Hill and seen a gopher tortoise and wondered how they’re able to survive? Come and learn more about them as our speaker shares his knowledge and ongoing research. | Speaker Bio: Jeff Goessling grew up in the hills of Kentucky where he gained a fascination and appreciation for nature. He earned his B.S. at Thomas More College, his M.S. at Sam Houston State University, and his PhD in the biological sciences at Auburn University. He joined the faculty at Eckerd College in January 2018. He currently studies and monitors the gopher tortoise population at Boyd Hill Nature Preserve in addition to teaching. |
March 13 | The Florida Panther is listed as an endangered species with only a small population remaining in the wild. Come hear from a field biologist who studies these secretive cats to learn more about them and what is being done to help them survive in the face of habitat loss and fragmentation and other factors. | Speaker Bio: Christopher Satter is a wildlife biologist whose research interests are primarily focused on estimating population sizes of wild cats which are very difficult to study due to their secretive nature. He earned his B.S. from the University of West Florida in 2013 and M.S. from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in 2016. |
April 10 | Florida’s landscape is lush and green, but don’t let that fool you. Join Sensing Nature ecologist Brian Lane as he reveals some of the bullying plants that have unfortunately taken root here in Florida. Through his eyes and experience, learn easy ways to identify these invasives as well as solutions for battling them starting with your own yard. You’ll be surprised how closely they have encroached to your front door without you even realizing it. A hands-on sampling of invasive plants will be displayed. Will they be ones found in your yard too? | Speaker Bio: As a senior ecologist, environmental educator, and business co-owner, Brian Lane shares his appreciation and understanding of the natural world through Sensing Nature’s interactive workshops, ethical ecotours, and educational nature products. |