- This event has passed.
Monthly Program: May 2021
May 6, 2021 @ 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Photo by Ivan Phillipsen
Picture from one of the YES Nature Day Outings at a local Regional Park. Photo credit to YES N2N
Birding Info: In partnership with nature, YES Nature to Neighborhoods nurtures leaders who champion the wellbeing of our community. Eric Aaholm, Executive Director, and Luis Pacheco, YLP Program Manager for YES will discuss its role in developing strong youth and adult leaders starting as young as age eight via engagement in both nearby nature and backcountry settings.
Rufous-capped Warbler, photo by Ivan Phillipsen
Main Program: Birdlife of Oaxaca with Ivan Phillipsen
The Mexican state of Oaxaca (pronounced “wuh-HOCK-uh“) is incredibly rich with biodiversity. From high-elevation interior valleys, to mountains, rainforests, and tropical coastlines, Oaxaca has a wide variety of natural habitats. This region is a great destination for birding and for enjoying cultural wonders. There are ancient pyramids and temples to explore just outside Oaxaca City. The ethnic cuisine of the city is world-famous. Other cultural delights include elaborate wood carvings, pottery, and a vibrant mescal industry.
Birdlife includes neotropical migrants and charismatic resident species. Oaxaca has a few wonderful endemic species and near-endemics, including the Oaxaca Sparrow, Dwarf Jay, and Blue-capped Hummingbird. In this presentation, Ivan Phillipsen will describe the ecoregions and habitats of Oaxaca and present some birding and wildlife highlights of the state. He’ll also touch on some of the cultural aspects that travelers can enjoy there.
Ivan Phillipsen is a professional naturalist guide with a background in scientific research. He’s the co-owner of a small birding/nature tour company, Wild Latitudes. He is also the creator and host of a podcast called The Science of Birds.
Ivan has loved animals and nature his whole life. His first obsession was with amphibians and reptiles. This interest led him to graduate school, where he studied amphibians. After earning a Masters degree in Biology and a PhD in Zoology, he did postdoctoral research on aquatic insects.
Along the way, his love of nature expanded to include plants, fungi, and all animals, including birds. Birds have become Ivan’s greatest passion. He’s an avid birder and loves sharing in the joy of birds with his tour participants. Some places where Ivan leads natural history tours are Mexico, Iceland, Alaska, Uganda, and Fiji.