BEACH LAKE, PA — On Sunday, June 16 from 10 a.m. to 12 noon, Dr. Robert Smith and Dr. Meg Hatch will present “Stopover Ecology of Landbird Migrants: Why It’s Good to be Fat and Other Migratory Tales,” a presentation on avian migration and research conducted in Northeast PA. The program will be held at the Delaware Highlands Conservancy’s Van Scott Nature Reserve.

Hatch and Smith are especially interested in the ecology of migratory birds. Smith earned his Ph.D. is a professor of biology at the University of Scranton. Hatch is an associate professor of biology at Penn State Scranton. 

Their current projects include habitat use and particularly the fitness consequences of migrant landbirds using habitats dominated by exotic vegetation; relationships between songbird migration ecology, ecoimmunology, avian blood parasites and feather mites; intrinsic and extrinsic factors influencing songbird arrival/passage timing; and assessment of habitat use by fall migrating Northern saw-whet owls within Lackawanna State Park.

The event fee is $5 for conservancy members and $10 for non-members. There’s no charge for kids under age 12. Advance registration is requested; register online at DelawareHighlands.org/events or call 570/226-3164 ext. 8.