Effective conservation efforts for migratory birds necessitates an understanding of their requirements during various stages of their life cycles. It also calls for cross-border collaboration and the ability to engage with diverse cultures to foster a collective understanding of ways to protect birds. Environment for the Americas works across the Western Hemisphere raising awareness of migratory birds and their conservation.
Join us in exploring how Environment for the Americas develops World Migratory Bird Day, a global celebration of migratory birds and their conservation. We'll look at the rich history of conservation themes and unveil the 2024 theme: "Protect Insects, Protect Birds." Along the way, we'll explore some of the birds that depend on insects, and why declines in insect populations may be connected to worrisome downward trends in insectivorous birds.
Rufous Hummingbird numbers are declining precipitously, and researchers in Canada, the U.S., and Mexico are working together to develop a conservation plan that will guide their protection.
Photo of Rufous Hummingbird at red columbine flower by Jonathan Moran.
Susan Bonfield, Environment for the Americas Director. Photo courtesy of Susan Bonfield.
Susan Bonfield works to broaden engagement with conservation and is a passionate advocate for diversity and collaboration across borders in conserving birds. She has developed programs building on the phenomenon of bird migration to promote human connections across the Western Hemisphere.
Her love of science, respect for the environment, and passion for the outdoors was evident early in her childhood, which found her outdoors as much as possible. Her appreciation grew, and in college, field experiences at a biological station led to a career in conservation.
Connecting youth to science, nature, and conservation has been a constant for her. Early on, she developed an exchange program that linked schools in Mexico and the United States through the study of migratory birds and designed camps that took high school students into the field to learn research techniques. These activities complemented her research and conservation efforts in her positions at the U.S. Forest Service, the Bird Conservancy of the Rockies, and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation.
In 2007, with a desire to make stronger connections between science, conservation, and youth, she founded Environment for the Americas and is its Director. The organization was built on the foundation of its keystone education program, World Migratory Bird Day, a global celebration that connects people in partnership with the United Nations through the phenomenon of bird migration. Today, the organization continues to facilitate international conservation education and research programs and has expanded its work engaging underrepresented youth in unique opportunities to work side-by-side with researchers, educators, historians, scientists and other professionals.
Susan has over 30 years of experience managing research and educational collaborations across the Western Hemisphere and in Europe, leading multi-organizational research projects, and mentoring youth. She holds a Master’s in Natural Resources from the University of Michigan and a PhD in Human Dimensions of Natural Resources from Colorado State University. She is a founding member of the Diversity Joint Venture, serves on the Board of the Colorado Alliance for Environmental Education, and is Coordinator of the trinational Western Hummingbird Partnership.
In-Person Gathering - BCAS welcomes everyone back to in-person programs at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Boulder. Doors open at 7 PM for socializing and the program begins at 7:15. While the church is no longer requiring masks, we encourage you to wear your favorite high-quality mask, and we will provide free surgical masks for anyone who needs one. Please stay home if you feel sick, and watch the program on Zoom!
Online Gathering - The meeting room will open at 7:10, the program starts at 7:15. Questions for the speaker will be taken from the chat feature of the Zoom session.
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