The rocks found in Connecticut’s gentle hills and flat river valleys belie the wonderfully complex geological history of our small state. They tell a story that encompasses periods of mountain building with mountains higher than the Himalayas when Connecticut was located off the coast of Africa as well as a time when parts of what is now Connecticut was covered by an ancient ocean. They bear witness to the numerous lava flows that several times covered central Connecticut and earthquakes that titled these flows and formed our central ridges.  Our rock walls and isolated boulders give evidence of our state’s more recent glacial history.  Join us as Magjery Winters leads us on an exploration of this fascinating geological story and learn how all these events contributed to Connecticut being called the “Cradle of Mining.”

\Margery is the Assistant Director and instructor at Roaring Brook Nature Center in Canton where she is delighted to be able to share her passion for earth science and nature with students of all ages. She manages the Nature Center’s native plant gardens and is an advocate for the role of natives in our designed landscapes. She is a Master Landscape Design Consultant.

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We've got a fun-filled evening set for this Community Program with a view of some members' photos, a bird quiz, and more.

Between the photo shows we will have a bird quiz. How well do you know the size of birds? How about bird name anagrams? Can you id birds from blurred photos? Don't worry. There are no exotic birds, just common backyard and park birds. Have a competition with your family.

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The unique and iconic forest birds of Hawaiʻi are facing an immediate extinction crisis. Found nowhere else on Earth, at least 12 species are threatened with imminent extinction in the next few years from habitat loss, invasive species, climate change and disease, such as avian malaria spread by mosquitoes.

Hawaiian forest birds are an integral ecological and cultural component of the Hawaiian Islands. These birds reflect the health of forests and represent cultural connections between the Native Hawaiian Community and the islands. The loss of these species compromises the integrity of unique ecosystems as well as the natural and cultural heritage of Hawaiʻi.

Join us when we welcome Jackie Guadioso for a program about the what is being done to preserve these special forest birds.

Jackie has 19 years of experience in avian field work and conservation, of which 16 years of this experience is with native Hawaiian forest birds. She holds a M.S. degree in Conservation Biology and Environmental Sciences from the University of Hawai’i at Hilo.

Her past research and experience spans the topics of native Hawaiian forest bird conservation including ecology and morphology, endangered bird propagation, avian reintroductions and translocations, avian point-count surveys, and introduced avian disease and ectoparasites. Most recently in Hawai'i, she was the project coordinator for the reintroduction of the Hawaiian Crow or ‘Alalā on Hawai'i Island.

Since relocating back home to Connecticut, Jackie is now the Outdoor Adventure Coordinator for the City of New Haven Parks Department where she is leading a team in providing access and opportunities for the local community to enjoy outdoor activities and environmental education within the parks. She enjoys spending time with her 10-year-old daughter, Kāhea, traveling, surfing and camping

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