As spring migration season approaches, Hope College will host “Hope Takes Flight,” a free event on Thursday, March 12 at 6:30 p.m., to offer insights about local and migratory birds and present simple, easy solutions to protect birds in our community.
It is open to the public, suitable for all ages and includes light refreshments.
This event will be held in the Hope College Van Wylen Library and will feature two short films, a panel discussion with local conservation experts, a live bird of prey from the Outdoor Discovery Center, and an opportunity to see Van Wylen Library’s rare 1860 copy of John J. Audubon’s “Birds of America” up close.
Millions of birds pass through neighborhoods during their bi-annual migrations and play vital ecological roles, but habitat loss and urban expansion place significant strains on wild populations. In the U.S. alone, more than one billion birds die from window collisions each year. Attendees will learn about simple solutions like window paint and decals that could save the lives of millions of birds.
Also, in two short films — “Wild Hope: Building for Birds” and “Wild Hope: Puffling Patrol” — attendees will learn about two organizations that are paving the way for a more bird-friendly future. The Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute in Washington, D.C. and the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York offers creative renovations and conservation efforts that have inspired groundbreaking legislation that reimagines what cities can do for birds.
The panel will include Hope College faculty members Dr. Kelly Ronald and Dr. Cody Porter, Jamie Krupka from the Outdoor Discovery Center, and Dr. Steve Hamburg, President of the Holland Audubon Club. Panelists will bridge the film’s global lessons to our own backyard, discussing how we can mitigate local urban hazards, join existing conservation projects, and protect neighborhood species.
Following the discussion, attendees will have an opportunity to see a live Great Horned Owl from the Outdoor Discovery Center’s De Witt Birds of Prey Center and to learn more about Van Wylen Library’s rare double elephant folio of Audubon’s famous “Birds of America.” Hope College students will also present bird specimens from the Hope collection and posters they created for this event.
The “Hope Takes Flight” event is made possible by a grant from Flight Path, the first campaign under Spark of Science @ My Library, a joint initiative between HHMI Tangled Bank Studios and the Star Library Education Network. Flight Path brings science-backed solutions to communities to build a safer world for birds. This event is presented in partnership with the Outdoor Discovery Center, Hope College Biology department, Hope College Educational Outreach office, and Van Wylen Library, and it will take place in the Granberg Room of Van Wylen Library at Hope College: 53 Graves Place, Holland, MI 49423.
To inquire about accessibility or accommodations to fully participate in the event, please email accommodations@hope.edu. Updates related to events are posted when available at hope.edu/calendar in the individual listings.