How Our Brain Identifies Birds: Birding ID Like a Pro
Presented by: Alvaro Jaramillo
When: Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Where: Audubon Center at Debs Park
Time: 7:30 - 9:30 p.m.
Most bird identification lectures focus on field marks, and the specifics of separating species A from species B. But few ask exactly how we identify birds? What is our brain going through in order to do this? How does our brain get tripped up during bird identification - ever encountered the "leaf bird" the "branch bird" or the worse one of all "the plastic bag snowy owl?"
Why do experts identify birds almost without thinking, while the rest of us need to struggle? Are they different than the rest of us, or are there tricks? Truth is that bird identification is pretty tricky stuff but our brain is wired to short cut much of the thinking involved in doing it, the trick is training yourself to do it like a pro. And that is the aim, a lighthearted but informative explanation of how the heck they do it.
Alvaro Jaramillo was born in Chile but began birding in Toronto, Canada, where he lived as a youth. He was trained in ecology and evolution with a particular interest in bird behavior. Research forays and backpacking trips introduced Alvaro to the riches of the Neotropics, where he has traveled extensively. He is the author of the Birds of Chile, an authoritative yet portable field guide to Chile's birds. Alvaro writes the Identify Yourself column in Bird Watcher's Digest. He recently finished part of the sparrow chapter for the Handbook of Birds of the World, and is writing a photo guide to the birds and wildlife of Patagonia. He runs a birding and nature tour company Alvaro's Adventures, where the focus is to have fun, learn a thing or two and truly enjoy nature. Alvaro lives with his family in Half Moon Bay, California.
The location of the April program presentation is at:
Audubon Center at Debs Park.
4700 N Griffin Ave., Los Angeles CA 90031 (323) 221‐2255.
Click for directions
Start 7:30 p.m. Conclude 9:30 p.m.
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