April 27th – Women In Science – Haldimand Bird Observatory

On Saturday a group of young/teenage women, known as “Women In Science”, will be visiting the banding lab. The aim of the group is to interest girls in pursuing a career in science. Is that still as big a problem as it once was? I’m out of touch. At the Ruthven banding program we get considerably more female involvement than male. This morning was a prime example. Take a look at the picture…..this is pretty representative of the way things are going. Dave Maida and Caleb Scholtens were the sole male participants (I don’t count). I think this swing mirrors what is currently going on in Canadian universities. Maybe what we need is a group: “Young Men In Science”……

It was a beautiful morning – so pleasant to listen to a dawn chorus that is growing daily. We recorded 3 new species for the year: Green Heron, Blue-headed Vireo, Eastern White-crowned Sparrow (we banded this one). It will be interesting to see what moves in behind this front (I can hear the thunder rumbling while I’m writing this).

Beauties and the Beast. Rhiannon, who was a Mac student way back when, has gone on to a career as a scientist with the CWS in Yellowknife……and as a mother (of Ellie).

But the highlight of the day was a visit by Rhiannon and her lovely daughter Ellie (now 6 months). Rhiannon started off here as a Mac undergrad and then, after earning a Master’s, moved on to become a scientist with the CWS in Yellowknife. Both she and her daughter are delightful…..