Free Public Lecture

Chad Wilsey: Conservation Status of North American Birds in the Face of Future Climate Change

Monday, November 17, 2014
7:30 PM
H.F. Deluca Forum
Wisconsin Institutes for Discovery
330 N Orchard St (map)

National Audubon Society scientists recently completed a comprehensive analysis modeling the winter and summer ranges of 588 North American bird species in response to future climate change. Using extensive citizen science data and detailed climate layers, these models characterize the relationship between the distribution of each species and climate through the end of the century. Chad Wilsey will talk about the results and the implications for conservation. The science is clear that climate change is the biggest conservation threat to birds through the rest of the century. As a result, the fate of North America birds will depend critically on conservation decisions that reduce the impacts of climate change as well as the ability of these birds to colonize areas that become climatically suitable outside of their current ranges.

Chad Wilsey, PhD, Spatial Ecologist
National Audubon Society
Chad uses spatial data and analysis tools, such as remote sensing and computer modeling, to address the potential impacts of development and climate-change on bird and wildlife populations. Previously, Chad partnered with a team of researchers from several universities, government agencies, and non-profits to characterize the vulnerability of wildlife populations to climate change in the Pacific Northwest. He has also studied the dependence of the endangered black-capped vireo on sustained cowbird management and characterized bird communities in shaded cacao and banana agroforests in Costa Rica. In addition to expertise in spatial analysis, Chad has extensive field experience including completing wildlife surveys for the energy development projects in Wyoming, bird banding in New Mexico, and monitoring of nesting macaws in Peru. Chad earned an M.S. in Conservation Biology and Sustainable Development in the Nelson Institute at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a Ph.D. in Landscape Ecology at the University of Washington.

THIS LECTURE IS PRESENTED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE MADISON AUDUBON SOCIETY