Western Grebe courtesy of Pam Smithstan
Grebe monitoring updates and community science in action to be featured this month
The Redbud Audubon Society will present a program on the Grebe Monitoring project that is being spear-headed by Dr. Scott Butterfield of Pacific Union College and the Redbud Audubon Society. The program is slated for Feb. 19 and will be held on zoom starting at 7 p.m.
Dr. Butterfield and Donna Mackiewicz, President of the Redbud Audubon Society, are working with local students from Upper Lake and Lower Lake High Schools, along with tribal members to monitor the success of nesting Grebes on Clear Lake using drones and advanced AI.
The drone training is led by Dr. Butterfield and his collaborators at Pacific Union. These tools should lead to a better understanding of grebe nesting patterns while protecting sensitive habitats. “We’re blending cutting-edge science with grassroots dedication,” noted Mackiewicz.
Stories, photos, and progress of the project will be shared during the zoom presentation.
“We’re thrilled to share the wonderful news from Clear Lake that our beloved Western and Clark’s Grebes are continuing to thrive. Last nesting season brought encouraging signs of success. We saw strong nesting activity and an uplifting sense that grebe populations are holding steady — and even increasing in some areas. Every floating nest and fuzzy chick feels like a little victory for Clear Lake,” Mackiewicz stated.
One of the brightest highlights has been the growing involvement of local students. Since 2020, the chapter’s grebe monitoring has expanded to include enthusiastic high school science classes from Lower Lake and Upper Lake.
To register for the presentation click on the registration link that will take you to a quick and easy form to fill out to register. The link for the zoom program will be sent on the day of the presentation.
