Monthly Meeting and Lecture
Monthly MEETING and LECTURE: “Wading Bird Nesting Responses of 2018: A Precursor to a Hydrologically Restored Everglades?” by Dr. Mark Cook, Lead Scientist for the Everglades Systems Assessment Section of The South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD)
Date and Time
February 5, 7:00 p.m. meeting & lecture.
Light refreshments at 6:30.
Rooms 101 and 102 at FAU Pine Jog Environmental Education Center, 6301 Summit Blvd, (near Jog Road) in West Palm Beach. Meeting is free and open to the public.
Program Overview
Dr. Cook says, “The title of my talk begins, ‘Fueling the Return of the Everglades Super-colonies.’ In short, I’ll be talking about the 2018 record-breaking wading bird nesting in the Everglades, the reasons why it happened, and some recent scientific data on wading bird diet and its importance to nesting. It’s a good news story. and I’m excited to share it with everyone!”
ABOUT Dr. Mark Cook
Dr Mark Cook is Section Lead of the Everglades Systems Assessment Section of The South Florida Water Management District. His current research is related to the restoration and management of wetland fauna in the Everglades and Florida Bay. It involves understanding the relationships among avian reproduction, their aquatic prey, wetland hydrologic conditions and nutrient levels, as well as the potential impacts of non-native species. The goal for much of this research is to help restore and manage wading bird populations in the Everglades.
Mark has over 23 years of experience studying the ecology of wild birds. Prior to working at the District, he spent four years as a post-doctoral researcher at the University of California, Berkeley, where he studied nesting strategies of a Neotropical passerine, the Pearly-eyed Thrasher, in the rainforests of Puerto Rico. Born and bred in the United Kingdom, Mark has a PhD in Avian Ecology from Glasgow University, Scotland, and a master’s degree in Ecology from the University of Durham, England, where he studied the nesting behavior of Black Guillemots and Atlantic Puffins on remote Scottish islands. He also has a Bachelor of Science degree in Marine Zoology from the University of Bangor, Wales.
Mark has spent the past 15 years studying wading birds in south Florida. During his time here, he has authored and co-authored 23 peer-reviewed scientific publications and 30-plus professional reports on wading birds, waterfowl, fish, crayfish and exotic animal species. He is the editor of the highly cited annual South Florida Wading Bird Report, on which he collaborates closely with other wading bird scientists in south Florida.
In his spare time, he’s a pretty good jungle gym and all-round plaything for his two daughters, aged 6 and 8. However, whenever he can, he likes to escape into the wilder areas of Florida and Panama, where he volunteers as a birding guide and takes photos of wildlife to promote nature conservation.
Meeting and program is free and open to the public. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. for light refreshments, in rooms 101 and 102 at FAU Pine Jog Environmental Education Center, 6301 Summit Blvd (near Jog Road) in West Palm Beach. We look forward to seeing you there!
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