Yellowstone may be the antithesis of a birding paradise. Despite its rich biodiversity, in few American settings are birds more likely to be eclipsed by larger terrestrial fauna. Yet there are few places on the continent where birds have more to teach people. As one of the largest (mostly) intact temperate ecosystems in the world, the Park is a vast natural laboratory for studying species interactions, climate change, disease pathology, and more.
Bethany Barratt, a member of the faculty at Roosevelt University and volunteer for the National Park Service, will describe her various roles that have included thought-provoking, inspiring and sometimes hilarious opportunities to consider future relationships between humans and other species in the country’s National Parks. The lecture, beginning 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 19 at the Levy Center, 300 Dodge Ave., is free and open to the public.