We are pleased to continue the Distinguished Lecture Series, now in its 18th season. On Sunday, October 20, 2024 at 4:00 p.m., Ben Nickley, President and Executive Director of Berkshire Bird Observatory, will discuss “Comprehensive Connections: How Birds Bridge Hemispheres and Bring People in Touch with Place.”
Birds are great connectors. Liberated from land, birds move freely—from tree to tree, across land and sea and continent. Their ties to habitat are rooted in evolutionary history—deep, strong, and dynamic. They fascinate us with their flight, serenade us with song, and open a gateway to communion with nature. In this talk, Ben Nickley will showcase birds of Berkshire County and tell the story of Berkshire Bird Observatory’s efforts to conserve birds in the Berkshires and beyond.
About Our Speaker: Ben Nickley is a scientist with a passion for birds and the ecosystems they are an integral part of. Always fascinated by nature, he got his start in science at Ohio State University where his research was recognized with an award at the Denman Undergraduate Research Forum. Since then, Ben has travelled across North America pursuing avian field studies for nonprofits, universities, and state governments—picking up his master’s in biology along the way. He is the author of several peer-reviewed articles and has presented his work at international conferences. Helping others connect with the natural world through birds is his forte and his mission. His role as Executive Director is to oversee the day-to-day operations of BBO and steer its development. Ben feels privileged to have landed in the Berkshires and could not think of a better place to do the work he loves.
The Distinguished Lecture Series is organized and hosted by Dr. Jeremy Yudkin. Dr. Yudkin is a resident of the Berkshires and Professor of Music and Co-Director of the Center for Beethoven Research at Boston University. Every summer he presents the Lenox Library’s pre-concert lectures for the Boston Symphony Orchestra’s Tanglewood season.