Topic/Title: “Hooray, Pinyon Jays!”
Speaker: Madison Lutes
Description: Earlier this year, Madison spent the end of winter through spring working as a Pinyon Jay Survey Technician for the Great Basin Bird Observatory. In this presentation, Madison will share information about Pinyon Jays and the work she did to aid in their conservation. Madison will also teach viewers how to identify Pinyon Jays in the wild and distinguish them from other similar-looking species that share the same habitat.
Bio: My name is Madison Lutes, and I work in the conservation field. I graduated from the University of Arizona in 2023 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Natural Resources and have been working in seasonal positions ever since. Some of my past positions include Desert Tortoise Technician with the Arizona Game and Fish Department in Phoenix, AZ; Seasonal Conservation Assistant at Audubon’s Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary in Naples, FL; and Wild Turkey Technician with the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in western Nebraska.I am hoping that my diverse field experience will help lead me to a permanent biologist position in the near future.
We meet at the entrance to the preserve near the parking lot at 7:30 am, then the leader guides the group around the ponds. About an hour and a half later we travel to Brick Road Coffee, located at 1337 S. Gilbert Rd. in Mesa for coffee, conversation, and a short presentation.
If you cannot make the walk, you are always welcome to join us for coffee/tea and the presentation about two hours after the walk start time.
