Virtual APRIL Program
Tuesday, April 27 at 7:00 pm

Presented by GINA ROBERTI

On May 18, 1980, a cataclysmic event occurred at Mount St. Helens as the north flank of the volcano slid off in one of the largest landslides in recorded history, unleashing a powerful eruption. This eruption buried 230 square miles of existing old-growth forest with hundreds of feet of volcanic debris. In some places closest to the crater of the volcano, almost no living organisms survived. Ash from the eruption blew across the United States and mega-tons of logs and volcanic debris clogged up rivers, lakes and streams. The eruption dramatically reshaped the landscape, creating a mosaic of habitat types that are now home to a diverse suite of birds. In 1982, the Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument was designated to protect the land closest to the volcano as a place for research, recreation and education. Today, home to more than 80 species of nesting birds, the Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument offers unique birding opportunities. Join us as we take a tour through the diverse mosaic of habitats created by the 1980 eruption and learn about where to see some of Mount St. Helen’s signature birds. This interactive presentation will excite and prepare you for birdwatching in the Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument. Bring your questions and curiosities!

About Gina
Gina Roberti is a geologist, naturalist and educator who grew up digging quahogs and exploring the shorelines of the Narragansett Bay in Rhode Island amidst ancient metamorphic rocks of the Appalachian Mountains. Since graduating from Brown University with a degree in Geology-Biology, Gina spent several years working as a geoscience educator in various geologic regions in the western U.S., including the Colorado Plateau, Snake River Plain, Klamath-Siskiyou, North Cascades, and presently in the active Cascade volcanic range with the Mount St. Helens Institute. When Gina is not working, she can be found on long walks or cross-country skis, often in the company of birds. Contact Gina at gina.m.roberti@gmail.com.

More information and references for Gina’s talk can be found here:

https://www.roguevalleyaudubon.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Copy-of-Rogue-Valley-Audubon-Online-Presentation-Birds-of-Mount-St.-Helens-2021-Google-Docs.pdf

Zoom instructions: If you haven’t registered for RVAS virtual programs you will need to do so. Once registered, you will receive a link with the virtual address for the meeting.
Click on this link to register: https://www.blah.com–dry-runzoom-signup/