Join the Whole U for a faculty lecture by Professor John Marzluff from the UW College of the Environment on Thursday, May 23 from noon to 1:00 p.m. in the HUB Rm 250. Marzluff studies how humans affect birds through habitat fragmentation and increased urbanization, as well as the challenges of conserving birds on islands.

We all know that human development is threatening our environment. Runoff pollutes our streams. Homes and businesses encroach on wilderness habitat. Energy use warms the planet. Too many species are in decline. And yet, for some of our most charismatic wild creatures, suburban and urban habitats offer surprising opportunities to thrive.

In this lecture, Marzluff will review what scientists are learning in a renewed effort to understand how cities affect birds and then focus on his long-term study conducted in the Seattle area with his students that aims to reveal which birds survive and adapt to our presence and which do not. In so doing, Marzluff will suggest a number of strategies that we can all do to enhance built lands for wildlife, including reducing lawn cover, keeping cats indoors, increasing the visibility of windows, tolerating native predators, providing food and nest boxes, and encouraging the human bond with nature.