Wednesday, November 29: Birds of a Different Feather: Ostriches and Other Ratites
Free Lecture with Dennis and Jess Beebe
Kiwi. Public domain photo.
This live presentation occurred Wednesday, November 29, 2023 at Stacey Hall, St. Mark’s in-the-Valley Episcopal Church. It was live-streamed via Zoom.
View the lecture recording at the following link: Ostriches and Other Ratites
The Santa Ynez Valley Natural History Society welcomes the return of the father-daughter team of Dennis and Jess Beebe to present another informative and entertaining lecture from the bird world. This time they will stay on the ground (mostly) as they present a new lecture on ratites.
Cassowary. Public domain photo.
The ratites are a world of contradictions and exceptions. The oldest group of living birds, most are flightless, yet all evolved from flying ancestors. Today their range is worldwide, mostly confined to the southern hemisphere. Although the ostrich and other ratites are the largest birds in the world, the majority of the species are comparatively diminutive and incapable of flight.
In past lectures, Dennis and Jess have brought us insights into the corvids of the Santa Ynez Valley and vultures worldwide. Recordings of these lectures are available on the Society’s website (syvnature.org).
Ostrich. Public domain photo.
Dennis retired after completing two careers; as an Air Force officer, and as an aerospace management consultant. He works part time for the University of California Sedgwick Reserve, where he also serves a volunteer docent. He is a volunteer docent with the non-profit NatureTrack and serves on the board of directors of the Santa Ynez Valley Natural History Society.
Jess and Dennis Beebe. Photo by Jess Beebe.
Jess Beebe is an accomplished artist, self-taught computer expert, and birder extraordinaire. She volunteers with her father in the service of NatureTrack, Sedgwick Reserve, and other community organizations in the Santa Ynez Valley. She also frequently gets recruited by her father to assist him in developing PowerPoint lectures, then handling the computer-related challenges that frequently crop up during the actual presentations.
Cassowary. Public domain photo.
Kiwi. Public domain photo.
Ostrich. Public domain photo.
Jess and Dennis Beebe. Photo by Jess Beebe.
