Avian Pigmentation
October 23, 2017 @ 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Join Dr. Jeffrey Mckelvey, for the second presentation of Audubon Society of Kalamazoo’s new program season as he discusses “Avian Pigmentation.” Birds are among the most colorful of all animals. We’ll look at some of the reasons why. Much of it is due to pigments they incorporate into their feathers. The birds synthesize some of these while others are obtained from their food. Still, other colors are due to the refraction of light by structural elements in the feathers themselves. These various sources of color can mix and match to produce almost any hue imaginable. Thus birds can camouflage themselves to hide from predators, make themselves attractive to potential mates and dazzle appreciative birdwatchers.
Dr. Mckelvey grew up in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, just east of the first ridges in the Appalachians. His family had always put out bird feeders and he could identify all the common species before learning to read. When older, he spent much time in the mountains and woods becoming an increasingly avid bird-watcher, which was the origin of his interest in biology. Dr. Mckelvey received an undergraduate degree in biology at West Virginia Wesleyan College. A Ph.D. in physiology followed from Bowling Green State University. He then moved to Grand Rapids to take a job at Aquinas College. He has been there for 31 years and currently serves as chairperson of the Department of Biology and Health Science. Dr. Mckelvey mainly teaches courses in anatomy and physiology, but every other year he works in ornithology. He still enjoys bird-watching and talking about birds every chance he has.
You are invited to join us to meet and hear Dr. Mckelvey on October 23 at the People’s Church, 1758 North 10th Street, Kalamazoo. Our program starts at 7:30 PM and is preceded by a social time with light refreshments at 7:00 PM. Guests and the general public are encouraged to attend. Handicap parking and access is at either the front or rear entrance of the building. Please remember to bring your own coffee mug to reduce dishwashing.