Join MRVAC members and guests Thursday, Feb. 25 at 7:30 p.m. CST to hear Dr. Jonathan Slaght (rhymes with “cat”), the  Minnesota author who recently published the Times Nature Book of the Year, Owls of the Eastern Ice.  Dr. Slaght will take us on his adventure – part of his Ph.D. dissertation fieldwork – into the Siberian winter to find, study, and hopefully save the world’s largest and most elusive owl.

The book is rich in details about the dense forests of the Russian Far east – Amur tigers, frozen rivers, radioactive hot springs – and the Blakiston’s Fish Owl, a subgroup of eagle owls that specialize in hunting in riparian areas, including grabbing fish from holes in the river ice.  Dr. Slaght is a talented writer who profiles the colorful characters – hermits and fellow fieldworkers alike.  He provides details birders find fascinating, including how to trap a 10-pound nocturnal raptor for study.  He is a wildlife biologist and author working for the Wildlife Conservation Society as its Russia & Northeast Asia Coordinator.

Want a teaser?  Check this out: How Big is a Fish Owl? (“Owls of the Eastern Ice” book teaser) – YouTube

To Join virtual meeting click on this link:
Our Meetings are free and open to all.  We use GoToMeeting, which will require a quick but easy download for first time users to join the meeting.  Instructions:
1) When you first login in you may be asked to enter the ID number (960709157)
2) You will be prompted to choose your audio method and camera by clicking on the settings icon on the top right corner. After that you should be able to hear and see everything or if you choose to call in, dial in to join.
3) We will mute everyone as we get started. You can ask questions by opening the chat window, which we will monitor. Questions will probably be held until the Q&A period after the meeting.