Presenter: Bob Lewis

Location: Pleasanton Middle School NOTE ROOM CHANGE 419A

Many birds are brightly colored, others use patterned feathers for camouflage. How do these colors originate? What’s the difference between colors from pigments and physical colors? From Yellow Warblers to Anna’s Hummingbirds, from Snow Geese to Brewer’s Blackbirds, each species makes unique use of the feather colors it possesses. What do the colors indicate to other birds? And do birds see the same colors we do? Bob will unravel some of the mysteries of color in birds with a little chemistry, a bit of physics, and a lot of brightly colored slides.

Bob trained as a chemist and worked for Chevron for 33 years. He’s taught birding classes in the Bay Area for over 20 years, and is the chair of Golden Gate Audubon’s Adult Education Committee. Currently he’s co-teaching a popular Master Birding class at the SF Academy of Sciences with Jack Dumbacher and Eddie Bartley, and will be spending June in the Sierra teaching ‘Birds of the Sierra’ with Rusty Scalf and Eddie Bartley. He loves to travel and photograph birds and has just returned from a trip to SE Asia, chasing the brightly colored birds of that area.

NOTE: ROOM CHANGE
To reach Pleasanton Middle School, take I-680 toward Pleasanton. Exit at Bernal Avenue and head east on Bernal to Case Avenue. Turn right on Case. The school is located on the right. Park at the south end of the parking lot. We will be meeting in Room 419A, which is behind and to the left of the library. Look for signs.