Santa Catalina Island is a great place to bird watch. There are approximately 280 species of birds recorded for the Island with less than 40 considered permanent residents - the rest are migrant or summer breeders. One bird on the Island, the Orange-crowned Warbler (Vermivora celata), has sparked the interest of researchers from the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center and the University of California, Riverside.

The Orange-crowned Warbler breeds widely over western and northern North America, and east across Canada. There are four recognized subspecies of this warbler. One of them, the sordida subspecies, is endemic to the Channel Islands and reaches its highest density on Santa Catalina Island. This subspecies differs from others that breed on the continent, however, its life history is poorly known. Researchers from the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center and the University of California, Riverside, are hoping to learn more about its life history through a long-term study on Catalina.

On April 13th, attendees to a Conservancy Evening Nature Program can discover more about this research.  Susana Peluc from the University of California, Riverside and the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center will share her knowledge on this Channel Island endemic and the current research on this specie.

The program will take place at the Metropole Hotel Conference Room and begins at 7:00 p.m.  As with other Evening Nature Programs, a $1 donation is asked to help cover program expenses. Refreshments will be served, but please remember to bring your own reusable cup.

For more information visit www.CatalinaConservancy.org