Meetings/Events
MARCH MEMBERSHIP MEETING
Tue, March 9, 7pm – 9pm
Our program will be presented by Dr. Dave Pearson, who is a Research Professor in the School of Life Sciences at ASU. He has taught a total of more than 20,000 students in his beginning
Biology course for non-majors as well as
ornithology and ecology classes over the last
35 years. His research involves Conservation
Biology of tropical rainforests, and he has worked
in over 45 countries on birds and tiger beetles
as bioindicators. He has written eight books,
five of which deal with ecotourism in the
Travellers Wildlife Guide series (Interlink Books)
for Ecuador, Brazil, Peru, Thailand and soon
India. "Is Ecotourism a Valid Use of Tropical
Rainforests?" Ecotourism can be a sustainable
use of rain forest resources, but in the wrong
hands and with the wrong goals it can become a
form of ecoterrorism. What are the conflicting
goals of ecotourism, and who are the players that
must work together? How can the economic,
political, and cultural parts of this business get
along? What can you do as an ecotourist to make
sure that the habitats, plants and animals you
travel to see will be there for your children and
grandchildren to enjoy? How can the people in
the host countries you visit best benefit from your
presence?
Please click the link to the left to access the Desert Rivers Calendar.
Desert Rivers meetings are held every second Tuesday of the month, September through May each year, at the Gilbert Community Center located at Page Park- 132 E. Bruce Ave, Gilbert. Bruce is just north of Elliot Rd, and the park is one block west of Gilbert Rd. We meet in the new community center in the large hall/dining room from 7 to 9PM. Enter straight ahead on Bruce and park to the right near the Community Center. Doors open at 6:30, and you’re invited to come enjoy some refreshments and meet other members beforehand.
Speakers present presentations on various topics of interest and concern to chapter members. We host an annual meeting with Liberty Wildlife at which many raptors are displayed with expert teaching.
The Gilbert Family
Birdwalks are held every third
Saturday, September through April, at the Gilbert Riparian Preserve on
the southeast corner of Guadalupe and Greenfield Roads in Gilbert, east
of the library. 30-45 minute walks start at 8AM and run
until noon.
More info here
Both Walks are free, and we provide expert guides, loaner binoculars, kids books and learning opportunities. Liberty Wildlife is present at all walks with LIVE RAPTORS and teachers to teach you and your family about various Arizona raptors.
The Chandler Family
Birdwalks are on first
Saturdays, September through April, at the City of Chandler's Veterans Oasis Park at 4050
E. Chandler Heights Rd in Chandler, near the Env. Ed. Center building.
(NE Corner of Chandler Heights Rd. and Lindsay Rd.) These walks also run 8AM to noon.
More info here
Tres Rios Nature Festival
Sat, March 6, 9am – Sun, March 7, 4pm
Phoenix International Raceway (map)
This is the BIG one! Plan to bring your family and friends for a day of activities, displays, and learning about everything environmental. Sponsored by Arizona Game & Fish and many other corporations and environmental groups, this Saturday/Sunday event offers lots to adults and kids of all ages.
See more at: www.tresriosnaturefestival.org
Feathered Friends Festival at the Gilbert Riparian Preserve
Sat, March 27, 8am – 2pm
Greenfield & Guadalupe, Gilbert, AZ (map)
Join us for the free annual Feathered Friends Festival, with fun booths
and educational pursuits for families. There will be lots of activities,
booths, programs, and learning opportunities for adults and kids of all
ages. This one day event is fun and educational and usually has several
thousand attendees. See more at: www.riparianinstitute.org