by on 2013-12-23

Redlands Horticultural and Improvement Society (RHIS) invites the public to a colorful presentation about one of the most fascinating birds of the Southwest; hummingbirds. Popular lecturer, Kurt Leuschner, a professor at College of the Desert, accompanied by beautiful photographs, will discuss the wide variety of hummingbird species in the Southwest including their nesting and feeding habits, interactions with plant life and adaptive strategies. Leuschner will also share the best places to see these fascinating birds. The Jan. 16 lecture will begin at 7 p.m. at Church of the Nazarene at 1307 E. Citrus Ave. in Redlands. The southwestern United States landscape is home and resting grounds for numerous species of hummingbirds. The Anna’s Hummingbird is year-round in the Inland Empire while the Costa’s Hummingbird is also a year-round resident in the desert. The Allen’s Hummingbird can be found along the coast. Nearby in Arizona, tropical species such as the Blue-throated, Magnificent, Broad-billed, and White-eared hummingbirds can be easily seen. Leuschner will be offering a nine-day birding adventure, through UCR Extension, in the summer of 2014. Leuschner’s training is in wildlife ecology, and he is a professor of natural resources at College of the Desert in Palm Desert, where he teaches the following classes: Conservation of Natural Resources, Entomology, Native Plants, Birds of the Coachella Valley, GPS and Map Use, Reptiles of the Colorado Desert, and Wildlife Management. In 2010, Leuschner was awarded “Faculty of the Year” at the College of the Desert. He’s served as a volunteer in the U.S. Peace Corps in Tanzania and has also worked in Kenya and Uganda. The Church of the Nazarene is 1.3 miles east of the Redlands Mall at 1307 E. Citrus Avenue. Turn north on Grove Street to the church parking lot. Enter through the Assembly Hall entrance doors. Door prizes, refreshments and an opportunity to meet the guest speaker are a bonus to the monthly meetings