Zahner Conservation Lecture Series at Highlands Nature Center

Featured Speaker
Lauren D. Pharr, Ph.D., Postgraduate Researcher, North Carolina State University

The red-cockaded woodpecker once faced a severe decline as longleaf pine forests disappeared across the southeastern United States. Today it is one of the most recognized examples of successful species recovery. In this talk, avian behavioral ecologist Dr. Lauren Pharr shares the “w(hole) story” of this remarkable bird—from the history of its conservation to the science happening inside its nest cavities. Drawing from her research on partial brood loss, Dr. Pharr explores how these cooperative birds live in family groups and how factors such as group size and environmental conditions shape chick survival, offering new insights into life inside the nest.

Sponsored by Jennie Stowers