BEHAVIOR & ECOLOGY OF NORTHERN FLICKERS, A KEYSTONE SPECIES IN FOREST ECOSYSTEMS
Dr. Karen Wiebe, Professor Emeritus, University of Saskatchewan

Northern Flickers are common woodpeckers that many people recognize from their backyards and bird feeders. Dr. Karen Wiebe studied a population of Northern Flickers in central British Columbia from 1997-2014. She will discuss some of the fascinating behaviors of these woodpeckers, including patterns of parental care, as well as the important role they play in maintaining biodiversity on the landscape.

Biography:

Karen grew up in Langley and has enjoyed watching birds from early childhood. She did her BSc. at Simon Fraser University, and then Ph.D. on American Kestrels at the University of Saskatchewan where she was hired as biology faculty in 1996. She has published over 140 peer reviewed journal articles on birds, many on the Northern Flicker. After retiring in 2022, she moved back to Langley to be closer to family and to once again enjoy birding on the west coast.