Minnesota has a remarkable diversity of birds—thanks, in part, to the unique variety of habitats, including deciduous and boreal forests, wetlands, prairies, and grasslands. In the face of threats from habitat loss, invasive species, disease, and climate change, the conservation and survival of our bird populations depends on having an in-depth understanding of where birds live and breed in Minnesota.

How does this compare to Finland and its bird habitats? How do the threats to birds in Finland compare and contrast to the threats to birds in Minnesota? For Niemi, these questions permit him to think about his area of expertise in combination with his personal experiences in Finland and with Finnish colleagues.

Presenter Bio:
Dr. Gerald J. Niemi is an Emeritus Professor in the Department of Biology and a former Research Director at the Natural Resources Research Institute, both at the University of Minnesota, Duluth. He has more than 200 publications. He was a Fulbright Scholar at the University of Helsinki in 1981 and has hosted many Finnish scientists at the University over the past 30 years. His research interests include birds, natural resource management, the Great Lakes, and sustainable development.