Jan Bowman, retired Jamestown Community College biology professor, will speak at the Audubon Community Nature Center’s First Friday on May 1 to take a closer look at the plumage and behaviors of both tropical and local birds, like this Great Blue Heron.

Tropical birds have a reputation of being flashier and more interesting than the birds in the backyards. At least that was what Jan Bowman’s experience taught her in many trips to Costa Rica and Panama guiding students to study tropical flora and fauna.

Join Bowman at Audubon Community Nature Center’s First Friday, May 1, at 11 a.m. for “Prize-winning Plumage and Bird Behaviors.” Learn how through close observation and photography she discovered a new sense of curiosity and wonder when watching the birds and their behaviors in her local fields, forests, and waters of western New York.

In her presentation, Bowman will share some of her favorite birds — local, tropical, and seasonal migrants — and make the case for why the local birds are every bit as amazing as the tropical birds she came to love.

After nearly 35 years of teaching, Bowman recently retired from Jamestown Community College as a professor of biology and the environmental science program coordinator. A lifelong area resident, she earned a bachelor’s degree in biology with secondary education certification and a master’s degree in biology from the State University at Fredonia that included two scientific journal publications. Bowman’s master’s research focused on a survey of macrophytes and population changes in Chautauqua Lake. She currently serves as board chair for the Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy and board member of both the Chautauqua-Conewango Consortium and the Chautauqua County Parks Commission.

As a biologist and a firm believer in experiential education, Bowman has taken countless students in the field over the years. A long-time passion for field work and photography has allowed her to share her experiences through her photos, a practice she wishes to continue more broadly in retirement. Living in Ashville with her husband, Dan, she loves gardening, fishing, and sharing her passion for the natural world with her community. A naturalist and photography enthusiast, Bowman continues to devote herself to conservation efforts and education.

Those attending are welcome to bring a packed lunch and visit with Bowman and attendees after the program