Presentation #1: Maela Kaminski on “Variations in the Brood Sex Ratios of Tree Swallows in Response to Environmental Quality.”

Maela is in her fourth year of Biomedical Science at Trent
University and intends to pursue a masters degree in Public
Health. Maela’s project compares the nestling sexes of tree
swallow broods to the environmental quality pre and post
laying. Her long-term data set was created using unmanipulated nests from past field seasons, alongside her 2022 field season, which had only unmanipulated nests. Small blood samples were taken from these nestlings, with protocols approved by Trent University Animal Care. Lab work was then performed on these blood samples to determine if each nestling was male or female to create the sex ratios.

Presentation #2: Sarah Jamieson on “Urban Ecology”

Much of Dr. Sarah Jamieson’s career involved traipsing around
the globe studying bird behavioural ecology in remote settings
like the Alaskan tundra and offshore islands. However, she
now calls Peterborough home, where she works as an Assistant
Professor in the Biology Department of Trent University. Her current research focuses on the wildlife that also call Peterborough home. She will be discussing how the urban environment provides both opportunities and challenges for wildlife and she will share some of her student’s research on Robin nesting ecology and mesocarnivore (and birds!) scavenging behaviours.

Doors open 7 p.m. Meeting starts 7:30 p.m

Hybrid meeting: Zoom + in-person at

Camp Kawartha Environment Centre 2505 Pioneer Road

Maximum 45 attendees