Educator Workshop: Real Science in the Classroom
2024-10-22 09:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | Powdermill Nature Reserve, 1795 Route 381, Rector, PA, 15677, United States
This workshop takes place at Powdermill Nature Reserve in Rector, PA
Understanding scientific research and how to apply it is an important part of a learner’s process and will be a critical component of the new STEELS standards. Join us at Carnegie Museum of Natural History’s environmental research center in Rector, PA for this new workshop focused on incorporating scientific research into curriculum and informal learning programs. Using the new STEELS standards as guidance, Powdermill educators and experts will discuss how we apply ecological research and how to make it understandable and accessible to learners.
We encourage formal and informal educators from all disciplines to join us for this great opportunity to collaborate and share ideas.
If more than 50% of your students qualify for free or reduced-price school lunch, your school or organization will be eligible for a scholarship towards a museum field trip after the workshop.
Funding is available to reimburse your school or district for substitute teacher costs on the day that you attend this workshop.
When: Tuesday, October 22, 2024, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Where: Powdermill Nature Reserve, Rector, PA

Moriarty Science Seminar: Genomics, Informatics, and Conservation
2024-11-11 12:00 - 13:00 | Hybrid: Online and At the Museum
Genomics, Informatics, and Conservation
Monday, November 11, 2024, 12:00 – 1:00 p.m.
Earth Theater and online via Zoom
Featuring Keith Crandall, George Washington University
This lecture is free. Museum admission is not required.
Omics technologies (genomics, transcriptomics, metagenomics, etc.) have revolutionized insights into organismal diversity, evolutionary history, and functional diversity – all critical elements of effective conservation, management, and sustainability practices. Advances in new data types require novel computational tools to effectively take advantage of such data and integrate with additional relevant data (e.g., demographic, economic, climate, geologic, etc.). The Crandall Lab develops tools for omics data analyses (especially DNA/RNA sequence data) and integration with other data types. Some of these tools and applications will be demonstrated with ongoing research projects around microbiome research, conservation, and sustainability with links to ongoing international projects including FutureEarth, World Registry of Marine Species (WoRMS), and the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and associated Species Survival Commission (SSC).
Click here to register to attend virtually via Zoom. Registration is not necessary to attend in person. Museum admission is not included with the lecture. Visitor Services staff can direct you to Earth Theater on arrival.

Teen Night: Hiber-Nature
2024-11-14 17:00 - 21:00 | At the Museum, 4400 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213-4007, United States

Senior Social: Midday Musings
2024-12-05 12:00 - 16:00 | At the Museum, 4400 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213-4007, United States
When: Thursday, December 5, 12:00 – 4:00 p.m.
Where: Carnegie Museum of Natural History
Pay what you wish
Senior Social: Midday Musings at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History
Looking for an exciting way to spend your afternoon?
Carnegie Museum of Natural History invites you to explore nature throughout the museum with an open house featuring activities for seniors. Dinosaurs! Mammals! Gems! Minerals! Botany! Birds! World Cultures! Meet some of the museum’s Natural History Interpreters and journey through the Carnegie Museum of Natural History’s most historic, scientifically significant, and beloved collections.
Coffee, tea and light snacks will be available in the Senior Social lounge.
Reserve early – this event will sell out! Open to Members ages 65+.
Community Access Membership is presented by:

Senior Membership is generously supported by Eat’n Park.

Family Nature Hike at Powdermill
2024-12-07 14:00 - 15:00 | Powdermill Nature Reserve, 1795 Route 381, Rector, PA, 15677, United States
Family Nature Hike
Saturday, December 7, 2024, 2:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Powdermill Nature Reserve
Free
Join us as we hit the trails for a guided nature walk! We’ll meet in the atrium of the Powdermill Nature Center at 2 pm before heading outside to explore. This family-friendly experience is open to participants of all ages.
Events fill up fast! Registration is recommended to guarantee your spot and help us plan timing, seating, and/or trail routes. If there are spots available at the time of the program, non-registered individuals can join on a first-come, first-served basis.
Powdermill Nature Reserve is located at 1795 Route 381, Rector, PA 15677.

Sold out? Sign up for our waitlist!

Moriarty Science Seminar: Future-proofing Museum Collections
2024-12-09 12:00 - 13:00 | Hybrid: Online and At the Museum
Future-proofing Museum Collections: Collections Care and Access at Carnegie Museum of Natural History
Monday, December 9, 2024, 12:00 – 1:00 p.m.
Earth Theater and online via Zoom
Featuring Kathy Hollis, Carnegie Museum of Natural History
This lecture is free. Museum admission is not required.
Carnegie Museum of Natural History stewards a collection that is more than a repository of specimens—it is a dynamic archive of the natural world, each item telling a unique story about our planet and our place in it. From butterflies and trilobites to preserved snakes and ancient pottery, these collections are primary data about the natural world. Future-proofing collections—ensuring preservation and accessibility for generations—has long been the duty of natural history museums. Yet, shifting research methods, global environmental and technological changes, and evolving perspectives within the museum profession have all changed how collections must be cared for and made accessible. Recent projects have laid a strong foundation for the future, but without a museum-wide strategy, their full potential remains unrealized. In 2022, Carnegie Museum of Natural History set bold, 10-year goals through its opportunity assessment “Evolving Natural History: A Roadmap for the Next Decade,” which includes strategic objectives for future-proofing collections. To bring this vision to life, Carnegie Museum of Natural History is undertaking a comprehensive strategy—one that is focused on collaborative teamwork, building our technological capacity, and modernizing collection management practices. By implementing this strategy, the collections in our care can become a true public resource for our community and collaborators to inspire, educate, and engage for generations to come.
Click here to register to attend virtually via Zoom. Registration is not necessary to attend in person. Museum admission is not included with the lecture. Visitor Services staff can direct you to Earth Theater on arrival.

Super Science Saturday: Light and Color in Nature
2024-12-14 12:00 - 16:00 | At the Museum, 4400 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213-4007, United States
Saturday, December 14, 2024, Noon – 4 p.m.
Carnegie Museum of Natural History
Free with museum admission

Colors and light play important roles in the natural world, and things aren’t always how they appear! Explore the visual features animals use to blend in and stand out. Inspect beautiful minerals and gems that dazzle, and how they change when different types of light are cast. Watch iridescent insects change color before your eyes. Find nature’s rainbow, and more, as we examine light, color, and patterns in the natural world around us.
Museum Admission is Required to Attend This Event
Get tickets and select Dec. 14 for the date of your visit.

Sponsors
Super Science Saturdays are sponsored by PA Cyber, Tender Care Learning Centers, a proud partner of Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh, and Discover Westmoreland.

Teen Night: Pittsburgh Promise
2024-12-14 17:00 - 20:00

Jolly Opossum
2024-12-21 12:00 - 14:00 | Powdermill Nature Reserve, 1795 Route 381, Rector, PA, 15677, United States
Saturday, December 21, 12:00 – 2:00 p.m.
Powdermill Nature Reserve, Rector, PA
Pay what you wish
Join us at Powdermill Nature Reserve to hear the tale of the Jolly Opossum! This story will delve into what the creatures of the forest are up to during the holidays. Meet Dr. Skunk, Mx. Chickadee, Mr. Bear, and, of course, the Jolly Opossum. We will also make festive holiday ornaments/decorations. Children of all ages are welcome.

Family Nature Hike at Powdermill
2025-01-04 14:00 - 15:00 | Powdermill Nature Reserve, 1795 Route 381, Rector, PA, 15677, United States
When: Saturday, January 4, 2025, 2:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Where: Powdermill Nature Reserve
Tickets: Free
Join us as we hit the trails for a guided nature walk! We’ll meet in the atrium of the Powdermill Nature Center at 2:00 p.m. before heading outside to explore. This family-friendly experience is open to participants of all ages.
Events fill up fast! Registration is recommended to guarantee your spot and help us plan timing, seating, and/or trail routes. If there are spots available at the time of the program, non-registered individuals can join on a first-come, first-served basis.
Powdermill Nature Reserve is located at 1795 Route 381, Rector, PA 15677.

Sold out? Sign up for our waitlist!

Moriarty Science Seminar: Gender in Mineral Names
2025-01-13 12:00 - 13:00 | Hybrid: Online and At the Museum
Gender in Mineral Names: A Record of Past and Ongoing Diversity Challenges in the Earth Sciences
Speaker: Chris Emproto, Carnegie Museum of Natural History
When: Monday, January 13, 2025, 12:00 – 1:00 p.m.
Where: Earth Theater at Carnegie Museum of Natural History and online via Zoom
Tickets: This lecture is free. Museum admission is not required.
Learn about scientific discoveries directly from the experts in the field. Carnegie Museum of Natural History’s scientific research staff and invited speakers discuss their latest findings on numerous scientific topics at the R.W. Moriarty Science Seminar series.
Click here to register to attend virtually via Zoom. Registration is not necessary to attend in person. Museum admission is not included with the lecture. Visitor Services staff can direct you to Earth Theater on arrival.
Talk Abstract
There are currently more than 6,000 unique mineral species recognized by the global mineralogical community. Proposals describing potentially new minerals are submitted to the International Mineralogical Association Commission on New Minerals, Nomenclature, and Classification for review and approval. The Commission also votes on the name suggested by the authors. Common ways to name minerals include references to distinct chemical or physical properties, the location where the mineral was found, or after a person involved in the discovery or who is prominent in the field of mineralogy. For this reason, mineral names encode aspects of scientific and cultural history. But can mineral names also tell us about the future? By tracking the demographics of mineral eponyms over time, Chris Emproto and colleagues were able to see changes in who is represented among mineral names and how eponym demographics have evolved, with an emphasis on gender. Contrary to expectation, their results indicated that women’s representation among eponyms has not increased significantly in the last two decades but remains stalled at around 11%. This trend contrasts with educational data that instead show improvements in women’s representation. The results emphasize the ongoing need for more intentional recruitment of underrepresented groups in the Earth sciences.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Spotlights
2025-01-20 11:00 - 15:00 | At the Museum, 4400 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213-4007, United States
When: Monday, January 20, 11:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.
Where: Carnegie Museum of Natural History
Tickets: Free with Museum Admission
Drop-in for Spotlights led by Natural History Interpreters in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day on January 20. Learn about simple changes we can make to protect the environment and improve the world around us on this national day of service. Discover how Harriet Tubman used her deep knowledge of the weather, wildlife, and plants to lead enslaved people to safety on the Underground Railroad, and see a muskrat specimen up close.
Buy your tickets in advance!

Educator Workshop: Using Fossils to Understand Ancient Earth
2025-01-28 09:00 - 15:00 | At the Museum, 4400 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213-4007, United States
The new STEELS standards shift away from memorization of facts to productive participation in scientific practice with the goal of deeper understanding. In this workshop, we’ll work together to model the new standards using fossils and paleontology as an example of how to work through this process. Participants will have time to explore the exhibitions Dinosaurs in Their Time and Benedum Hall of Geology with guidance from museum experts to investigate how the study of fossils helps us understand Ancient Earth. This workshop is a hands-on opportunity to practice the STEELS standards with fellow educators and build out resources to help with the transition.
We encourage formal and informal educators from all disciplines to join us for this great opportunity to collaborate and share ideas.
If more than 50% of your students qualify for free or reduced-price school lunch, your school or organization will be eligible for a scholarship towards a museum field trip after the workshop.
Funding is available to reimburse your school or district for substitute teacher costs on the day that you attend this workshop.
When: Tuesday, January 28, 2025, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Where: Carnegie Museum of Natural History

Black History Month Spotlights
2025-02-01 11:00 - 15:00 | At the Museum, 4400 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213-4007, United States
When: Saturdays and Sundays, 11:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.
Where: Carnegie Museum of Natural History
Tickets: Free with Museum Admission
Drop-in for Spotlights throughout the museum led by Natural History Interpreters to celebrate Black History Month. Learn about Black naturalists past and present, such as Harriet Tubman, birder and conservationist J. Drew Lanham, and urban ecologist Christopher Schnell. Explore Pittsburgh’s steel history and the role of Black steelworkers. Plus, see mineral, bird, and mammal specimens up close. Spotlights will vary throughout the month, and each experience will be unique.
Buy Admission Tickets in Advance

Museum Highlight Tours: Black History Month
2025-02-01 12:30 - 13:00 | At the Museum, 4400 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213-4007, United States
When: Saturdays and Sundays, 12:30-1:00 p.m. and Thursdays, 5:00-5:30 p.m.
Where: Carnegie Museum of Natural History
Tickets: Free with Museum Admission
Join our museum experts for a 30-minute tour exploring all things natural history to celebrate Black History Month. Come see the museum in a new light as we explore the history and contributions of members of the Black community to the fields of science and nature.
Look for the tour sign-in at the entrance to Dinosaurs in Their Time. Limited capacity.
Buy your tickets in advance!

Family Nature Hike at Powdermill
2025-02-01 14:00 - 15:00 | Powdermill Nature Reserve, 1795 Route 381, Rector, PA, 15677, United States
Family Nature Hike
Saturday, February 1, 2025, 2:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Powdermill Nature Reserve
Free
Join us as we hit the trails for a guided nature walk! We’ll meet in the atrium of the Powdermill Nature Center at 2 pm before heading outside to explore. This family-friendly experience is open to participants of all ages.
Events fill up fast! Registration is recommended to guarantee your spot and help us plan timing, seating, and/or trail routes. If there are spots available at the time of the program, non-registered individuals can join on a first-come, first-served basis.
Powdermill Nature Reserve is located at 1795 Route 381, Rector, PA 15677.

Sold out? Sign up for our waitlist!

Moriarty Science Seminar: Long-distance migration in Nightingale-thrushes
2025-02-10 12:00 - 13:00 | Hybrid: Online and At the Museum
Functional Morphology and the Origin of Long-distance migration in nightingale-thrushes (Turdidae: Catharus)
Monday, February 10, 2025, 12:00 – 1:00 p.m.
Earth Theater and online via Zoom
Matt Halley, Delaware Museum of Nature & Science
This lecture is free. Museum admission is not required.
Learn about scientific discoveries directly from the experts in the field. Carnegie Museum of Natural History’s scientific research staff and invited speakers discuss their latest findings on numerous scientific topics at the R.W. Moriarty Science Seminar series.
Click here to register to attend virtually via Zoom. Registration is not necessary to attend in person. Museum admission is not included with the lecture. Visitor Services staff can direct you to Earth Theater on arrival.
Abstract for “Long-Distance Migration in Nightingale-thrushes (Turdidae: Catharus)”

The nightingale-thrushes (genus Catharus) are a clade of (mostly) American songbirds with diverse migratory strategies. With large datasets of molecular and morphometric characters, Halley and colleagues have resolved phylogenetic relationships, described new species and subspecies, identified and modeled migration-related morphological characters, and estimated ancestral states of those characters to infer evolutionary transitions in the migratory phenotype. The results indicate that (1) migratory behavior and its functional morphology are fundamentally linked and can be accurately modeled along a linear axis; (2) short distance and elevational migration were precursors to long distance migration; and (3) the homoplasy of the migratory phenotype, as noted by previous authors, may not have been caused by evolutionary convergence following independent origins of migration, as previously suggested, but successive “budding” of daughter lineages from a “persistent ancestor” in evolutionary stasis.
About the Speaker

Dr. Matthew R. Halley is an ornithologist and historian from south-east Pennsylvania, who has authored dozens of research papers about bird evolution and the history of American science. He is the Assistant Curator of Birds at the Delaware Museum of Nature & Science (Wilmington, DE) and a Research Associate at the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University (Philadelphia, PA), where he earned his Ph.D. in 2021. Halley’s research is wide-ranging and interdisciplinary, combining a variety of methods including phylogenetic analysis, population genetics, morphometric analysis, video cameras, audio recorders, tracking devices, and taxonomic study of preserved specimens. He has also uncovered a litany of unpublished primary sources, during the last decade, which have reshaped our understanding of historical figures like Alexander Wilson and John James Audubon, and the development of scientific ornithology in the United States.

Sensory Friendly Weekend
2025-02-22 10:00 - 17:00, 2025-02-23 10:00 - 17:00
When: February 22 – 23, 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Where: Carnegie Museum of Natural History
Tickets: Free with Museum Admission
Families with members who have sensory processing needs are invited to explore the museum galleries with reduced audio and visual elements. Calming spaces with support materials, including single-use ear plugs, sunglasses, fidget toys, etc., will be available. Museum experts will be on-hand to talk for as little or as long as you want about favorite topics like dinosaurs, rocks, gems, animals, bugs, and much more. Every program is designed to welcome all ages and abilities.
Standard sensory friendly supports are in place during regular hours for all Carnegie Museum of Natural History visitors:
• Lower lighting in select galleries
• Video sounds and exhibit background audio turned off in select galleries
• Calming spaces
• Takeaway support materials (single-use ear plugs, sunglasses, fidget toys, etc.)
To provide the most sensory friendly environment possible, advance registration is recommended. Pre-registration is available online until 3:00 p.m. on the day prior to the program. All customers who pre-register will receive a welcome packet via e-mail with detailed information about the event.
Register for February 22

Register for February 23

World of Nests
2025-02-22 11:00 - 15:00 | Powdermill Nature Reserve, 1795 Route 381, Rector, PA, 15677, United States
When: Saturday, February 22, 11:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.
Where: Powdermill Nature Reserve
Tickets: Free
Join us for a celebration of the fascinating world of animal nests. Take a guided hike on the Powdermill trails to spot nests in the trees and on the ground. Build a bluebird box to help boost the local Eastern Bluebird population. Learn about different types of nests insects make, and create your own nest out of chocolate! This is an all ages event and features crafts and activities for kids.

Safe Drinking Water Clinic
2025-02-26 18:30 - 20:30 | Powdermill Nature Reserve, 1795 Route 381, Rector, PA, 15677, United States
When: February 26, 6:30 p.m.–8:30 p.m.
Where: Powdermill Nature Reserve
Tickets: Free
Over one million homes and farms in Pennsylvania get their drinking water from a private well or spring. The Safe Drinking Water Clinic is designed for people who manage one of these private drinking water supplies. We’ll cover how to test and protect your well or spring, and when water treatment might make sense. We will also discuss well and spring system inspection and maintenance so you know how to protect your family, your property, and the groundwater we share.
Free water testing is offered at this workshop. Test results are not official but are instead offered to help participants decide how soon they should consider additional testing by a state-accredited laboratory. At a minimum, Penn State recommends testing every 12-14 months for bacteria (total coliform and E. coli bacteria), and every three years for pH and total dissolved solids.
Funding for this event is provided by the Master Well Owner Network grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. This event is being offered at no charge to participants thanks to the Master Well Owner Network grant.
Powdermill Nature Reserve is located at 1795 Route 381, Rector, PA 15677.

Family Nature Hike
2025-03-01 14:00 - 15:00 | Powdermill Nature Reserve, 1795 Route 381, Rector, PA, 15677, United States
When: March 1, 2:00 p.m.–3:00 p.m.
Where: Powdermill Nature Reserve
Tickets: Free
Join us as we hit the trails for a guided nature walk! We’ll meet in the atrium of the Powdermill Nature Center at 2 pm before heading outside to explore. This family-friendly experience is open to participants of all ages.
Events fill up fast! Registration is recommended to guarantee your spot and help us plan timing, seating, and/or trail routes. If there are spots available at the time of the program, non-registered individuals can join on a first-come, first-served basis.
Powdermill Nature Reserve is located at 1795 Route 381, Rector, PA 15677.

Founding an Independent Research Lab to Change our Planetary Future
2025-03-03 12:00 - 13:00 | Hybrid: Online and At the Museum
Founding an Independent Research Lab to Change our Planetary Future
Monday, March 3, 2025, 12:00 – 1:00 p.m.
Earth Theater and online via Zoom
Featuring Suzanne Pierre, Critical Ecology Lab
This lecture is free. Museum admission is not required.
Learn about scientific discoveries directly from the experts in the field. Carnegie Museum of Natural History’s scientific research staff and invited speakers discuss their latest findings on numerous scientific topics at the R.W. Moriarty Science Seminar series.
Click here to register to attend virtually via Zoom. Registration is not necessary to attend in person. Museum admission is not included with the lecture. Visitor Services staff can direct you to Earth Theater on arrival.
Abstract

While it is now largely accepted that the threat climate change poses to humanity is not equally distributed across populations, the relationships between social power dynamics and inequality and the origins of global climate and ecological change are poorly, if at all, understood by the scientific community. Developing a scientific foundation for understanding changing Earth systems processes as they relate to persistent, unequal social systems is the objective of the Critical Ecology Lab. By conducting this type of scientific research in an effort to change basic scientific understanding and practice, public narratives about the Anthropocene, and contribute to a body of evidence to support political action, the Critical Ecology Lab aims to transform who and what global change science is for, and how it is done. Here, Dr. Pierre describes the founding and development of this unique independent research institution and presents examples of the Lab’s approach to socially critical Earth systems research and our vision for liberation work within science.
About Suzanne Pierre

Dr. Suzanne Pierre, a Haitian and Indian ecosystems ecologist and biogeochemist, is a writer and advocate for transformative social change. As founder and executive director of the Critical Ecology Lab, she leads groundbreaking research and community-driven efforts to challenge oppressive systems and address escalating ecological and social crises. Dr. Pierre earned a B.A. in Environmental Studies from New York University, a Ph.D. in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from Cornell University, and was a University of California President’s Postdoctoral Fellow at Berkeley. Her scientific expertise lies in using molecular and stable isotope techniques to study nutrient and carbon cycling in plant and microbial communities under climate change.
As the pioneer of critical ecology, Dr. Pierre combines scientific methodologies with decolonial and liberation theories to explore the links between global ecological change and the legacies of colonialism and capitalism. She speaks and writes passionately about the intersections of identity, liberation, and ecology, collaborating with artists to amplify these themes through exhibitions worldwide.
A recipient of the National Geographic Wayfinder Award, Dr. Pierre’s work continues to inspire innovative approaches to environmental and social justice.

Women’s History Month Spotlights
2025-03-08 11:00 - 15:00 | At the Museum, 4400 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213-4007, United States
When: Saturdays and Sundays from 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Where: Carnegie Museum of Natural History
Free with Museum Admission
Drop-in for Spotlights throughout the museum led by Natural History Interpreters to celebrate Women’s History Month. Learn about women who have shaped our understanding of how the world works, such as Maria Salomea Skłodowska-Curie, Mary Anning, Rachel Carson, Mary Dawson, and Rosalie Littlethunder. Plus, see mineral, bird, and mammal specimens up close. Spotlights will vary throughout the month, and each experience will be unique. Ask for details from Visitor Services when you visit.
Buy your tickets in advance!

Moriarty Science Seminar: Using Bird Banding Datasets to Track Trends in Bird Populations
2025-03-17 12:00 - 13:00 | Hybrid: Online and At the Museum
Sixty Years and Counting: Using Bird Banding Datasets to Track Trends in Bird Populations
Monday, March 17, 2025, 12:00 – 1:00 p.m.
Earth Theater and online via Zoom
Featuring Annie Lindsay, Powdermill Avian Research Center (Carnegie Museum of Natural History)
This lecture is free. Museum admission is not required.
Learn about scientific discoveries directly from the experts in the field. Carnegie Museum of Natural History’s scientific research staff and invited speakers discuss their latest findings on numerous scientific topics at the R.W. Moriarty Science Seminar series.
Click here to register to attend virtually via Zoom. Registration is not necessary to attend in person. Museum admission is not included with the lecture. Visitor Services staff can direct you to Earth Theater on arrival.
Abstract

The potential for long-term bird banding datasets to contribute to scientific literature is immense, and researchers are using these datasets to
study trends over time (e.g., populations, phenology, behavior, migration, distributions, morphology). Many studies rely on data collected at a single location or over a short period, and while it is valuable to analyze a single large dataset, the conclusions may not be broadly applicable to different geographic and temporal ranges, or to different species or even different populations of the focal species. Comparing multiple long-term datasets comprised of many species from multiple locations is proving to be valuable in identifying and describing patterns in space and time, and among populations and species. Several multi-station analyses have been published that show trends and patterns single-datasets may overlook.
Powdermill Avian Research Center has operated the longest continuously-run, year-round bird banding program in the country, gathering over 830,000 banding records and facilitating countless avian research projects since its inception in 1961. Similarly, Black Swamp Bird Observatory in northwest Ohio has been operating a banding station during the spring and fall migration periods since 1992, amassing over 350,000 records. In this presentation, she compares long-term trends in refueling rate and arrival condition, and changes in wing morphology at both stations, and discusses the importance of collaborations among bird banding operations in strengthening analyses to recognize patterns spatially and temporally.
About Annie Lindsay

Annie Lindsay, PhD, is the Bird Banding Program Manager at Powdermill Nature Reserve, environmental field station of the Carnegie Museum of Natural History, where she runs the long-term bird banding station, conducts avian research, and teaches bird banding classes and workshops. Her research interests lie primarily in songbird migratory behavior and ecology, seasonal interactions and carry-over effects, and molt strategies and timing. She is particularly interested in how human activities affect bird populations and how those populations have changed over time in response to environmental changes. Annie earned a BS in Biology, an MS in Environment and Natural Resources from the Ohio State University, and a PhD in Biology from the University of Toledo. She has traveled around the country and internationally to band birds and study avian ecology and behavior. She is a North American Banding Council certified Bander and Trainer and serves in leadership roles for the Eastern Bird Banding Association, North American Banding Council, Pennsylvania Society for Ornithology, and Black Swamp Bird Observatory.

NatureFest
2025-03-22 10:00 - 17:00 | At the Museum, 4400 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213-4007, United States
When: Saturday, March 22, 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Where: Carnegie Museum of Natural History
Tickets: Free with Museum Admission. Advance Registration Strongly Recommended
Join Carnegie Museum of Natural History’s scientists, educators, and community partners for NatureFest! Browse the full schedule below and plan your day. Whether you’re looking for family-friendly fun or a deep dive into land stewardship and invasive species research, there’s programming for nature lovers of all ages.

NatureFest Schedule
Family-Friendly Activities, 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m., drop-in any time
Enjoy hands-on activities throughout the museum to explore environmental topics in our region and connect with more than a dozen local organizations working to protect our rivers, parks, wildlife, and more.
Activities are designed for kids ages 5-12 and their families, they include:
• Learning about invasive species in our area, including freshwater mussels living in our rivers.
• Test your knowledge of invasive plants and check out the latest edition of the Invasive Plants of Pittsburgh guide from Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy.
• Sorting through leaf litter to look for tiny snails.
• Seeing plant specimens from the museum’s herbarium and finding out how scientists use them to study climate change.
• Making and taking home a coloring page based on herbarium specimens.
• Meeting artist Koichi Watanabe and learning about his decades long explorations of itadori (knotweed) around the world.
• Finding out how to join the City Nature Challenge and contribute to active scientific research by making observations and uploading photos.
Pop-up Tours of Uprooted: Plants Out of Place, 11:00 a.m.-1:30 p.m., Meet in Hall of Botany
Be among the first to visit the groundbreaking exhibition Uprooted: Plants Out of Place on a 30-minute tour with a museum educator. See both exhibition locations (Hall of Botany and Third Floor Overlook) and ask questions as you go.
Symposium: Stories of Land Stewardship, 1:00-3:30 p.m., Earth Theater
1:00-1:30 p.m., Stewardship Mistakes: Museum researchers Ainsley Seago, Nicole Heller, and Mason Heberling tell short stories of human-driven species introductions and land management with unintended ecological outcomes. Explore popular science examples from around the world, which serve as cautionary tales of human interference and hubris.
1:30-3:30 p.m., Stories of Land Stewardship: Tim Byan (Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania), AJ Monsma and/or John Creasy (Garfield Community Farm), Jared Belsky (Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy), and Gavin Deming (Allegheny Goatscape) discuss their important work with invasive species management and holistic land stewardship. Learn about the diverse array of invasive species solutions taking place in Pittsburgh and ask your burning questions.
Film Screening of Seeing the Unseen: Aquatic Invaders & What’s at Stake, 3:45-4:30 p.m., Earth Theater
Watch a short film by the Western PA Conservancy and Great Lakes Media & Film about aquatic invasive species threatening the Lake Erie watershed and nearby regions. Learn how conservation-minded people, groups, and organizations (including the Conservancy) are working on efforts to combat and reduce the threat of invasives in these important and vital ecosystems. This film provides actions and measures anyone can take to slow the spread of invasive species entering the watershed.

NatureFest is sponsored by:

Woodcock Walk
2025-03-28 18:30 - 20:30, 2025-04-04 18:30 - 20:30 | Powdermill Nature Reserve, 1795 Route 381, Rector, PA, 15677, United States
When: Friday, March 28 and Friday, April 4, 6:30 p.m.–8:30 p.m.
Where: Powdermill Nature Reserve
Tickets: $10
What makes that noise that sounds like “peent” in the night? The American woodcock! Also called timberdoodles, bogsuckers, or Labrador twisters, these oddly shaped birds are famous for their mating displays. The Sky Dance, as it was called by famed naturalist Aldo Leopold, begins at twilight. Join us as we track down this elusive natural phenomenon. We’ll meet in the Nature Center where we will learn more about these fascinating creatures followed by a hike to a field where the timberdoodles regularly display. Bring outdoor clothing appropriate for the weather and a headlamp. This event is weather dependent and will be canceled if it is raining.

Buy Tickets for March 28

Buy Tickets for April 4

Alma's Way: Alma Visits the Museum
2025-04-05 10:00 - 15:00

Family Nature Hike
2025-04-05 14:00 - 15:00 | Powdermill Nature Reserve, 1795 Route 381, Rector, PA, 15677, United States
When: April 5, 2:00 p.m.–3:00 p.m.
Where: Powdermill Nature Reserve
Tickets: Free
Join us as we hit the trails for a guided nature walk! We’ll meet in the atrium of the Powdermill Nature Center at 2 pm before heading outside to explore. This family-friendly experience is open to participants of all ages.
Events fill up fast! Registration is recommended to guarantee your spot and help us plan timing, seating, and/or trail routes. If there are spots available at the time of the program, non-registered individuals can join on a first-come, first-served basis.
Powdermill Nature Reserve is located at 1795 Route 381, Rector, PA 15677.
