Kicking off 2016, the Owen Sound Field Naturalists present Mark Wiercinski, one of the most popular and engaging speakers the Club has ever hosted. Thursday, January 14 at 7 p.m. at the Owen Sound and North Grey Union Public Library, Mark will speak about his specialty - birds.

"Birds are much more than just fidgety little things that are hard to focus on and wake you up way too early in the spring. Birds are life .. the best and easiest link to nature. We see them and hear them everywhere, " says OSFN President John Dickson. "Mark also talks about Species at Risk and tells stories and shares his adventures, some funny, some inspiring and some downright embarrassing. And then there's the "Mark Factor".  As always, the event is open to everyone, and admission is free - donations welcome.

SOME BACKGROUND ABOUT/FROM MARK -

Completed the Wildlife Biology program at U of Guelph. Came out with Honours .B.Sc in Wildlife Biology. I have worked for Federal, Provincial and Municipal Governments. I have presented and lead programs in and around ecology, environment, biology and eco-tourism for many many years. I have spent most of my biology career as a field biologist. I am a bird specialist if you really pressed me for info .. but I truly do love all wildlife and the ecology that surrounds them and the flow of the ecosystem and energy that connects it all.

I am currently working as the Biologist at 4th Canadian Division Training Centre - Meaford.

I am a regular at the Huron Fringe Bird Fest and will likely always attend or lead a program there and am a fan of the festival and of OSFN.

I am the product of my mother's influence as I grew up .. sort of ... she in-grained natural history and outdoors into our lives. She was an artist and a very curious amateur naturalist. So I inherited that easily. I got to school and decided to turn pro with the natural history and got the Biology degree. Mom always told me to do what you love and try to get a job that keeps you happy .. so I was lucky and did that.