Birds and People

×

Expand

courtesy Christian Cooper

Christian Cooper in a rocky, mountainous landscape.

Christian Cooper

Do you remember the name Christian Cooper? He’s the host of The Extraordinary Birder on NatGeo and author of Better Living Through Birding. But his name rose to prominence in what became known as The Central Park Birdwatching Incident early on in the pandemic. In May 2020, Cooper, who is Black, asked a white woman to leash her unleashed dog in the park. She called 9-1-1. While the racism that the “incident” exposed is shameful, the good news is that it brought positive attention to birding and a discussion of inclusion in such pastimes. Cooper will talk about his forthcoming book, The Urban Owls: How Flaco and Friends Made the City Their Home, and he and Black Oxygen podcast host Angela Russell will discuss the power of birds in connecting people, communities, and nature. It’s all part of a bird-focused spring at the Wisconsin Academy of Arts and Sciences.

media release: The Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts & Letters invites you to an inspiring evening with Christian Cooper, celebrated naturalist, Emmy-winning host of “Extraordinary Birder” and author of the New York Times bestselling memoir “Better Living Through Birding.” Cooper will share insights from his forthcoming book for young naturalists, “The Urban Owls: How Flaco and Friends Made the City Their Home,” which explores the fascinating lives of urban-dwelling owls.  

This event will explore how birds create connections—between people, communities and the natural world. Cooper will share his personal journey, his passion for birding, and reflections on the transformative power of nature in fostering inclusivity and understanding. Following his talk, Cooper will join Angela Russell, the Black Oxygen podcast and Chief Diversity Officer at TruStage, for an engaging conversation and audience Q&A. The evening will be emceed by Wisconsin Academy Executive Director Erika Monroe-Kane.

“Birds and People” is part of the Wisconsin Academy’s Birds & Beyond series, which highlights the intricate relationships between birds and pressing issues such as conservation, climate change and art. Whether you’re a seasoned birder or simply curious about the natural world, this evening promises to be a joyful and thought-provoking celebration of our feathered friends.  

This hybrid event is ticketed and open to the public. A book signing (limit of one book per person) will follow the discussion, with book sales being provided by A Room of One’s Own. 

\ Thank you to our Birds and Beyond series sponsors, the Joy Trip Project, the Powers-Wolfe Charitable Trust, the Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin, the Greater Milwaukee Foundation, the Milwaukee Public Library, the Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum, the Feminist Bird Club, the International Crane Foundation, the Wisconsin Society for Ornithology, Gathering Waters, Anonymous, Jay Handy, and Dr. Robert Mathieu and Margaret Brauer.