Whether birds gain advantages by cheating on their mates will be the topic at the Oconee Rivers Audubon Society’s next meeting, set for 7 p.m. Thursday, April 3, at Sandy Creek Nature Center. Anna Joy Lehmicke, who recently completed doctoral  work with the University of Georgia’s Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, will present “Do Cheaters Always Prosper: The Costs and Benefits of Extra-Pair Paternity in Birds.”

While most birds appear to stay with the same mate during the breeding season or even for life, recent advances in molecular genetics have allowed researchers to discover that appearances can be deceiving. Among the vast majority of seemingly monogamous species, dalliances outside of the pair bond are surprisingly common. Lehmicke will discuss the potential costs and benefits of straying, using evidence from her own research on seaside sparrows and some scandalous examples from other scientific studies. Lehmicke, who recently completed her Ph.D., has been working with birds since her freshman year in college and became interested in genetics during a conservation genetics class while at the School of Forestry and Natural Resources.

Join Oconee Rivers Audubon Society for our next meeting on March 6. Whether you have a half acre or 10, there are many things you can do to make your yard more bird-friendly, and the leader of the Georgia Ornithological Society (GOS) will present some expert tips at the Oconee Rivers Audubon Society’s next meeting, set for 7 p.m. Thursday, March 6, at Sandy Creek Nature Center.

GOS President Steve Holzman will present “Birdscaping Your Yard,” offering suggestions for some great flowers, vines, shrubs and trees you can add to help attract birds and protect them from hazards. The program will feature a brief discussion about how you can join Audubon’s Backyard Wildlife Sanctuary Program.

Charlie Muise, Georgia's Important Bird Area coordinator, has a number of opportunities over the next few months for volunteers to participate in bird banding operations at Joe Kurz Wildlife Management Area and Panola Mountain State Park. If you have ever wanted to see birds in the hand and contribute to a long-running bird banding project, this is your chance.