Jan. 23, 6:00pm-9:00pm; $60, Dinner Included

Denver Holt has been a leader in owl research, education, and conservation for over 30 years. While much of today’s research is conducted remotely, or builds on existing data, Holt has been unwavering in his commitment to boots-on-the-ground data collection. A classic, hardcore field researcher, he has spent a lifetime in the field with wild owls – observing, recording, measuring, and enjoying the natural world. The resulting body of work, and its implications to conservation, is an incredible gift and legacy. He is responsible for some of the longest running studies of their kind in the world.

Jan. 24, 6:00pm-7:00pm; AUD; $20

Originally (kind of ) Australian, Iain ended his career as a geochemist in West Africa when it dawned on him that chasing birds was far more important than looking for gold. He packed up his G-pick, said goodbye to fufu, and headed to South America, which better suited his style, where he built Tandayapa Bird Lodge. He lived for many years in Ecuador, but now resides in the US. Besides being one of the original guides of Tropical Birding, Iain is near fanatical about getting more people into birding and wildlife photography. He used to be a passionate lister, but now much prefers to photograph the world’s specialties. He has written a few Australian field guides but promises not to plug them during this talk.

Jan. 26, 6:00pm-7:00pm; AUD; $25

Scott Weidensaul is the author of more than two dozen books on natural history, including the Pulitzer Prize finalist “Living on the Wind,” about bird migration, Return to Wild America, The First Frontier: The Forgotten History of Struggle, Savagery and Endurance in Early America, and his latest book, The Peterson Reference Guide to Owls of North America and the Caribbean. Weidensaul is a contributing editor for Audubon, a columnist for Bird Watcher’s Digest and regular contributor to Living Bird; he lives in the mountains of eastern Pennsylvania, and studies the migration of owls and hummingbirds.

Jan. 26, 6:30pm-7:30pm; AUD $30 Includes Taco Bar

Mac Stone is an acclaimed photographer, speaker and author from Gainesville, Florida. Growing up exploring the springs, swamps, and hammocks of North Central Florida, he developed a passion for photography at a young age. His images and stories have appeared in BBC, National Geographic, CNN, NPR, Audubon, WWF and many others. Through photography, Stone strives to start new conversations and expose the dynamic relationship between mankind and the natural world. After spending five years living and working in the Everglades watershed, he released a 304-page coffee table book about the heralded River of Grass. Everglades: America’s Wetland, has won a silver medal with the Florida Book Awards and is in its second printing.