Halifax River Audubon Monthly Meeting

Event Description

Don Picard

Topic - The Galapagos Islands. So much has been written about these islands, but Don succinctly sums up the impact of this archipelago: “In the grand scheme of things, the Galapagos Islands are but a speck in the Pacific ocean, but their effect on our understanding the world is immense.”

Don grew up in Western Massachusetts and attended the University of Massachusetts where he received a Bachelor’s in Science Degree in Chemistry and a commission in the United States Air Force.  He obtained his Master’s Degree in Business from the University of Northern Colorado well into his 27 year career in the USAF. He retired in 1993.

He got interested in birding in 1992 while stationed at Mildenhall AB, UK.  He and Maureen arrived in the New Smyrna Beach area in 1996 when she got a full time job at Canaveral National Seashore.  They attended two meetings of the Southeast Volusia Audubon Society and was immediately enlisted to volunteer for  president (thanks to Catherine Bidgood).  He acquiesced and has been president since April 1997.  

He was an adjunct instructor in computer networking at Daytona Beach Community College and then he and Maureen both worked in National Parks as Interpretive Rangers.  Parks included Everglades, Grand Tetons, Devil’s Tower National Monument and Denali National Park.

He is also the newsletter editor and maintains the website, http://SEVolusiaAudubon.org and the birding story blog http://blog.SEVolusiaAudubon.org.

In November 2014, Don and Maureen participated in a National Geographic/Lindblad expedition to the Galapagos Islands.  Between them they took several thousand photos and distilled them into a really interesting program about the islands, their wildlife and the expedition experience.

Doors open at 6:30 p.m. at Sica Hall, 1065 Daytona Avenue, Holly Hill. The presentation begins at 7:00 p.m. A brief business meeting follows.