Meetings

Cutaneous Water Loss in Nestling Songbirds

with Jillian Murphy

Thursday, april 9, 2026 at 7:00 pm

(2nd thursday in april)
Dorothy Pecaut Nature Center
4500 Sioux River Rd, Sioux City

Many of us know that birds don't sweat. But did you know they still lose water through their skin? Little is known about this physiological phenomenon, particularly in nestlings. Jillian’s research examines how cutaneous (through-the-skin) water loss changes throughout nestling development and what factors may affect it. During the presentation, Jillian will walk you through the first years' work on this project, giving you all the details you never knew you wanted to know.

Jillian Murphy has been a birder since the age of 9, and has studied birds since 2022 as an undergrad at Portland State University. Jillian is currently an MS student at the University of South Dakota, studying songbird development, nest microclimates, and their interactions.

The Loess Hills Audubon Society Board Meeting begins at 6:00 pm with Jillians’s program beginning at 7:00 pm.

Everyone is welcome to attend both the board meeting and the free program!

Bird ID Program with Bill & Jerry

Thursday, may 7, 2026 at 7:00 pm
Dorothy Pecaut Nature Center
4500 Sioux River Rd, Sioux City

Local Bird experts Bill Huser and Jerry Probst will present a bird identification program. Bill and Jerry began birding in the 1970s, and have enthusiastically shared their love of birds to countless people.

This will be the last program until September 2026 when our next season begins!

Summer Break!

Back in September 2026 - at Dorothy Pecaut Nature Center

During Summers, be sure to check our Upcoming Outings page or our Calendar page to join us at some of the best birding locations in Siouxland! Events are still in the works, but the dates are set!

Thank you for attending our previous programs and a Big Thank you to our presenters!

A Look at our past programs during the 2025-2026 season.

• Daniel A Soluk, PhD — Conserving an endangered dragonfly, 4 September 2025

• Thane Dinsdale — Birding in Newfoundland, 2 October 2025

• Brian Buckmeier and Darren Maurer — Dinosaurs of Hell Creek, 6 November 2025

• LHAS Member and Friends Holiday Slide Show with Paul Roisen, 4 December 2025

• Danielle Metzger — Native Gardens in the Home Landscape (LHWO), 8 January 2025

• Tucker Lutter — Wildlife of Siouxland: the Past, Present, and Future, 5 February 2025

• John Buntsma — Why Garden? Explore the Benefits of Gardening (ISU Extension), 5 March 2025

A Look at our past programs during the 2024-2025 season.

• Steve Backus — Antartica, 5 September 2024 Zoom presentation

• Victoria DeVos — Rediscover Plymouth County Conservation, 3 October 2024

• Rod Tondreau — Western Prairie Plants in Iowa, 7 November 2024

• Loess Hills Audubon Members and Friends Holiday Photo and Video Show with Traveler’s Tales with Randall Williams, 5 December 2024

• Matt Anderson — Cartoonist and Conservationist Jay Norwood "Ding" Darling, 9 January 2025

• Brian Hazlett and Ryan Allen — Campfire Tales at the Midpoint of Winter, 6 February 2025

• Vicki Baker — Wastewater Treatment Past, Present, and Future, 6 March 2025

• Mark Dixon — Floodplain Forests along the Missouri River: Past, Present, and Future, 3 April 2025

• Ty Smedes — Eagle Hunters of Mongolia, 1 May 2025