Meetings and Speakers

December Meeting

Every Bird A Connection

Grete Pasch-Valdes
PhD and now Graduate Student, MPS, Dept of Natural Resources, Cornell University

Monday, December 8, 2025, 7:30pm
Cornell Lab of Ornithology

What draws us into the world of birds? How does a spark of curiosity grow into human connection and a commitment to nature conservation? In her talk, Grete will reflect on the ways birds have woven together many threads of her life and work. From Azacuanes and Quetzales to Zanates, she will highlight her favorite Guatemalan birds and birding spots, share her family’s work at The Lost Tinamou nature reserve in southern Guatemala, and explore how technology supports their conservation efforts. Together, these stories remind us that birds can bring each of us closer to nature and inspire the next generation to carry our work forward.

About the speaker: Born and raised in Guatemala, Grete Pasch holds a Ph.D. in Information Studies and spent much of her career teaching and directing libraries and digital collections around the world. Her growing interest in birds and conservation inspired her to pursue an MPS in Natural Resources at Cornell University. With the new perspectives she has gained on the role of technology and information in conservation, she hopes to help advance bird and habitat protection in southern Guatemala.