Jack Smith
Outstanding Speaker Series
March 28, 2026
Carlisle Reservation
3:00pm-5:00pm
William Rapai
“The Kirtland’s Warbler: From the brink of extinction to a new model for endangered species conservation”
As recently as 1987 there were fewer 400 birds in the entire population. Today, there are more than 4,000 birds. In October 2019, the Kirtland’s Warbler was removed from the Endangered Species List.
That’s a reason to celebrate, but it doesn’t mean we can wash our hands and walk away because conservation of the Kirtland’s Warbler has special challenges. Unlike every other animal that has been removed from the Endangered Species List, the Kirtland's Warbler will require continued human intervention to ensure its survival.
Sponsored by the Lorain County Metro Parks
About the Jack Smith
Outstanding Speaker Series
The Black River Audubon Society was founded in 1958 through the influence of Jack Smith. This annual event honors his lasting contributions to the organization. Each year, a nationally recognized speaker headlines the program. A social hour with refreshments will follow the program. This event open to the public and free to members of Black River Audubon.
Previous Outstanding Speakers
April 27, 2013 – Al Batt, Stories by Al Batt, Naturally (birding humor)
April 5, 2014 – Jim McCormac, Wild Ohio
March 21, 2015 – Joy Kiser, America’s Other Audubon: Genevieve Estelle Jones
April 11, 2015 – Dave Horn, A Forty Year Survey of Birds in Northwestern Hocking, County, Ohio
April 9, 2016 – Paul J. Baicich, The Dozen Most Important You Can Do for Bird Conservation
April 1, 2017 – Brian Fox, Adventures with Audubon
April 25, 2017 – Dr. Bernie Master, Special Event in collaboration with Fireland Audubon,
November 18, 2017 – Sharon “Birdchick” Stiteler, Today’s Office (entertaining birding tales)
November 10, 2018 – Julie Zickefoose, Baby Birds, Combined Outstanding Speaker with BRAS 60th Anniversary Celebration
2020- Event Cancelled
2021- Event Cancelled
April 23, 2022 – Jamie Cunningham, The Secret Life of Warblers & Jim McCormac, Conservation Photography: Connecting the Masses with Nature
March 25, 2023 — Scott Weidensaul, A World on the Wing: The Global Odyssey of Migratory Birds
March 23, 2024— Jen Brumfeld, The Presence (and Presents) of Birds — a lifetime of chasing wings
March 29, 2025— Steve Shunk, How Woodpeckers can Save the World
Tickets
Tickets will be available on March 1, 2025
There is no cost for members, but due to limited seating, you must get a ticket.
The cost for non-members is $10.
William Rapai
William Rapai, is author of The Kirtland’s Warbler: The story of a bird’s fight for survival and the people who saved it and executive director of the Kirtland’s Warbler Alliance, a nonprofit created to support Kirtland’s Warbler conservation.
