The Rochester Hills Public Library will host author Bill Rapai, who will discuss his 2013 Michigan Notable book, The Kirtland’s Warbler on Tuesday, April 16 at 7 p.m. At a time when the world is seeing its species rapidly go extinct, the Kirtland's warbler is not just a survivor, it's a rock star. People from all over the world come to northern
Michigan every year to view this endangered species in its jack pine habitat. When its total population fell below 400 birds, a small group of dedicated biologists, researchers and volunteers vowed to save the Kirtland's warbler from extinction. Beginning with an account of the warbler's discovery in the mid-nineteenth century and ornithologists' desperate hunt for information on the elusive new
species, this presentation goes on to examine the dramatic events that led to its precarious status, its emergence as a lightning rod for controversy, and how strong leadership, vision, commitment, sustained effort, and cooperation
came together to conserve a beautiful and unusual bird.
William Rapai is president of Grosse Pointe Audubon Society and has traveled across North America and to Cuba, Iceland, and Thailand to view and research birds. He
was an award-winning reporter and editor for the Grand Forks Herald, the Detroit Free Press, and the Boston Globe. After the presentation, books will be available for purchase.
Registration is required and open to those with
a Rochester Hills Public library card. To register, go to http://calendar.rhpl.org or call 248-656-2900. The Rochester Hills Public Library is located in downtown
Rochester two blocks east of Main Street off of University Drive on Olde Towne Road. For more information, please call 248-650-7124.
