October 12, 2022 – Pepper Trail, retired Ornithologist with the US Fish and Wildlife Service Forensic Lab, “Fighting Crime with Feathers: The Casebook of a Forensic Ornithologist”.

Dr. Trail’s fascinating program showed the work done by the dedicated forensic ornithologists at the US Fish and Wildlife Service crime lab.  Each year wildlife and customs officials send evidence to the lab to comply with US law and international treaties intended to stop illegal trade in birds and their feathers.  Over the years the targeted species and numbers change with a few successes, but the need for the effort continues and at times seems overwhelming.

This events was made possible by a donation in memory of Anna Slemmer, who was an environmentalist and ardent supporter of Umpqua Valley Audubon Society.