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Connecting People 
With Nature

Loren Eiseley: Anthropologist, Nature Writer, Philosopher, and Birdwatcher, Too

by Tom Lynch

Wachiska Program and General Meeting — Thursday, March 14, 7:00 p.m.,

Unitarian Church, 6300 A Street, and also via YouTube

link: https://youtube.com/live/EZ-w3dSWq9Y?feature=share

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Celebrated nature writer Loren Eiseley (1907-77) grew up in Lincoln. He graduated from the University of Nebraska with a joint degree in English and Anthropology. He went on to earn a Ph.D. at the University of Pennsylvania, resulting in a successful career as a professor of anthropology. Eiseley was particularly interested in the history of early humans in the Americas. He studied Clovis and Folsom sites on the Great Plains. Later in his life, he returned to his early passion of nature writing and became one of the most influential American nature writers of the 20th century.

 

Much of Eiseley's writing engages with the landscapes of Nebraska, both in and around Lincoln and out in the western badlands, where as a student he had conducted paleontological fieldwork for Morrill Hall. Throughout his essays and poems, he infuses his nature observations with the light of his anthropological training, seeing everything in the context of evolution, what he referred to as "the immense journey."

Though not thought of as a birder, birds, in fact, figure prominently in much of his work, including some of his most famous essays and poems. Living much of his adult life in Philadelphia, Eiseley paid particular attention to urban nature and to the birds that live among us in our cities, those that birders often overlook or disdain.

 

In this presentation I will first introduce Eiseley and discuss his significance. I will then turn to a discussion of the important role of birds in some of his essays and poems: "The Bird and the Machine," "The Judgment of the Birds," "The Cardinals," and "Sunflower Song."

 

Bonus: Everyone who attends will receive a free copy of The Loren Eiseley Reader, published by the Loren Eiseley Society.

 

Tom Lynch is a recently retired English professor from UNL where he specialized in environmental literature. Among his publications, he edited a collection of articles on Loren Eiseley titled Artifacts and Illuminations: Critical Essays on Loren Eiseley. He currently serves as vice-president of the Loren Eiseley Society.

Join Wachiska on Thursday, March 14, at 7:00 p.m. at Lincoln’s Unitarian Church, 6300 A Street, to learn more about this Lincoln native. This free, public, in-person talk will also be live-streamed on YouTube at

 

https://youtube.com/live/EZ-w3dSWq9Y?feature=share

 

No registration is needed. This program can also be viewed at a later time. Check Wachiska’s website for links to past programs.

March 2024 Calendar of Events

March 4       Education Committee, via Zoom  6:00 p.m.

March 7       Spring Birdseed Order Deadline 

March 11     Conservation Committee, via Zoom  6:30 p.m

March 14      General Meeting, “Loren Eiseley,” by Tom Lynch,

                      7:00 p.m. in-person at Unitarian Church

                      and also live-streamed; no registration (link above)

March 15 - 16 Spring Birdseed Sale Pick-up

March 19      Board Meeting via Zoom, 7:00 p.m.

Give Nebraska is preparing to kick off                                           this year's 

                                       campaign. 

Wachiska Audubon Society will be participating and we are fortunate to be one of the 70+ members who benefit from the 100+ public and private workplaces that allow employees to contribute to their favorite non-profits through payroll deductions.

 

Click here to donate to Birdathon https://www.wachiskaaudubon.org

 

 

On August 16, 2022, the Board approved revised bylaws that will be presented to the membership during the annual meeting in November. Both the 2013 and 2022 versions may be viewed or downloaded. 

In September 2021, the Wachiska Board adopted the National Audubon’s Statement on Equity, Diversity and Inclusion as the Chapter’s own goals: 

The birds Audubon pledges to protect differ in color, size, behavior, geographical preference, and countless other ways. By honoring and celebrating the equally remarkable diversity of the human species, Audubon will bring new creativity, effectiveness and leadership to our work throughout the hemisphere.

Wachiska supports efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions

   A recent seminar hosted by Gene Hanlon gave tips on replacing heating and air conditioning units with heat pumps. 

A panel of five speakers participated in "Powering the Future: Heat Pump Education Event" on February 3rd at the Unitarian Church of Lincoln. 

Watch the seminar on YouTube:  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pSp3HQPlX6I&t=785s

Join Wachiska Today

Become a member of the Wachiska chapter of the National Audubon Society and support environmental conservation, education, and outreach in Southeast Nebraska.

Click HERE for details.

Read recent newsletters

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 NEW!  Wachiska is on YouTube 

Celebrate Wachiska's 50th Anniversary

Birds, Prairies and People

If you would like to make a donation in honor of Wachiska's 50th Anniversary, please use this QR Code to donate via PayPal or a Debit or Credit Card. 

This site can also be used to donate to the Prairie Management Fund, make a general donation,

or donate to Birdathon. 

Thank you for thinking of

Wachiska and our mission.

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The photos on this website were taken by Wachiska members. Many thanks to Bruce Wendorff, 

Linda Brown, Paul Johnsguard, Tim Knott, Stu Luttich, John Carlini and Elizabeth Nelson. 

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