Tunkhannock – The Dietrich Theater was one of 37 non-profit film organizations nationwide to receive a Science on Screen grant in 2021. At 10 a.m. on Saturday, June 5, all are invited to take part in the theater’s third and final Science on Screen event of the season with a free showing of the movie A Birder’s Guide to Everything, followed by a presentation on Parental Care in Birds with Dr. Meg Hatch of Penn State Scranton.
Science on Screen is an initiative of the Coolidge Corner Theatre, with major support from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. Its goal is for participating theaters like the Dietrich to pair screenings of films with presentations by experts from the world of science and technology.
During this movie/presentation pairing, Dr. Hatch will discuss the different types of parental care found in birds and some of her own research on the effect of disturbance at the nest on feeding rates, and other studies on how human disturbance can affect parental behavior. According to Dr. Hatch, “Most people are familiar with images of songbirds, such as American Robins (Turdus migratorius) feeding their dependent young in the nest, but not all species of baby birds must be fed by their parents.”
Dr. Meg Hatch is an Associate Professor of Biology at Penn State Scranton. She earned her B.S. at UC Davis, her M.S. at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, and her Ph.D. in Biology from the University of Kentucky. She studies songbirds and has published on their parental behavior, age-related reproductive success, and aspects of body condition including immunological measures.
Her current work in collaboration with Dr. Robert J. Smith at the University of Scranton involves studying the migratory ecology of songbirds at Lackawanna State Park.
A Birder’s Guide to Everything tells the story of David Portnoy, a 15-year-old birding fanatic, who thinks that he’s made the discovery of a lifetime. On the eve of his father’s remarriage, he escapes on an epic road trip with his best friends to solidify their place in birding history. What will he find on his road trip?
Reservations are encouraged, due to limited seating. Reserve your tickets by visiting the ticket booth or calling 570-836-1022 ext. 3. The Dietrich is following CDC guidelines for mask wearing and social distancing. Face masks are required to enter the theater and must be worn at all times when navigating the theater. Once seated, masks may be removed to enjoy popcorn and other concession items.