Presque Isle Audubon Monthly Programs

PIAS holds programs on the third Friday of each month from September through June, excluding December and January. Meetings are currently being held online via Zoom and occasionally also in person at the Tom Ridge Environmental Center. ​Everyone is invited!  You do not need to be an Audubon member to attend and enjoy one of these informative, educational, and fun programs.

All PIAS Programs are recorded and later uploaded to the Presque Isle Audubon YouTube Channel.

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Upcoming Programs:

Transformation of Mentor Marsh State Nature Preserve

by Becky Donaldson

Friday, April 18, 2025.

This is a hybrid program which starts at 7 PM. You can attend in person at the Tom Ridge Environmental Center in Erie. Doors there will open at 6:30 PM for refreshments and socializing.

To attend virtually, check back on this PIA website the day of the program for an active link

ZOOM LINK

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Mentor Marsh Naturalist, Becky Donaldson, will regale us with tales of Mentor Marsh State Nature Preserve’s transformation after full-scale restoration efforts by the stewardship team in the Natural Areas Division at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History. With diverse plant life rebounding, so are the insects, birds and other animals. Come along on an illustrated tale of the returning biodiversity, learn more about Mentor Marsh and other preserves the Museum owns and stewards.

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Becky Donaldson is the Mentor Marsh Naturalist Manager in the Natural Areas Division of the Cleveland Museum of Natural History. She’s been working at the Marsh since 2008, before the restoration, and offers perspectives of helping these efforts and watching the diversity rebound. Becky leads Sunday hikes at the Marsh, staffs the Second Saturday Science Open House, leads special hikes and programs for groups, leads teams of volunteers including scouts on stewardship volunteer projects at the Marsh and more! 

In 2021, Becky joined ODNR’s Division of Natural Areas and Preserves in the Scenic Rivers program as an Ecological Analyst/Stream Quality Monitoring Coordinator where she oversees the stream quality monitoring program and stewards Scenic River Lands. In addition, she is an active member of Blackbrook Audubon Society, leads bird walks and currently serves as board president. 

Becky earned her Bachelor of Science in Wildlife Biology at Colorado State University but originally hails from Northeast Ohio. She grew up on a dairy farm and hurried to finish chores so she could play outside-especially in the creek. Part of Becky’s passion is spreading the word about biodiversity and conservation efforts, like the successful restoration of Mentor Marsh, and urges us all to tackle invasives and plant native plants in our own yards and neighborhoods to work towards restoring biodiversity everywhere!

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