Migration is one of the most engaging phenomena of the animal world and one epitomized by birds. Migratory birds are the Olympians of the natural world-travelling extreme distances, flying at night in flocks of tens of thousands of individuals, and moving through treacherous terrain with untold obstacles threatening their every move. Today, over 50% of North America’s migratory species are declining at unprecedented rates – and for most of these species, we don’t know why.

On November 4, 2021, Dr. Marra took us on a hemispheric journey to discover the unknown migrations of the birds, explaining the latest technologies used for tracking and why it’s up to us to uncover the secrets of their biology to protect these marvellous species.

Pete Marra earned a Ph.D. from Dartmouth College in 1998 and an M.S. from Louisiana State University in 1989 and is Director of the Georgetown Environmental Initiative, Laudato Si’ Professor in Biology and the Environment, and Professor in the McCourt School of Public Policy. Marra recently moved to Georgetown University after a 20-year career at the Smithsonian Institution, most recently as Director of the Migratory Bird Center.

Pete’s research in conservation ecology is both fundamental and applied, and emphasizes connecting events throughout the annual and life cycles of animals to understand how complex interactions drive the ecology, evolution and conservation of species. Marra has authored over 250 papers including a recent widely-discussed study in Science magazine on the loss of nearly one-third of bird populations (2.9 billion birds) in North America over the last 50 years. Marra also co-edited the frequently cited book, Birds of Two Worlds, and recently published a second book, Cat Wars: The Devastating Consequences of a Cuddly Killer.