KELSEYVILLE – The Redbud Audubon Society will meet Thursday, Jan. 15, at 7 p.m. at the Kelseyville High School Library.

This month’s speaker for Redbud Audubon is Ron LeValley, a wildlife biologist and photographer who will present a program on the Farallon Islands, home to the largest colony of breeding seabirds in the continental United States – sometimes up to 250,000 birds comprising 12 species.

Three kinds of whales ply the nearby waters and five species of seals and sea lions come ashore on the islands, in some cases to breed. The large population of seals and sea lions is no doubt responsible for the great white shark population in the vicinity.

LeValley has been photographing nature for over 40 years. He is a founding member of the Mendocino Coast Photographer Guild and Gallery in Fort Bragg where his work can be seen.

As a professional photographer, LeValley has compiled an impressive collection (over 70,000 images) of wildlife photographs that he uses for presentations and publications.

Forty years ago when Point Reyes bird Observatory established the Farallon Island Research Station, LeValley was a young biologist who had volunteered as a bird bander for a number of years. In August of 1968 he spent a month on the islands, a month that was instrumental in focusing his career.

This past summer, 29 years after his last visit, he returned to the beginning of his career and participated in current research activities.

LeValley will share some of his experiences, both old and new, on the islands, providing an interesting perspective on the changes on the islands and in the ecosystems that the Farallones are a part of. His outstanding photographs will illustrate his talk.

The public is invited to enjoy this excellent program. For information, go the Audubon Web site at www.redbudaudubon.org.

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