LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — The Redbud Audubon Society will host Ariana Rickard who will present a fascinating program on Antarctica on Thursday, Sept. 21, at 7 p.m. on Zoom.

“After this hot summer, Redbud Audubon will take you to frozen Antarctica for our first meeting of the new program year,” said Redbud President Donna Mackiewicz. “Have you dreamed of visiting the astonishing terrain of Antarctica and seeing penguins, seals, whales, and glaciers? Do you wish you could experience a place teeming with life that few people get to see?”

Speaker Ariana Rickard will take you there through photos, videos and stories from her trip earlier this year.

Learn about the adorable penguins, majestic whales, seals, sea lions and bird life that thrive in this harsh environment.

You won’t even have to cross the dreaded Drake Passage to experience the wonders of Antarctica.

Rickard also will discuss the impacts of climate change on the Frozen Continent, which is losing sea ice at an alarming rate.

The loss of sea ice in Antarctica can have global implications, contributing to sea level rise worldwide.

Rickard earned her Bachelor of Arts from Harvard University in environmental science and public policy and her Master of Science degree from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, with a focus on ecology.

She is the public policy and funding program manager at Sonoma Land Trust.

Rickard has worked for several federal government agencies, including the Peace Corps in Ecuador, and numerous environmental nonprofits, such as Audubon California.

She is vice president and program chair for Mt. Diablo Audubon in the Bay Area. She also serves on the chapter’s Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging Committee.

Rickard and her husband live in Pacheco with their two young sons and their indoor cat Mando, and they are hoping a bluebird family will take up residence next spring in their nest box in the backyard.

Preregistration for the Zoom program is required and can be accomplished by going to the website, www.redbudaudubon.org, and clicking on the link on the homepage.