My new book, Beyond the Wonder: An Ecologist’s View of Wild Alaska, is at the printers. WSU Press will start shipping copies in the next week. They are confident that Third Place Books and Village Books will have copies on hand before my readings. Right now, I have ten presentations scheduled for November 2024 through February 2025. Hopefully, I will add more.
The Press says the book “is more than just a biological perspective on Alaska’s wonders, a discussion of potential environmental impacts from human actions, a personal travel account, or a collection of dynamic photographs. Beyond the Wonder is a beautiful meditation on nature—one that highlights the importance of untamed places and their role in crafting a better world.”
Presentations
I am preparing to give several book readings, presentations, and discussion sessions over the next four months. More will be added once the book is available. Some will focus on Alaska and what I cover in my book. Others will be versions of my talk titled What is a Raptor Anyway? Both are about the joy of nature and what it brings us. Nature creates a sense of awe and helps us relax and deal with our lives. These talks will be fun, have a lot of science, and hopefully leave you with even more love for wild animals and places. A goal is to help you see nature in new ways and leave you with much to ponder.
Some presentations are in person only; some are simultaneously in person and over Zoom, and one is just over Zoom. I hope to have copies of my book available at each location. I would be honored to see you at one of these events. Help me celebrate the natural world and all its wonders. May nature bring you solace and joy.
I may add some courses or other talks, too. I have been toying with several ideas. I will likely lead some birding trips for the Mountaineers. Check their Naturalist Activity listings. I am also offered a full-day private birding trip to the Skagit for the BirdNote Auction.
Beyond the Wonder: An Ecologist’s View of Wild Alaska
The write-up at the Mountaineers will give you a feel for the Alaska presentation.
What is a Raptor Anyway?
The write-up posted at Rainier Audubon will give you a sense of the “Raptor” presentation.
Event Listings
I will update the Event Page as I add new presentations or get additional information on these.
Here are the event listings as of 1 November 2024. Thanks so much for your interest.
| Date | Group | Title | Location |
| November 14, 2024, Thursday | Pilchuck Audubon | A Naturalist on the Katmai Peninsula of Alaska | Room TC2-BC, 2320 California Street, Everett, WA 98201 7 PM https://www.pilchuckaudubon.org/monthly-programs |
| November 18, 2024, Monday | Rainier Audubon | What is a Raptor Anyway? | Federal Way United Methodist Church 29645 51st Ave SW, Auburn, 98001, United States 7 PM https://rainieraudubon.org/event/what-is-a-raptor-anyway/ |
| November 20, 2024, Wednesday | Third Place Books | Beyond the Wonder: An Ecologist’s View of Wild Alaska | Lake Forest Park Store, 17171 Bothell Way NE, #A101 7 PM https://www.thirdplacebooks.com/calendar |
| November 23, 2024, Saturday | Village Books in Bellingham | Beyond the Wonder: An Ecologist’s View of Wild Alaska | Readings Gallery at Village Books, 1200 11th Street, Bellingham, WA 98225, 360-671-2626, https://www.villagebooks.com/litlive-thomas-bancroft-112324 3 PM |
| December 2, 2024, Monday | Washington Ornithological Society, over Zoom. 7 PM | What is a Raptor Anyway? | Over Zoom, Opens at 7:15 PM, starts at 7 PM, https://wos.org/monthly-meetings/ |
| December 4, 2024, Wednesday | Mountaineers | A Naturalist on the Katmai Peninsula of Alaska | Olympia, WA, both in person and over zoomhttps://blackhills-audubon.org/speaker-series/ 7 PM |
| December 12, 2024, Thursday | Black Hills Audubon | Beyond the Wonder: An Ecologist’s View of Wild Alaska | Olympia, WA, both in person and over zoom https://blackhills-audubon.org/speaker-series/ 7 PM |
| January 22, 2025, Wednesday | Trilogy Bird Club | What is a Raptor Anyway? | Redmonds, WA. 7 PM |
| February 4, 2025, Tuesday | Vancouver Audubon Society | A Naturalist on the Katmai Peninsula of Alaska | At Evergreen Public Schools District Office at 13413 NE LeRoy Haagen Memorial Drive, Vancouver, WA – in-person. 7 PM https://vancouveraudubon.org/monthly-programs/ |
| February 27, 2025, Thursday | Eastside Audubon | A Naturalist on the Katmai Peninsula of Alaska | Bellevue Botanical Gardens, 12001 Main St. Bellevue, WA 98005, in person. 7 PM https://www.eastsideaudubon.org/program-night |
| 14 April 2026 | Skagit Audubon | The Joy of Spring and Summer Birds | https://www.skagitaudubon.org/programs |
Looking forward to your presentation!
Thanks, working on it right now.