Conservation Lecture - Lewis's Woodpecker: Conservation Challenges for a Fire-Associated Species
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Join us at the Zoo or participate on Zoom! There is no cost to attend.
The full talk title is "Lewis's Woodpecker: Conservation Challenges for a Unique Fire-Associated Species."
The Sequoia Park Zoo Conservation Lecture Series returns this fall for its sixteenth annual series, hosted by the Sequoia Park Zoo Advisory Group’s Conservation Council. The 2026-2027 series showcases five conservation stories covering topics from California condors to emerging wildlife diseases. The series will be hosted at the Zoo and online through Zoom. Please note that the series starts at 6:30 PM, which is earlier than in previous years.
The series kicks off with a presentation from Dr. Frank Fogarty on Wednesday, November 18, 2026 at 6:30 PM PST entitled “Lewis’s Woodpecker: Conservation Challenges for a Unique Fire-Associated Species.” Join us to learn about the behavioral ecology and conservation of this unique species and why fire is important for their success.
Wildfires are often thought of as a destructive force that alters the environment, but these disturbances can potentially create high-quality habitat for some species. Lewis's woodpeckers are one such species, as they are strongly associated with post-fire landscapes in the Pacific Northwest. Known for their striking appearance and unusual behaviors, this species remains one of the most poorly studied birds in the western U.S. and is a species of conservation concern in Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia. Dr. Fogarty will discuss his lab's work studying this species across a variety of burned landscapes in the Oregon Cascades. He will share insights into their unique habitat use across fires of varying ages and intensity, as well as their complex migratory behavior and space use. He will also discuss the conservation challenges surrounding Lewis’s woodpecker and ongoing efforts to better understand and protect this species in a rapidly changing environment.
Dr. Frank Fogarty is an Associate Professor of Applied Avian Ecology in the Department of Wildlife at Cal Poly Humboldt. His lab studies how management actions and potential disturbances such as wildfire, climate change, habitat fragmentation, timber harvest, and cattle grazing, affect birds and their communities. He is also interested in the development of quantitative methods, especially as they relate to the kinds of messy, realistic data that are often used by wildlife professionals.
The Conservation Lecture Series will be held in-person and remotely through Zoom. The in-person lecture is located at the Sequoia Park Zoo’s Flamingo Room at 3414 W Street in Eureka. Attendees can enter the Zoo through Gate C, located to the left of the main gate at the W Street crosswalk.
The event begins with refreshments and a Zoo update slideshow at 6:15 PM. The lecture starts promptly at 6:30 PM. Attendees are encouraged to ask the speaker questions after the presentation.
Virtual attendees can watch on Zoom (where a free, registered Zoom account is required). A link will be available at redwoodzoo.org and on the Zoo’s social media channels on the day of the lecture.
Zoom Meeting: https://zoom.us/join
Meeting ID: 890 7549 3129
Passcode: 435551
Join the Zoom Meeting by Phone: +1 669 444 9171 US
ABOUT SEQUOIA PARK ZOO
Founded in 1907, the City of Eureka’s Sequoia Park Zoo is the oldest zoo in California and is proudly accredited by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA). Sequoia Park Zoo is home to over 150 animals representing more than 50 diverse species and includes the award-winning Redwood Sky Walk and the tallest urban forest on the planet. Visit redwoodzoo.org and redwoodskywalk.com for more information.
Photo by Cameron Piper of a Lewis’s woodpecker perching. Photo of Frank Fogarty provided by Frank Fogarty.
The full talk title is "Lewis's Woodpecker: Conservation Challenges for a Unique Fire-Associated Species."
The Sequoia Park Zoo Conservation Lecture Series returns this fall for its sixteenth annual series, hosted by the Sequoia Park Zoo Advisory Group’s Conservation Council. The 2026-2027 series showcases five conservation stories covering topics from California condors to emerging wildlife diseases. The series will be hosted at the Zoo and online through Zoom. Please note that the series starts at 6:30 PM, which is earlier than in previous years.
The series kicks off with a presentation from Dr. Frank Fogarty on Wednesday, November 18, 2026 at 6:30 PM PST entitled “Lewis’s Woodpecker: Conservation Challenges for a Unique Fire-Associated Species.” Join us to learn about the behavioral ecology and conservation of this unique species and why fire is important for their success.
Wildfires are often thought of as a destructive force that alters the environment, but these disturbances can potentially create high-quality habitat for some species. Lewis's woodpeckers are one such species, as they are strongly associated with post-fire landscapes in the Pacific Northwest. Known for their striking appearance and unusual behaviors, this species remains one of the most poorly studied birds in the western U.S. and is a species of conservation concern in Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia. Dr. Fogarty will discuss his lab's work studying this species across a variety of burned landscapes in the Oregon Cascades. He will share insights into their unique habitat use across fires of varying ages and intensity, as well as their complex migratory behavior and space use. He will also discuss the conservation challenges surrounding Lewis’s woodpecker and ongoing efforts to better understand and protect this species in a rapidly changing environment.
Dr. Frank Fogarty is an Associate Professor of Applied Avian Ecology in the Department of Wildlife at Cal Poly Humboldt. His lab studies how management actions and potential disturbances such as wildfire, climate change, habitat fragmentation, timber harvest, and cattle grazing, affect birds and their communities. He is also interested in the development of quantitative methods, especially as they relate to the kinds of messy, realistic data that are often used by wildlife professionals.
The Conservation Lecture Series will be held in-person and remotely through Zoom. The in-person lecture is located at the Sequoia Park Zoo’s Flamingo Room at 3414 W Street in Eureka. Attendees can enter the Zoo through Gate C, located to the left of the main gate at the W Street crosswalk.
The event begins with refreshments and a Zoo update slideshow at 6:15 PM. The lecture starts promptly at 6:30 PM. Attendees are encouraged to ask the speaker questions after the presentation.
Virtual attendees can watch on Zoom (where a free, registered Zoom account is required). A link will be available at redwoodzoo.org and on the Zoo’s social media channels on the day of the lecture.
Zoom Meeting: https://zoom.us/join
Meeting ID: 890 7549 3129
Passcode: 435551
Join the Zoom Meeting by Phone: +1 669 444 9171 US
ABOUT SEQUOIA PARK ZOO
Founded in 1907, the City of Eureka’s Sequoia Park Zoo is the oldest zoo in California and is proudly accredited by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA). Sequoia Park Zoo is home to over 150 animals representing more than 50 diverse species and includes the award-winning Redwood Sky Walk and the tallest urban forest on the planet. Visit redwoodzoo.org and redwoodskywalk.com for more information.
Photo by Cameron Piper of a Lewis’s woodpecker perching. Photo of Frank Fogarty provided by Frank Fogarty.
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Where is it happening?
3414 W St, Eureka, CA, United States, California 95503
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
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Host or PublisherSequoia Park Zoo
