Chris Kubiak is willing to bet that time spent outdoors can provide more wonder than social media scrolling.
“Everyone has screens galore these days,” said Kubiak, director of education for Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania.
“Putting the phones down and connecting with nature always makes me want to do it more.”
Kubiak will share his passions during an April 14 presentation, “Birds of Prey,” hosted by the American Association of University Women.
His hope is to get others interested in the world around them.
The free program starts at 10 a.m. at Audubon’s headquarters, the Beechwood Farms Nature Reserve in Fox Chapel. It is open to the public.
Participants will get an up-close encounter with two state native raptors — an Eastern Screech Owl and an American Kestrel — along with eye-opening tidbits about wildlife in their own backyards.
“Raptors have exceptional eyesight,” Kubiak said. “They can see a 6-inch fish in water from a football field away.”
Owls, contrary to popular myth, can’t spin their heads in a complete revolution, but they can go about 270 degrees. Their eyes are fixed and their ears are offset rather than symmetrical.
The unique adaptations, and how they impact wildlife survival, are among the lessons Kubiak plans to share in his mission to connect more people to birds and nature.
Audubon Operations Director Brian Shema said that by featuring live ambassador animals — nonreleasable hawks, owls and falcons — “we are able to illustrate real-world connections between humans and birds by sharing their stories.”
“We hope that their unique stories raise awareness and inspire action,” Shema said.
“Audubon’s programming is an essential first step toward successful bird conservation. Our programs build an awareness of native bird species, the challenges they face and the practical actions people can take to help.”
Kubiak will talk about the human impacts on raptor populations, as well as the importance of habitat conservation.
Kubiak believes people unfamiliar with conservation efforts should first engage with the natural world, with simple tasks like taking a walk or planting a garden.
“Without that, you’re not going to want to protect things you don’t know about or care about,” he said.
One of the simplest and most effective things to do is plant native gardens, he said.
They are the keystone to hold up local ecosystems. Native plants include azaleas, black-eyed Susans, purple coneflower and swamp milkweed.
A native of Franklin Park, Kubiak earned a bachelor’s degree in history from the University of Pittsburgh and a master’s from Slippery Rock University.
But he has long been a birder. His role at Audubon is a natural extension of his curiosity and desire to rally others’ interest in conservation.
“Even as a kid, I liked to sit and watch the birds,” he said.
As director of education for ASWP, he combines his love of history and nature to teach environmental science and the impacts of humans on ecosystems. Programs run at all three Audubon sites, which include Beechwood; Buffalo Creek Nature Park, a 6-acre property in Buffalo Township adjacent to the Buffalo-Freeport Community Trail; and Succop Nature Park, a 50-acre former farm estate in Penn Township.
Adult education and summer camps for children are offered, along with free nature walks at all three locations.
People can drop in for naturalist-led walks, “Birds and More,” at 9 a.m. on Sundays and Wednesdays at Beechwood, Tuesdays at Buffalo Creek and Thursdays at Succop.
“They’re introductory walks where an expert goes along,” Kubiak said. “It’s a nice, free way to get involved.”
Before joining Audubon, Kubiak taught history at Robert Morris University and Community College of Allegheny County.
He and his family live in Butler, where they manage an 8-acre apple orchard for cider production.