For most of human existence, the seasonal flight of migratory birds and insects has been “hidden” in plain sight in the night sky above us. The technological advances of the last century accelerated our ability to see and study this breathtaking phenomenon millions of years in the making. Join us as urban birder, rooftop farmer, and author Annie Novak discusses her new work, an illustrated narrative of scientists’ current understanding of nocturnal bird migration. Novak’s work explores our emerging knowledge with humor, curiosity, and a vibrant visual imagination, prompting the reader to look at the skies above in a new light.
Annie Novak is an urban farmer, author, and activist. Annie is the founder and director of Growing Chefs, a field-to-fork food education program; the manager of the Edible Academy at the New York Botanical Garden; and co-founder and farmer of the nation’s first commercial green-roof farm, the Eagle Street Rooftop Farm in Brooklyn, New York. Annie is the author and illustrator of The Rooftop Growing Guide: How to Transform Your Roof into a Garden or Farm (Ten Speed Press). For her efforts to green the city landscape, Annie was recognized by the Audubon Society’s Women in Conservation Program. Annie writes for Living Bird and Bird Conservation, among other publications, and lectures on the history of and the technology used to study nocturnal bird migration over the changing North American landscape. Annie has served on the board of the American Bird Conservancy since 2018.