Champions of the Birdverse: A Panel Discussion on Birds in Comics

It’s A Bird! It’s A Plane! It’s BIRDS IN COMICS!

Calling all nerds, bird nerds, and comic enthusiasts -along with all the rest of us who are simply interested.
Hawks, Owls, Falcons, Songbirds, and even ducks, are some of the characters that come to mind.

Come marvel with the panel of birding speakers
as they discuss the festival’s theme, “Birds Make Us Better” within the realm of the super hero to the comic strip -and beyond. Panelists include: Lisa Chaddock, Christian Cooper (It’s A Bird comic), TJ Shevlin, Freya McGregor, and Makeda “Dread” Cheatom from the Worldbeat Cultural Center.

We will explore the intersection of some of the heroes (and villains turned heroes) named after birds, ways birds are featured in comics, and the
wonder of self-discovery. Birds in comics have become a way to speak to the deeper character of the hero, and in some ways show us our best selves.
There will be time to hear from attendees and Q&A. Capes and wings are optional.

Prof. Lisa Chaddock teaches Geography at San Diego City College. She is both a birder on the board of San Diego Audubon and has presented on
Science in Comics at Comic-fest and WhoCon. She is advisor to the Audubon Club at San Diego City College, and has received the 2019 Audubon on Campus award and the 2019 Wm Dutcher Award from National Audubon Society. She also manages the Heinlein Blood Drive booth at Comic-Con in San Diego and writes lyrics and records songs for
the Drawing Attention for the Heinlein Blood Drive band for Comic-Con International, a music project featuring characters from comics and books
that are a part of Comic-Con each year.

Tammah Watts is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Mindful Outdoor Guide, birder, storyteller, and advocate for equitable accessibility of nature, health, and mental health.
She is the best-selling author of KEEP LOOKING UP: Your Guide to the Powerful Healing of Birdwatching, and serves on the Advisory Boards for Dayer Lab NSF-DISES + Project FeederWatch
and Audubon CA as the Southern California Chapter Council Representative, as well as her local chapter’s board, conservation and EDIB committees.
Tammah is a proud bird nerd who loves comics, scifi, and fantasy, and has paneled at San Diego ComicFest. She considers birds to be her ultimate superheroes!