Join the W.K. Kellogg Biological Station community at 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 5, for a talk, titled, “The Science of Bird Color.”
The presenter for the fall 2026 Dessert with Discussion talk is Dr. Kevin McGraw, a professor and chair in Michigan State University’s Department of Integrative Biology.
In his talk, Dr. McGraw will share:
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The many different mechanisms that birds use to create color
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How color serves a wide range of functions in bird behavior and survival
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Why feather colors evolve differently than colors on bare body parts like bills, legs,
and skin
The talk will be offered in-person in the KBS Academic Building's auditorium, located at 3700 East Gull Lake Drive in Hickory Corners, and also will be streamed via Zoom. The talk is free and open to the public, and registration is required at bit.ly/kbs-DwD-fall-2026.
Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and area organizations, including Birds with Seth, Audubon Society of Kalamazoo, and the Kellogg Bird Sanctuary will have informational booths open. Both in-person and virtual attendees will have an opportunity to ask questions following the talk. Dessert offerings will be available during the talk. A cash bar also will be available.
Dessert with Discussion is a free lecture series that connects the KBS and MSU research community with our local community. This series is made possible through generous donations to the Dessert with Discussion Fund.
Send questions about the event to communityrelations@kbs.msu.edu.
About Kevin McGraw
Dr. McGraw is a leading researcher on bird coloration and how environmental change—from cities to farms—shapes the lives of wild birds. Dr. McGraw’s team studies everything from oriole communication to biodiversity in Michigan cities, ancient pigment evolution, and how microplastics affect bird health. His research focuses on two main themes: how and why animals like birds are colorful, and how modern environmental changes, including urbanization and agriculture, impact the health and viability of wild bird populations.
