Lectures on Tap - The History & Science of L.A.’s Wild Parrots

Professors, experts, and storytellers giving thought-provoking lectures in LA bars. 📍 Location: Exact address given in confirmation email 🧠 Lecture: The History & Science of L.A.’s Wild Parrots 🎙 Speaker: John McCormack Wild parrots have become one of Los Angeles’ most surprising urban icons—but how did they get here, and why are they thriving? In this engaging talk, evolutionary biologist and museum curator John McCormack separates urban legend from science, using genetics, field research, and thousands of public photos to trace the origins of L.A.’s parrots. You’ll learn how these charismatic birds survive in a sprawling metropolis, what their social lives and “love stories” reveal, and what their future might look like in a changing city. Along the way, Dr. McCormack will show how L.A.’s parrots help us rethink ideas about nature, belonging, and conservation in urban environments. Dr. McCormack is a professor of Biology at Occidental College and Director of the Moore Laboratory of Zoology, home to the world’s largest collection of Mexican bird specimens and a leading center for ornithological research. Get a drink, connect, and learn at Lectures on Tap! 🙌 Agenda 7:30 PM – Doors open: find a seat (open seating!), order food & drinks, and expect a bar line—arriving early is key. Attendees are welcome to come as early as 6:00 PM. 7:55 PM – Host introduction 8:00 PM – Lecture begins 8:45 PM – Audience Q&A 9:00 PM – Have 1:1 time with the speaker, mingle with fellow guests, and order another round 9:30 PM – Wrap up.