Ferrugionous pygmy owl chicks. Photo by Paul Bannick.

LAKEPORT – Redbud Audubon is sponsoring a special free event on Tuesday, Nov. 3, at the Soper-Reese Theater in Lakeport starting at 7 p.m.

Paul Bannick, an award-winning nature and bird photographer from Seattle and author of the book “The Owl and the Woodpecker,” will lecture and present his stunning photographs.

Bannick’s stunning photographic study is a visual journey to enjoy the 41 North American species of owls and woodpeckers.

His photos have appeared in Aududon and Sunset magazines, the National Wildlife Federation Guide to North American Birds, Smithsonian Guide to North American Birds and others.

This is the second time in 2009 that Redbud Audubon has brought an outstanding nature speaker to Lake County in a special event separate from the regular monthly Audubon meetings. In May over 100 people attended an exciting evening with John Muir Laws, who discussed his new Field Guide to the Sierras.

Redbud is one of 10 Northern California Audubon chapters to host Paul Bannick this year. He will be the keynote speaker at the Sandhill Crane Festival in Lodi following his presentation for Redbud.

The event is free and open to the public, starting at 7 p.m.

For more information about the Redbud Audubon Society, go to www.redbudaudubon.org .