In the expansive swath of pine forest that spans from the Angelina National Forest to the Davy Crockett National Forest, Stephen F. Austin State University graduate student Joshua Harris stands at attention with binoculars in hand. Harris, pursuing a Master of Science in forestry at SFA's Arthur Temple College of Forestry and Agriculture, is scanning the landscape for visual and auditory indications of birds to estimate the abundance, occupancy and richness of avian species.

Trevor Smith, a Stephen F. Austin State University alumnus and benefits implementation manager at Aon Hewitt - a leading global provider of risk management, insurance and reinsurance brokerage, and human resources solutions and outsourcing services - recently visited SFA to meet with human resource management classes within the Nelson Rusche College of Business.

The $1.4 million Starr Avenue construction project is continuing, but the expected completion date has been reset for mid to late April, according to a press release issued by the Texas Department of Transportation.

NACOGDOCHES, Texas - The Stephen F. Austin State University School of Art and the Friends of the Visual Arts will present a free, one-night screening of "The Salt of the Earth" at 7 p.m. Friday, March 4, in The Cole Art Center @ The Old Opera House in downtown Nacogdoches.

NACOGDOCHES, Texas - Stephen F. Austin State University School of Theatre will present the student-directed "A Dollar" at 7:30 p.m. Friday, March 4, and at 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 5, in the Downstage Theatre on the SFA campus.

Directed by senior theatre major Greg Albright of Palestine, playwright David Pinski's "A Dollar" is about a troupe of traveling players who are tired and penniless and end up arguing over a dollar they find.

NACOGDOCHES, Texas - The Swingin' Axes and Swingin' Aces jazz bands at Stephen F. Austin State University will perform the music of Count Basie, Duke Ellington and other jazz greats at 7:30 p.m. Friday, March 4, in Cole Concert Hall on the SFA campus.

NACOGDOCHES, Texas - Stephen F. Austin State University's SFA Gardens will host the monthly Theresa and Les Reeves Lecture Series at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 10, in the Ina Brundrett Conservation Education Building at the Pineywoods Native Plant Center, 2900 Raguet St. Tom Cox will present "Breaking New Ground with Conifers for the South."

NACOGDOCHES, Texas - SFA Gardens at Stephen F. Austin State University will host its annual Garden Gala Day Spring Plant Sale and Earth Day Celebration from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 2, at the SFA Pineywoods Native Plant Center, 2900 Raguet St.

A wide variety of hard-to-find, "Texas tough" plants will be available, including Texas natives, heirlooms, tropicals, perennials, shrubs, trees and unusual species. Most of the plants are trialed in the gardens before being offered to the public and are produced by the SFA Gardens staff and volunteers.

NACOGDOCHES, Texas - Jeff Bradetich, regarded as one of the leading performers and teachers of double bass in the United States, will present a guest recital at 6 p.m. Thursday, March 3, in Cole Concert Hall on the Stephen F. Austin State University campus.

Regents professor of double bass at the University of North Texas, Bradetich is an active lecturer and clinician. His concert is designed to "showcase the incredible sound and expressive palette of the bass as a solo instrument," according to Carlos Gaviria, SFA School of Music faculty member.

NACOGDOCHES, Texas - The Stephen F. Austin State University College of Fine Arts and the Children's Performing Arts Series will present two performances of ArcAttack Science Show on Friday, March 4.

Described as "the most electrifying science show on tour," ArcAttack was seen in the fifth season of "America's Got Talent." A highlight of an ArcAttack show is the use of two custom-built singing Tesla coils that have been modified to play musical notes.