Note: Most of the 2021 Programs were recorded. All of those have a post on the blog with the video
1/20 – Spokane Meeting 6 pm – David Droppers “Butterflies of the Deep, Dark Woods”
This meeting will be with WBA’s very own David Droppers who has been combing the relatively unexplored Mountain Loop Highway in Snohomish County for butterflies. That’s right, the cold, wet, dark, coniferous woods of western Washington! What could he possibly hope to find there? Allow David to introduce you to the Mountain Loop Highway, it’s enchanting trails, and the many surprises he has made. It may just inspire you to create your own butterfly survey!
David teaches courses on topics from birds to butterflies to trees to microorganisms for a variety of groups, including college biology courses and non-profit environmental groups. He has put his expertise to work for the National Park Service, Forest Service, University of Washington, and Woodland Park Zoo, among many others. He is ecstatic about sharing his passion for the natural world with others who wish to learn. His enthusiasm is said to be contagious!
2/17 – Spokane Meeting 6 pm – Wool Carder Bees with Dr. Gary Chang
Wool Carder Bees: A Non-Native Interference Competitor for Local Native Pollinators
Spokane’s chapter of the Washington Butterfly Association welcomes Gonzaga University’s biology professor Dr. Gary Chang on Wednesday, February 17th, when he will present a summary of his recent field studies on local incursions of a non-native bee, the Wool Carder Bee: “Wool Carder Bees: A Non-Native Interference Competitor for Local Native Pollinators”. This bee species has rapidly spread through broad areas of North America as an immigrant species from Europe.
Professor Chang teaches ecology, entomology, and pollinator conservation, and is the author and co-author of numerous research articles. He has followed our local WBA group since its inception, and is a strong supporter of citizen science, as may be seen by his contributions to iNaturalist identification of not only insects, but plants, mammals, reptiles and other life forms. Please join us for a look at some of his latest field work on local insect populations!
3/17 Zoom Meeting at 6 pm – David Jennings: Bumble Bees of Washington State
Come join us for this very exciting and interesting presentation by David Jennings. He will be presenting information on the bumble bees of our state. He is knowledgeable on bumble bee biology, ecology and identification. For the past several summers he has traveled Washington photographing bumble bees as a citizen scientist collecting data for Xerces’ Bumble Bee Watch program. David used this past summer’s restriction on field work to share what he learned by constructing a website focused on our bumble bees. A major focus of the website is “how to ID that bumble bee”. It also contains information on gardening, conservation and other resources.
David has an academic background in wildlife ecology and conservation and is a former Fish and Wildlife Commissioner. He serves as vice president of the Washington Butterfly Association and on the Black Hills Audubon Society’s conservation committee.
Learn them, respect them, protect them!
3/23 at 9 am – Butterflies in the Methow with Cheryl Bellin
Add some color to your day, join Cheryl Bellin for an introduction to Butterflies of the Methow. She’s a lifelong butterflier, a Washington Butterfly Association board member and contributor to the Washington Butterfly database project led by Jonathan Pelham.
We will review butterfly families and their characteristics using photographs from her garden, nearby trails, and roadsides. Local butterflies, their host plants, and habitats will then be discussed to aid your seeing and recognizing these beauties come spring.”
Trying to generate interest, awareness locally for butterflies. I’ll present an introduction to butterflies and feature those spring fliers that have yet to show themselves!