Past Speakers

Below is a list of past topics and presenters who have spoken at meetings of Eugene-Springfield NABA.

Date	Topic and Speaker
October 2000	“An Introduction to Butterflies and Moths,” by Eric Wold, Neil Bjorklund, and Sharon Blick.  The original chapter officers gave an slide introduction of local and exotic butterflies and moths at the first chapter meeting.
December 2000	“Butterfly Gardening in the Willamette Valley – The Ecological Approach,” by Bruce Newhouse and Eric Wold.  Eric was the first President and co-founder of our NABA Chapter and an officer of the Native Plant Society of Oregon.  Bruce is the President of the Native Plant Society of Oregon and a NABA member.
February 2001	“Ecology and Conservation of the Fender’s Blue Butterfly,” by Paul Severns, US Army Corps of Engineers restoration specialist. Paul showed slides and discussed the status of the Fender's blue butterfly and its host plant Kincaid's lupine, and talked about restoration projects and techniques.
April 2001	“Native Pollinators of the Willamette Valley,” by Matthew Shepherd, Pollinator Program Director, Xerces Society. Matthew provided information on native pollinators and techniques for providing habitat for them. His presentation included how to build structures that can provide a home for various types of native bees.
October 2001	“Butterfly Photography,” by Chapter Vice-President, Neil Bjorklund.  Neil shared techniques and tips for natural-light photography of wild, native butterflies, including an overview of equipment, film and techniques for approaching butterflies at close range.
December 2001	"Hot Spots to Observe Oregon Butterflies," by Paul Severns. Chapter Treasurer Paul Severns showed slides and species lists from six outstanding Oregon butterfly habitats: Mary's peak, Bohemia Mountain, the Metolius River, Steens Mountain, the Wallowa Mountains and Mt. Ashland.
February 2002	"The Butterfly Life Cycle," by William Neill. William is the author of the recently published book The Guide to Butterflies of Oregon and Washington (Westcliffe Publishers, 2001). William showed slides of many native Oregon butterflies at various life stages, and discussed different life history adaptations of different species.
April 2002	“Chasing Monarchs,” by Robert Michael Pyle.  Dr. Pyle dazzled nearly 100 butterfly enthusiasts with slides and stories from his work with monarch butterflies.  Dr. Pyle is a reknowned butterfly expert, ecologist, and author of 12 books, including “Chasing Monarchs” and “Butterflies of Cascadia”.
October 2002	"Butterfly Niches," by Dr. David McCorkle.  This slide show presentation surveyed the interaction of butterflies (and some moths) with their environment, with an emphasis upon their host plant relationships.  Many Pacific Northwest butterfly species were discussed.  Dr. McCorkle taught biology for many years at Western Oregon University in Monmouth, where he specialized in research on fritillaries, swallowtails, and many other butterflies of the Pacific Northwest.
December 2002	“Butterflies of Western Mexico,” by Andy Warren.  Andy will present a summary of 14 years of butterfly study and research in western Mexico.  The talk will highlight several parts of western Mexico where extensive biodiversity studies have been conducted, and will detail the process of naming new species.  Andy Warren is a doctoral candidate in entomology at Oregon State University.  He is co-author of the publication “Scientific names list for butterfly species of North America, north of Mexico”.
February 2003	"From The Backyard to The Great Basin: Studying the Butterflies of Oregon,” by Dana Ross.  OSU Entomologist Dana Ross will give a fascinating presentation on five recent  butterfly studies, four in western Oregon and one in the Great Basin region of southeastern Oregon and northern Nevada, including the Steens Mountain area.  Dana Ross has pursued butterflies throughout Oregon since coming to the state in 1981, first as a hobbyist collector and more recently as a student and research assistant at Oregon State University.  He is currently the official "Oregon Butterfly Record Keeper" for the Northwest Lepidopterists' Association, a role that he inherited from the late John Hinchliff.
April 2003	"Butterflies of Oaxaca, Mexico" by Neil Bjorklund and Marta Makarushka.  NABA-ES Chapter President Neil Bjorklund and Marta Makarushka will present a stunning slide show of butterflies from the state of Oaxaca, Mexico.  Bjorklund and Makarushka traveled extensively throughout the state of Oaxaca in November and December 2002, visiting a broad array of habitats and climates, from hot, steamy valley bottoms to wind-chilled mountain tops.  Join us for this unique tour through cloud forest, rain forest, deciduous thorn forest, and oak/pine forest in Mexico's most ecologically diverse state and sample the incredibly diverse butterfly fauna found there.
October 2003	"Tracking the Wild Elfin--Native Butterflies and Their Habitats in Oregon's Outback," by Neil Bjorklund.  NABA-ES Chapter President Neil Bjorklund spent four months exploring obscure canyons and spectacular mountain meadows throughout Oregon this  past summer. It all started in early spring 2003, as Bjorklund pursued  the hard-to-find Hoary elfin along the central Oregon coast, without  success.  This spurred Bjorklund to embark on a butterfly odyssey in which he recorded 111 butterfly species while logging more than 9,000 driving miles in 22 counties, visiting seven mountain ranges and taking more than 1500 photographs.  His spectacular slide presentation and talk  will feature a collection of images of butterflies and the places they inhabit, gleaned from his 2003 slide collection, and will provide a guided tour to many of Oregon's most valuable and scenic butterfly habitats.
December 2003	“Conservation Biology of the Fender’s Blue Butterfly,” by Cheryl Schultz.  Cheryl Schultz has been studying the rare Fender’s blue butterfly since the mid-90’s and continues to study the butterfly’s habitat in West Eugene.  Come hear and see her latest findings and learn about the delicate ecology of an endangered species.  She is a conservation biologist with a PhD in zoology and currently teaches at Washington State University in Vancouver, WA, as an Assistant Professor in the Science Department.
February 2004	“Captive Rearing of the Oregon Silverspot,” Dr. David Shepherdson.  Dr. Sheperdson provided an overview of strategies being employed to protect and restore populations of the Oregon Silverspot butterfly (Speyeria zerene hippolyta) and reviewed techniques currently being employed to supplement wild populations with captive-reared adults.
April 2004	“Wings of Beauty,” by Idie Ulsh.  Idie is the founder and past president of the Washington Butterfly Association (WABA). She presented a slide program entitled which will include natural history photos and butterflies of Washington, emphasizing butterfly species which do not occur in Oregon.
October 2004	“Butterfly Gardening with Native Plants,” Our own Eric Wold and Bruce Newhouse have traveled all over Oregon for the past several years teaching folks about butterfly gardening with native plants. We thought it was time to bring them back home to provide us with the latest and greatest tips in their updated presentation.
December 2004	"Butterfly Caterpillars from Near and Far," with Dr. Jeffrey Miller, OSU Professor. Dr. Jeffrey Miller is the author of several volumes on moth and butterfly caterpillars, including “Caterpillars of Pacific Northwest Forests and Woodlands,” and the recent “Lepidoptera of the Pacific Northwest:  Caterpillars and Adults.”  He shared his unique and beautiful caterpillar photos from Oregon and the tropics.
February 2005	"Great Coppers and Other Butterfly Discoveries from West Eugene," with Paul Severns. OSU Doctoral Candidate Paul Severns rediscovered Great Coppers in the West Eugene Wetlands this past summer—more than 30 years after they were last recorded.  Paul will share information and photos of this great discovery and other observations from a summer of butterfly surveys in West Eugene.
April 2005	"Checkerspots of the Northwest," with Jonathon P. Pelham. Jon Pelham is Science Advisor to the Washington Butterfly Association, and Curator for Butterflies at the Burke Museum of Natural History in Seattle.  He will regale us with his broad, field-tested knowledge of the complex and confusing Checkerspots, and will no doubt weave in some good stories, too!
October 2005	NABA-ES Five Year Anniversary Celebration with Robert Michael Pyle!!!! This special event will feature one of Dr. Pyle’s famous slide shows, an award ceremony, our officer elections, and other fun activities, all served up with special refreshments.  All this takes place at EWEB’s spacious Training Room in the EWEB North Building at 500 East 4th Avenue.
December 2005	"Dragonflies and Damselflies of the Willamette Valley," with Steve Gordon and Carey Kerst. The local chapter of the North American Association (NABA) is pleased to sponsor a presentation on Dragonflies and Damselflies of the Willamette Valley with authors Steve Gordon and Carey Kerst. Steve Gordon is one of the major creators of the Eugene Wetland Restoration Project. Carey Kerst is an entomologist. Both are exceptional naturalists who have extensively studied our local dragonflies and their kin. Learn about these handsome creatures of ancient lineage, and how to identify them. Signed copies of their new book on dragonflies and damselflies of the Willamette Valley will be available.
February, 2006	"Diversity of Satyrine Butterflies," with Dr. Andrew Brower. Dr. Brower is a Professor of Zoology at Oregon State University and holds the Rice Professorship of Systematic Entomology. Our United States representatives of Satyrs inhabit both wooded and alpine areas (Great Arctic, Alpines, Wood Nymphs, Etc.) In the tropics they inhabit both shady and cloud forests. With their subtle, cryptic coloration and flashing eye-spots, the more than 2000 species of Satyrs have been less studied than their more colorful relatives. Based on his field studies, expert knowledge, and DNA sequencing information, Professor Brower will unravel for us the currant understanding of Satyrine butterflies.
April 3, 2006	"Learning Common Lane County Butterflies," with Neil Björklund. NABA-ES co-founder, and current Science Advisor Neil Björklund will present an introductory class on identifying the common butterflies of Lane County. Neil will cover the basic skills and tools needed for identifying butterflies. In a lively and fun class, he will show slides of live butterflies, and will demonstrate how to distinguish 45 species commonly found in Lane County. You will learn how to identify butterflies by their markings, as well as their behavior, the plants their caterpillars eat and where you are likely to find them. Copies of NABA's popular field guide, Butterflies of Lane County, will be available for sale at the meeting. This introductory class will not address the more difficult and confusing species such as greater fritillaries, green hairstreaks, Chlosyne checkerspots and grass skippers, nor species rarely seen in Lane County. We're saving those for an advanced class later on! Neil Björklund is the author of "Finding Lane County Butterflies," and the Coordinating Editor of "Butterflies of Lane County." He is the former President of NABA Eugene-Springfield, and its current Science Advisor. Neil has been watching and photographing butterflies in Oregon for more than 30 years and has photographed more than 140 butterfly species in the wilds of Oregon. He is currently working on a book describing key butterfly habitats throughout Oregon with co-author Meera Subramanian.
October 2, 2006	"Butterflies and Habitats of Eastern Oregon," with Neil Björklund. NABA-ES Science Advisor Neil Björklund will share photos and stories from his extensive travels in the mountains, deserts and canyons of Eastern Oregon in search of the weird and wonderful in the world of butterflies. You will meet the elegant Leanira checkerspot, the cryptic Riding's satyr, the stately Alexandra's sulphur and the stunning Ruddy copper, as well as the stark and beautiful landscapes they inhabit. Hold onto your hat, and watch out for rattlesnakes as Neil quips and trips his way through the Oregon that's NOT rainy and green!
December 4, 2006	"Pollinator Ecology in Western Oregon - The Central role of Native Bees," with Dr. Andy Moldenke, Research Professor at Oregon State University. Before European settlement, the Willamette Valley had nearly 400 species of native bees. Some 33% were specialist pollinators of a single plant. As a result of habitat conversion, and current agricultural and fire-management practices, more than 75% of the species are now extinct.
February 5, 2007	"Conservation Status of Four Rare Butterflies in Oregon," with Dana Ross. Oregon is home to some of the most important remaining populations of Taylors Checkerspot, Mardon Skipper, Seaside Hoary Elfin and Coastal Greenish Blue. As part of a larger regional effort to conserve imperiled butterflies throughout the Pacific Northwest, lepidopterist Dana Ross has been working with The Xerces Society and the US Fish & Wildlife Service (among others) to locate and monitor Oregon populations of these rare insects. Dana will share his experiences with these butterflies and bring us up to date on efforts to keep them a thriving part of our states biological diversity. Dana Ross is a contract entomologist who specializes in locating and conserving rare butterflies (and moths). Each year, with the arrival of spring, he dashes madly from place to place throughout Oregon to match periods of our rather unpredictable fair weather with the flight periods of rare butterflies. When not driving, surveying and car-camping, he can be found at his home in Corvallis with his wife Ann and son Zane.
April 2, 2007	"Favorite Plants of the Western Cascade Butterflies," with Tanya Harvey. On Monday April 2, the Eugene Springfield chapter of the North American Butterfly Association is pleased to present Tanya Harvey, naturalist, artist, photographer, and plant and butterfly enthusiast in a presentation entitled: Favorite Plants of the Western Cascade Butterflies. Butterflies are very closely tied to plants, both for food for the caterpillars, and nectar for adult butterflies. Many species have a limited number of host plants, sometimes only one, that they can feed on. Unlike the distant traveling of monarchs, many butterflies don't stray far from their plants. To find butterflies, it can be very helpful to know how identify their host plants and favorite nectar flowers. Join us for beautiful photographs and clues to finding those special butterflies in the Cascades when Tanya Harvey introduces us to the Favorite Plants of Western Cascade Butterflies. Her April 2 talk will be excellent preparation for the joyous return of warmth and the long sunny days loved by butterflies. We can start to plan for the special spring/summer trips which will be announced at the April 2 meeting. Download Tanya's list of Favorite Butterfly Plants in pdf format
October 22, 2007	"Butterflies on the Move: Monarchs, Mass Migrants, and Climate Change." On Monday, October 22, Dr. Robert Michael Pyle, a world renowned environmentalist and butterfly specialist will give a detailed look at the birdlike, annual migration of monarchs, and describe his own travels with monarchs that resulted in his book Chasing Monarchs and a new model for the relationship between eastern and western monarchs. He will also discuss Painted Ladies, California Tortoiseshells, Snouts, and other species that either emigrate out of the South each year or experience population booms and busts with resultant locust-like mass movements. All of these phenomena, and butterfly distributions in general, are showing effects from the changing climate. What will global warming mean for our butterflies?
November 29, 2007	"Butterfly Watching South of the Border." On Thursday, November 29, Dr. Fred Ramsey will speak to us about: Butterfly Watching South of the Border. Enjoy the splendid color of tropical butterflies on a trip with Dr. Fred Ramsey to Brazil, Mexico, Central America, and etc. As an avid birder, who now pursues butterflies with a passion, he has discovered bird-focused adventure travel as the "back door" to viewing butterflies. If interested in traveling to view butterflies, come and see what wonders are found South of the Border. Large colorful butterflies are promised and travel adventure ideas as well. Fred Ramsey (seated by projection table) answering a question after his talk, November 29, 2007. Photo by Dennis Galloway
February 4, 2008	"What Good Are Bugs? The Case for Invertebrate Conservation." Scott Hoffman Black is Executive Director of the Xerces Society, the international organization dedicated to protecting biological diversity through invertebrate conservation. As an ecologist and entomologist, he has extensive experience in endangered species and native pollinator conservation. His topic will be: What Good Are Bugs? The Case for Invertebrate Conservation You can thank insect pollinators for one third of every mouthful of food that you eat. Grizzly bears in the Rocky Mountains of Montana get over one quarter of their yearly calories from eating moths. Without the lowliest flies in a stream for young fish to eat - your last grilled salmon would have been impossible. In fact the direct benefit of insects to Americans has been calculated to be worth more than $57 Billion a year. With will over 1 million known species, insects and other invertebrates eclipse all other forms of life on Earth. The ecological services of insects, such as pollination, are vital to life on this planet. Though they are indisputably the most important creatures on earth, invertebrates are often overlooked. Scott Hoffman Black will explain why we should be concerned with conserving insect habitat and highlight important ways that each of us can better protect this valuable resource. Taylor's Checkerspots mating Uncompahgre Fritillary
April 7, 2008	"The Art of Function: The Function of Art." Jeffrey Miller is working with Dave Janzen in Costa Rica where they are comprehensively investigating the Moths and Butterflies in one large province of this biologically diverse country. The Janzen project has trained Costa Rican workers to find caterpillars on host plants. The caterpillars and some leaves of their host plant are brought to a breeding area where caterpillars emerge. In this way the project has identified the complete cycle from host plant to butterfly or moth. Many new species are often found in this manner. The photos of butterflies and moths will be spectacular and diverse. Costa Rican Butterflies, Moths and Caterpillars are renowned for glorious colors and patterns. Beyond their beauty these colors and patterns may be: conspicuous, warning colors as a special means of defense, or cryptic-concealment through camouflage. Professor Miller will present photos of caterpillars, moths and butterflies to illustrate the roles colors and patterns play in the Darwinian contest of survival of the fittest. Professor Miller is a specialist in insect ecology and biodiversity. With D. H. Janzen and W. Hallwachs he has coauthored two books: 100 Butterflies and Moths: Portraits from the Tropical Forests of Costa Rica, and 100 Caterpillars: Portraits from the Tropical forests of Costa Rica.
October 6, 2008	"Taylor's Checkerspot." Paul Severns has been studying a rare butterfly, Taylor's Checkerspot, in the Corvallis area. He is unraveling the complex current conditions at which this butterfly persists, in the effort to devise strategies to prevent its extinction. Taylor's Checkerspot is a Candidate Endangered species in the USA and is an Endangered Species in Canada. It is restricted to remnant prairies bordering Oak and young Douglas fir forests. At different stages of its life cycle it uses a number of host plants. In Oregon, exotic plant invasion, habitat loss, and habitat degradation has conspired to yield a suite of human-modified conditions under which the current populations now persist. In this talk Paul will highlight the important interactions between exotic grasses, exotic and native larval host plants, Taylor's Checkerspot own microevolution, oviposition choice, and habitat conditions that are related to the butterfly's current survival and extinction. At the heart of Taylor's Checkerspot conservation is a conflict between host plant evolution, exotic plant invasion, and our concept of "native" habitat restoration. Come to hear potential ideas for conservation of Taylor's Checkerspot. Paul M. Severns is a researcher of excellence, with years of experience in studying butterflies. He is completing his doctorate in the Department of Botany and Plant Pathology, at Oregon State University. All those of us who know Paul through his research in the wetlands, or in leading butterfly trips, or through his previous lectures, etc. will not wish to miss his guaranteed to be enthusiastically interesting lecture.
December 1, 2008	"The Glorious Butterflies of the Rio Grande Valley and the Development of the New NABA Butterfly Park," with Jeffrey Glassberg. The Eugene-Springfield Chapter of the North American Butterfly Association presents Jeffrey Glassberg, founder of NABA and author of 11 books, including: Butterflies through Binoculars: The West, Butterflies through Binoculars: The East, and A Swift Guide to the Butterflies of Mexico and Central America. The concept of using new close-focusing binoculars to study butterflies, instead of making collections of dead butterflies was promulgated by him. His books opened butterfly identification to recreational enjoyment of everyone. Jeffrey Glassberg will present a talk entitled: The Glorious Butterflies of the Rio Grande Valley and the Development of the New NABA Butterfly Park. The Rio Grande Valley is a Butterfly Lover's paradise with over 300 butterfly species recorded there. The NABA Butterfly Park includes some 80+ acres of land along the Rio Grande River which is being restored with native host and nectar plants for butterflies. Glassberg will describe the NABA Park's development and restoration of native plants which have had great success in attracting exotic tropical butterflies from Mexico. Expect to see many exceptional butterflies including the Mexican Bluewing. Also, Banded Daggerwings, Two-barred Flashers, and many more.
February 2, 2009	"Into the Acarai Mountains of British Guyana: 21st century expeditions and the important role of Natural History Collections." This talk will center on an expedition taken by Entomologist, Christopher J. Marshall, to a remote region of British Guyana near the border with Brazil. The expedition, a joint venture between National Geographic, the Smithsonian Institution and Conservation International, included an international team of biologists seeking to document the biodiversity in this rarely visited locale. It took over a year of logistical preparations and tens of thousands of dollars to make the trip possible. In addition to introducing you to the breathtaking beauty and grueling hard work that are hand in hand with big expeditions - this talk will highlight the increasing role and need for natural history collections, and the specimens therein, for understanding Earth's biodiversity, especially insects. Some of the specimens and Guyanese paraphernalia from this expedition, as well as additional specimens from the Oregon State Arthropod's extensive holdings will be on display for attendees to view and discuss.
April 6 , 2009	"Butterflies and Moths on Nature Conservancy Lands in Oregon, " with Jason Nuckols. Jason Nuckols, who is the Willamette Valley Preserve Manager of our Eugene branch of the Nature Conservancy, will tell us about the many areas of Oregon in which The Nature Conservancy owns or manages beautiful wild areas. I am sure we will learn from Jason of new places in Oregon in which to enjoy both bird and butterfly watching. The Mission of the Nature Conservancy is to protect the plants, animals and natural communities that represent the diversity of life on Earth, by protecting the lands and waters they need to survive. In Oregon The Nature Conservancy owns or manages 46 nature preserves and has helped to protect over 500,000 acres of important habitat. Jason Nuckols will join us April 6th to share The Nature Conservancy's work in Oregon with emphasis on conservation of the Willamette Valley and butterfly and moth projects across the State. The photos below show Jason at work in Managed-Fire activities on the new Coburg Hills property now under TNC management.
October 5, 2009	"Butterflies of Mexico - the transition from temperate to tropical zones," with Professor Fred Ramsey. Northern Mexico offers a mixture of butterfly species. Coppers disappear, Swallowtails multiply, Metalmarks and Satyrs explode, and tropical groups such as Longwings appear. This program is a composite of trips to the states of Nayarit, Colima, and Jalisco in the west and Coahila, Nuevo Leon, Tamaulipas, San Luis Potosi, Hidalgo, and Vera Cruz in the east. It will be in travelogue form with maps showing important butterfly locations, views of habitats, pictures of butterflies, and of a few birds. Dorantes Longtail Skipper Blue Metalmark, male
December 7, 2009	"Enhancing and Restoring Prairie and Savanna on small and large scales; providing benefits for butterflies, plants, and the broader community,". with Jason Blazar - Land Steward. Jason Blazar, who is a local landscape ecologist, is stewardship coordinator for Friends of Buford Park & Mt. Pisgah, Hendricks Park forest manager for the City of Eugene Parks and Open Space Division, and Executive Director of the Camas Educational Network. He will discuss regional efforts to enhance and restore prairie and savanna landscapes within the central southern Willamette Valley. He will utilize three case studies to showcase efforts across the spectrum of land stewardship to improve habitat for butterflies. California Sister Mt. Pisgah Oak Woodland
February 1, 2010	"*Bee All That You Can Bee* Pollinator Gardening for the Masses," with Bruce Newhouse: Botanist and Ecologist. Are butterflies and other pollinators just a whole lot of fun to look at, or are they helpful, too? What are pollinators, and what plants do they need or want? Can I grow pollinator plants in my garden?Are there other things I need to do to attract pollinators and give them (and me) a healthy life? Come and experience this show on our local pollinators, the plants they need, and local garden tips - and how pollinators might become your "extended family! Melissodes on Cosmos Photo by Mace Vaughan Sweat Bee on Black-eyed Susan Photo by Matthew Shepherd
April 5, 2010	"Life Histories of Cascadia Butterflies," with Professor David James of Washington State University at Yakima. Entomologist David James and his colleague Dave Nunnallee have completed the rearing and life histories of 160 species of Washington butterflies. This is a tremendous contribution to the study of NW butterflies which will be published by OSU press. This is David James's report on his soon to be published book: LIfe Histories of Cascadia Butterflies. While the PNW is well endowed with books describing the butterfly fauna of Cascadia (S. British Columbia, Washington, Idaho and N. Oregon), all of these focus on identification and the ecology of adult butterflies. To date there has been very little information published on identifying the immature stages of Cascadian butterflies, nor do we know very much about the biology and ecology of Cascadia butterfly eggs, caterpillars and pupae. This will be remedied shortly with the publication by Oregon State University Press of Life Histories of Cascadia Butterflies, by David James and David Nunnallee. His presentation will provide an overview of the forthcoming book which will be illustrated by nearly 1500 high quality images of every stage (egg, all larval instars, pupa, adult) of virtually all of Cascadia's ~ 160 species. His presentation will provide a selection of these images as well as new information on aspects of the biology and ecology of Cascadia butterfly immature stages.
October 4, 2010	"Saving the Silverspot Butterfly," with Anne Walker, Wildlife Biologist from the Newport office of the US Fish and wildlife Service. Ms. Walker will speak about Recovery efforts to restore and protect this Federally Endangered butterfly. Recovery efforts include land purchases, and management coordination with land owners in the planting of important host and nectar plants for the butterfly. The Portland Zoo has been an important collaborator in rearing Silverspot Butterflies for release. Oregon Silverspot Butterfly - Speyeria zerene hippolyta, photo by Erin Sullivan
December 6, 2010	"Color Vision and Color Blindness in Admirals, Coppers, and Metalmarks," with Professor Gary Bernard from the University of Washington. Dr. Bernard will present a program based on his original research. The complex eyes of butterflies and what they see and how they see it is the general topic. We will learn about the structure of the eye and the surprisingly many variations possible in specific butterfly species. Some people are unable to tell red from black. So it is with some butterflies, like the Viceroy. Other butterflies, like male Coppers, are red-blind only in the dorsal third of their eyes. The rest of their eyes see red even brighter than people can see. Metalmarks are amazing. They can see way into the far red at wavelengths where leaves are even brighter than in the green. The width of the Metalmark visible spectrum is greater than that of people. Why? His lecture is guaranteed to dazzle you with unique observations.
February 7, 2011	"Wonderful Washington Butterflies and Where to Find Them," with Idie Ulsh. The Eugene-Springfield Chapter of the North American Butterfly Association presents Idie Ulsh, a Naturalist, who is the Founder and Past President of the Washington Butterfly Association, and also Past President of the Seattle Audubon Society, in a talk entitled Wonderful Washington Butterflies and Where to Find Them. Idie Ulsh will guide us with photos and stories through those butterflies she knows well, including many butterflies not found here, or rare in Oregon. Square-spotted Blues mating Western and Pale Swallowtails puddling
April 4, 2011	"Butterflies, People, and Hydroelectric Schemes in Northeastern Anatolia, Turkey," with Dr. Paul Severns, Washington State University, Vancouver. Dr. Severns will talk about his recent trip to the Kaçkar Mountains in northeastern Turkey. This region is recognized as a world "hot spot" for biodiversity. Photographs of butterflies, people, and breathtaking landscapes should get Oregon butterfly watchers primed for the upcoming spring. Paul will talk about the relationship between traditional agricultural practices and butterfly diversity, and he will consider the potential impact of hydroelectric schemes on this unique habitat.
October 3, 2011	"Spectacular Moths of the Ecuadorian Cloud Forest," with Dr. Bitty Roy, Professor of Ecology, Evolution, and Systemic Botany, University of Oregon. Dr. Roy will speak about the incredible diversity of cloud forest moths and the ecosystem of which they are a part. The moths are astonishing, with several species reaching wingspans exceeding five inches. Included are tiger moths and silk moths that clearly exhibit mimicry or crypsis.
December 5, 2011	"Basic Butterfly Biogeography," with Jonathan Pelham, Curatorial Associate of Lepidoptera at the Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture in Seattle, Washington. Jonathan Pelham will discuss where butterflies occur and the reasons for their distribution patterns.
Tuesday, February 7, 2012	"Butterflies of Ecuador's East Slope," with Neil Björklund. Eugene amateur lepidopterist Neil Björklund is a co-founder of the Eugene-Springfield chapter of NABA. He wrote Finding Butterflies in Lane County and was coordinating editor and photo contributor to Butterflies of Lane County. Neil recently spent three months chasing and photographing butterflies in the four corners of Ecuador, one of the most biodiverse countries on the planet. Neil will share an ecological and physiographic view of Ecuador and its portion of the great Amazon River Basin, and the butterflies he found there. From the lowland rainforests along the Napo River to the wind swept landscapes of the Andes Mountains, Neil will share a sampling of the incredibly rich and colorful butterfly fauna captured in photos and stories of how he got his stunning photos. If you love butterflies, travel, and adventure, you won't want to miss this multi-media presentation.
Monday, April 9, 2012	"Dragonflies and Damselflies of Oregon," with Cary Kerst and Steve Gordon. Cary Kerst is an aquatic entomologist retired from a career in environmental sciences and Steve Gordon is retired from Lane Council of Governments. Steve and Cary coauthored Dragonflies and Damselflies of the Willamette Valley, Oregon and Dragonflies and Damselflies of Oregon. Steve and Cary will lead us in an exploration of an ancient insect that can live for five years, fly 35 mph, and "eat on the fly". They'll discuss life history, habitats, and behavior of these fascinating insects along with a photographic introduction to the Oregon species. Bleached Skimmer - male Lance-tipped Darner - male Steve Gordon & Cary Kerst
Friday, May 18, 2012	"Special Lecture" with Robert Michael Pyle. The Blues, the Admirals, the Sulphurs, and especially the Swallowtails delight our senses when the sun becomes a regular here in the Willamette Valley. If you haven't already guessed, these are all butterflies, and Robert Michael Pyle, the author of fourteen books, including Chasing Monarchs, Where Bigfoot Walks, and Wintergreen, will be sharing his incredible world of butterflies with Lane County residents in a special lecture, The Natural History of Butterflies. The local chapter of the North American Butterfly Association and the Eugene Natural History Society are co-sponsoring Robert Michael Pyle, a Yale-trained ecologist and Guggenheim fellow, now living and butterflying in southwestern Washington. The public is invited free of charge to enjoy his presentation:
Saturday, May 19, 2012	"Special Mt. Pisgah Butterfly Hike" with Robert Michael Pyle. Pyle will lead a spring butterfly hike at Mt. Pisgah. Mt. Pisgah/ Buford Park's diverse habitats of wetland, prairie, and oak savanna, support more than 30 butterfly species. Come along and see how many butterflies we can find.
Monday, October 8, 2012	"The Dangerous World of Butterflies," with Peter Laufer. Dr. Laufer, winner of major awards for excellence in reporting, is an independent journalist, broadcaster and documentary filmmaker working in traditional and new media. He is currently the James Wallace Chair in Journalism and Communication at the University of Oregon. He will discuss his book The Dangerous World of Butterflies: The Startling Subculture of Criminals, Collectors, and Conservationists, and will share with us "a true tale of beauty and obsession, smugglers, and scientists" as he relates his journey into the subculture of butterflies. Turning from the Iraq War, author and journalist Laufer (Mission Rejected: U.S. Soldiers Who Say No to Iraq) decided to focus on the presumably innocuous business of butterflies. There, he found yet more violence, corruption, and unanswered questions, resulting in another compelling all-angles examination. Fluttering across the globe for at least 40 million years, Lepidoptera face increasing threats in modern times, largely from habitat loss and pesticides.
Monday, December 10, 2012	"Bringing Back the Pollinators: What we can all do to protect these essential creatures," with Scott Hoffman Black, executive director of the Xerces Society. Scott Hoffman Black will discuss the importance of insect pollinators, outline the groups of insects that provide pollination services in North America, and present straightforward actions that each and every one of us can take to protect and provide habitat for pollinators.
Monday, February 11, 2013	"Butterflies and Other Invertebrates of South Florida," with Rick Ahrens, butterfly enthusiast, long-time birder, and local naturalist. Rick Ahrens will share his observations and ruminations of selected invertebrates of the subtropical part of the Sunshine State. Rick's talk will include butterflies, interesting spiders, beetles, true bugs, and a few birds thrown in for good measure.
Monday, April 8, 2013	"Do Butterflies Depend on Plants or Vice Versa?" with William Neill, author of Butterflies of the Pacific Northwest. Dr. Neill will share with us his love of butterflies, and the interesting relationship between butterflies and flowers. While adult butterflies are satisfied with nectar from a variety of plants, the caterpillars have developed "special relationships" with particular plants that are called their host plants. Dr. Neill will pose the interesting question of who depends on whom in this animal/plant relationship.
Monday, October 14, 2013	"Creating a Butterfly Oasis" with Carol Beckley, founder of the Elkton Community Education Center, and Sue Butkus, the face of ECEC year-round. They will relate the story of how a few people in the small town of Elkton were able to create a center focused on a Monarch butterfly raise and release program. They will share many gorgeous pictures documenting the success of the butterfly program this last summer.
Monday, December 9, 2013	"Chasing Butterflies in Paradise: A Visit to Costa Rica" with Neil Bjorklund. Photographer, lepidopterist and tropical adventurer Neil Bjorklund will take us to Costa Rica, leading us through its primary regions and habitats, and introducing us to some of its great diversity of butterflies.
Monday, February 10, 2014	"Orgaizing a Collection of Three Million" with Dr. Christopher Marshall. Being curator of the Oregon State Arthropod Collection is the perfect job for Dr. Christopher Marshall. He started his own private insect collection at the age of eight and has been following this interest since. Now, as curator of OSU's collection of almost 3 million specimens representing tens of thousands of species, he is digitizing and cataloging the extensive collection so that researchers anywhere in the world will soon be able to pull out a "virtual drawer" and examine images of any specimen in the collection.
Monday, April 14, 2014	"Flying Circus: The How and Why of Butterfly Wing Patterns" with Dr. Kathleen Prudic. Dr. Kathleen Prudic, a research scientist at OSU, will discuss how climate influences the development of butterfly behavior and coloration. She will draw from her own research on wing eyespots to illustrate the complexity of mate signaling and predator avoidance across seasonal forms. Small changes in temperature during larval and pupal development can have large impacts on adult butterfly coloration and behavior.
Monday, October 13, 2014	"Natural History of Eastern Oregon" with Jim and Sue Anderson. Sue and Jim Anderson of Sisters, Oregon, will share with us some of their many adventures in the eastern side of the Cascades. They have spent years banding birds, and are currently completing a multi-year survey of golden eagle nests. Sue and Jim started both the Ochoco and Metolius butterfly counts that have been conducted for many years, supplying NABA with valuable data on butterfly populations in both these locations. They have a wealth of great experiences and stories to tell about the natural world of Oregon's High Plateau.
Friday, October 17, 2014	"From Ancient Capital to South of the Clouds: Butterflies and Others in Wild China" with Robert Pyle. Robert Pyle, internationally recognized butterfly expert, author, and naturalist, will explore the remarkable habitats he visited during his 2011 trip to China. We will see an array of nearly 100 species of butterflies, many moths, and other wildlife including wild panda, the giant red-and-white flying squirrel, leeches, and an eye-popping trillium named Paris polyphylla. Always an entertaining and informative speaker, this is a program you will not want to miss. Co-Sponsored by NABA Eugene-Springfield and the Eugene Natural History Society. Location will be in lecture room 100 in Willamette Hall on UO Campus. The start time will be 7:30.
Monday, December 8, 2014	"Feathered Architects: The FascinatingWorld of Bird Nests" with Idie Ulsh. From eagles to hummingbirds, Idie Ulsh will explore with us how and where birds make nests, and relate interesting facts about their construction. She has photographed the nests of more than 30 species and done an extensive three-year perusal of bird nest literature. In addition to her own photos she will include photos from many excellent northwest photographers and University of Puget Sound Slater Museum in this unique and fun program.
Monday, February 9, 2015	"Pollinators and Plants in the Native Dance" with Bruce Newhouse. Do you know the "little things that run the world?" Would you like to know who patiently is waiting for an invitation to visit your garden? Come and hear Bruce Newhouse, local plant specialist and nature enthusiast, talk about our native pollinators and native plants and how they are inter-dependent in our gardens and in nature. The bees and the birds will both be a part of this presentation, but learn how native flower-flies, butterflies and beetles are part of the dance, too!
Monday, April 13, 2015	"Monarch Waystations: A Milkweed Railroad" with Tom Landis. Tom Landis, a retired forester who worked for thirty years as a nursery specialist for the U.S. Forest Service, will present an in-depth look at how to create pollinator habitat. He will then look specifically at the monarch butterfly and how to create Monarch Waystations, specialized pollinator gardens that will create a "milkweed railroad" along their migration routes. Waystations create breeding habitat for monarchs that include food, shelter, and water for both adult and caterpillar stages, and also provide for other pollinators.
Monday, October 12, 2015	"Biology and Conservation of Monarch Butterflies in the Pacific Northwest" with Dr. David James. David James, Associate Professor of Entomology at Washington State University, Prosser, developed a passion for entomology at the age of eight in England while rearing caterpillars in his bedroom. His book Life Histories of Cascadia Butterflies, co-authored with David Nunnallee, has been widely acclaimed and prized by butterfly enthusiasts, especially those of us living in this region. Dr. James will discuss current research being conducted on Monarch butterflies in the Pacific Northwest. This will include recent findings on summer breeding populations and migration routes to and from the Pacific Northwest. Also highlighted will be the west coast Monarch tagging program supported by Washington State Penitentiary and citizen scientists throughout the region.
Monday, December 14, 2015	"Butterflies of South Texas - America's Butterfly Hotspot" with Rick Ahrens. The National Butterfly Center in Mission, Texas has recorded more than 200 species of butterflies since its opening in 2005. Over 300 butterfly species have been seen in the three county area of the Lower Rio Grande Valley; of these half can been seen nowhere else in the U.S. The National Butterfly Center is also the largest native plant, botanical garden in the United States. Join local naturalist Rick Ahrens for a lively and informative presentation on butterflies, birds, and other interesting inhabitants of this border region.
Monday, February 8, 2016	"Butterflies and More: A Year in the Life of a Self-Employed Entomologist" with Dana Ross. Dana Ross is a Corvallis entomologist and lifelong butterfly enthusiast. He's been studying Oregon insects - butterflies and moths in particular - since his arrival in 1981. He works with endangered butterflies such as Fender's Blue, Taylor's Checkerspot, and Leona's Little Blue. Dana will tell us about his recent and upcoming insect work with butterflies, moths, and other insects. In addition to sites in the Willamette Valley, Dana will also talk about his studies in Klamath Marsh National Wildlife Refuge, Sand Creek, Oregon Caves National Monument, and Crater Lake National Park.
Monday, April 11, 2016	"Travels into the Natural World" with Dr. Fred Ramsey. Dr. Ramsey is Professor Emeritus from Oregon State University. He has spent his working years as a Statistical Ecologist. He will clearly illustrate with his presentation that the work of a statistician can be more interesting than you think. He has performed wildlife surveys all over the world, including in Madagascar, the Hawaiian Islands, the Mariana and Eastern Carolina Islands, and other places where he studied birds, turtles, butterflies, and other wildlife populations. In his presentation, Dr. Ramsey will share with us some highlights from his continuing adventures into the natural world.
Monday, October 10, 2016	"Monarch Butterfly Rearing at ECEC" with Barb Slott. Barb Slott, volunteer butterfly steward from Elkton Community Education Center (ECEC), will talk about setting up monarch waystations and give us an update on ECEC and their monarch programs.
Monday, December 14, 2016	"Burning for Butterflies, Birds, and Blooms with Amanda Stamper. Our speaker will be Amanda Stamper, Oregon Fire Management Officer for The Nature Conservancy. Her talk Burning for Butterflies, Birds, and Blooms, will address the role of fire in the Willamette Valley. She will delve into the history and foundation of fire in the Valley and how prescribed burns are being used to restore and conserve native species and habitats.
Monday, February 13, 2017	"To The Point" with Jon Perry. Our speaker will be Jon Perry, Artist and Founder of Stated Clearly. His talk, To the Point, will address the honey bee's highly complex stinger with its multiple moving parts and a venom gland loaded with pain causing enzymes. How did such a complex structure evolve? Join us as we look at clues in comparative anatomy, illustrated with slides and videos, to piece together the surprising history of the stinger's evolution.
Monday, April 10, 2017	"Introduction to Local Butterflies" with Rick Ahrens. Join local naturalist Rick Ahrens for a look at the common butterflies in the Eugene / Springfield area. We will explore life cycles, ecology, and talk about some of the best places to look for these beautiful creatures.