Let’s Talk About Birds & Bees/Tallamy

Let’s Talk About the Birds and the Bees , Part 2
The Birds, Tues., February 11
UD Professor and author Dr. Doug Tallamy

Let’s Talk About the Birds and the Bees , Part 1
The Bees, Tues., January 28
UD Professor Dr. Debbie Delaney

Recent headlines and studies of global insect declines, 1 million species threatened with extinction, and 3 billion fewer North American birds leave many people concerned. Let’s explore what WE can do in our own backyards to make a positive difference.

The Birds featuring Dr. Douglas Tallamy. It’s all about the food chain. Join Doug as he focuses on plant material to support our insects (mostly caterpillars) and the birds that need them.

Doug Tallamy is a professor in the Department of Entomology & Wildlife Ecology at the University of Delaware, where he has authored 95 research articles and has taught Insect Taxonomy, Behavioral Ecology, Humans and Nature, and other courses for 36 years. Chief among his research goals is to better understand the many ways insects interact with plants and how such interactions determine the diversity of animal communities. His book Bringing Nature Home: How Native Plants Sustain Wildlife in Our Gardens was published in 2007 and was awarded the 2009 silver medal by the Garden Writer’s Association. Tallamy awards include: the Garden Club of America Margaret Douglas Medal for Conservation and the Tom Dodd Jr. Award of Excellence in 2013 and the 2018 AHS B.Y. Morrison Communication Award.The Living Landscape, co-authored with Rick Darke, was published in 2014. Doug’s new book Nature’s Best Hope will be available February 2020.

The Bees featuring Dr. Debbie Delaney will give us the ABC’s of the cause of the decline, its repercussions, and landscape plants and practices we can employ to make a positive impact.

Deborah Delaney is an associate professor in the Dept. of Entomology & Wildlife Ecology at the University of Delaware where she mentors graduate and undergraduate students working on various aspects of pollinator health and productivity. Her courses includes: Insects and Society, Apiculture, Pollination Ecology, Aquatic Entomology, and Bridging Art and Science: Environmental Communication. She has over 20 years experience working with pollinators, specifically honey bees, and maintains between 50-100 colonies throughout Delaware, Pennsylvania and Maryland. Her research program has four main focal areas:  1) genetic identity and diversity of USA honey bees; 2) temporal stability of pollinator populations; 3) best management solutions for creating sustainable managed pollinator populations; 4) pollinator nutrition and forage mapping.

UDBG Friends Members: $20/class; Nonmembers: $25/class

Registration is highly recommended for all events to ensure a seat; please email botanicgardens@udel.edu or phone 302-831-2534. Send payment to: UDBG, 152 Townsend Hall, University of DE, Newark DE 19716. To register and pay via credit card, click here. All events are held in Townsend Hall Commons unless otherwise noted. Prepayment only required where stated. In the event of snow, classes will be held Wednesday evening.

Cancellation Policy: UDBG reserves the right to cancel any program if necessary. Refunds take approximately 3-4 weeks to process. There will be no refunds after a class or series begins. Payment will be refunded if cancellation is made 10 business days prior to class.