An introduction to the birds that live in our own backyards. Slides of birds and their habitats accompany tips on finding them throughout the year, attracting them to your yard, easy-to-remember bird calls (there's nothing like the sound of a crowd of people hooting like owls!), and amusing stories. When possible (smaller groups, daytime) a bird walk around the grounds follows the program.
Discovering Moths
(Adults & families)
One man's obsession with the night's most misunderstood creatures. There are estimated to be about 11,000 different species of moths in North America. I've spent a number of years attracting, photographing, drawing, rearing, writing about and enjoying moths wherever I find them. I've discovered that their forms, colors, and habits are as varied and fascinating as the more celebrated birds that eat them! The program covers: What's a moth?, moth families, attracting moths, moth people & places, moths through the seasons, and more. Info on my book "Discovering Moths, Nighttime Jewels in Your Own Backyard"here.
This popular presentation answers many of the questions that are asked about the lives, and preferences, of this fascinating group of insects. The photos were taken in and around my home in Connecticut and are used to illustrate the show. Some topics covered are; butterfly families and species, life cycles, finding butterflies, and creating butterfly habitats.
There is also a short section on moths, "cousins" of the butterflies.
They truly are "jewels in your own backyard".
Salamander Rain
(Adults & families)
About the presentor:
John Himmelman is an author, illustrator, and naturalist. He is a co-founder of the CT Butterfly Association, past president of the New Haven Bird Club, past president of The Nature Connection and past president of the Killingworth Land Trust. He has lectured and led many trips afield in search of various flora and fauna throughout the country for many years.
He has written and illustrated many books for adults and children on a variety of natural history subjects. Books may be available for purchase and signing on the date of the visit.
Cost: $250 in CT - if outside of CT, expenses added - contact me.
And for non-gardening-interested groups (for children and/or adults)
notinterested in the 20 minute gardening section presented in "Butterflies & Their Gardens".....
Butterfly Neighbors
This program introduces to a mixed audience the butterflies and moths in their area. Photos of the subjects accompany stories about: survival and subtrefuge; finding them, and helping them find you; taming the wild butterfly; who's in your yard right now?
It's tough being a bug. Scores of other animals want to eat you. The cold is your mortal enemy. No matter how tiny you are, you need to find others of your kind in this great big world. And you have very little time in which to accomplish what you need to in your brief journey on this planet.
But these hardships have made the insects very good at what they do.
This multimedia presentation will give us some insight into the remarkable adaptations these creature have developed in order to survive.
