Nature and Science Talks

Saving Sea Turtles
All seven species of sea turtles are endangered. Debbie talks about the threats to sea turtles, and how scientists are working to save them. She’ll share her experiences volunteering on three scientific expeditions to tag and track nesting turtles in Barbados, St. Croix, and Trinidad.

Monarch Butterflies
While monarch butterflies are not endangered, their annual North American migration is in jeopardy. Debbie discusses how habitat loss, climate change, and other factors put monarchs at risk. She’ll also share some tips on creating monarch-friendly habitats in your community.

Conserving the Pantanal
Take a photo journey to the world’s largest wetlands, where capybara roam, caiman lurk, and piranhas swim. Debbie will talk about threats to the Pantanal, and efforts by scientists to index the region’s wildlife before human impacts change this habitat forever.

Attracting Butterflies to Your Backyard
Debbie covers the basics of butterfly gardening and more. Learn why you need both nectar and host plants to support a butterfly population. She’ll also talk about butterfly behaviors, and which weeds you should keep around for caterpillars.

Create a Backyard Wildlife Habitat
How (and why) should you make your backyard wildlife-friendly? Debbie talks about how to provide all the elements of habitat to attract native birds, insects, and other critters to your yard.

Attracting Beneficial Insects to Your Garden
Are hornworms harassing your tomatoes? Are aphids sucking the life out of your veggies? Debbie shares tips for inviting beneficial insects into your garden to take care of persistent pests. Learn to recognize the good bugs, how to plant an insectary, and why pesticides should be your solution of last resort.

Ticks
Anyone who spends time outdoors, even in your own backyard, should know the facts about ticks. Debbie will teach you how to ID them, how to avoid them, and what to do when you’ve been bitten.