Native Bees Presentation
Native Bees Presentation
Did you know animals pollinate a third of all food crops at your grocery store? Join us to explore groundbreaking research on how human land use — from farmland to suburbs — shapes the foraging, nesting, and survival of one such pollinator, the charismatic bumble bee, and what that means for the future of conservation.
Presenter Bio
Dr. Kelsey Schoenemann (she|they) is a recent graduate from the University of Virginia’s Environmental Sciences Department, where her doctoral research combined field observations, spatial datasets, and molecular genetics to explore the linkages between land use and bumble bee foraging and fitness. Prior to UVA, Kelsey interned with Virginia Working Landscapes and the Piedmont Environmental Council, facilitating biological surveys and outreach efforts in support of native species conservation. They earned their MSc in Biology from Queen’s University in Ontario, and their BSc in Wildlife Conservation from Virginia Tech. In that time, she studied the hormone physiology of black-capped chickadees and other vertebrates, and investigated the relationship between land cover and piping plover home range size. They currently live in Charlottesville, VA, where they are applying for local jobs and attending monthly queer book club and writing group meetings. They are also known to spend time outside watching the birds, bugs, and bees, and inside watching TV shows and movies or reading non-fiction and sci-fi.
Nature Book Club
Join the Old Rag Master Naturalists Nature Book Club for engaging reads and relaxed conversation centered on nature, conservation, and our connection to the land. All are welcome—just bring your curiosity and love of the outdoors. 📚🌿
April Book : The Hidden Life of Trees by Peter Wohlleben
Please read book prior to attending.
Cedar Mountain Bird Walk
Join Charlene Uhl and Alan Edmunda - Virginia Master Naturalists for a guided bird walk and discover who’s singing, soaring, and hiding in plain sight. Whether you’re brand new to birding or already carry binoculars in your car you’ll learn how to identify common species by sight and sound, understand seasonal behaviors, and pick up practical tips you can use on your own walks.
We keep it relaxed, welcoming, and educational — the way nature learning should be. Bring binoculars if you have them, wear comfortable shoes, and come curious.
Spots are limited, so be sure to sign up and reserve your place. The birds won’t wait — and neither should you. 🐦🌿
Registration Required. Limit 15.
Nature Book Club
Join the Old Rag Master Naturalists Nature Book Club for engaging reads and relaxed conversation centered on nature, conservation, and our connection to the land. All are welcome—just bring your curiosity and love of the outdoors. 📚🌿
March Book : Raising Hare by Chloe Dalton
Please read book prior to attending.
The Return of a Forest Icon: Strategies for Restoring American chestnut
This presentation will examine contemporary scientific approaches to restoration, including the application of biotechnology and breeding programs utilizing recurrent genomic selection of the American Chestnut (Castanea dentata)
Photo credit : https://tacf.org/media-library/
