Free Lecture: What Nitrogen Deposition Can Teach Us About Birds & Butterflies

Brent Plater, Executive Director of the Wild Equity Institute, will discuss the largely-unknown landscape of the Antioch Dunes. The Antioch Dunes National Wildlife Refuge was created to protect extremely rare insects, and remains the only wildlife refuge specifically created for invertebrate conservation. An unforeseen problem threatens this dune community: nitrogen deposition, driven by the proliferation of fossil-fuel fired power plants around the dunes. If the rate of nitrogen deposition is not arrested or mitigated, we may witness the extinction of the Lange’s Metalmark Butterfly in the very near future. The Wild Equity Institute is experimenting with new ways to build a stronger conservation and environmental movement to protect the Antioch Dunes and hopefully will make conservation movements stronger and more resilient in the process.

Nancy Wenninger, MDAS Conservation Chairperson, will discuss the effects of rat poison on birds and other wildlife.

Meet at the Camellia Room, The Gardens at Heather Farm, 1540 Marchbanks Drive, Walnut Creek, CA 94598

This lecture is part of the Mt. Diablo Audubon Society monthly educational meeting. Visitors are always welcomed!