Overview:

Aerial insectivores, birds and other animals that feed on insects while flying, are dependent on abundant insect populations to thrive. Accurate measurement of those insect populations and activity allows ecologists to document changes and, recently, dramatic declines of these pollinators and food sources. Further, nocturnal insects, such as moths, are less visible to humans and, therefore, more difficult to study. This presentation will focus on research centered around developing a low-effort insect monitoring device to reliably determine nocturnal insect populations, their pollination activity, and their availability as prey for aerial insectivores. Come to this presentation and learn about nocturnal insect abundance and the birds that feed on them.

About our speaker:

Grant Witynski, PhD student, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, will present findings from a 2024 Kendeigh Grant award funded by CCAS.