Karen Gaines — NM Department of Game & Fish
Wednesday, September 10, 2025 — 7:00 pm
Henderson Pavilion, Randall Davey Audubon Center

Karen Gaines has been studying dragonflies and damselflies for over 30 years. She will give an overall introduction to her favorite group of insects, including their appearance in the fossil record and their general taxonomy.  She’ll speak about the amazing odonate species diversity in our state, the environmental factors that help drive that species diversity, and the fascinating life cycle and ecology of these creatures. Expect to see lots of great photos, learn new facts about these beautiful and important insects, and even hear a silly love poem during Karen’s presentation.  And yes, there * will * be a quiz at the end — but Karen promises that you will pass it with flying colors!

Wednesday, May 14, 2025 — 7:00 pm

Unitarian Universalist Church

107 West Barcelona Road, Santa Fe

Valles Caldera National Preserve is one of New Mexico’s natural gems, but it is also a landscape in recovery. A ranger from the National Park Service will speak about the restoration work undertaken since 2015 to improve animal habitat, create healthier and more resilient forests, restore watersheds, and protect endangered species; and will also discuss management plans for Valles Caldera’s future, including exciting developments in the park’s education and interpretation division.

Shayne R. Halter, UNM Department of Biology

Wednesday, April 9, 2025 — 7:00 pm

Unitarian Universalist Church

Hummingbirds use energy at extremely high rates, especially during migrations. To survive these long trips, they must maintain adequate amounts of body fat for fuel. Shayne’s research investigates how four species of hummingbirds balance their energy levels, as they transit the arid landscapes of the American Southwest. He combines measurements from feathers, body fat, and metabolism, to map migration and energy budgets, to determine how hummingbirds adjust for energy shortfalls. His emphasis is on how hummingbirds use nocturnal torpor to conserve fat during migrations. This research will help us assess hummingbird health and develop conservation measures, as climate and land-use change make food resources less predictable in the Southwest.

Shayne Halter was born in Las Vegas, Nevada and moved to Castle Rock, Colorado in his early teens. At Metropolitan State University of Denver he earned a BS in Aerospace Science, and spent over 20 years in the US Air Force as a navigator in C-130 Hercules aircraft. After retirement, he took classes at the University of New Mexico, earning a BS in Anthropology and MS in Biology. Shayne is currently completing a Ph.D. in Biology, with Dr. Blair Wolf. Shayne focuses on animal physiology and how animals cope with extremes in temperature and food supply. His recreational pastimes include skiing, mountain biking, camping, hiking, and birding.