Evening Programs, Fall 2025
Wed. Nov. 12: no meeting this month
Dragons and Damsels in the Desert Southwest: Odonate Diversity and Ecology in New Mexico
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!
Ecological Restoration: Past, Present, and Future at Valles Caldera
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.
Energy Management in Migrating Hummingbirds
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.
Protect Chaco Canyon
On behalf of the Sangre de Cristo Chapter of The National Audubon Society, I urge you to maintain Public Land Order 7923 and reject the proposals to revoke the 10-mile buffer surrounding Chaco Culture National Historical Park or to reduce the protective buffer zone to just 5 miles.
I am submitting this comment during the second public comment period on this proposal — and our opposition has not changed. Over 100,000 people submitted comments during the April scoping period opposing this action. The public has already spoken.
The buffer around the Park contains an estimated 12,000 archaeological and cultural sites within the 5-to-10-mile zone alone, and only 15-20% of the area has been surveyed. Chaco Canyon flourished as a major cultural and ceremonial center between 850 and 1250 A.D. and remains central to the cultural identity, traditions, and ongoing practices of Indigenous peoples in the region. The Park, along with sites within the protection zone, is designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The Greater Chaco region has already suffered significant damage to air, water, and public health from oil and gas extraction. With over 37,000 wells drilled on surrounding lands, the buffer preserves some of the last undeveloped public land in the region. The BLM itself has acknowledged the withdrawal area is not a favorable target for future development. Private, tribal, and allottee lands remain open to new leasing, and existing operations are unaffected.
The 2023 protections resulted from an extensive public process including 150 days of public comment, seven public meetings, and years of Tribal consultation — generating over 160,000 supporting comments. This 14-day comment period is an inadequate substitute that prevents meaningful participation and shuts out Tribal community members whose heritage is most at stake.
Greater Chaco deserves permanent protection. I respectfully urge you to maintain the full protection zone for this treasured American landscape.
Respectfully
Robert Guenther
Board of Directors
Sangre de Cristo Chapter of The National Audubon Society
HOW TO ACT: Go to https://eplanning.blm.gov/Project-Home/?id=D949F582-402D-F111-8341-001DD804183B
to submit a comment about the need to continue protection for the greater Chaco Canyon region.
Comment period ends July 29, 2026.