Insects in Decline: Implications for the Future

Insects are declining in a global phenomenon happening even here in the Pacific Northwest. Dr. Merrill Peterson of Western Washington University will discuss vivid examples of these declines, describe how they threaten our lives, and examine evidence that such declines underlie dwindling bird populations. He will also make the case that, as keen naturalists and citizen scientists, birders can make important contributions to monitoring the region’s insects, and that learning about our fascinating insect diversity can be immensely rewarding.