| CATEGORY/ TITLE of TALK | DESCRIPTION OF TALK | VMN-HRC SPEAKER |
| Area Parks, Trails, and Habitats/Plants Along the Bassett Trace Nature Trail | See a display of fossilized plants and learn about the living plants along Colonial Williamsburg’s Bassett Trace Nature Trail. 45-60 minute PowerPoint lecture illustrated with photos. Talk available for audiences ages 12 and older, in-person or via Zoom. | Jim Webb, Master Naturalist |
| General / What’s a Master Naturalist? | Explains the mission of Virginia Master Naturalists, explains the different ways that we volunteer, and how to join a VMN chapter. | Various HRC Master Naturalists |
| Plants & Trees/Virginia’s Big Trees in the Williamsburg Area | Rick offers a “tree-based” talk tailored to your group’s needs and interest. For example, learn about Virginia’s Big Tree Program, the trees and plants found on the Bassett Trace Nature Trail, the volunteer work creating the Colonial Williamsburg Arboretum, and interesting trees found in other Williamsburg area locations. 45-60 minute PowerPoint lecture illustrated with photos. Talk available for adult audiences, in-person or via Zoom | Rick Brown, Master Naturalist, Master Gardener, and Tree Steward |
| Plants & Trees / Invasive Plant Species on the Virginia Peninsula | We will discuss several of the invasive plant species that are impacting natural spaces on the Virginia Peninsula. Featured species include Japanese stiltgrass, Japanese honeysuckle, autumn olive, mahonia, wineberry, Chinese privet, Chinese/Japanese holly, wisteria, multiflora rose, and tree of heaven. The discussion will include plant description and identification, impact on local environments, and removal techniques. The speaker has numerous hours of hands-on experience removing invasives in the region. |
Tracy Matthew Melton, Master Naturalist |
| Skill Building/ Citizen Science at Your Fingertips |
Join Certified Master Naturalist from the Historic Rivers Chapter of the Virginia Master Naturalists, Mary Jo (MJ) OBryan as she teaches you how to enjoy and more accurately observe the natural world with the help of free apps available to download on your Android or Apple mobile devices. She will demonstrate how to use Merlin Bird ID, eBird, INaturalist, Seek and a few other inexpensive apps. She’ll show how the pictures you take and the data you input helps scientists and conservationists. Finally, she’ll have a few activities where attendees can practice with the apps. Come with a fully charged cell phone, IPad or Tablet. Children are welcome but must be accompanied by an adult. The presentation and activity will take about 90 minutes. Handouts will be available to take home. |
Mary Jo (MJ) OBryan, Master Naturalist |
| Wildlife/Bald Eagles | Describes the life cycle of the bald eagle, including their mating habits, nest building, incubation, raising young, etc. Talk will include photos of eagles, areas where you can observe them, and facts about their lives. 45 minute PowerPoint lecture illustrated with photos. Talk available audiences ages 12 and older, in-person or via Zoom. | Judy Jones, Master Naturalist |
| Wildlife/Birds and Their Nests | Discover what your backyard birds need and why. Open nests, cavity nests, ground nests. 60 minute PowerPoint lecture illustrated with photos. Talk available for adult audiences, in-person or via Zoom. | Shirley Devan, Master Naturalist, Tree Steward |
| Wildlife/Bluebirds | Describes the life cycle of the Eastern Bluebird, including their mating habits, nest building, incubation, raising young, etc. Talk will include ways to bring them to your yard, how to build a bluebird house, and how to protect your bluebirds from predators. 45 minute PowerPoint lecture illustrated with photos. Talk available audiences ages 12 and older, in-person or via Zoom. | Judy Jones, Master Naturalist; Mary Jo (MJ) O’Bryan (Master Naturalist) |
| Wildlife/Butterfly Identification | The Williamsburg area is home to more than 90 species of butterflies, and recently local experts have found species not previously recorded. Eleven families of butterflies come in a variety of sizes and shapes. This presentation will help you distinguish physical characteristics and behavior such as flight patterns, life cycle, and use of nectar and host plants. 60 minute PowerPoint lecture illustrated with photos. Talk available for adult audiences, in-person or via Zoom. | Adrienne Frank, Master Naturalist, Tree Steward |
| Wildlife/Gardening for Pollinators | Specific flowering(nectar) plants support adult butterflies and native host plants provide food for growing caterpillars. Bees also have special relationships with native plants and use plants that match their size, mouth parts, and landing strategies. If you understand a little bit about pollinator’s behavior, habitats, and association with plants, you can attract butterflies to your yard and help to preserve their habitat. Plants and planting strategies are discussed. 60 minute PowerPoint lecture illustrated with photos. Talk available for adult audiences, in-person or via Zoom. | Adrienne Frank, Master Naturalist, Tree Steward |
| Wildlife/Native Birds Need Native Gardens | Learn what your backyard birds need and why. How your yard and garden can attract and support more birds. 60 minute PowerPoint lecture illustrated with photos. Talk available for adult audiences, in-person or via Zoom. | Shirley Devan, Master Naturalist, Tree Steward |
| Wildlife/Ospreys | Describes the life cycle of the osprey, including their mating habits, nest building, incubation, raising young, migration patterns, etc. Talk will include methods of identification and how to monitor an osprey nest. 45 minute PowerPoint lecture illustrated with photos. Talk available audiences ages 12 and older, in-person or via Zoom. | Judy Jones, Master Naturalist |
| Wildlife/Precious Pollinators | The best pollinators have hair on their bodies that can collect pollen. Butterflies and bees are especially designed to pollinate a wide array and often very specific plants. They use a wide array of strategies to find and collect pollen. They select plants for color, smell, size, and/or accessibility. Native bees pollinate 70% of all flowering plants and are more efficient than honey bees. Providing habitat for pollinators is essential for our gardens and food production. 60 minute PowerPoint lecture illustrated with photos. Talk available for adult audiences, in-person or via Zoom. | Adrienne Frank, Master Naturalist, Tree Steward |
| Wildlife/Prothonotary Warbler Nest Box Projects of the Coastal Plain of Virginia | Learn about the life history of the Prothonotary Warbler, its conservation status, the monitoring programs at several locations in the Coastal Plain of Virginia, and the nest site fidelity of these warblers. 60 minute PowerPoint lecture illustrated with photos. Talk available for adult audiences, in-person or via Zoom. | Shirley Devan, Master Naturalist, Tree Steward |
Serving Southeastern Virginia between the Historic James and York Rivers, including James City County, York County, New Kent County, and the City of Williamsburg.
