The presentation, about Oak Trees as a keystone species, is geared toward teens in middle school/high school, but adults who want to learn more about oaks will also enjoy it. There will be an opportunity for Q&A with the speaker, who is an expert of the wildlife and ecology of native oak trees. The presentation will also be recorded on YouTube for classroom use.

California’s magnificent oaks support more life forms than any plant species in the state.  In a presentation filled with wildlife––from spiders and lizards to woodpeckers, woodrats, and bears––author and naturalist Kate Marianchild will discuss the vital role oaks play in food webs.

We’ll learn about co-evolutionary connections between oaks and caterpillars, jays, and lichens, and we’ll marvel at the tiny wasps who bend enormous oaks to their bidding.  As Kate shares stories of oak woodland species, we’ll fight with woodpeckers for mating opportunities, crawl through woodrat houses looking for rattlesnakes, and plummet to the ground with squirrels as they use their tails as both parachutes and landing pads.

Before the talk, try to collect an acorn with its cap from at least two kinds of oak.  If you can, also spend some time watching birds, lizards, squirrels or other animals in or around oaks.  (Please collect your acorns only from places where you have permission to collect.)

Zoom registration: www.cnps-scv.org/npls-20211117