Birders’ Night–The Bird–Caterpillar Connection with LeeAnn Kriegh

Caterpillars are the single most important insect in the diet of most terrestrial birds, yet our knowledge of these larval marvels often begins and ends with The Very Hungry Caterpillar. So, let’s get caught up on the latest research. We’ll explore the life cycles of each of the 160,000 species of caterpillars (or at least a few of the best-known), discuss why these bristly sausages are so vital to nestling diets, and learn a few simple ways we can boost caterpillar populations in our own backyards.  LeeAnn Kriegh is a woolly bear enthusiast and author of The Nature of Bend and The Nature of Portland. She’ll have the 2025 editions of both books available for sale at the talk.