The Friends of Mason Neck State Park’s
2018 Holiday Party
"What Birds Eat"
Sunday, December 2, 2018
2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Please join us on December 2, 2018 for the Friends of Mason Neck State Park’s Fourth Annual Holiday Party at the Jammes House in Mason Neck State Park. You can enjoy a light buffet, followed by a fascinating presentation by Ashley Kennedy, a PhD candidate in the Department of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology at the University of Delaware who grew up on Mason Neck.
The Jammes House is a former hunting lodge in Mason Neck State Park, located on the banks of Occoquan Bay. It will be decorated for the holidays, and has stunning views over the Bay and the Potomac River. Since the Jammes House is not normally open to visitors, the Holiday Party is a rare opportunity to see the house and experience its magnificent setting. We’ll have lots of tasty treats for you to sample at our buffet.
Ashley Kennedy will discuss her research into bird-insect food webs, specifically, which insects are the most important in birds’ diets, which will help guide avian conservation efforts. Her videos of birds bringing food to their young are fascinating glimpses into birds' lives. Learn which insects are the most important in birds’ diets and which plants you can include in your garden to support various bird species. "What Birds Eat" can help us establish ideal bird habitats not only in our own backyards but on a much larger scale to promote avian conservation.
Ms Kennedy graduated from Hayfield High School and received a Bachelor of Science from Johns Hopkins University and a Master of Science Degree from the University of Delaware. She has completed internships/seasonal positions at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, the National Zoo, and the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, and worked as an educator for the Delaware Nature Society and a taxonomist for Delaware Mosquito Control. She currently is employed in the lab of Dr. Doug Tallamy, the noted author of "Bringing Nature Home." Ashley is a Science Policy Fellow of the Entomological Society of America, a 2018 recipient of the Entomological Society of America’s John Henry Comstock Graduate Student Award, and a member of the Delaware Native Species Commission.
The Holiday Party is open to members of the Friends of Mason Neck State Park. Each member may register one guest. The program fee is $10 per person, which includes admission to the park.
