David Leatherman,
Forest Entomologist and Avid Birder

“Grandview Cemetery, My Quality-Of-Life Saver During A Pandemic”

Thursday, March 11th, 2021
Announcements 7:00 p.m.; Program at 7:20 p.m.

***This will be an online meeting using Zoom***

Enter the following link on your web browser at or before 7 p.m. and follow the instructions to join the meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89316524871

Cedar Waxwing masked by nature photo by David Leatherman

“COVID-19 changed all our lives in 2020 and continues to do so,” said Dave. “All of us had personal decisions to make in light of the ever- changing public health guidelines and our own sense of what is right.Early on I decided it was essential to stay local, but go outside and continue monitoring the local life of Grandview Cemetery. Between mid-March and December 31, 2020, I visited this memorial sanctuary exactly 175 days. This presentation details how delving deeper into a place I already knew well kept me sane, and yielded significant new information. Ironies abound when you consider the setting was a place associated with death—during a pandemic— amid 20,000 souls who without fail stayed com- pliant six feet under. Two mountain bird species were documented nesting in Fort Collins for the first time. A European insect import revealed itself as a life-saving staple following adverse weather that eliminated other wildlife foods. An elk showed up, as confused as the rest of us. Masks appeared on head- stone portraits. And the question arose, 'Is it safe to pick up those sliced tee shots lying in Section 7?'”

Dave Leatherman is a trained forest entomology and lifelong birder. Join us for this sure-to-be educational and entertaining evening on March 11. Mask by Norma Verhoeff. Selfie by David Leatherman.