
By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post
Nan Sundgren of Hays has been following environmental issues for 60 years. She edits a newsletter — the Prairie Growers Guide.
She became concerned this winter when she saw a drastic drop in the number of birds visiting her yard. This sparked a deep desire in Sundgren to learn more about the health of the local environment.
She and Amy Jensen of Jensen Farms will host an Earth Day Eve event at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at Professor's Sandwich Shop, 521 E. 11th., Hays.
Five local environmental experts have been invited to discuss the state of the local environment.
Those speakers include:
• Mike Jensen, beekeeper and mushroom grower, to speak on bees and fungi
• Ryan Engel, Fort Hays State University graduate and beekeeper, to speak on plants
• Holly Dickman, City of Hays water conservation specialist, to speak on water
• Lance Russell, farmer, to speak on agriculture
• Dr. Medhavi Ambardar, FHSU professor, to speak on birds
Randy Rodgers, wildlife conservation, was slated to speak but will be unable to attend.
Each speaker will present for about 10 minutes. A question-and-answer period will follow the speakers.
The speakers have been asked to address three key questions:
• What is the health of the local ecology?
• What harms are humans doing to the local ecology?
• What can we as individuals do to help the local environment?
The event is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served.
Sundgren said she has worked for years to develop a healthy ecosystem in her yard from the soil up, but now she believes she would benefit from a broader perspective.
Although many factors can result in a decrease in bird species in the area, Sundgren said she recently learned more about the importance of insects to the food chain. Insects and spiders make up 96 percent of the diet of North American land bird species, according to ecologist and author Douglas Tallamy.
Those insects often overwinter in piles of leaves. Sundgren said she didn't realize by having her son-in-law mow her leaves in the early spring, she could be killing the insects that are crucial to the birds she enjoys seeing in her yard.
Sundgren and Jensen said they hope the event Thursday will spark future Earth Day events.
"We would like to see conversations develop and continue about the environment and ecology," Sundgren said. "We want to keep it very positive and upbeat."