Pollinators such as bees, butterflies, moths, flies, beetles, birds, and even ants play a vital role in maintaining the biodiversity and ecological resilience of the Sierra Nevada. Yet many of these species remain overlooked or poorly documented.

Join Will Richardson of TINS at the South Lake Tahoe Library for an accessible and engaging exploration of the region’s pollinators, their ecological connections, and the challenges they face in a changing climate and landscape.

This lecture will also introduce participants to the 2026 Tahoe Pollinator Big Year, a joint project between TINS and the Tahoe Environmental Research Center (TERC), using iNaturalist, a powerful community-science platform that allows anyone with a camera to contribute valuable biodiversity data. Will will demonstrate how to make high-quality observations, identify pollinators, and contribute to ongoing research and conservation efforts across the Tahoe region and beyond. No prior experience is necessary, just curiosity and a willingness to look closely at the natural world.

Sponsored by Friends of the Library, Tahoe Institute for Natural Science.