Oregon Natural Desert Association’s annual speaker series featuring intriguing stories, photography and natural history kicks off on Tuesday.

The six talks are designed to educate the public on the High Desert landscape and conservation while fostering a community of engaged public land advocates, said Claire Cekander, donor relations manager at ONDA.

“We need people to care about the desert and to care about our public lands,” she said.

The conservation advocacy group is expanding the speaker series by adding two online events, intended to broaden accessibility for those unable to attend in person or who live elsewhere. In addition to two talks held virtually, two will be given at the Tower Theatre in Bend and two at the Hollywood Theatre in Portland.

Below are details regarding the events held virtually and in Bend.

High Desert bees

The first talk, held online on Tuesday, offers insights into the pollination habits, lifestyle and ecology of High Desert bees. “Dive into the Hive: Explore the World of High Desert Bees” will be presented by Lincoln Best, a melittologist, or bee expert, at Oregon State University. Best’s presentation will address how to find bees in the High Desert replete with high-resolution photos.

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The Owyhee Canyonlands

In “A Journey Through the Owyhee Canyonlands,” a virtual event on Feb. 8, ONDA board members Elisa Cheng and Natasha Bellis will share a first-person account of a rafting trip down the Owyhee River. Tips for accessing the canyonlands will be offered against the backdrop of photography of the Owyhee region.

Karley Foster, ONDA’s campaign manager will round out the presentation with by sharing initiatives to protect the Owyhee Canyonlands. Foster, a fourth-generation Pacific City Dory-fisher, endeavors to secure protection for Oregon’s High Desert public lands by building relationships with stakeholders and community partners.

Cultivating partnerships with Native American tribes

Cristina Eisenberg’s talk, “Cultivating Partnerships: Traditional Ecological Knowledge and Science and Land Stewardship” takes place at the Tower Theatre on March 19. Eisenberg holds two newly created positions at Oregon State University College of Forestry: director of tribal initiatives and associate dean of inclusive excellence. A Native American and Latinx ecologist, Eisenberg leads projects on incorporating indigenous knowledge with Western science in restoration. Eisenberg advises the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, the U.S. Forest Service, the U.S. Congress and the Bureau of Land Management on incorporating Indigenous Knowledge and partnering with tribes, according to the press release.

“I think that the general public, whatever traditional ecological knowledge they may have, are going to leave feeling inspired and feeling a greater sense of connection to people who are stewarding our landscapes,” Cekander said.

The talk concludes with steps ONDA is taking to restore the High Desert in partnership with Oregon’s tribes by Gena Goodman-Campbell, stewardship director at ONDA.

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Rock hounding

The speaker series wraps up April 18 with “Tracing Geological History Through Rocks and Minerals in Oregon’s Desert,” hosted by the Tower Theatre. Alison Jean Cole will talk about rock collecting with a conservationist ethic; the hobby that can be extractive by nature.

Cole is a self-described full-time rock enthusiast and self-publishes Thunderegg, a zine on rockhounding culture. Her first book, “Beautiful Rocks & How to Find Them” will be for sale in March 2024. Those interested in her work may follow her updates on her Instagram @alisonjeancole.

Registration is open and available on ONDA’s website at onda.org.

If You Go

What: “Dive into the Hive: Explore the World of High Desert Bees”

When: 6:30 p.m. Jan. 23

Where: Online

Cost: Free

What: “A Journey Through the Owyhee Canyonlands”

When: 6:30 p.m. Feb. 8

Where: Online

Cost: Free

What: “Cultivating Partnerships: Traditional Ecological Knowledge and Science in Land Stewardship”

When: 7 p.m. March 19

Where: Tower Theatre, 835 NW Wall St., Bend

Cost: $10

What: “Tracing Geological History Through Rocks and Minerals in Oregon’s Desert”

When: 7 p.m. April 18

Where: Tower Theatre, 835 NW Wall St., Bend

Cost: $10

Contact for all: onda.org or email onda@onda.org

“We need people to care about the desert and to care about our public lands.”