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The Fascinating Lives of Dragonflies and Damselflies

by Jim Walker

October 28, 6:30pm Whatcom Museum Old City Hall (In Person)

Social Hour at 6:30pm and Program at 7:00pm

Dragonflies are fascinating creatures, with a rich heritage of folklore and fables that vary greatly from culture to culture. European cultures tend to see them as dangerous, even deadly. Asian and Native American cultures see them as signs of good luck, longevity, and prosperity. The facts about dragonflies are even more interesting than the fables:

• They have six legs, but don’t walk.

• They have acute vision, but can’t hear.

• They predate dinosaurs, but are still going strong today.

• They can spin at 1,000 rpm in midflight, the fastest spinning motion in nature.

Scientist-author Jim Walker gives a lively and informative presentation exploring the world of dragonflies, including his own slow-motion videos of dragonflies laying eggs, bathing, and spinning in midair. Walker, known to his friends as “The Dragonfly Whisperer,” will share tips on how to coax a dragonfly to perch on your finger, and how to see the famous Happy-face Dragonfly performing its record-breaking spin-dry maneuver. Jim Walker earned his PhD in theoretical physics at the University of Washington. He is a retired professor of physics from Washington State University, where he was the Boeing Distinguished Professor of Science and Mathematics Education. He is the author of several university-level textbooks on physics, as well as two dragonfly field guides, Common Dragonflies and Damselflies of the Pacific Coast, and Common Dragonflies and Damselflies of Western Washington, both available on Amazon.com. Professor Walker and his wife Betsy divide their time between Western Washington and Arizona, and enjoy birding and dragonflying in both locations.