Lichens and Mosses

Malcom Hodges, a seasoned biologist and local lichen enthusiast, will be here to teach us all about the wonderful and weird world of lichens! Join us at the Blue Heron Nature Preserve on November 14th, 2026 at 10:00 AM (Eastern Time), and together we'll learn their different growth forms, reproductive strategies, and get familiar with some basic groups and common species. We’ll also discuss lichen ecology and the places they like to grow. Finally, we'll finish up with lichen conservation: What that means and why it's important. Time permitting, we’ll talk about strategies for observing lichens on iNaturalist.

Malcolm Hodges grew up in coastal Mississippi where he worked as a biologist and land manager for The Nature Conservancy in Georgia, retiring in 2020. His interests include birds, lichens and conservation ecology in the Southeast. Hodges collaborated with mentor Sean Beeching and others on the Georgia Lichen Atlas Project, which documented, described, and mapped lichen species across the state. If you're interested in the project, or want to learn more about Lichens, check out Georgia Biodiversity Portal site; georgiabiodiversity.org/portal/. Currently, Hodges lives on a small farm in Riverdale, Georgia, with his partner, Keith Poole, and their animals. Registration is free.

In this walk and talk around the Preserve, participants will have the opportunity to:

• Ask questions an expert can answer
• Explore the trails of Blue Heron
• Learn about coexisting with our local coyotes
• Find a new appreciation for coyotes along the way