Category: Uncategorized

Count Season begins: 13th Annual Cottonwood count at Joshua Tree National Park

Michael Cerbone

Saturday, March 24th from 8-5 is the 13th Annual Cottonwood Area count! Meet up at Joshua Tree National Park’s Cottonwood Visitor Center, dressed for a day in the field (bring lunch, water, and sunscreen. Also helpful are binoculars, field guides, and cameras (your friendly count report editor needs your best count photos!).

It’s $3.00 per participant (for NABA count administration). If you are interested in joining us, please RSVP to Joe  Zarki 760-366-8913 (h), or Marilyn Lutz 760-367-5681 (w) or by email at: lutzarki1@verizon.net

 

(Photo by Robb Hannawacker, while working for Joshua Tree National Park)

A New Chapter Appears! Welcome @rvaNABA!

Michael Cerbone

Big exciting news! A new chapter of the North American Butterfly Association is forming in the Richmond, Virginia area. The inaugural meeting of NABA-Richmond will be held on Saturday, February 24th, from 10:30am until 12noon, at the Westover Hills Branch Library, 1408 Westover Hills Boulevard, Richmond VA 23225.

For more information, please contact Lauren Adelman at heyla2016@gmail.com or visit https://www.facebook.com/rvaNABA/ Read More

Chapters: New Jersey Monthly Meeting – National Butterfly Center Update

Michael Cerbone

The New Jersey chapter of NABA meets Tuesday, October 3, @ 7:30pm at the Frelinghuysen Arboretum’s Haggerty Education Center, 353 East Hanover Avenue, Morristown, NJ.

This meeting will feature a presentation by NABA President Jeff Glassberg on Trumps’ Border Wall: Its effect on the National Butterfly Center and the Rio Grande Valley of Texas.

The Lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas has the most diverse butterfly and bird fauna of any area of the United States. This biological diversity is jeopardized by the construction of a border wall. In addition, a wall will obliterate the 450 million dollars that ecotourism pours into the economy of what is the most economically disadvantaged area in the United States. For people especially interested in butterflies, conservation and education, a wall poses an existential threat to the National Butterfly Center, which is owned and operated by NABA

Butterflies in Hurricanes

Michael Cerbone

With this year’s historic hurricane season wrecking havoc through the Caribbean and southern United States, you may have wondered how butterflies evade the destructive power of wind and water.

Some species, especially those in at-risk areas, may have reduced habitat ranges, so even though they seem to know trouble is coming when the skies darken, evacuation isn’t an option. Journey North has some great resources on this topic:

https://www.learner.org/jnorth/tm/monarch/fall_hazards_hurricanes.html

It is extremely rare to find a butterfly when it is raining; they typically have the good sense to take shelter:

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/what-do-butterflies-do-wh/

The conscientious butterfly gardener can also help out by providing lots of strong, tall plants, leaf mold, or hardscaping for butterflies to wait out bad weather under:

http://birdsandblooms.com/blog/how-butterflies-seek-shelter-from-a-storm/

NABA wishes that everyone in affected areas stays safe, and doesn’t worry about the butterflies, they can take care of themselves! It’s the loss of habitat caused by damaging weather events, or human action, that is cause for concern. Fortunately, that’s something we can help with on their behalf. Certify your garden as contributing to world butterfly habitat today!

http://nababutterfly.com/butterfly-garden-certification-program-home/

Counts: Tallahassee NABA Butterfly Count, Saturday July 29th

Michael Cerbone

Tallahassee NABA Butterfly Count – Saturday, July 29, 2017

NOTE: You must sign-up ahead of time to participate in this event.

Participants are needed for the 14th annual Tallahassee NABA Butterfly Count to be held on Saturday, July 29th. David Harder will again be our Count Leader for this effort. The Count is conducted in a 15-mile diameter circle centered in western Tallahassee near Florida State University. We find and identify as many butterflies as we can within the circle.

We plan to have four parties (North, South, East and West). North mainly covers Phipps Park and Miller Landing; South does Munson Hills and Black Swamp; East does Miccosukee Greenway, Lafayette Park, and the IFAS Gardens; and West does Fred George Greenway and portions of Lake Talquin State Forest.

We see between 40 and 50 species of butterflies on the count day, and each team usually finds a few species that are not duplicated by the other teams. You can come for part or all of the day. We will compile our results at a local restaurant in the late afternoon or early evening (celebrating the great finds, bemoaning the misses and comparing results to previous years). You do not need to be an expert at identifying all the butterfly species in order to participate.

Please contact Dave McElveen at d.mcelveen@comcast.net or (850) 841-0899 if you wish to join us for the Count. If you have a Team preference, please let Dave know and we’ll try to accommodate you. Our Count Leader, David Harder will make final assignments based on preference and need. You will be contacted by your party leader about where and when to meet on the Count Day.

For more events from NABA-Hairstreak: http://www.naba-hairstreak.com/uploads/5/9/2/3/59239337/2017_calendar.pdf

Events: Wisconsin Chapter at Cherokee Marsh, Saturday June 24th

Michael Cerbone

BUTTERFLIES OF CHEROKEE MARSH
Saturday, June 24
10:00 a.m. to Noon

On this morning walk we’ll observe and learn about butterflies, those small but exquisitely beautiful creatures that dance about our ankles in summer. Karl and Dorothy Legler and Jan Axelson will lead this 2 hour walk at Cherokee Marsh on the northeast side of Madison. We will observe a variety of butterflies as they take nectar from wildflowers, and learn about their identification, behavior, and lifestyle. Bring binoculars if you have them — close-focusing ones work best. We have a few extra pairs of binoculars. It’s best to wear long pants and a hat for protection from the sun. This is a joint trip of the Southern Wisconsin Butterfly Association, with Madison Audubon Society, and Friends of Cherokee Marsh.

Meet at 10:00 a.m.

DIRECTIONS: On the north side of Madison take Northport Drive (Highway 113) then turn north on Sherman Ave. Meet at the Cherokee Marsh parking lot at the north end of Sherman Ave. (6098 N Sherman Ave, Madison, WI.) Call Karl at (608) 643-4926 or email karlndot@charter.net only if you have a question about the trip.

Events: New Jersey Chapter at Bamboo Brook in Far Hills, Friday June 23rd

Michael Cerbone

Friday, June 23, 9:30 AM

Bamboo Brook, Far Hills, Morris County. 170 Longview Road, Far Hills, NJ

From Chester area: Take 206 South, travel 4.7 miles to Pottersville Road (Somerset County 512). Turn right onto Pottersville Road for .4 mile. Turn right onto Lisk Hill Road and continue for .1 mile and come to a “T.” Turn right and continue .3 mile. At a “Y” turn left onto Longview Road. Bamboobrook Outdoor Education Center will be 1 mile from the “Y” intersection on the left. You will have passed the entrance to Willowwood Arboretum

Events: Pleasant Valley Conservancy with the NABA-Wisconsin Chapter, Saturday June 17th

Michael Cerbone

BUTTERFLIES AND WILDFLOWERS OF PLEASANT VALLEY CONSERVANCY
Saturday, June 17
10:00 a.m.– Noon

Pleasant Valley Conservancy is a beautiful state natural area situated in the Driftless Area, with steep goat prairies, oak savanna, and a large, high quality marsh. This time of year we hope to see Baltimore Checkerspots and perhaps some wetland skippers. Other possible butterfly species include swallowtails, Silvery Checkerspot, fritillaries, and blues. All of these butterflies will have many wonderful native plants to nectar on this time of year. Led by Dr. Douglas Buege and Tom and Kathy Brock.

Long pants, a hat, water, and hiking shoes are recommended. Bring binoculars—the closer they focus, the better! (We have a few extra binoculars.) If you would like, bring along a bag lunch for after the field trip; dessert will be provided! (This is a joint trip of SWBA with Madison Audubon and The Prairie Enthusiasts.)

Contact leaders only if you have a question about the trip: Douglas at (608) 441-9833 or Tom at (608) 238-5050 or mailto:tdbrock@charter.net

Meet at 10:00 a.m.
DIRECTIONS: (4554 Pleasant Valley Road, Black Earth) Heading south into downtown Black Earth follow County Hwy F as it turns right (west). After a mile or so, F turns left (south). Continue on F for another 3 3/4 miles turning left onto Pleasant Valley Road. Drive 3/4 mile (past the buildings on the right) to the state natural area sign. Park off the road.

State natural area map:
http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/lands/naturalareas/documents/topomaps/map551.pdf

Events: The Grove Museum with NABA-Hairstreak Saturday June 17th

Michael Cerbone


(American Lady, photographed by Jeffrey Glassberg)

Nature Walk at The Grove – Saturday, June 17, 2017

Brittany Jones, the Visitor Services Coordinator at The Grove Museum in Tallahassee, has asked the NABA Hairstreak Chapter to lead a nature walks on the ten-acre property near downtown Tallahassee. The one- to two-hour tour is free, will start at 9:30 AM, and are family-oriented.  We will be looking for bugs, butterflies, birds, plants, or any other nature-type feature that may interest someone on this walking tour.  We will also be accompanied by a Grove staff member who will co-lead the trip and can field questions about the history of the site.  If you have not yet been to The Grove Museum, this is a perfect opportunity to view the beauty of the grounds prior to taking a tour of the Museum itself, which was the residence of former Florida Governor Leroy Collins until his death in 1991.  For more information about The Grove, go to http://thegrovemuseum.com/

Events: NABA Central Arizona at the AZ/Highline trail

Michael Cerbone

On Saturday June 10th, we will hike a part of the AZ/Highline trail in pursuit of colorful butterflies.

As the temperature rises, the flowers start to bloom higher and higher in elevation. Butterflies follow this nectar flow “up the trail” and June is a great time to check it out. Nectar plants like Penstemon (Moon-marked Skipper shown), Kaibab Pussytoes, Canada Violets, Fleabane and Dandelion are blooming. Other species of butterflies like to mud puddle at one of the three seeps we will visit. Yet others, like Arizona Sister and Satyr Comma, are mostly found perched on trees.

Please wear sturdy shoes and a hat, bring water, snacks and a sack lunch. A pair of close focusing binoculars will be handy too. The trail is moderately steep in places, but we will take our time.

Trip leader: Marceline VandeWater

Meeting place is Denny’s on Shea Blvd in Fountain Hills at 6:30am or at the trailhead at 8:15am. Details to get to the trailhead: Drive to Payson, go straight at the hwy 260 intersection. After 3/4 mile turn right onto Houston Mesa Road. Cross all 3 “water crossings”, and after about 8 miles turn left at the stop sign. The road now turns into a dirt road. After about 1 miles turn right towards Shadow Rim Camp and Washington Park Trailhead. Follow this road up for about 5.5 miles until the right turn-off to the Washington Park Trailhead (marked). Turn right here, and instantly turn left (signs again) and you will find the trailhead well marked.

Please contact Marceline to let her know where you will meet: marceline@ermaroni.net We ask for a $5 donation per person