ASCM 2010 Summer Butterfly Walk

Here is a first-hand report on our Aug. 2010 Nature Walk, courtesy of Ron Polniaszek, the walk leader: AUDUBON NATURE WALK REPORT - August 21, 2010 Fred J. Archibald Audubon Sanctuary Seventeen dedicated nature lovers braved the mid-August, hot and humid weather conditions this past weekend to stroll through the sunny meadows at the Fred J. Archibald Audubon Sanctuary. Although birds were hard to spot due to their quiet skulking nature at this time of the year, we managed to see twenty nine different species. The most notable of these were the Indigo Bunting, Brown Thrasher, Cedar Waxwing and early arrival Dark-eyed Juncos. To see silent Blue Jays in the woodlands was a unique experience. As usual, White-tailed Deer frequented the woodland edges. What made this walk especially memorable though, were the abundant butterflies that flitted amongst the thistle plants and other flowering grassland vegetation. Cheryl Farfaras, a certified butterfly bander managed to net six Monarch butterflies for the group to see up close. She attached tiny, stick-on, ID tags onto the wings of four of the Monarchs that she identified as ones that will make the trip back to their breeding grounds in Mexico. Two others were released as they were third generation butterflies who will not be making the trip south. She also showed the group how to identify male from female Monarchs by noting the black spots on the upper wings of the males that are not present on the female. Another highlight of this walk was the Hummingbird Moths who were drawing nectar from the thistle plants along with the butterflies. These moths mimicked their namesakes in body and actions and if you didn’t observe closely, you wouldn’t take them for moths. There is always something new to discover on these nature walks, isn’t there? Especially abundant in the native grassland meadows this morning were Eastern Tiger Swallowtails. Other butterfly species seen were: Spicebush Swallowtail, Black Swallowtail, Cabbage White, Little Yellow, Gray Hairstreak, Eastern Tailed Blue, Great Spangled Fritillary, Baltimore Checkerspot (a real surprise), Painted Lady, Common Buckeye, Red-spotted Purple, Hackberry Emperor, Monarch, Silver Spotted Skipper, Horace’s Duskywing, Common Checkered Skipper, Common Sootywing, Fiery Skipper, and Zebulon Skipper. Fast flying odonates (dragonflies) also occupied the group’s attention as they dazzled us with their aerial displays. Altogether, it was an enjoyable and pleasant outing, despite the hot weather. At least, it wasn’t January. Thanks to all participants! Ron Polniaszek