Reminder: GRSF Summer Count moved back to JULY 11

[Rick Borchelt]

I've gotten a number of queries about the upcoming summer count in Green Ridge State Forest, and I'm taking this opportunity to remind everyone that we've moved it BACK to JULY 11 so as not to conflict with the DSA odes meeting this weekend near Asheville (to which some of our lot are going).  Same time/coordinates as posted on LepLog at https://leplog.wordpress.com/green-ridge-2025-counts/; any updates or changes will be posted there first.

Metalmarks have already been spotted in small numbers in GRSF, but we are likely to still be within the metalmark flight window.  The forest has seen a good amount of rain, so unless we have no rain at all until July 11 there should be plenty of nectar (notably woodland sunflower) by then.  It was looking pretty lush last week.  

Please confirm/reconfirm you plans for attendance with me for the new date if you would, and let me know about route preferences by looking over the spreadsheet on the LepLog page.  Since we no longer are an official NABA count we can add, subtract, or expand our scope beyond the original count circle; our only requirement is that we need to stay within the GRSF boundaries.

This count is specifically designed to identify important areas (5 or more metalmarks) that we can share with State Forest and DNR staff to guide forestry and conservation practices for this S2 (State Rare) butterfly.  This year I especially want to try to observe oviposition behavior and identify which of the several ragworts it uses for oviposition.  Please photograph such behavior if you see it!