Sky Meadows S.P./ Thompson W.M.A. butterfly count upcoming

[Scott Baron]

Hello!

The Fourth of July butterfly counts are just around the corner! The 16th annual Sky Meadows State Park/Thompson Wildlife Management Area is scheduled for Saturday June 15, 2024, kicking off the summer count season.

This butterfly census, sponsored by NABA (North American Butterfly Association), is held annually throughout North America. Almost anyone can participate in this citizen science butterfly monitoring program. We can place beginners with more experienced butterfliers. 

All butterflies seen in a 15-mile diameter count circle can be counted in a 24 hour period. Public parks in the count circle include Sky Meadows State Park, G. Richard Thompson Wildlife Management Area and Blandy Experimental Farm/Virginia State Arboretum. You can spend a day or just a couple of hours in the field. Walking terrain varies from paved and flat to rocky and hilly. 

Oak Spring Garden Foundation will open its doors to count participants again this year for the morning. *If you are interested in counting at OSGF you must first register with Rea Manderino at Rea.Ma...@osgf.org.* Please cc me as well.

Please let me know if you can participate and if you have a preference for an area. Entrance fees are required for Sky Meadows SP and for Thompson WMA. Also, a small count fee is required which goes to NABA.

Let me know if you have any questions. I will send out more info closer to the date. Rain date is Wednesday June 19.

My apologies if I have missed anyone who has counted in recent years. Please forward to those who may be interested!

Happy butterflying,

Scott Baron

Damascus, Md.