Massachusetts Butterfly Club Events - 2000



Table of Contents
MBC News and Notes - 2000
MBC Meetings -2000
Additional Western Mass. Field Trips - 2000
4th of July Butterfly Count Trips - 2000
NABA-MBC-BI Field Trips
August 2000 Update

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MBC NEWS AND NOTES 2000

New MBC President

In December 1999 Richard Hildreth resigned as MBC President. The officers want to thank Dick for the fine job that he did. Tom Gagnon, formerly Vice President West, has been appointed by the officers to serve as the new President until our yearly election is held in July 2000. Thank you for taking on the job, Tom, and welcome! (See Tom's President's Message in Massachusetts Butterflies.)

Dragonfly and Damselfly Institute at Broad Meadow Brook

"Dragonflies and Damselflies in Depth" is a four week course modeled after the Butterfly Institute, with four evening lectures in August 2000 and weekend field trips. Designed for the beginning dragonfly enthusiast, it will instill a greater appreciation for these fabulous insects in a fun and friendly atmosphere. Participants so far include Bob Bowker, Jackie Sones, and Dave Small. For details call Gail Howe at MAS Broad Meadow Brook WS and Conservation Center in Worcester, 508-753-6087 ext.16.

Denton Brothers Butterfly Collection

Two Club members, Madeline Champagne and Sharon Stichter, are [April 2000] working on cataloging this large collection of butterfly and moth specimens, collected at the turn of the century from many places around the world, and now housed at the Wellesley Historical Society. There are representatives of nearly every family of butterflies, and a large number of Massachusetts-caught specimens. When the calaloging is more complete, the Society will be better able to sort out the North American specimens, which could be valuable aids in teaching.

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MBC Meetings 2000

Club meetings are always fun, interesting, and a great way to meet other members and get more involved. We urge you to attend.

April 1 (Sat)   Amherst  Field Trip 12:00 noon;   Meeting 3:30 PM     


New this year! Spring Meeting at the Hitchcock Center in Amherst. The main event will be a presentation by Mark Fairbrother on "Butterflies of Western Massachusetts" Snacks and drinks provided. Suggested donation: $2.00. Before the meeting, Tom Gagnon will lead a field trip to Mt. Tom Reservation for Mourning Cloaks, Eastern Commas, and Compton Tortoiseshells. See Field Trip list for details. Cloudy/rainy weather will cancel the field trip. For further information call Tom 413-584-6353.

Sept. 17 (Sun)   Gloucester and Rockport  Field Trip 9:45 AM; Meeting after lunch

Hosted for the sixth consecutive year by Doug Savich and Claudia Tibbets. The morning will consist of a field trip to Eastern Point to check on the Monarch migration, then to other local sites for Silverbordered Fritillaries and...the rare Fiery Skipper and Long-tailed Skipper seen in previous years! After lunch (byo), we'll have the Club business meeting. Meet at Para Research Building in Gloucester. Call Doug or Claudia at 978-283-7869 for directions.

Nov. 4 (Sat)   MAS Broad Meadow Brook Wildlife Sanctuary, Worcester 5:30 PM

Our traditional potluck dinner: plan to bring something! We meet in the completely NEW sanctuary building, with kitchen facilities! Host: Gail Howe. Program: review of the season; members are invited to bring their best slides and photos to share. Also, election of officers takes place. Call the sanctuary for directions 508-753-6087.

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Additional Western Massachusetts Field Trips 2000

Date Time Location Contact
April 29
  Sat
 9am  "White-Out": Savoy, Windsor, October Mountain.  Search for Falcate Orange-tip, Mustard White, West Virginia White. Meet at Staples, Rt. 2, Greenfield (after rotary). Dottie Case
413-665-2941
April 30
  Sun 
2pm "Sunderland Specialties":  West Virginia Whites without going to West Virginia! Meet at Squire Village Shops, Rt. 116, Sunderland. Dottie Case
413-665-2941
July 29
  Sat 
? call "Hidden Gardens": Amherst to Northampton. Meet at Hitchcock Ctr. Dottie Case
413-665-2941
For additional trips on August 9, 12 and 17, please call Dottie.

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4th of July Butterfly Count Trips 2000

Sponsored by NABA-Xerxes and MBC. Cost per person- $2.50
. Please call for meeting place, time, and rain-date information.

Date Location Contact Phone
7-01-00   (Sat) Foxboro.  Brian Cassie 508-543-3512
7-08-00 (Sat) Central Franklin County (Greenfield).
Meet at Fish Ladder Park, Turners Falls. Call for time.
Mark Fairbrother  413-367-2695
7-09-00 (Sun) Northern Worcester County.
Meet at Wachusett Meadow WS.
Gail Howe  508-757-3014
7-09-00 (Sun) Outer Cape Cod.
Meet at MAS Wellfleet Bay WS
Jackie Sones 508-432-6348
7-12-00 (Wed) Northern Berkshire County (North Adams).
Meet at McDonald's, corner of Rt. 8 & 116, Adams. Call for time.
Mark Fairbrother 413-367-2695
7-15-00 (Sat) Concord. Dick Walton 978-369-3729
7-15-00 (Sat) Saratoga County Airport, N.Y.
(Karner Blue count)
Roger Pease 413-734-3134 x143 
7-15-00
[? Rain date: July 16 ?]
(Sat) Southern Berkshire County (Sheffield).
Meet at MAS Pleasant Valley WS.
Rene Laubach 413-637-0320
7-15-00
Rain date: July 16
(Sat) Martha's Vineyard.
 See note below.
  
Matt Pelikan 508-696-6068

NOTE: For the Vineyard and the Falmouth Counts, there are overnight accommodations at Alison's in Woods Hole (Real beds!) 
7-16-00 (Sun) Falmouth.
See note above.
More MBC members needed on this count. Please call Alison.
Alison Robb
508-540-2408
7-16-00 (Sun) Essex County.
Meet at MAS Ipswich River WS.
Bob Speare 978-887-9264
7-16-00
Rain date: July 23
(Sun) Bristol County.
Meet at  Lloyd Ctr for the Environment
($4 Lloyd Ctr for the Environment members; $6 non-members)
Mark Mello 508-990-0505
7-19-00 (Wed) Lower Pioneer Valley Roger Pease 413-734-3134 x143 
7-22-00 (Sat) Central Berkshire County, (Lenox).
Meet at MAS Pleasant Valley WS.
Tom Tyning 413-637-0320
? call  ? call Steuben, Maine Richard Hildreth 508-429-5085

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NABA-MBC-BI Field Trips 2000

Field trips are FREE unless noted in the description.

MBC Members are welcome to come on Amherst and Broad Meadow Brook Butterfly Institute 2000 field trips even if not registered for the course. Indeed, your expertise will be welcome! Please call the trip or institute leader for time, etc.

Date Time Location Contact
April 01
Sat
Field
Trip:
12noon
Tom G. will lead a trip for Mourning Cloaks, E. Commas, and Comptons. For field trip, meet at entrance to Mt. Tom State Reservation in Holyoke, (off Rt. 5 on right opposite the ski outfitters store; go under Rt. 91) Tom Gagnon
413-584-6353
MBC
Mtg:
3:30 pm
MBC Spring Meeting,  Hitchcock Center, Amherst. (On Rt. 116, 1 mi south of Amherst ctr) See MBC Club Meetings
Beginning
April 15 
? call  Regular walks in Falmouth area with Nature's Circle.
Butterflies, birds, plants, coastal systems.
Alison Robb
508-540-2408

April 28
Sat
1pm Spring Butterfly program, Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary. Pamet Valley, Truro. Elfins, duskywings, and other spring fliers. (fee = ??) Jackie Sones
508-349-2615

 Also at the Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary:
          Weekly butterfly walks , Mondays, 2pm, July 24-Aug 30
          Weekly Butterfly Garden tours, Tuesdays, 3:30 pm, July 25-Sept 5
May 6
Sat
10:00am South Amherst and Turners Falls airport for Elfins. Meet at Hitchcock Center. Amherst Butterfly Institute trip. Dave Small
978-249-2094

May 7
Sun
? call West Rock State Park, New Haven CT. Joint with Connecticut Butterfly Assn. (or  Cba ?).  Falcate Orangetip, Juniper Hairstreak,  Brown Elfin, Mourning Cloak, warblers. Please call Tom for car-pooling details. Tom Dodd
508-529-3392

May 13
Sat
9am ferry from Woods Hole Martha's Vineyard trip. Great opportunity to see scrubland/old field species: possibilities include Hoary, E.Pine, Brown and Frosted Elfins; Juvenals, Wild Indigo, Sleepy and Dreamy Duskywings; Juniper Hairstreak; Cobweb Skipper and others. Ferry ($5) leaves Woods Hole about 9am; (parking about $12). Return about 5pm. Trip leaders will organize car transport on Island. Call trip leader Matt for further info and to confirm your participation. Matt Pelikan
508- 696-6068

May 14
Sun
10:30am Eastman Brook, Amherst for Olive Hairstreaks.
Amherst Butterfly Institute trip.
Tom Gagnon
413-584-6353
May 19
Fri
1pm Spring Butterfly Program, Wellfleet Bay WS, and Marconi Light. (fee = $ ??) Jackie Sones
508-349-2615

May 20
Sat
? call Broad Meadow Brook WS.  Broad Meadow Brook Butterfly Institute trip Gail Howe
508-753-6087
May 27
Sat
8:30am  in Amherst, or
9:30am
 in Petersham 

 

Tom Swamp, Petersham. Possible Bog Elfin. [One was seen here last year.] In Amherst meet Tom at Hitchcock Ctr at 8:30am. Or meet Dave at Petersham Common at 9:30am.  Broad Meadow Brook and Amherst Butterfly Institute trip.  Dave Small
978-249-2094
Tom Gagnon
413-584-6353
May 28
Sun
10am - 2pm Broad Meadow Brook WS. Search for Arctic Skipper, plus Cobweb and Pepper & Salt Skippers!  Meet at BMB parking lot. Call to confirm. Gail Howe
508-753-6087, or
508-757-3014 (H)
Also at the Broad Meadow Brook Wildlife Sanctuary:
         Monthly butterfly counts. Call for details.
June 3
Sat
10am - 12noon Delany WMA, Stow. Large fields of vetch have produced numbers of  Silvery Blues in recent years -- over 100 seen last year! Broad Meadow Brook Butterfly Institute trip.  Barbara Walker
508-754-8819,
Susan Barry
508-795-1147
June 4
Sun
? call Mt. Greylock Reservation. Meet at Stop & Shop parking lot in Northampton.  Amherst Butterfly Institute trip.  Tom Gagnon,
Monica Jakuc
413-584-6353
June 4
Sun
8:30am "Birds and Butterflies" Mt. Greylock  & Moran Refuge. Early Hairstreak,  Arctic Skipper, Silvery Blue, Mourning Warbler! Meet at Fish Ladder Park in Turners Falls at 8:30 am. With Athol Bird and Nature Club. Mark Fairbrother
413-367-2695
June 10
Sat

10am - 12noon
West Hill Dam.  Broad Meadow Brook Butterfly Institute trip.
[?? what town is
this in?--scb]
Tom and Cathy Dodd
508-529-3392  
June 10
Sat
10am Eastman Brook for Harris'  Checkerspot. Meet at Hitchcock Ctr.  Amherst Butterfly Institute trip. Dottie Case,
Tom Gagnon
413-665-2941
June 11
Sun
11am - 2pm Broad Meadow Brook WS. Late spring Butterflies
[see Aug 20. Jo-Ann or Jo-anne?]
Jo-anne Mullen
508-757-2168
June 17
Sat
9:30am Dalphanais Park, Grafton. Broad Meadow Brook Butterfly Institute trip. Dolores Price
508-839-2299
June 18
Sun
10am - 12noon Martin Burns WMA, Newburyport. Harris' Checkerspot and other species. From Rt. 1 North turn left onto Middle Rd. after crossing Parker River. Follow Middle Rd, bearing right at a fork onto Orchard St (no sign). MBWMA is on the right after passing Newbury Perennial Gardens. Meet in parking lot. Sharon Stichter
978-465-2902
June 24
Sat
10am - 12noon Arnold Arboretum, Jamaica Plain.  Search for Hackberry Emperor. Dale  will monitor hackberry trees and  send out a prognosis by email. Meet inside Arboretum in front of Hunnewell Bldg. Parking around perimeter of Arboretum & elsewhere-call. Dale Rhoda
617-983-9716

June 24
Sat
9:30am Mt. Holyoke, and Forest Park, Springfield. Amherst Butterfly Institute trip. Meet  at Hitchcock Ctr at 9:30. Dottie Case
Tom Gagnon
413-665-2941
June 25
Sun
10am - 2pm Royalston area. Search for Silver-Bordered Fritillaries, Harris'  Checkerspot. Meet at Town Hall, Royalston Center. Co-sponsored with Royalston Library. Carl Kamp
978-249-9675

July 1
Sat
10am Northampton West Meadows. Meet in parking lot of the Bowling Alley, Route 5 in Northampton Tom Gagnon
413-584-6353
July 8
Sat
1pm Ipswich River WS , Topsfield. Butterfly Walk for Adults (fee & prereg) Bob Speare
978-887-9264
July 16
Sun
? call Atlantis, Aphrodite Fritillaries, Coral Hairstreaks, Wild Orchids and more! Visit to a private old farm in Cummington that has a huge milkweed patch plus the rare Bottle-brush grass. Then, Hawley Bog for orchids, and time permitting, Hawley State Forest for White Admirals, Red-spotted Purples, fritillaries. PLEASE CALL after 8pm SAT EVE TO SEE IF THIS TRIP WILL TAKE PLACE.  If the Southern Berkshire count on 7/15 is rained out, most of us will go there on Sun. Tom Gagnon
413-584-6353
July 29
Sat
1pm Ipswich River WS, Topsfield. Family Butterfly Walk (fee & prereg) Bob Speare
978-887-9264
August 5
Sat
? call Forbush Bird Club, "Birds and Butterflies". Broad Meadow Brook WS and other areas.  Call for time and meeting place. Lyn Lovell
508-473-7327
August 5
Sat
9:30am Hackberry and Tawny Emperors, Zabulon Skippers. Meet at Fannie Stebbins Refuge parking lot at end of Bark Haul Road, off Rt. 5 in Longmeadow. After this, we'll go to Forest Park in Springfield. Last year this trip produced 13 Hackberry Emperors and 53 Zabulons (New state high record count!) Also: possible optional side trip to see Little Yellows! Call Karen. Tom Gagnon
413-584-6353
Karen Parker
413-525-2230
August 5
Sat
10am - 2pm Wachusett Reservoir and area. Variegated Fritillaries often found here. Tom Dodd
508-529-3392
August 12
Sat
10am - 1pm Holland, MA.  Call for meeting place and itinerary. Lyn Lovell
508-473-7327
August 19
Sat
9:30am Wenham Canal.  Meet at Ipswich River WS to check Fred's beautiful Butterfly Garden. Then carpool to Wenham Canal, managed by Salem/Beverly Water Board. An abundance of species and individuals found here; last year saw Buckeyes and Variegated Frits. Fred Goodwin
978-887-9264
      -887-6853
August 20
Sun
11am - 2pm MAS Broad Meadow Brook WS, Worcester. Search for Leonard's Skipper in  extensive sedge marsh there. Bring boots.
[see June 10. Jo-Ann or Jo-anne?]
Jo-Ann Mullen
508-757-2168
Sept 9
Sat
10am - 12noon Upton/Mendon gas lines. Numerous Silver- Bordered Fritillaries often found here. Tom Dodd
508-529-3392
Sept 2, 9, 16, 23, 30,
Oct 7, 14
Sat
? call Migration Watch, Gooseberry Neck [town?].  Every Sat in Sept and early October  Brian and other MBC members will be here counting migrating Monarchs, American Ladies, Question Marks and others. Go past Horseneck Beach parking lot, Rt. 88, turn right onto Gooseberry Neck. Call for time and other details. See associated article in Massachusetts Butterflies Brian Cassie
508-543-3512
Sept 17
Sun
Field
Trip:
9:45am

Glocester and Rockport. To Eastern Point to check on the Monarch migration, then to other local sites for Silver-bordered Fritillaries and...the rare Fiery Skipper and Long-tailed Skipper seen in previous years!  Meet at Para Research Building in Gloucester. Call Doug or Claudia for directions. Doug Savich,
Claudia Tibbets
978-283-7869
MBC
Mtg:
after lunch
After lunch (byo), we'll have the Club business meeting. See MBC Club Meetings

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August 2000 Update

LATE SUMMER EVENT UPDATE

 

Speaker and New Location for Gloucester Meeting ,

Sunday, September 17, 2000

The Club is delighted to have Tim Simmons, Restoration Ecologist with the Massachusetts Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program, as our special guest at the Gloucester meeting. Tim will give a slide presentation on "Protecting and Managing Invertebrates in Mass." Tim has recently been involved in several habitat restoration projects in Massachusetts, and is interested in improving communications with the Club about butterfly monitoring and conservation. Six butterfly species, as well as many other lepidoptera, are currently listed in Massachusetts as Endangered, Threatened, or of Special Concern.

This event will take place in the function room at Halibut Point State Park at about 2 pm.

For the morning field trip, meet as usual at the Para Research

Building in Gloucester at 9:45 am. After the field trip, we will carpool to Halibut Point State Park for lunch (byo), business meeting, and speaker. Host Doug Savich will provide directions and a map. For further information call Doug or Claudia at 978-283-7869.

The main item on the Agenda for the Business Meeting is to announce the results of the annual election of officers (Ballot enclosed.)

Members are encouraged to bring up any items of new business.

 

Update on Migration Watch

Brian Cassie will try to be at Gooseberry Neck every Saturday in Sept and early Oct., except for Sept 16. Anyone interested in joining him should always call ahead, especially in poor weather. Call him at 508-543-3512, or 543-5920 if the first line is busy.

Reminders

Counts: all Fourth of July Count results should have been sent to Tom Dodd by August 1.

Massachusetts Butterflies: All material for the Fall issue of our journal --articles, drawings, photos—- should be sent to Alison Robb by August 30.

MBC Goes Online!

Well,almost. We don’t yet have our own web page, but all our events listings and other information can be found on the Athol Bird and Nature Club site, courtesy of Dave Small. The address is www.massbird.org/athol, then click on the MBC link. Or, go to http://mrec-athol.org/mbc/index.htm.

And, as many of you know there is a lepidoptera discussion group where sightings are reported. To subscribe to this listserve, go to http://masslep.listbot.com. Thereafter, postings are sent to masslep. You will receive a lot of mail!

Election for VP East

Sharon Stichter wants to thank everyone who volunteered to lead field trips and organize meetings and counts. She has enjoyed serving as Vice-President East for the past two years, but is not able to continue for next year. However, she will continue as an active Club member, and looks forward to seeing people at future Club activities.


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