Below is a list of our upcoming field trips. Feel free to invite a friend, or even better, several friends! An experienced field trip leader will show beginners how to use field marks to identify butterflies in the wild. Beginners and children accompanied by adults are welcome on every butterfly walk and count. Directions to each location are found at the end of the Calendar. Water, hat, and sunscreen are recommended for every outing. Tick prevention methods include wearing long pants and using insect repellent.

Sun. June 5. Butterfly Walk at Dave Berry’s Ozark property in Dent County. The field trip last year was a great success, so we are pleased that Dave invited us back! If we are lucky, we might see the stunning Baltimore Checkerspot, an Ozark specialty that is rarely seen in the St. Louis area. Large numbers of butterflies are usually flying in the Ozarks at this time of year and there will be a variety of wildflowers in bloom. Bring lunch and water. The terrain is hilly and somewhat rough in places, but we will walk at a slow pace. Driving time from I-270 and I-44 is approximately 2 hours and 15 minutes. Directions can be found at the end of the Calendar. We plan to meet at the entrance gate to Dave’s property around 10:00 a.m. For those who want to carpool or caravan, contact Yvonne (homeyerATearthlink.net). On the way home, there will be an optional stop for a late lunch or early dinner at The Feed Lot in Cuba. This field trip is worth the drive. Leader: Dave Berry.

Sat. June 11. Our first field trip for the Swamp Metalmark Survey, at Cuivre River State Park. Although our target butterfly is the Swamp Metalmark, we will be looking at all butterflies! We will meet at 10:00 at the Visitor Center of the Park.

Sun. June 12. Our first 4^th of July Count of the season will take place at Shaw Nature Reserve. Meet at Gatehouse parking lot at 9:30 a.m. This is a peak time for butterflies at the Reserve, we could easily see more than 30 species for the day. Bring lunch. Coordinator: Ron Goetz. See article below.

Fri. June 17. 7:00 p.m. NABA dinner at Sweet Tomatoes Restaurant, a salad buffet. Sweet Tomatoes is located on Watson Rd. across from Lindburgh Cadillac about 1/2 mile west of Sappington (Crestwood Plaza). Reservations not required but helpful in knowing how many tables to put together. Email Yvonne Homeyer at: homeyerATearthlink.net. See article below.

Sat. June 18. The Springfield, IL "4^th of July Count". The sand prairies of Mason County, IL are a unique habitat covered by this Count. Regal Fritillaries, Ottoe Skipper and American Copper are regularly seen, while Coral Hairstreak and Reakirt’s Blue are also possible, so in a single day you can see 4 or 5 species that are not found in St. Louis. During the count you will sometimes be driving on sandy farm roads; 4-wheel-drive vehicle is preferable. Count Coordinator: Susan Dees.

Sat. June 25. We will return to Cuivre River State Park for our second walk searching for the Swamp Metalmark. Meet at the Visitor Center at 10:00.

Sun. June 26. Third MDC Butterfly Count at Busch Wildlife in St. Charles County. Meet at 10:00 a.m. at the Butterfly Garden near the Visitor’s Center. Leader: Jim Ziebol.

Sun. June 26. "Grow Wild" Garden Tour. See article below.

Sun. July 3. Our 4^th of July Count at Busch Wildlife in St. Charles County. We will drive to each location and take short walks. Meet at 10:00 at the Butterfly Garden (bottom of parking lot at Visitor’s Center). The count will end around 12:30. Bring lunch. We will meet at the Pavilion behind the Visitor’s Center to eat and turn in the Count results. Leader: Jim Ziebol.

Sat. July 16. Butterfly Walk at Riverlands (NEW). Meet at 10:00 a.m. at the Visitor’s Center of Riverlands. A well-known birding location (especially in the winter for gulls), Riverlands offers riparian and field habitat along the Mississippi River. The group will likely continue on to Confluence Park which adjoins Riverlands, for more butterflies and a spectacular view of the convergence of the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers. Easy walking, flat terrain, but no shade. Bring lunch. Leader: Torrey Berger.

Sat. July 23. Richard & Susan Day host their 4^th of July Count on their rural property near Alma, IL, about 1.5 hours from the Arch. Meet at their house at 10:00 a.m. Susan’s extensive butterfly gardens offer spectacular close-up views of many species of butterflies, and photo opportunities abound. A short walk through the woods leads to the restored wetlands in what used to be a soybean field. Little walking involved. Bring lunch, which we will enjoy from the shaded gazebo. If you haven’t yet made this trip, it is worth the drive. Coordinators and Companionable Hosts: Richard & Susan Day.

Saves These Dates: Sat. 8/7 (Two Rivers NWR near Grafton, IL); Sat. 8/20 (Little Creve Coeur Lake near Creve Coeur Park); Sun. 8/21 (Horseshoe Lake near Granite City, IL); Sun. 9/18 (Busch Wildlife); and Sat. 10/8 at Hilda Young C.A. Details will be in the July newsletter.

DIRECTIONS:

Dave Berry’s Property: For directions please Email Yvonne Homeyer at: homeyerATearthlink.net

Cuivre River State Park (2 options given):

OPTION #1: From the intersection of I-270 and Hwy. 40/64, take Highway 40/64 west and travel approximately 25 miles until you come to the intersection with I-70 at Wentzville. Get on Hwy 61 north/west and travel approximately 14 miles to Hwy. 47 at Troy. At Hwy. 47, turn right (east) and travel for approximately 3 miles to Hwy. 147 (watch for Park signs). Turn left (north) off of Hwy. 47 onto Hwy. 147 and travel 2 miles to the Visitor Center on the left.

OPTION #2: From the intersection of I-270 and I-70, travel west on I-70 for 12 miles to Hwy. 79 (Exit 220). Turn right (north) onto Hwy. 79 and travel for 14 miles to Hwy. 47. turn left (west) onto Hwy. 47 and travel approximately 10 miles to Hwy. 147 (watch for Park signs). Turn right (north) onto Hwy. 147 and travel 2 miles to the Visitor Center on the left.

Shaw Nature Reserve: Starting at the junction of I-270 and I-44, travel west on I-44 for approximately 23 miles to Hwy. 100/Gray Summit Exit (Exit #253). Upon exiting, turn left (cross over I-44) on Hwy. 100. Turn right (west) immediately after crossing I-44 and travel 0.1 mile and turn left into the Shaw Nature Reserve entrance. The Visitors’ Center is just inside the gate. Note: there is a modest entrance fee for non-Missouri Botanical Garden members.

Busch Wildlife Conservation Area: From St. Louis County, take I-64 (Hwy 40) across the Missouri River bridge and exit at Hwy. 94. Go left (south) on Hwy 94 approximately 1 mile to Hwy D. Turn right onto Hwy D and go about 1.5 miles to the entrance on your right. Turn right and at the T intersection, turn right again and proceed to the parking lot at the Visitor's Center. Meet at the Jim Ziebol Butterfly Garden at the bottom of the parking lot.

Riverlands: Take I-270 and exit at Hwy. 367 north. Stay on 367 until just before the Clark Bridge that crosses the river into Alton (do not cross bridge!). At the Fisca gas station on the Missouri side of the bridge, turn right into Riverlands and go straight on the main road. The Visitor’s Center is on the left. The Visitor’s Center is closed on weekends; however, rustic toilets are available along the main road – just continue on about a 1/4 mile beyond the Visitor’s Center.

Alma, IL: Please contact Yvonne Homeyer ( homeyerATearthlink.net ) for directions to Richard & Susan Day's property.

2. NABA GET-TOGETHER DINNER ON FRIDAY, JUNE 17

Join NABA-St. Louis for dinner at Sweet Tomatoes Restaurant on Watson Road at 7:00 p.m. on Friday, June 17. We’re trying to offer more opportunities, besides our field outings, for people to get to know one another better and have a relaxing time. It isn’t required that you RSVP but it is helpful to know how many people to expect, so the restaurant can put several tables together for us. So if you know in advance that you’re coming, let Yvonne know (homeyerATearthlink.net) but feel free to make a last-minute decision and come anyway! Sweet Tomatoes is a buffet-style restaurant with an extensive selection of salads, soups, pasta, fruit and desserts. It is located on Watson Road across from Lindburgh Cadillac about ½ mile west of Sappington (Crestwood Plaza).

3. BUTTERFLY REPORT for APRIL and MAY by Yvonne Homeyer

April Addendum: Jeannie Moe saw a Juniper Hairstreak at Little Rock Creek Natural Area on 4/16. On 4/19, she found a Henry’s Elfin at Shaw Nature Reserve. Torrey Berger had a good selection of butterflies between 4/4 and 4/18: Red Admiral, Cabbage White, Painted Lady and Orange Sulphur at Marais Temps Claire Conservation Area on 4/4; Red Admiral, Painted Lady, Tiger Swallowtail, Falcate Orangetip and Orange Sulphur at Tower Grove Park on 4/12; 6 Pipevine Swallowtails, 4 Zebra Swallowtails, 6 Tiger Swallowtails, 5 Spring Azures, 1 E. Comma, 1 Mourning Cloak and 100+ Juvenal’s Duskywings on 4/15 at Rockwood; 2 Henry’s Elfins at Babler on 4/15; and on 4/18 at Little Creve Coeur Lake, Black and Tiger Swallowtails, Pearl Crescent; Orange Sulphur, and Duskywing species.

Jim Ziebol, Mary-Eileen Rufkahr and Yvonne Homeyer showed up on 4/30, a sunny but cool morning, for the butterfly walk at Route 66 State Park. Since the main road was still closed due to new road construction, we headed over to Hilda Young C.A. It took a while for the butterflies to start up but we saw Black, Pipevine and Zebra Swallowtails, Horace’s Duskywing, Eastern Tailed-Blues, and Spring Azure.

May Sightings: On 5/1, Yvonne’s combined list of butterflies at two locations in St. Charles County - Busch C.A. and Lost Valley Trail – consisted of only 6 species, with fresh Pearl Crescents being the most numerous. That same day, Bill Rowe found a Red-banded Hairstreak at Weldon Spring C.A. Although sunny, the temperature stayed in the low 60s and there was a stiff breeze, all of which kept more butterflies from being seen that day.

Warmer weather a few days later made it feel like summer was here to stay. On 5/5, Jim Ziebol saw a Zabulon Skipper at Tyson, and he found a late Henry’s Elfin and the first Silver-spotted Skipper at Hilda Young. On 5/7, Mary-Eileen Rufkahr observed a Silver-spotted Skipper in her garden and 3 were seen at Horseshoe Lake (JZ).

On 5/8 at Hilda Young C.A., Jim found a Mottled Duskywing; he also saw the year’s first Little Yellow. Ann Earley spotted 2 Giant Swallowtails in Warren County that same day. Yvonne and Jim counted 18 species at Busch on 5/14, including Bronze Copper, Great Spangled Fritillary, Viceroy, Least Skipper, Red-spotted Purple, and Giant, Spicebush, Tiger and Zebra Swallowtails.

The walk with Friends of Tyson on 5/15 drew about 20 people, including NABA members Dave Larson (leader), Kate Boden, Jim Ziebol, Dave Berry, Ann Early, Bob Siemer, Mary Eileen Rufkahr, Tom O’Gorman, and Yvonne Homeyer. We saw Pipevine, Zebra and Tiger (black form) Swallowtails, Spring Azure, Eastern-tailed Blue, Silvery Checkerspot, a Lady species, Peck’s Skipper and Zabulon Skipper. Incredibly, there were no sulphurs or Cabbage Whites seen. Once commonly viewed along roadsides and in open fields, these species have declined at a rapid rate in the last few years. After the walk, Jim, Yvonne and Mary Eileen continued on to Hilda Young, where we saw 1 Monarch, 1 Bell’s Roadside, 1 Peck’s, 1 Crossline and 1 Zabulon Skipper.

Cloudless Sulphur, a migrant, was observed on 5/17 in the City by Jim Ziebol and at his prairie by Mark Peters, and on 5/19 at Shaw Nature Reserve by Ron Goetz. May 17 was also the first date for Little Wood Satyr (Hilda Young C.A. by Dennis Bozzay and Tyson by JZ).

Jim and Yvonne visited 5 spots in Franklin and Jefferson Counties on 5/21 and did not see a single Sulphur species! This is a troubling development. Declines in Sulphur populations have been pointed out in this newsletter over the last few years. In general, butterflies were slow on 5/21, despite optimum weather conditions. Of note were a Hackberry and Clouded Skipper at Union Access, and Pipevine Swallowtail, Zebra Swallowtail, 3 Great Spangled Fritillaries, 10 Cabbage Whites, 1 Viceroy, 1 American Lady, 2 Monarchs, 1 Zabulon, 1 Dun, and 1 Bell’s Roadside Skipper at Young C.A. The Mo. Dept. of Conservation Butterfly Count on 5/22 produced 18 species and 62 individuals, undoubtedly kept low by the overcast skies. Highlights included Red-spotted Purple, Great Spangled Fritillary, Hackberry, Question Mark, Little Wood Satyr, N. Cloudywing, and N. Broken Dash. The count was notable for the complete absence of any Sulphur species. Dennis Bozzay, Jim Ziebol, Mary Eileen Rufkahr and Yvonne Homeyer participated. Also on 5/22, Sarah George found Summer Azure, Hackberry, Pipevine Swallowtail, Tiger Swallowtail and Cabbage Whites at the Katy Trail.

A Black Swallowtail in Jane Schaefer’s basement was a surprise. It apparently overwintered in its chrysalis form on a plant she had brought indoors, without being noticed until it emerged. Torrey Berger has seen Tiger Swallowtails, Red Admirals and 1 Orange Sulphur in his yard in May; in April he had several Orange Sulphurs. A Monarch visited the Noe’s garden on 5/25 (their first sighting of the year); they have lots of milkweed plants to attract them. They have also seen Spring Azures and Cabbage Whites, and Bob saw a Black Swallowtail at Faust Park.

But the best has been saved for last. On 5/26, a rare butterfly visited Belle Warden’s garden in Madison, IL. Two years ago, Belle planted a Smooth Alder (purchased from Mo. Wildflower Nurseries in Jefferson City) in her yard. She selected this tree because a host food for a certain butterfly species is found on it – woolly aphids. Only one butterfly has caterpillars that are carnivorous, and that butterfly was visiting Belle’s yard on 5/26: the extremely elusive Harvester! Nice find, Belle. She also reported 3 Monarchs, one Monarch caterpillar on Common Milkweed, 4 Red Admirals and Cabbage Whites during May.

Contributors: Torrey Berger, Dave Berry, Ann Earley, Sarah George, Jack Harris, Yvonne Homeyer, Dave Larson, Jeannie Moe, Scott Marshall, Bob and Claudia Noe, Bill Rowe, Mary-Eileen Rufkahr, Jane Schaefer, Belle Warden, Jim Ziebol. Bold indicates first reported sighting of the year.

4. CALLING ALL BUTTERFLY GARDENERS! by Ann Earley

Your expertise is needed! The City of Hazelwood Parks Department is planning to convert some land in Birch Park to a butterfly/hummingbird garden and has asked NABA-St. Louis to provide some suggestions and advice on what plants they might use for this project and where to obtain them. This is a longer-range project, with actual work on the garden expected to begin in 2006. Education Committee Chair Mary-Eileen Rufkahr has volunteered to be the liaison with the city regarding this project and has already had conversations with city parks officials about their plans. However, she needs the expertise and suggestions of our member gardeners to assist the city with their planning. Initially, members are needed to go to the park, look at the area involved, and provide ideas and suggestions. This site visit will likely be scheduled sometime during June, depending on when interested members are available for a visit. For more information about this project, or to volunteer to visit the site or help with planting advice, please contact Mary-Eileen at: MERufkahrATaol.com.

5. THE "GROW WILD" GARDEN TOUR by Dana Barhard

Dear Nature Enthusiast,

The Shaw Nature Reserve, the Green Center, and WildOnes Natural Landscapers are sponsoring the Grow Wild Garden Tour, Sunday June 26, 2005. Eight gardens were selected that provide a variety of landscape styles from butterfly, prairie, woodland, wildlife, pond, wetland, and rock gardens.

The sponsoring organizations hope the tour will inspire visitors to introduce wildflowers and native plants into their own gardens for an attractive look and low maintenance. Each garden will have experts on hand who will be happy to talk about the many benefits and joys of native plant gardening.

Tickets are $10 per person in advance and $15 on the day of the tour at the Green Center. You may purchase tickets by calling (314) 725-8314, e-mailing events@thegreencenter.org, or printing the order form from website www.thegreencenter.org and sending in a check for the number of tickets needed.

A press release and flyer, which provide more information about the tour, are available on the Green Center website at www.thegreencenter.org by clicking on the Grow Wild Garden Tour in the calendar of events. For further information about the tour, please contact me.

Sincere thanks,

Dana Barhard, Volunteer Coordinator
The Green Center
8025 Blackberry
St. Louis, MO 63130
Phone: (314)725-8314; Fax: (314)725-4291
dbarhardATthegreencenter.org
www.thegreencenter.org

6. SHAW NATURE RESERVE COUNT INFORMATION by Ron Goetz

Shaw Nature Reserve is one of the premier sites in the Midwest to experience a variety of natural habitats. Bottomland forest, glades, prairies, wetlands and open upland forest have been preserved, restored and in some cases created through years of effort, and the floral displays can be stunning. And of course, the butterflies have prospered along with the flora: there are currently 80 species on the Shaw Nature Reserve list, and single day tallies of over 40 species have occurred on a number of occasions. I think a mid-June count could break the 50 species barrier if we have just the right conjunction of lingering first-brood skippers, a good hairstreak flight and plenty of sharp-eyed observers covering the grounds!

If you'd like to help, please contact me, Ron Goetz (e-mail regoetzATmindspring.com). Let me know how much walking you want to do and I'll find a route for you (I'll even give you a map of your route with the distance already measured, so you'll only need to worry about recording butterflies and hours in the field). With the exception of one or two parties, participants should be prepared to spend several hours on foot; insect repellent and plenty of water are essential.

7. AND MORE...