Check back next year for 2013 field trips.

A Harvester butterfly, found during a SWBA field trip to Jackson County. The caterpillars of this butterfly are strictly carnivorous! Photograph by Ann Thering (Copyright 2008)

2012 field trips dates are listed below. Trips or counts may be canceled in the case of inclement or even cool cloudy weather because butterflies can be hard to find in such conditions. Please call the field trip leader to make sure trip will meet if weather is questionable. All trips are free, with the exception of the $3 fee for the Madison Butterfly Count.

2012 Field Trips

May 19–Butterflies of Bauer-Brockway Barrens (Jackson County)
10:30 a.m. - 3 p.m. (Saturday)
Trip Leader: Mike Reese
Pre-registration Required

The best place in the state to look for early butterflies in May is Jackson County. Mike Reese will lead us in finding and observing many scarce and unusual species. We expect to find various elfins including the very rare (and State Threatened) Frosted Elfin. We should find Olympia Marble, Gorgone Checkerspot, Cobweb Skipper, Dreamy and Sleepy duskywings, etc. Bring binoculars if you have them, close-focusing ones work best. (A few extra pairs of binoculars are available.) Also, bring a bag lunch and water. A hat, long pants and long sleeves are recommended. This is a joint trip of SWBA with the Madison Audubon Society.

Directions: Meet in Jackson Co. at 10:30 a.m. at the corner of West Bauer Road and Brockway Road. (This area is about 2 1/4 hours northwest of Madison via I-94.) From the intersection of I-94 and Hwy 54 in Black River Falls, go east on Hwy 54 approximately 5 miles to Brockway Road. Turn right on Brockway and drive 2.5 miles south to West Bauer Road. Participants must pre-register for this trip by calling Mike at (920) 787-2341 or include your phone number in an email to mikereese@wisconsinbutterflies.org (so we can contact you in case of cancellation due to weather).

Pleasant Valley Conservancy is a beautiful state natural area situated in the Driftless Area, with steep goat prairies, oak savanna, and a large high quality marsh. The various habitats are home to numerous butterflies. This time of year we hope to see Baltimore Checkerspots and perhaps some rare wetland skippers. Other possible butterfly species include swallowtails, Silvery Checkerspot, fritillaries, blues, and sulphurs. All of these butterflies should have many plants to nectar on this time of year. We will be hiking about two miles. Long pants, a hat, water, and sturdy hiking shoes are recommended. This is a joint trip of SWBA with The Prairie Enthusiasts and the Madison Audubon Society. Optional: bring along a bag lunch for after the field trip; beverages and dessert will be provided. Bring binoculars--the closer they focus, the better. (We have a few extra binoculars.) Contact the trip leaders only if you have a question about the trip: Tom: (608) 238-5050, tdbrock@charter.net, or Ann, acthering@gmail.com, (608) 836-1097.

Directions: We are meeting down the road a a bit from where we have met in the past. Heading south into downtown Black Earth follow County Hwy F as it turns right (west).  After a mile or so, F turns left (south). Continue on F for another 3 3/4 miles turning left onto Pleasant Valley Road. Drive 1/2 mile (you will pass some buildings on the right) stop at the state natural area sign/chain link fence on the left. Park off the road. We'll gather around the gate area before walking into the wetland area.

On this morning walk we'll observe and learn about butterflies, those small but exquisitely beautiful creatures that dance about our ankles in summer. Karl and Dorothy Legler will lead this 2-hour walk at Cherokee Marsh on the northeast side of Madison. We will observe a variety of butterflies as they take nectar from wildflowers, and learn about their identification, behavior, and lifestyle. Bring binoculars if you have them--close-focusing ones work best. We have a few extra pairs of binoculars. It's best to wear long pants and a hat for protection from the sun. This is a joint trip of SWBA with the Madison Audubon Society and Friends of Cherokee Marsh.

Directions: On the north side of Madison take Northport Drive (Highway 113) then turn north on Sherman Ave. Meet at the Cherokee Marsh parking lot at the north end of Sherman Ave. Call the Leglers at (608) 643-4926 only if you have a question about the trip.

July 1–Madison Butterfly Count
9 a.m. - noon (Sunday)
$3 fee; Count Leaders: Karl and Dorothy Legler

This is our 22nd annual butterfly count! Co-sponsors are SWBA, the UW Arboretum, and the Madison Audubon Society. Each summer butterfly enthusiasts all over North America participate in more than 483 censuses of butterfly species. Each count is similar to a Christmas Bird Count. These censuses help to monitor the health of our butterfly populations. The results are published in an annual report for North America. If you can identify butterflies, or can help spot butterflies, or just want to see and learn about butterflies, join us on this 3-hour count/field-trip. Bring binoculars, the closer they focus the better. We have a few extra binoculars. Dress for protection from the heat and sun; a hat is recommended. The North American Butterfly Association (NABA) requires a $3 fee from each participant to help cover publishing costs.

Directions: Meet at the parking lot for the Grady Tract in the UW Arboretum. Heading west on the Beltline (Hwy 12), take the Seminole Hwy exit and then turn left (south) on Seminole Hwy driving across the bridge over the Beltline turning immediately into the parking lot for the Grady Tract. If you have a question about the butterfly count, contact leaders Karl and Dorothy Legler at (608) 643-4926 or karlndot@charter.net.

July 7–Butterflies of Sandhill Wildlife Area (Wood County)
10 a.m. - 3 p.m. (Saturday)
Trip Leader: Ron Arnold

The Sandhill State Wildlife Area, in Wood County, covers more than 14 square miles. It is managed by the Wisconsin DNR as a living laboratory for wildlife management techniques. Sandhill has large marshes and many flowages, interspersed with low sandy uplands, pine and oak barrens and restored prairies.  Butterfly enthusiast Ron Arnold has been surveying the butterflies at Sandhill for 20 years. On this trip Ron will lead us in finding such beauties as Acadian and Coral hairstreaks, Aphrodite Fritillary, the rare Two-spotted Skipper, Bronze Copper, Eyed Brown, Northern Pearly-eye, White Admiral and many others. Skippers will include Black Dash, Broad-winged, Dion, Long Dash and many others. We may see the beautiful Baltimore Checkerspot, Harris' Checkerspot and the Federally Endangered Karner Blue. If time permits, we could also visit a nearby spruce/tamarack bog. If you want to walk in the bog bring boots. Bog Coppers have been seen there.

Bring binoculars, the closer they focus the better. We will have a few extra pairs of binoculars. Also bring insect repellent to protect against mosquitoes and ticks. A hat, long sleeves and long pants are recommended. Bring a bag lunch and water. This is a joint trip of SWBA and the Madison Audubon Society.

Meet at 10:00 a.m. at the Sandhill Headquarters parking lot. (The tour will last until 3:00 p.m.)  DIRECTIONS: Take I-90/94 up to the New Lisbon area in Juneau Co. and take Hwy 80 north. In Wood County, just 1/3 mile before Babcock, turn left onto County X. Go 1 1/4 mile on X to the Sandhill entrance. (Allow at least 1 hour and 45 minutes for travel.) Call Ron at (715) 424-2996 if you have a question about the trip. On the day of the trip, Ron will have his cell phone on: (715) 741-0052.  If rain threatens, call Ron to see if the trip must be cancelled due to weather.

July 15–Prettty Things with Wings: Birds, Butterflies and Dragonflies of Lakeshore Nature Preserve
10 a.m. - noon (Sunday)
Trip Leader: Edgar Spalding

On this two-hour walk in the Picnic Point area we expect to see interesting bird species and at least half a dozen species of dragonflies and twice as many different butterflies. The walking route will include the edge of Mendota's University Bay, the woods of Picnic Point, and the Biocore Prairie. Bring your binoculars--the closer they focus the better. We will have a few extra binoculars. This trip is co-sponsored by SWBA, Friends of the Lakeshore Nature Preserve and the Madison Audubon Society.

Meet at the Picnic Point Parking Lot, along University Bay Drive, on the UW campus. Call Edgar at (608) 265-5294 or 831-0616 only if you have a question about the trip or if the weather is questionable.

July 21–Flowers, Butterflies and Birds of Schurch-Thomson Prairie

10 a.m. - noon (Saturday)

Trip Leaders: Rich Henderson and Dr. Douglas Buege

We will visit The Prairie Enthusiasts' Schurch-Thomson Prairie, and the adjacent privately owned Underwood Prairie. The latter is closed to the public, so this is a great opportunity to see it up close. These and adjacent properties form a complex of remnant prairie and CRP grasslands that are rich with grassland birds and other prairie animals. Summer flowers will be in bloom, and we hope to see the rare Regal Fritillary and other butterflies. Be prepared for a long hike and bring binoculars for butterfly viewing (the closer they can focus the better). This is a joint trip of The Prairie Enthusiasts, Southern Wis. Butterfly Association, and Madison Audubon Society. Leaders are Rich Henderson and Dr. Douglas Buege.

The trip will last until noon.

Directions:  From Hwy 151 at Blue Mounds take F south (note: F makes a right turn). After 5 miles turn right onto Reilly Road. Go to the end and park by the barn. Call Rich at (608) 845-7065 only if you have a question about the trip.

August 11–Butterflies of the Avoca/Blue River Area
10:30 - 4 p.m. (Saturday)
Trip Leader: Mike Reese

In some years, this can be the best butterfly trip of the year! This trip will highlight several areas in the Lower Wisconsin State Riverway, including Avoca Prairie and Savanna State Natural Area in Iowa County, and the Blue River unit in Grant County. We expect to see late butterflies and several unusual southern immigrants. A hat and long pants are recommended. Bring a lunch and binoculars (the closer they focus the better). A few extra binoculars are available. This is a joint trip of SWBA and the Madison Audubon Society.

Directions: Allow 50 minutes of travel time from Middleton. Take Hwy 14 west to Lone Rock, south on Hwy 130 then turn right on Hwy 133. Go west about 5 miles, turn right on Hay Rd, and drive north to the parking lot just before the creek. Call Mike at (920) 787-2341 if you have a question about the trip.

10 a.m. - noon (Saturday)
Trip Leader: Dreux Watermolen

Join us on a walk through the lovely Pheasant Branch Conservancy in Middleton. The many beautiful asters should be in bloom, and we hope lots of butterflies will be nectaring on these flowers. We can expect several species, including Monarchs, sulfurs, blues, and possibly some southern immigrants, such as Common Buckeye and Painted Lady. You never know what you may find! We will also learn more about restoration efforts at the conservancy. Long pants, a hat, water, and sturdy hiking shoes are recommended. Close-focusing binoculars are also useful. (We will have a few extra binoculars.) We will hike two or three miles. Co-sponsors with SWBA are Friends of the Pheasant Branch Conservancy, the Madison Audubon Society and Wisconsin Wetlands Association. Contact the trip leader only if you have questions: Dreux Watermolen: (608) 266-8931, dreux.watermolen (at) Wisconsin.gov

Directions: At the west end of Lake Mendota take Allen Boulevard north, then turn left on Century Avenue (Co. M). Track your mileage as you turn right onto Old Creek Road and then right on Pheasant Branch Road going north 1.2 miles to the small county parking lot at the beginning of the gated road.