The 2013 field trips have been announced! Dates below, details to be added.

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)

2013 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.

2013 Field Trips

Saturday, May 18, Butterflies of Bauer Brockway Barrens (Jackson Co.), Mike Reese

Saturday, June 22, Butterflies of Cherokee Marsh, Dr. Douglas Buege

Saturday, June 29, Madison Butterfly Count, Karl and Dorothy Legler

Thursday, July 4, Butterflies and Dragonflies of Swamp Lovers Preserve, Tod Highsmith, Leglers

Saturday, July 6, Butterflies of Sandhill State Wildlife Area (Wood Co.), Ron Arnold

Saturday, July 13, Butterflies and Dragonflies of Summerton Bog, Dan Sonnenberg, Leglers

Sunday, July 14, Birds, Butterflies and Dragonflies of Lakeshore Nature Preserve, Edgar Spalding

Saturday, July 20, Flowers and Butterflies of Schurch-Thomson Prairie, Rich Henderson, TBA 

Sunday, July 21, Prairie Restoration for Karner Blue Butterflies, John Shillinglaw, Mike Reese

Saturday, August 10, Butterflies of Avoca/Blue River (Lower Wis. Riverway), Mike Reese

Saturday, August 24, Butterflies and Blossoms at Pheasant Branch Conservancy, Dreux Watermolen

2013 Field Trip Details

Saturday, May 18:  Butterflies of Bauer-Brockway Barrens (Jackson County)

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.
Pre-registration Required. 
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.) DIRECTIONS: 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).

On this morning walk we'll observe and learn about butterflies, those small but exquisitely beautiful creatures that dance about our ankles in summer. Dr. Douglas Buege 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.
Meet at 10:00 a.m. 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 Douglas at (608) 441-9833 or email djbuege@gmail.com only if you have a question about the trip.

Saturday, June 29:  Madison Butterfly Count

This is our 23nd 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 and 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.
Meet at 9:00 a.m. at the parking lot for the Grady Tract in the UW Arboretum. We will count until about noon. 
DIRECTIONS: 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.

Saturday, July 6:  Butterflies of Sandhill Wildlife Area (Wood County)

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 more than 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 with 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 only 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.)

Saturday, July 13:  Butterflies and Dragonflies of Summerton Bog 

Summerton Bog is an amazing, 480 acre mix of tamarack bog, wet and dry meadows, hardwood forest, marsh and springs. On top of that, when a natural gas pipeline was put through the west end, it was replanted with prairie flowers and grasses. 60 species of butterflies have been sighted there in the last two years. The area we will cover is predominantly dry. Leaders will be Dan Sonnenberg, and Karl & Dorothy Legler. This is a joint trip of SWBA with the Madison Audubon Society. Bring binoculars, the closer they focus the better. (We will have a few extra pairs of binoculars.) A hat, long sleeves and long pants are recommended. Bring a bag lunch and water. After lunch we may venture to another place nearby, if time allows. 
Meet at the bog at 10:00 a.m. DIRECTIONS FROM MADISON: Take I-90/94 to the I-39 North exit. 13 miles north of Portage take exit# 104 and turn left (west) on County Road D. Travel approx. 1.3 mile and turn left on Freedom Rd. Travel roughly 1.6 miles, passing the first parking lot with a "Summerton Bog" sign. Park at the second parking lot that is also on the left and is larger. Call Karl Legler at (608) 643-4926 only if you have a question about the trip.

Sunday, July 14:  Pretty Things with Wings: Birds, Butterflies and Dragonflies of Lakeshore Nature Preserve

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 Madison Audubon Society. The trip leader is Edgar Spalding. 
Meet at 10:00 a.m. 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.

Saturday, July 20:  Flowers, Butterflies and Birds of Schurch-Thomson Prairie

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 trip is co-sponsored by The Prairie Enthusiasts and the Madison Audubon Society. Leader is Rich Henderson. SWBA members will provide additional butterfly expertise.
Meet at 10:00 a.m. 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.

Sunday, July 21:  Prairie Restoration for Karner Blue Butterflies

The Karner Blue butterfly is listed as Federally Endangered. Wisconsin has the largest population of Karners in the country. Leader John Shillinglaw is an amateur restoration biologist who has purchased 200 acres on the Mecan River, in Waushara Co., starting in 1985. He introduced wild lupine and now has a nice population of Karner Blues. (John presented at the November Audubon meeting.) We will learn about the history of this Karner Blue prairie restoration project. The property has a variety of habitats including extensive prairie, ephemeral wetlands, marshes, a bog, oak savannah and woodland. We will observe flowers, butterflies, grassland birds and dragonflies. Butterfly expert, Mike Reese, will be co-leader. This is a joint trip of Madison Audubon Society and the Southern Wis. Butterfly Assoc. Bring a sack lunch and binoculars (close-focusing ones work best for butterflies and dragonflies). Long pants, hat, water and sturdy hiking shoes are recommended. After lunch, those that want to continue exploring the property can do so. 
Meet at the property at 9:00 a.m. DIRECTIONS: Take I-39 north to Waushara County and exit at Coloma, taking Hwy 21 east for 5 miles then turn right (south) on Hwy B. Go about ½ mile through the town of Richford and turn left (east) on Cty Hwy JJ for about 5 miles. There is a cemetery on the right. Make a sharp right turn onto Czech Road and go west about ½ mile through a wooded area to the gate on the left at the edge of the prairie. Call John at (608) 298-7756 or cell# (920) 213-8037 only if you have a question about the trip, or about weather and cancellation.

Saturday, August 10:  Butterflies of the Avoca/Blue River Area

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 Blue River unit in Grant County. Leader will be Mike Reese. 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 the Southern Wis. Butterfly Association and Madison Audubon Society. 
Meet at 10:30 a.m. The trip may last until 4 p.m. Allow 50 minute travel time from Middleton. DIRECTIONS: Take Hwy 14 west to Lone Rock, south on Hwy 130 then turn right on Hwy 133. Go west about 5.0 miles, turn right on Hay Road, 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.

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. Leader is Dreux Watermolen. Co-sponsors are SWBA, Friends of the Pheasant Branch Conservancy and the Madison Audubon Society. Contact the trip leader only if you have a question about the trip: Dreux Watermolen: (608) 266-8931, dreux.watermolen@Wisconsin.gov . 
Meet in Middleton at 10:00 a.m. The trip will last about 2 hours. 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 on the right, at the beginning of the gated road.