The Austin Butterfly Forum is hosting an Annual Butterfly Count to be held Saturday June 25. Those volunteers interested in participating should gather at the Zilker Botanical Garden Center parking lot at 8:00
am. Everyone is welcome, including all skill levels. The count will be taken within a 15 mile diameter circle centered at Mount Bonnell. We will work as a single group. In addition to Zilker, participants will visit many of the best butterfly friendly locates around town. Although our primary focus is butterflies, we are also interested in moths and other insects. This is the Butterfly equivalent of the Audubon Christmas Bird Count. The results will be submitted to the North American Butterfly Association (NABA). Master Naturalist volunteer service can be earned by participation in the count.
Participants should wear long pants, hat, sunscreen and insect repellent. Bring close focusing binoculars, if you have them, and a water bottle. Be prepared to walk through wet areas and brush.
The count typically lasts until mid afternoon but you can leave at any time. A lunch break will be taken between stops at a local restaurant. If it rains, the activity may be rescheduled for the following day.
Zilker Botanical Garden Center is located at 2220 Barton Springs Road Austin, Texas. There is a nominal fee to park at Zilker.
For more information contact Dan Hardy at 512-656-5848 or http://www.zilkergarden.org/about/events/calendar.html, or www.austinbutterflies.org