Friends of ​Kissimmee Prairie Preserve
  • Home
  • DONATE / JOIN US
  • Map/Info
  • Prairie Blog
  • About Us
  • Checklists & Links
  • Florida Grasshopper Sparrow Fund
  • Friends and Partners
  • AmazonSmile
  • Photos

Prairie Blog

What's going on in the Florida prairie.

NABA Butterfly Count - Saturday July 14th, Join Us!

7/5/2012

1 Comment

 

NABA Butterfly Count at Kissimmee Prairie Preserve
July 14th, by Linda Cooper

Picture
Berry's Skipper—© Linda Cooper
Way back in 1996 we began counting butterflies for the North American Butterfly Association’s Fourth of July Butterfly Counts. This was prior to Kissimmee Prairie Preserve becoming a state park. This count actually began at National Audubon’s Kissimmee Prairie Sanctuary, now a part of the Preserve. Over the years, this count has grown into one of the Florida counts with the highest or nearly-highest number of species seen during the all-day event.

Participants are divided into teams — one covers the old Audubon part, one covers the road to the Visitor’s Center and Kilpatrick Hammock, one covers from the hammock to near the Kissimmee River. We even have a team that covers the roads outside the park. When you consider that Florida has 41 summer counts you can see how productive the prairie habitat is for butterflies. In good years we expect 55 to 60 species here and a large number of them are skippers.

Picture
Monk Skipper—© Linda Cooper
By now you are saying…“but I can’t identify skippers.” Don’t worry, you will be with a team that has experienced leaders. It is a long, hot day, but very rewarding. You will be with enthusiastic people eager to share their knowledge with you. The quietness and beautiful scenery of the prairie contribute to making this a memorable day even when butterflies are few.

Picture
White Peacock—©Linda Cooper
Picture
Palatka Skipper—©Linda Cooper
We meet at the parking area at the Preserve entrance at 9 a.m. on Saturday, July 14. You need to bring LOTS to drink, a lunch, closed-toe footwear that can get wet, sunscreen and close-focusing binoculars if possible. Digital cameras are encouraged. That is how we identify skippers if there is a question. There is walking involved, but not over great distances. The end of the count depends on if we have rain or not, but is officially over by 5 p.m. Preserve entrance fees are waived that day for participants. Lake Region Audubon in Polk County sponsors the count so there is no fee. Participants receive a copy of the count after it is tallied and entered into the NABA web site.

If you want to participate or have questions, please email us at LCooper298@aol.com
1 Comment
for more details link
4/7/2013 10:09:19 pm

Great blog! These pictures of the butterflies are really awesome! Butterflies are actually wonderful creatures. It is good to see that activities are going on by various organizations to preserve butterflies. A park for butterflies can attract many people also. I have never been to such a park before and would surely visit this one soon!

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Friends of Kissimmee Prairie Preserve

    Random thoughts on and pictures of Kissimmee Prairie Preserve.

    Photos are
    ©Christina Evans
    unless otherwise noted
    (Blog images may often be viewed larger by clicking on them)

    Archives

    April 2016
    October 2015
    May 2015
    March 2014
    November 2013
    August 2013
    May 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    October 2012
    July 2012
    May 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012

    Categories

    All
    Bachman's Sparrow
    Butterflies
    Crested Caracara
    Donna Bollenbach
    Endangered Species
    Fall
    Fire
    Florida Brown Snake
    Florida Grasshopper Sparrow
    Flowers
    Kissimmee Prairie
    Linda Cooper
    Membership
    Northern Bobwhite
    Prairie Loop Trail
    Seasons
    Skippers
    Trails
    Turkeys
    White-tailed Kite
    Wildlife

    RSS Feed

  • Home
  • DONATE / JOIN US
  • Map/Info
  • Prairie Blog
  • About Us
  • Checklists & Links
  • Florida Grasshopper Sparrow Fund
  • Friends and Partners
  • AmazonSmile
  • Photos