Butterflies for Beginners

Class date / time: Saturday, April 17, 2021 - 10:00am to 2:00pm

Instructor: Wendy Dreskin

Fee: $50

Non-Member Fee: $60

Explore the butterflies of Muddy Hollow from swallowtails to checkerspots and blues! Observe their behaviors and identify host plants.

From swallowtails to blues, we will search for a variety of species and observe behaviors like puddling, nectaring, and maybe even egg laying. We’ll also take time to learn to recognize various native host plants like alders, ocean spray, milkmaids, sticky monkeyflower, yarrow, and purple needle grass as well as introduced plants that native butterflies have adapted to like English plantain. We will also look at native and non-native nectar plants including coastal hedge nettle, dewberry (native blackberry), wild radish and thistles.

Butterflies we have seen in previous classes in Muddy Hollow in April include Western Pine Elfins, California Ringlets, Red Admirals, Two Banded Skippers, Mylitta Crescents, Mourning Cloaks, and Painted Ladies.

Class includes an opportunity to view a number of butterfly and caterpillar field guides and learn the pros and cons of different ones.

This class is great preparation for the North American Butterfly Association annual butterfly count in June, the butterfly community’s equivalent of the Christmas Bird Count.

Get details on the Point Reyes National Seashore Association class page.