Explore the butterflies of Muddy Hollow from swallowtails to checkerspots and blues! Observe their behaviors and identify host plants.
About this event
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 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 during previous April classes in Muddy Hollow 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 resources.
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.
WENDY DRESKIN has been teaching the popular class Meandering in Marin at College of Marin since 1998 and Point Reyes Field Seminars since 2005. In recognition of her work inspiring both children and adults, she was awarded the Terwilliger Environmental Award and inducted into the Marin Women’s Hall of Fame.