Carden Alvar Butterfly Count 2018
Event Details
July 26th, 2018, 9:30 AM - 3:30 PM
Carden Alvar Natural Area, Orillia, Ontario
Inventories and Monitoring
Do butterflies send your heart aflutter? Spend the day learning from knowledgeable lepidopterists and help to record the butterfly diversity in the globally rare alvar, grassland and woodland habitat of the Carden Alvar during the annual Butterfly Count.
Carpooling: If you’re interested in carpooling with other volunteers (driving, or catching a ride) please click here and add your car, or join a car. There’s also a wait list feature if there’s no car listed yet where you’re traveling from. Happy travels!
Please email the event contact to join the waiting list.
More Information
The Carden Alvar is an outstanding example of globally-threatened alvar habitat which is characterized by thin soils over limestone bedrock. The Carden Alvar NA has been identified as a key biodiversity area within the Great Lakes and is identified in both the terrestrial and aquatic Great Lakes Conservation Blueprints. The Carden Alvar’s grasslands, shrublands, forests and wetlands are home to 450 plant species, 142 butterfly and dragonfly species, 5 turtle species, 7 snake species, 15 amphibian species and a remarkable 238 bird species.
What you will be doingParticipants will be teamed up with a knowledgeable leader to learn about butterfly identification, biology and conservation, and help to collect valuable data about the butterfly diversity of the Carden Alvar. Teams will carpool to various sites within the count circle (some sites are within the Carden Alvar Natural Area, while others are beyond its boundary) and then will hike approximately 2-3 km over variable terrain throughout the day. No previous experience is necessary.
Why you will love itLet’s count up the reasons to join the 2018 Carden Butterfly Count: 1. Help collect valuable data about the butterfly diversity of this globally rare habitat. 2. Get up close and personal with butterflies 3. Learn from knowledgeable naturalists about butterfly identification, biology and conservation. 4. Spend the day in the spectacular Carden Alvar, surrounded by wildflowers and birdsong 5. Did we mention butterflies?
Questions?Contact Brittany Hope: Brittany.hope@natureconservancy.ca
$4.00 Fee/participant (This fee goes to the North American Butterfly Association).
Each team will be provided with several butterfly nets, hand lenses, butterfly ID guides and detailed maps identifying the count areas, however if you have your own, please bring them to ensure there are enough in each team.
Since butterflies take cover in the rain and are most active and visible in sunshine, the event will only proceed if rain is unlikely in the forecast.
Children are welcome at this event but please note that this event is typically a long, hot day, and may not be suitable for some younger children.
Additional event details, including directions and parking instructions, will be provided after registration.
NCC is pleased to be partnering again with naturalist Bob Bowles, the founding President of the Carden Field Naturalists and the Eastern Canada Coordinator for the North American Butterfly Association. Bob launched the Carden butterfly and dragonfly counts in the mid-1990s. Many thanks to our other leaders for sharing their expertise with our volunteers.
NCC would like to thank the Couchiching Conservancy for their ongoing partnership in the Carden Alvar.
While we do our best to provide you with the tools you need to participate, please bring the following items if you have them:
- Close-toed footwear
- Long pants
- Long shirt
- Layers of clothing (light sweater and jacket)
- Sun hat
- Raingear
- Butterfly nets (optional)
- Hand lenses (optional)
- Butterfly ID guides(optional)
- binoculars (optional)
- 1 Litre of water in a reusable bottle
- Lunch