Rice Lake Plains Butterfly Count 2018

Event Details

June 23rd, 2018, 8:30 AM - 5:15 PM

Alderville Black Oak Savanna, Ontario
Inventories and Monitoring

Get to know some of the winged wonders of the rare grassland and savanna habitats of the Rice Lake Plains! By collecting butterfly observations, you will contribute to a better understanding of the biodiversity on Rice Lake Plains, and help to identify where conservation efforts for butterfly species, an indicator of tallgrass prairie habitats, need to be focused.  This will be an official North American Butterfly Association butterfly count presented by the Rice Lake Plains Joint Initiative (RLPJI). The RLPJI is a partnership of local people, conservation groups and government agencies, all of whom share a vision: a landscape of protected, restored and sustainably managed tallgrass prairie and oak savanna ecosystems amid well-stewarded farmland, forest, wetland and riparian habitats of the Rice Lake Plains region.

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!

2 Spots Left
Sign up Now

More Information

About Alderville Black Oak Savanna

The Rice Lake Plains Natural Area is 118,065 acres (47,779 hectares) of land located in Central Ontario on the Oak Ridges Moraine. The Natural Area borders Rice Lake, and includes the Alderville black oak savanna. The Rice Lake Plains Natural Area contains some of the largest tracts of kame moraine forest and tallgrass prairie and savanna ecosystems in Ontario, including globally significant tracts of black oak savanna. The prairie and savanna ecosystems are of particular conservation concern as most of their representation in Ontario and North America has been lost.

What you will be doing

Participants will be teamed up with an expert to learn about butterfly identification, biology and conservation, and help to collect valuable data about the butterfly diversity of Rice Lake Plains. No previous experience is necessary. Participants will be put into teams in the morning at the Alderville Black Oak Savanna. From there, carpooling is arranged and teams embark on their adventure in the Rice Lake Plains. Please be prepared to walk approximately 3 km over various terrain. Maps, guides and data sheets are provided.

Why you will love it

Let’s count up the reasons to join the 2018 Rice Lake Plains 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 Rice Lake Plains, surrounded by globally rare tallgrass prairie and birdsong 5. Did we mention butterflies?

Questions?

Contact Val Deziel: Val.Deziel@natureconservancy.ca

Please Note

Be prepared to hike 3 km over various terrain.
Additional event details, including directions and parking instructions, will be provided after registration.

People of all fitness levels can participate
Carpooling can be arranged
All tools will be provided by NCC
Water and snacks will be provided
Item Checklist

While we do our best to provide you with the tools you need to participate, please bring the following items if you have them:

Clothes
  • Close-toed footwear
  • Long pants
  • Long shirt
  • Layers of clothing (light sweater and jacket)
  • Sun hat
  • Raingear
Tools
  • Butterfly net (optional)
  • Binoculars (optional)
  • Camera (optional)
  • Field Guide (optional)
  • Clipboard (optional)
  • Pencil/Pen
  • Notebook
Miscellaneous
  • 1 Litre of water in a reusable bottle
  • Lunch