When: May 4, 2024 @ 1:00 pm

THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED DUE TO WEATHER CONCERNS

Learn about your favorite fluttering insects!

We’re headed to Tessentee Bottomland Preserve to learn about and marvel over the Lepidopterans (moths and butterflies) that call this place home!

Participants are welcome to attend both day and night portions of this event, or just one portion.

Event Schedule

1:00pm-3:00pm: Butterfly Walk with Jason Love

Jason Love of Highlands Biological Station will lead the butterfly portion of the field trip. Jason has been searching for butterflies on this property for years, and has noted over 55 species on this preserve! Though this is a bit early in the season for some classics like monarchs, it’s a good time of year to find rarities. Along the way, we’re sure to be distracted by interesting plants and birds to round out our learning. Participants will have the opportunity to use aerial nets and close-focus binoculars to capture and admire butterflies while Jason helps us identify them.

3:00pm-4:00pm: Optional side trip to view the uncommon Appalachian Silvery Blues

For those interested, Jason will guide us to Coweeta to look for Appalachian Silvery Blues, which depend on Carolina Vetch and are only around for a couple weeks out of the year.

8:00pm-10:00pm: Moth Walk

After a break for dinner, come back to learn about butterflies’ nocturnal cousins! Though moths are often overlooked Lepidopterans, they can be just as stunning as butterflies, and sometimes more important pollinators. We’ll bounce between various black-light traps set up on the preserve and see what moths come out to play.

Total distance covered during the walks will be 2 miles maximum (4 miles if you attend both walks.) The trails at Tessentee vary from wide, flat, and even to narrow, sloped, and uneven. If you have accessibility concerns, please email Skye for more info. Plan to arrive at Tessentee (2249 Hickory Knoll Road, Franklin, NC 28734) 10 minutes before the walk’s start time.

This event is weather dependent. Fill out the form below to register, and email Skye with any questions. This field trip is donation based, with a suggested donation of $10 per person. Donations can be made online, or through cash or check at the event. Please give what you can, but not more than you can. Your support allows us to protect the special creatures, plants, landscapes, and heritage of WNC for all to enjoy!