When: July 20, 2025 @ 10:00 am
Celebrate National Moth Week!
This is one of thirteen Mothing Events hosted by Mainspring this week at Welch Farm Preserve in Cherokee County and Jackrabbit Recreation Area in Clay County.
The Southern Blue Ridge is home to a huge diversity of moths, from giant Silk moths to teeny tiny Grass moths! Hidden under the cloak of darkness, we don’t often have a chance to appreciate these nocturnal beauties like we do butterflies, but moths are just as stunning as their daytime cousins. Join us to discover the difference between moths and butterflies, reveal the inner workings of the moth life-cycle and why they depend on native plants, and learn how to attract these valuable nighttime pollinators to your own property.
During this event, we will have a display of live moths that have been safely captured the previous evening. This will give participants the opportunity to observe these wild animals closely and compare them with similar species, all without missing a wink of sleep! We will also have example mothing set-ups to inspire you to create your own mothing station at home.
This is a drop-in event; we will have a Mothing Station set up near the parking lot of Welch Farm Preserve in Andrews from 10:00am-12:00pm on Sunday, July 20th. See the map below for the exact location. Feel free to arrive when best suits you and explore the property when you are done. Leashed pets welcome.
The trails at Welch Farm are natural surface: mostly even, level ground. There are some stepping hazards at, like roots or mud in the trail, but there is no elevation gain. There is one step-up bridge to cross an oxbow, but this can be avoided if necessary. Little to no walking is required to approach the Mothing Station. We suggest bringing water, a snack, layers, sturdy hiking shoes, and any naturalist tools you may want such as a notebook, hand lens, or field guide. Moths, our own field guides, and magnifying glasses will be provided. Note that there are no restrooms on the property, but there is a rest stop a few miles up the road towards Andrews.
MOTH WEEK EVENT DATES
7/19 Welch Farm Preserve 8:30pm-10:30pm
7/20 Welch Farm Preserve 10am-12pm
7/20 Welch Farm Preserve 8:30pm-10:30pm
7/21 Welch Farm Preserve 10am-12pm
7/21 Jackrabbit Recreation Area 8:30pm-10:30pm
7/22 Jackrabbit Recreation Area 10am-12pm
7/22 Jackrabbit Recreation Area 8:30pm-10:30pm
7/23 Jackrabbit Recreation Area 8:30pm-10:30pm
7/24 Jackrabbit Recreation Area 10am-12pm
7/24 Welch Farm Preserve 8:30pm-10:30pm
7/25 Welch Farm Preserve 10am-12pm
7/25 Welch Farm Preserve 8:30pm-10:30pm
7/26 Welch Farm Preserve 10am-12pm
Email Alina at [email protected] with any questions.
Meet Your Teacher
As Mainspring’s Conservation Outreach Associate, Alina Martin aims to encourage the protection and appreciation of land by connecting communities to the birds, plants, mammals, amphibians, and reptiles that share our home here in the Southern Blue Ridge. Her birding adventures up and down the east coast have introduced her to a wide variety of habitats, and those experiences inspire her to continue nurturing her understanding of wildlife and plant ecology. Armed with her identification knowledge and ever-increasing wonder, Alina leads a variety of educational programs here at Mainspring, and finds something curious and new each time. She is a life-long birder, all-around naturalist, and avid user of eBird and iNaturalist.
Please treat your registration as a formal ticket. Read this event description thoroughly and ensure that the date, time, and location work for your schedule. We monitor event sign-ups, and restrict group size to ensure you have a quality experience out in the woods with us. If you register and can no longer attend, email Alina at [email protected]. Thank you!
