Contact:

SANDY PERRY, COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER
PHONE: 908-234-1225, EXT. 104
SANDY@NJCONSERVATION.ORG

Learn about butterflies on Aug. 23 walk

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FRANKLIN TWP., NJ – How much do you know about New Jersey’s beautiful butterflies? Can you tell a monarch from a swallowtail, or a skipper from an admiral? Do you know what foods they eat at the various stages of their lives?

Butterfly lovers of all ages and knowledge levels are invited to join New Jersey Conservation Foundation from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Aug. 23, for a Butterfly Walk at its new nature preserve in Franklin Township, Hunterdon County, near Flemington.

Michael Pollock, president of the North Jersey Butterfly Club and a teacher-naturalist for the New Jersey Audubon Society, will lead the walk through the 51-acre preserve. Children and adults will learn to identify New Jersey’s butterfly species, as well as flowers and shrubs that provide their food.

The event is free, but advance registration is required by calling Meghan McMahon at 1-888-LANDSAVE (1-888-526-3728) or e-mailing Meghan@njconservation.org. The Butterfly Walk is the latest event in New Jersey Conservation Foundation’s new Step Into Nature hiking series, which offers walks and hike at preserves throughout the state.

The Butterfly Walk will take advantage of the Franklin Township preserve at its late summer peak for wildflowers such as milkweed, asters, goldenrods, ironweed and dogbanes. The property, a former fish farm, contains eight spring-fed ponds and two finger tributaries of the Wickecheoke Creek, as well as trails that meander through meadows and woods.

Among the butterflies that may be spotted are monarchs, swallowtails, skippers and blues. It’s hard to predict exactly, said Pollock, because each species of butterfly requires a different type of flower nectar for food.

“Come and see the surprises,” said Pollock. “We’ll walk around and find out what’s there.” In addition to pointing out butterflies and their food sources, he will also identify plants whose leaves are eaten by caterpillars, and look for caterpillar eggs.

“So many gardeners don’t want ‘pests’ in their gardens, but a lot of these ‘pests’ are caterpillars that are our future butterflies,” Pollock noted.

Because of the possibility of encountering poison ivy and ticks, hikers should wear long pants, sneakers and socks. Pollock added that because most butterflies feed in sunny areas, sunscreen and hats are recommended.

To get to the Huey property from Route 31 in Flemington, turn onto Sand Hill Road (Route 612 northwest) at the first traffic light north of Hunterdon Medical Center. Proceed for about 1 ½ miles and turn left onto Allens Corner Road. Go for ½ mile and turn right onto Joe Ent Road. The property is ¼ mile down the road on the right.

For more information about this and other New Jersey Conservation Foundation programs, visit www.njconservation.org. To learn more about New Jersey’s butterflies, go to www.naba.org/chapters/nabanj and for New Jersey Audubon Society programs, go to www.njaudubon.org.