Overview: Join OSGF’s Biodiversity Conservation Team for a landscape walk looking for monarch butterflies and discussing other autumn pollinators of Rokeby fields and gardens. This half-day adventure will cover the community science program, Monarch Watch, and how tagging monarch butterflies contributes to our understanding of their population resiliency. Participants will learn how to capture monarchs using butterfly nets and safely handle the insects for attaching adhesive tags. Participants names will be documented and submitted as official records to later determine if their butterflies were found in Mexico. We will also cover important late season flowering resources and habitats that support monarchs during their migration south and the many other pollinators as they prepare for the coming winter. All interested in learning more about autumn pollinators and contributing to community science are welcomed!

What to Expect: Please expect several hours of moderate walking across hilly fields and similar uneven terrain. Participants should arrive with proper footwear, sufficient water, and dress appropriately for the weather, rain or shine. Binoculars and digital cameras encouraged. Butterfly nets will be provided, but you are welcome to bring one your own . Light refreshments will be provided at the start of the walk.

About the Instructor: Dr. Rea Manderino has served as OSGF’s Ecologist and Collections Specialist since 2022, receiving her doctorate in Entomology from SUNY – College of Environmental Science and Forestry in 2021. She specializes in insect conservation and collaborates with researchers in the area and around the country to assess changes in insect communities. She leads several insect-themed programs over the season to document and highlight the invertebrate biodiversity of OSGF.

Tickets: $15

Availability: This event will be capped at 15 participants. Registrations will be accepted on a rolling basis through Eventbrite until full.