Parks & Recreation News
Thursday, August 30, 2007TAKE FLIGHT ON THE WINGS OF A MIGRATING MONARCH
LAWRENCE –Lawrence Parks and Recreation Department’s Prairie Park Nature Center offers the opportunity to learn about the migrating monarch butterfly through its program, The Magnificent Monarch. Saturday, Sept. 22.
The program costs $3 per participant and is open to all individuals. There are four, one-hour sessions beginning at 10 a.m. and continuing on the hour with a break during the noon hour. The last session starts at 2 p.m.
The program will begin at Prairie Park Nature Center, 2730 Harper St. Participants will be shuttled to the Baker University Wetlands where they will catch, tag and release monarchs as part of Monarch Watch, an educational outreach program of the University of Kansas.
“Monarchs aren’t able to survive cold winters and annually make a pilgrimage to Mexico,” Marty Birrell, nature interpretive supervisor, said. “On their way, they are drawn to areas like the wetlands because of the foliage. Before heading south, they are able to get nectar from sunflowers, thistles, asters, and bur-marigold which are very prevalent in the wetlands.”
Participants will receive a certificate with tag numbers. Using the tag numbers and the Internet, participants can see if the butterfly gets recaptured on its migration to Mexico.
To register for the program, visit any neighborhood recreation center or Prairie Park Nature Center. For more information contact, Marty Birrell, at 785-832-7980.
Sources: Marty Birrell, 785-832-7980
Prepared by Roger Steinbrock 785-832-3458
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