Registration is closed.
Class limited to 20 people and we are full.
Date: Tuesday, July 21
Time: 11am until about 1:00pm
Address: Alexander Oak Savanna
7829 WI-65, River Falls, WI 54022
Bob Marquis, noted botanist, biologist, and insect expert, leads us for a second year as we conduct a butterfly survey of Alexander oak savanna. Our goal is to add to the known list of the butterfly species that occur at Alexander.
Photo credit: Eric Preston
Date: August 8 (Saturday)
Time: 10am – Noon
Novices and experts are all welcome. Bring a butterfly/insect net if you have one. 1-3 hours.
Directions: Take highway 35 south towards River Falls.
Take highway 65 south (35 turns into 65) toward Ellsworth.
Gravel road entrance is on the right just after the Town of River Falls town hall.
| Latin Name | Common Name | Count |
| brushfooted butterflies (Nymphalidae) | Northern Crescent | 20+ |
| blues (Lycaenidae) | Eastern Tailed-blue | 2 |
| brushfooted butterflies (Nymphalidae) | Northern Pearly Eye | 2 |
| whites and sulfurs (Pieridae) | Orange Sulfur | 1 |
| brushfooted butterflies (Nymphalidae) | Monarch | 5 adults, 23 caterpillars on the common milkweed |
| brushfooted butterflies (Nymphalidae) | Great Spangled Fritillary | 7 |
| brushfooted butterflies (Nymphalidae) | Meadow Fritillary | 1 |
| swallowtails (Papilionidae) | Eastern Tiger Swallowtail | 2 |
| skippers (Hesperiidae) | Silver-spotted Skipper | 1 adult, 1 caterpillar on hog peanut |
| swallowtails (Papilionidae) | Black Swallow | 1 caterpillar on wild parsnip |
| Latin Name | Common Name | Count |
| geometer moths (Geometridae) | Chickweed Geometer | numerous |
| Halyisdota tessellaris tiger moths (Erebidae) |
Banded Tussock Moth | 2 caterpillars |
| Euchaetes egle): (tiger moths (Erebidae) | Milkweed Tiger Moth | 2 caterpillars |
Hosted by The Prairie Enthusiasts, this free field trip and workshop is in partnership with the Root River Prescribed Burn Association, Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever, and the Minnesota Prescribed Fire Council in association with the 2026 Northeast-Midwest Regional Fire Science and Management Workshop. The event will highlight the many groups and individuals who have helped grow and cultivate a prescribed fire culture in southeast Minnesota in the last decade and will provide a forum for prescribed fire practitioners across a 20-state region to interact, communicate, share, and learn.
Please join the Northern Illinois chapter of The Prairie Enthusiasts for an exploratory walk through a summer prairie!
Hanley Savanna is a 160-acre prairie, savanna, and woodland restoration in rural Hanover, Illinois. Owned by The Prairie Enthusiasts and stewarded by the Northwest Illinois Chapter since 2003, this site has transformed from row cropland and white pine plantation to several types of prairie ecosystems, including tall grass prairies, oak savannas, fens, sand blowouts, and black oak barrens.
We hope to see bumblebees (maybe the endangered rusty-patched bumblebee) and lots of other pollinators and butterflies. Our guest leader will be biologist Beverly Paulan, an expert on native pollinators and their relationship to native plants. Bev is currently doing aerial surveys of local whooping crane populations in Wisconsin for the International Crane Foundation, and bat surveys for the Wisconsin DNR.
DIFFICULTY:
The trails are mown grass and relatively level.
WHAT TO BRING:
Please bring water, insect repellent, and dress appropriately for the weather. There is an available portable relief station.
CONTACT:
Please RSVP to Laura Dufford at lauradufford@gmail.com and include your phone number in case of cancellation.
LOCATION:
Hanley Savanna is located at 9417 Whitton Road in Hanover, IL. We will meet at the shed. MAP HERE
Learn about the different species of lichens that exist on bluff prairies in the Driftless Region with local lichen expert Connor Johanson. The field trip will take place at Justin Nooker’s bluff prairie near Choice, MN, which has steep and rugged topography. There will be additional opportunities to interact with landowners and discuss how management decisions impact various natural communities. More information to follow with your RSVP!
WHAT TO EXPECT:
-Learning about the lichens of the Driftless region
-Hiking steep terrain
-Interacting with landowners
-Sharing how management decisions impact various communities
WHAT TO BRING:
Bring plenty of water and individual snacks (optional). Wear shoes for hiking.
RSVP AND CONTACT:
This event will be limited. Please RSVP to Justin Nooker at nookerjustin@gmail.com. Once confirmed, you will receive a verification email along with the address.