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Butterfly Network Field Trips 

Want to learn more about butterflies but can't commit to the entire monitoring season? Below is our list of 2019 field trips that provide exciting opportunities to observe butterflies throughout the state! These trips are open to everyone. Pre-registration requried. 

Lost Nation State Game Area

Lost Nation State Game Area is a 1,471 acre area of public land in Hillsdale County, Michigan composed of several different habitats including prairie fen, woodland, lakes, streams, and ponds. 

Directions from Kalamazoo: Follow I-94 East, take exit 108 toward Fort Wayne. Merge onto I-69 South. Take exit 16 for Jonesville Road in Branch County. Turn left onto Jonesville Road. Follow Jonesville Road to Murphy Street. Turn right onto Murphy Street. Continue onto Reading Avenue. Turn right onto M-99S/Olds Street. Turn right onto M-99S/Broad Street. Continue onto M-34 E. Turn right onto Bird Lake Road S. Bird Lake Road S. will curve to the left (east). Go straight onto Trail Rd. instead of following Bird Lake Road S. as it curves back to the right (south). Trail Rd. is a dead end dirt road, there will be a house on the left. Trail Rd. dead ends into the parking area where we will meet.

Allegan State Game Area

The Allegan State Game area is a 50,000 acre area of public land located in Allegan County, MI which is comprised of mostly hardwood forest but includes small inland lakes and streams. 

Butterflies we could observe include Karner Blue, Gray Hairstreak, Coral Hairstreak, Banded Hairstreak, Edwards' Hairstreak, and possiblity Purplish Coppers among many others. 

Directions from Kalamazoo: Head north on US 131, take exit 49B to merge onto M-89 W/Allegan Street towards Allegan, continue to follow M-89 (12.6 miles). At the first stop light in Allegan proceed through in the right lane. In 0.2 miles turn left at the stop light onto M-40N/M-89 (Cutler St.). Continue on M-40N/M-89 (0.7 miles), turn left onto Monroe Road at blinking yellow light at Family Farm and Fleet store. Continue on Monroe Road which merges into 118th Ave. Turn left onto 59th St. (about 9.5 miles), destination will be on your right.

Chipman Preserve

Chipman Preserve is a 228-acre natural area managed by the Southwest Michigan Land IMG_20170729_121254Conservancy. This preserve consists of rolling savanna, forest, and grassland habitats and is home to a variety of wildlife species including some state-listed plants.

We will convene at the preserve's gravel parking lot. 

Directions: Chipman Preserve is in the 8000 block of East Main St., 3 miles east of Sprinkle Rd. between 30th and 33rd Streets in Comstock Township (Galesburg). The preserve entrance is on the north side of the street.