Mothing at Mockingbird Nature Park! April 30! (not a public event, but open to iNatters/moth-ers)
Hey all!
So, most public bioblitzes are still wisely being postponed or cancelled, and it's a bit of a bummer... buuuut, if you want to gather with some fellow moth-ers, we're planning a little mothing at Mockingbird Nature Park on the first day of the city nature challenge! This will be on Friday, April 30th. Big time thanks to @cgritz for the contacts to allow us to do this.
Now, let's still do this wisely -- have your mask with you at all times. Wear it when you're close to others. Stay some distance from other folks. This is just smart and kind to do, so let's do it.
Who can come? Well, anyone! However, we don't want to promote it as a public event -- this is more of a 'gathering of moth-ers.' :)
If you don't feel comfortable coming, totally no problem -- I promise that we'll be able to do more of these in the future!
Again, Friday, April 30th, Mockingbird Nature Park in Midlothian (https://www.midlothian.tx.us/facilities/facility/details/Mockingbird-Nature-Park-10). If you have some moth gear, bring it! I don't think we'll have access to electricity, which is fine -- I've got some portable batteries to run about 7 stations myself! But if you have some gear, bring it!
If you have questions or concerns, please toss up a comment or send me a message. Thanks!
Comments
I ALWAYS leave off folks, not on purpose... but here are a few tags. Please tag others that may be interested!
@annikaml @kimberlietx @cgritz @brentano @tadamcochran @wildcarrot @catenatus @walkingstick2 @galactic_bug_man @lovebirder @tfandre @melindawpajak @cameralenswrangler @butterflies4fun @k8thegr8 @denver @daniel112 @cwd912nb @melissa_duron @greg1414 @fiddleman @naturenut @andyk @taharms48 @oddfitz @corynorris @sehnature @charley @cindylcobb5 @jblinde @rehb @kathrynwells333 @itmndeborah @alchemist2000 @assmann @sara39 @katelyn3 @valt @betsymarsh @outdooramy @briangooding @jwn @donovanmoxley @baxter-slye @haleydaniels @bendire44john @sam_moore_ @somesecretpie @abadoo @elytrid @williampaulwhite17
Oh! And if you've not been to Mockingbird Nature Park and are curious if there's biodiversity... yeah. There is:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?place_id=78876&subview=grid&view=species
Here are the moths observed so far too:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?place_id=78876&subview=grid&taxon_id=47157&view=species&without_taxon_id=47224,47654
I will be there. I will bring my set up too. I am going to have my gear and stuff to take photos. This will be great. Already in the training phase. Can't let Houston or anyone get the upper hand on us this year. Looking high and low. Lets do it!
On the calendar!
A mothing celebration on my birthday sounds perfect! How'd you know Sam? ;)
I'd love to be there! Usually my only limiting factor is transportation but I will do my best to make it out there!
Gosh, I wish I could come!!! And I wish someone would hold a mothing event near me in NYC!
It will never not be funny that we have to spell 'moth-ers' the way we do...because otherwise we'd be 'mothers'. lol
I'm in. It's on my calendar.
Super, Sam; thank you! @tadamcochran, I am a moth-er and a mother ... ha!
I'm a big YES! But I thought we had determined that the word is "mothling"!!! 🤪
That's during the City Nature Challenge! I'll pencil it in, but I may be on team Heart of Texas this year:) Thanks for letting me know!
As a lady of upper years, but not a mother nor a very good moth-er, I have been fully vaccinated and ready to get back out there! Can't wait to see the top half of my friend's faces.
@sambiology I will definitely consider this!
Thanks Sam! I like the term Mothling:) Or we could go old school and use "Aurelian", but that may just pertain to people who cultivate moths...IDK.
https://www.grammarphobia.com/blog/2018/09/aurelian-lepidopterist.html#:~:text=Merriam%2DWebster%20Unabridged%20defines%20it,or%20pupa%20of%20an%20insect.
gonna be out of town on family business :/ hoping to get some casual mothing in in Galveston while I'm there!
@enoelanna @kaylakwest @ryan697 Guessing you guys might be interested in knowing about this.
Awesome, thanks for tagging us. I can't say for sure, but I am thinking the Wolf Pack will be there.
It's on the calendar! :D
I was planning on bringing our little generator, but not sure that's going to work now. So everyone, please be sure to bring your own power.
No problem, Carolyn -- I've got enough power to run around 6 black-light stations.
And I have a battery for one station as well.
Planning to be there!
See ya'll Friday!
Is rain a concern at all? I'm looking at a few different weather apps for the area on the 30th and they're each telling me something slightly different. Regardless, I plan to be there, so see you all Friday!
There was over 4" of rain in the immediate area last night, with more forecast for today so look for the trails to be damp to wet with several muddy places. Please try to stay on the trails, though. You might want to wear boots. Then again, it's been a dry year so far so it may all soak in by Friday night!
Here's a rainfall map that's updated daily: https://www.cocorahs.org/Maps/ViewMap.aspx?state=TX choose Ellis County from the dropdown menu and click the Get Map box.
I'll have my mud boots on! :) Looks like it will be a bit rainy on us this weekend, but it's all good -- hopefully we'll just get a bit of a window of time for the bugs to fly to our sheets on Friday eve.
Hey friends,
Just FYI -- I'm totally still planning on being there at Midlothian at like 7 pm. I've got my umbrella handy, and I'm still planning on putting up some mothing stations. If you're not able to make it, don't fret! I'm working on getting another mothing/black-lighting event on May 22. It's not City Nature Challenge time, buuuut, it'll be a gathering in DFW. :)
@sambiology - I should be able to make it tonight regardless of rain and I have a portable light source!
Anyone ever black-lighted/moth'ed in the rain??? We'll see tonight! :) I'm bringing an umbrella. Lots of good plants out there though, so if we don't get many bugs, let's load up on the wet plants!
Hope you all do get to see some bugs! It's been raining off and on all day in Midlothian, so it will be muddy. Aaron and I will be staying home tonight, sending you all good thoughts!
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