Jefferson County Conservation has a busy schedule of events planned for September, offering opportunities for birdwatchers, families with young children, anglers, homeschool students, and butterfly enthusiasts alike.
Birdy Brunch — September 14th, 10:00 a.m. to noon
September is a prime month for fall bird migrations, and Jefferson County Conservation is marking the occasion with a Birdy Brunch on September 14th. The event will begin with a short lecture at the Nature Center covering bird biology and how small birds are able to make such remarkable migrations, followed by a birding hike to observe which species are already beginning their fall journeys.
Toddler Time — September 18th, 10:00 to 11:00 a.m.
Toddler Time returns on September 18th, geared toward children ages 2 to 4 and an accompanying adult. This month’s program will feature a book about butterflies followed by a short butterfly hike. Children must be accompanied by an adult.
Beginner Fly Tying Series — September 18th, 5:00 to 6:30 p.m. ($5)
A three-part Beginner Fly Tying Series kicks off September 18th at the Jefferson County Conservation Nature Center. Participants will learn to tie the San Juan Worm, Black Beauty Midge, and Woolly Bugger — three flies that work well in southern Iowa ponds and on trout streams. Classes will continue October 9th and November 13th, all from 5:00 to 6:30 p.m. Pre-registration is required by September 4th at noon. All materials will be provided and no prior experience is necessary. Participants will tie three of each fly during the series and receive a fly box to store them in. Register once for access to all three sessions.
Homeschool Adventures — September 25th, 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Jefferson County Conservation’s Homeschool Adventures program returns September 25th at Zillman’s Hickory Hills. This month’s focus will be the life cycle of Monarch Butterflies, followed by a hands-on opportunity to catch and tag Monarchs so they can be tracked along their migration route.
Monarch Tagging — September 25th, 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.
That same evening, Jefferson County Conservation will host a public Monarch Tagging event at Zillman’s Hickory Hills, where high numbers of migrating monarchs have been found in recent years. Participants will catch, tag, and release monarch butterflies as they begin their annual migration — a journey that can take them up to 3,000 miles south to forests in the mountains of Mexico. The small tags placed on the butterflies’ wings help researchers learn about monarch migration patterns. The event is open to the public.
For more information about upcoming events, visit the Jefferson County Conservation website.
