If crack-of-dawn birding excursions aren’t your thing, maybe it’s time to give moth-watching a try. Since moths come out when the sun goes down, moth-watching, or mothing, is a great activity for night owls.
In partnership with the DNR, join moth expert Tim Hoen and Ranger Jen Cashell in exploring the Monkton area of Gunpowder State Park. Beginning at 8:30 pm, we will set up a mercury vapor light and begin drawing in moths and creatures of the night. This is an observational nighttime event to witness the stunning moths and other insects in Maryland. We never know what we will see. Which insects we see and the quantity of those insects is highly dependent on weather and climate. The atmosphere needs to be warm and moist for optimum viewing, but not rainy. To maximize our viewing potential, we will operate with two selected dates: however, we will only go out on one of the nights (EITHER July 28 OR July 29). The decision on which night and which location to use will be made on the Monday prior, after reviewing the weather forecast. You will receive an email with the chosen date and location by Tuesday. If you register for this event, please plan to be available for both evenings. And once you are there, please stay as long as you like. Many of the big moths don’t come out till past midnight.
Difficulty: Easy for Bunker Hill, a 15-minute walk on a mown trail for Monkton with a slight elevation gain at the end.
What to wear: Dress appropriately for walking outside in the woods on a summer night. Long pants and closed-toe shoes are recommended.
What to bring: Water, flashlight, chair, snacks, camera
Location: Exact location will be provided upon registration.
Due to the effort it takes to run this program and the small fee involved, refunds will not be given for cancellations. But please log on to remove your name from the roster so those on the waitlist may enjoy the event.
For questions, please email Jayne at JAsh@marylandnature.org.