Butterfly Count Leaders: Dave Kaplan & Sandy Sagalkin

PVMN Continuing Education Eligible

The Monarch Alliance, a program of the Potomac Valley Audubon Society, will sponsor the fifth Annual Butterfly Count along the Final Attack Trail on the Antietam National Battlefield in Sharpsburg, MD on Saturday, July 27th.

The count is being cosponsored by the Washington County Bird Club.

This event is free and open to anyone with an interest, regardless of his or her butterfly expertise. This will be a perfect family activity, and children, accompanied by adults, are encouraged to attend. Also, this is a wonderful opportunity to learn about the monarch migration as the group will be participating in the 3rd Annual International Monarch Monitoring Blitz during the count.

Registration is strongly encouraged.

As butterflies do not fly in the rain and heavy overcast can keep them down, participants should check the event on the PVAS website for postponements if bad weather is forecast. If the count is postponed, a notice will be placed on the website by 9 p.m. on the day before the count.

The Final Attack Trail is in the area where the Union Army made its final advance to drive the Confederate Army from Maryland on September 17, 1862, only to be turned back by A.P. Hill’s final Confederate counterattack.

It is also the location of the Antietam National Battlefield’s extensive work in the restoration and preservation of native grasslands in the Otto Farm Fields in the southwest corner of the battlefield. Sandy Sagalkin, working with Battlefield staff, has assisted the Battlefield in surveying the grassland birds and butterflies in the area during the spring and summer the last several years

Participants should plan to meet count leaders at the Burnside Bridge at 10 a.m. Sandy Sagalkin will be the co-leader and will help identify bird life during the count.

To get to the Burnside Bridge parking area from Sharpsburg, head northeast towards Boonsboro. Take the first right turn after leaving Sharpsburg onto Rodman Avenue, which takes you into the battlefield. Turn left at the “T” and follow the road up the hill to the parking area.

The count will last about 2 hours, and cover mostly level terrain. The trail is about 2 miles in length.

Participants should wear sturdy footwear, dress appropriately for the prevailing weather conditions, and bring along water, a broad-brimmed hat, and insect repellent. PVAS has a limited supply of loaner binoculars for those who do not have their own.

For more information, contact Mr. Dave Kaplan at or janandavek@verizon.net or Mr. Sagalkin at monsansagalkin@myactv.net or 240-291-6465. Sandy is the Co-Director of The Monarch Alliance and Dave is the former Deputy President of The Monarch Alliance.