The Prairie Enthusiasts Field Trip

Flowers, Butterflies, & Birds of Schurch-Thomson Prairie   Iowa Co.

Come ready to observe & identify butterflies, wildflowers, & birds of grasslands, prairies, and savannas. We will be hiking through the Schurch-Thomson Prairie unit of The Prairie

Enthusiasts’ Mounds View Grassland preserve, a 570-acre area that contains remnant a

nd restored prairies and grasslands, savannas and woodlands, spring seep wetlands, and cold water streams.  We will also visit the adjacent private Underwood Prairie. The latter is closed to the public, so this is a great opportunity to see it up close.  Dozens of mid-summer prairie flowers willbe in bloom. We hope to see the rare Regal Fritillary, many other butterflies of mid-summer, and a rich variety of prairie and savanna birds.  Be prepared for a long hike (much off trail) and bring binoculars for butterfly viewing (the closer they can focus the better). This is a joint trip of The Prairie Enthusiasts, Madison Audubon Society and the Southern WI Butterfly

Association (SWBA).

Leaders: Eric Preston (415 235-4182) and Karl Legler.  

Directions:

  From the intersection of US Hwy 18-151 and County F (south of Blue Mounds in western Dane County), take F approximately 5 miles south, then turn right on to Reilly Road.  Proceed to parking lot and kiosks at the end of the road (past the barn). (Note: A half mile south of F from 18-151, pay close attention to the road signs, for F turns to the right & the straight ahead road becomes County Z.  Stay on F.)  Enter “Reilly Rd, Barneveld, WI” in map app.