Hi Everyone,
This Saturday will be the Jackson Count. We will meet at the West TN
Agricultural Education Center off Airways Blvd. (parking lot in back) at 9:30
AM. As with the Meeman-Shelby Forest Count, we will be limiting the
participants to no more than 8 in addition to Allan and myself and wearing face
masks will be mandatory while we are in the field (if you need to cool off and
take a drink or catch your breath, please step away from the group before doing
so). We will have lunch in the field (probably at Pinson Mound) where we will
physically distance ourselves while eating. Please bring your $3.00 NABA fee
and plenty of water and sun protection as the weather forecast is calling for
lower to mid 90s with high humidity. Oddly, this count is often the hottest of
the year and this year may be no different.
I am hopeful that the coneflowers have recovered some from the guardrail
construction at the entrance of Pinson Mound last year and we will have our
usual good skipper diversity. Little Glassywings are often the stars at Pinson
Mound, but we can also expect Lace-winged Roadside-Skippers, Gulf Fritillaries,
and Variegated Fritillaries. In many years, there can be good numbers of
Silvery Checkerspots, but I haven't even seen one so far this year, so it may
be a down year for them. Jackson doesn't seem to produce high numbers of total
individuals, but the diversity is usually pretty good.
Please let me know if you plan to be there and I look forward to spending a
great hot July day with you.
Bart Jones
Memphis, Shelby Co.
