Diario de rshive

This survey consisted of a nocturnal survey conducted in the Schochoh Community in Logan County on August 23, 2024. It began at dusk and was concluded around 10:00 PM. Ultraviolet lights were used to attract insects. The primary focus of this survey were nocturnal insects. Other participants included Steve, Debbie and Katie.

This survey consisted of a nocturnal survey and a sunrise survey. The nocturnal survey was conducted on the Bray Road side of the property on August 2, 2024. It began at dusk and was concluded at 11:30 PM. Ultraviolet lights and one mercury vapor light was used to attract insects. The sunrise survey was conducted at the residential side of the property along Drakes Creek on August 3, 2024. It began at sunrise and was concluded at 11 AM. At this point a daytime survey was conducted at the Bray Road side of the property, lasting about one hour. The primary focus of this survey was insects; however, if a few interesting plant species were recorded and one bird species.

On July 6, 2024, John Zippay and I joined Steve and Janet Kistler; Carol Friedman (aka Muz); Neil Troyer; Kevin Burt and Tricia Sepulveda at Mammoth Cave National Park for a Nature walk and life survey. The survey was a 2.7 mile loop in Wandering Woods. There were numerous plants; insects and birds observed but not photographed and thus not part of the photo portion of this journal. Thirty Eight (38] species of birds were observed or heard by the group. A big thanks to Steve for keeping and generating an eBird list: https://ebird.org/checklist/S185957376 . The group also observed nineteen (19) species of butterflies. A big thanks to Neil for keeping a list which includes:
Tiger Swallowtail
Red-spotted Purple
Sachem
Eastern-tailed Blue
Wild Indigo Duskywing
Pipevine Swallowtail
Silver-spotted Skipper
Bell's Roadside Skipper (rare in this area)
Silvery Checkerspot
Cabbage White
Great Spangled Fritillary
Red Admiral
Question Mark
Spicebush Swallowtail
Clouded Sulfer
Little Yellow
Sleepy Orange
American Snout
Hoary Edge
Finally, there were an overwhelming number of plants observed and identified, many more than are contained in the photo portion of this journal.

This weekend featured two key events of which I participated in. KOS held their 2024 spring event, primarily at Mammoth Cave National Park. The City Nature Challenge features any living organism within a predefined list of counties in South Central Kentucky. The KOS event officially kicked off on Friday, April 26, 2024; although I took off work on the 25th, to begin my own personal bird count. The city Nature Challenge began on the 26th as well and concluded on April,29, 2024. The following are all living organisms I observed beginning on April 25, 2024 through April 29, 2024.

A variety of butterfly species photographed at Lost River Cave.

John, Kevin and I surveyed all life at KB’s. This was a nocturnal survey, beginning around 8:30 pm, ending at dawn the following day. The survey consists of mainly insects attracted to UV lights (which were on during the entire event) and a Mercury Vapor light that was utilized for the first three hours. The photos in this journal were taken with a Nikon D500, set to Aperture Priority with a Nikon 200mm Macro Lens set at f/20. Fifty Nine (59) insects and one (1) resident flying squirrel were observed by this observer.

Three day survey primary consisting of insects observed in the Lost Rive Cave Prairie sector. The predominant nectar giving plant during this survey is an ample distribution of Rattlesnake Master. The conditions were excellent for observing (mostly sunny, slightly humid); fair for photographing (windy). To photograph the subjects, a Nikon D500 was utilized and a combination of three different lenses. First, the area was slowly scanned using a Nikon 200-500mm telephoto lens. With it, larger, hard to approach insects were photographed. Next, a Nikon 85 mm Macro and Nikon 200mm Macro were used for smaller, more approachable insects. Observations took place each day from approximately 4 pm until 6:30 pm. A few plant species were documented. Otherwise, over 50 different insect species were documented.

Lost River Cave - third annual Buggin’ Out Event

Public offered, nocturnal insect review. Insects were attracted to observation sheets via UV and mercury vapor lighting. They were then observed, photographed, identified and cataloged. Approximately 27 observers participated, both adults and children. Forty one (41) species were observed and photographed, six less than the forty seven (47) from last years event. Windy conditions hampered our efforts slightly. Several other species were attracted; however, photographs were not obtained because of the wind.

The evening began late afternoon. A variety of wildlife were observed. At dusk the UV lights were turned on, attracting a variety of insects. I was joined by Lisa, Cooper and Tracey . The observation continued until approximately 11 pm. The moon was full and hampered our efforts to some degree.

Early afternoon conditions were moderate wind, mostly sunny. Bird movement was initially slow. By late afternoon the wind had subsided and bird movement increased.