3rd Annual Member Photo Contest - Submit photos Oct.1st-31st

Read about the impacts of the new border wall: What the Border Wall will do here; Article: Border wall will go through NBC

Welcome to Austin Butterfly Forum!

Austin Butterfly Forum was hatched in 1993 to enrich people’s lives through butterfly conservation and public pollinator awareness. We organize field trips, conduct butterfly counts, promote native gardening, perform conservation activities, partner with other non-profits and community groups, and meet monthly for fun and educational presentations. Among our founders and officers are some of the most credentialed entomologists in the country, and many of our members are also crazy about dragonflies, damselflies, bees, beetles, spiders and other arthropods (our meetings often cover those subjects as well). Come join us and learn!

BECOME A MEMBER OR DONATE

Next Monthly Meeting - Presentation on Monday, Sept 28, 2026

Join us - Next Meeting in Person or on Zoom

Monday, September 28th at 7:00pm Zilker Botanic Garden Club House or on Zoom.

Native Plant Preferences and Species Diversity of Butterflies at Guadalupe River State Park, 2012-2026

Presented by Craig Hensley, Naturalist and Educator

Monday September 28th, 2026 7:00pm-8:30pm - at Zilker Botanic Garden.

CLICK HERE TO JOIN ZOOM MEETING

Presentation Overview:

Title: Native Plant Preferences and Species Diversity of Butterflies at Guadalupe River State Park, 2012-2026

Presented by Craig Hensley, Naturalist and Educator.

Beginning with the pretext of determining species diversity and generational patterns of

butterflies at Guadalupe River State Park following significant land management to

control Ashe Juniper prior to 2012, then Interpreter and Resource Specialist Craig

Hensley recruited volunteers to begin surveying butterflies throughout the park. Fifteen

years on this citizen science effort has provided illumination not only to butterfly diversity

but also their use of and preferences for native plants of the park. Evolving results

provide insights not only into what has been found in the park but how these findings

may guide landowners large and small as to decisions on use and management of

native plants on their properties in the Texas Hill Country.

io: Craig Hensley retired in 2025 following a 40+ year career as a naturalist, interpreter

and wildlife biologist, serving 15 of those years with Texas Parks and Wildlife

Department, his final assignment as a Texas Nature Tracker Biologist. Craig has a

broad-based knowledge of the natural world, including ornithology, entomology, and

botany. He is a chaser of birds, butterflies, bees, dragons and damsels, as well as a

grower of native plants at his home in Boerne. Craig is father to two children, Dr. Jenny

Hensley, a pediatrician near Boston, and Noah Hensley, PhD., Manager Technical

Advice for The Water Services Authority of New Zealand. He is a granddad of four girls,

one boy and a still-to-be determined baby, due in September. He is married to Texas

Master Naturalist Terry Lashley.

📣 ATTENTION 📣

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Let's make general meetings more interactive! Sign up for a 10-minute presentation on a butterfly or a family of butterflies to educate the audience about butterflies (1 to 2 people per month). Moth topics are welcome. Don't be afraid even if you're a newbie! The goal is to learn together.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

ABF NEWSLETTER

BUILD A 🦋 HABITAT

START PLANNING

TAKE ACTION!

VOLUNTEER

🎟️ Upcoming/Recent Events

* If you would like to volunteer for any ABF event, please email butterfliesaustin@gmail.com

What: ABF Meetup at Texas Science & Natural History Museum
When: Saturday, August 29, 2026; 10:00am-11:30am
Pay Onsite: $10/adults; $6/seniors & children (5+)
Parking: San Jacinto Garage $6; Meters on Dean Keeton $2
Pre-register using this Google Form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe_OB241f3AuiFERasVqN1X4Jzr5T6Nn7wlofj6m4Coj7plnA/viewform?usp=sharing&ouid=116094780016685583774

Location: 2400 Trinity Street, Austin, Texas, 78712 https://sciencemuseum.utexas.edu/
Details: With a customized guided tour, some of the features we’ll see –

Follow the Monarchs brings together art and science in a vibrant installation inspired by monarch butterflies’ migration.
Decimation Proclamation is a beautiful artwork featuring hundreds of colorful butterflies. It was created by former UT BFA student and multidisciplinary artist Daneida Castillo, who incorporated 650 butterflies that had been donated to The University of Texas Insect Collection.
The museum’s Pollinator Garden features native plant species — such as coneflowers, lantanas, sages and milkweeds — that provide year-round food, habitat and breeding grounds for butterflies and other pollinators.
Now open on the museum’s fourth floor, Masters of the Night: The True Story of Bats challenges long-held myths and reveals how bats help sustain ecosystems around the world.

What: Keep Austin Fluttering at Zilker - Botanical Garden
When: 1st and 3rd Tuesdays (March 2026 - June 2026) Past

Do you want to be a steward of Zilker Botanical Garden's Butterfly Trail? Yes! We will gather to work together on a variety of garden tasks. Truth be told, the Butterfly Trail can get a little wild if we don't embrace it. If we work together to maximize the beauty of the Butterfly Trail, we can meet our mission to promote the conservation of butterflies and bring enjoyment to the visitors of the garden.

August 8:30AM to 10:30AM

September and on - 9:30AM to 11:30AM

https://www.givepulse.com/event/625563-Butterfly-Garden-Workday%21

To sign up as ABF vs general public, the password is: BUTTERFLY

***ABF Members, report your volunteer hours to ABF via email at butterfliesaustin@gmail.com*** These hours are tracked for quarterly and annual AAGC reports.

Interested in being a next level leader at ZBG?

https://zilkergarden.org/volunteer-opportunities/#docent

What: ABF Meetup at Golden Bloom Festival - Westcave Preserve 50th Anniversary
When: May 2, 2026; 1:00pm-4:30pm [Past]
Westcave requires reservations; $5 per vehicle + $1 fee

Location: Westcave Outdoor Discovery Center, Round Mountain, Tx 78663
Details: 2026 marks the 50th Anniversary of Westcave Preserve! Since 1976, Westcave has been a cornerstone of conservation in the Texas Hill Country, inspiring generations of students, naturalists, and visitors with our mission: “to inspire people to develop a lifelong practice of enjoying and protecting nature.”
Agenda:

11:00AM - 12:00PM: Optional lunch (location TBD)

12:00PM - 12:45PM: Drive to Westcave

1:00-4:00/4:30PM meetup, ABF walk together

What's Included: Walks, hikes, music, crafts, and more!
- See full list of activities/details here: https://www.westcave.org

What: Butterfly and Nature Walk at Copperfield Park
When: April 26, 2026, 2:00-3:30PM [Past]

Let's meet at Copperfield Park to walk the Copperfield Nature Trail. We will walk from the parking area off Yager toward Shopshire Ln. If parking is full, parking is available on Jourdan Crossing Blvd.

We will meet at 2:00 pm and depart no later than 2:10pm heading in the south direction.

The trail is natural is mostly flat but is uneven and natural. Wear comfortable shoes, bring water, and mosquito spray. Don't forget your binoculars and any ID books and tools.

Any questions? Text 956-332-3746

What: Bailey Middle School Butterfly Fest- Need Volunteers for ABF Booth
When: March 28, 2026; 11am - 2pm [Past]
Event Pics

Location: Bailey Middle School, 4020 Lost Oasis Hollow, Austin, Texas 78739
Event Host: Bailey Native Plants and Animals (NPA) Booster Club, which supports their NPA class and after school club.
Details: Bailey Middle School is hosting its second annual Butterfly Fest and Native Plant Sale. Selling plants to raise money for the NPA program, festival, and education stations and fun activities. ABF is hosting a booth with interactive activities and talking with visitors to the booth. You do not need to be an expert! On a side but related note, ABF may provide input on butterfly-related activities within their program and future plans for a butterfly observation house.
https://www.baileybearspta.org/plants

What: Spread the Harvest - Need Volunteers for the ABF Booth
When: March 7, 2026; 8am - 11am [Past]
Event Pics

Location: Dell Pediatric Research Institute, 1400 Barbara Jordan Blvd, Enter parking lot off of 51st street (Click for Map)
Event Host: EdEN Lab (Education, Evaluation, Nutrition) UT at Austin helps teachers promote learning and healthier living through hands-on school garden experiences.
Details: ABF will be a community partner at the Spring 2026 Spread the Harvest event hosted by EdEN Lab. The event will have over 150 schools with gardens participating. We are looking for volunteers to represent ABF at our table. We will be talking with teachers and other champions to help promote and foster school gardens. ABF will bring the materials and all you need to do is bring yourself! Knowledge of host and nectar plants for butterflies would help but we know generally the public has questions about all things butterflies. If you wish to bring something to give away, let's coordinate!
Due to rain chances, we will receive an update regarding the status of the event at 7:00AM on Saturday morning.
Setup: Booth setup begins at 7:30 am before the event officially starts at 8 am.
https://www.edenut.org/resources
Sign-ups so far: Brian & Valli Abel, Erin & Troy (7:30a-10a), ....