2017 FESTIVAL RECAP

The Texas Butterfly Ranch was proud to present
the second annual Monarch Butterfly and Pollinator Festival

Three fantastic days of science, education, art and celebration
October 20 – 22, 2017

The Festival takes place during peak Monarch migration season in San Antonio, when migrating monarch butterflies east of the Rocky Mountains funnel through Texas on their way to Mexico to roost for the winter.

Our theme this year: Butterflies without Borders. Also, read more about our 2017 Festival here.

We extend special thanks to our Keystone Sponsors, the Pearl, HEB, San Antonio River Authority, the Rivard Report, and the Newman Foundation, without whom this second annual Festival would not be possible. Gracias!

INTEREST AND ATTENDANCE

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10K estimated attendance at FREE Festival Sunday, 10/22
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60 people learned to create a pollinator garden at FREE SAWS workshop at the Festival on Sunday, 10/22
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250+ attended Butterflies without Borders Climate Change Symposium Friday, 10/20
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50 SAISD teachers learned how to use monarchs in the classroom to teach science and sustainability at FREE SARA Teacher Training Workshop Saturday, 10/21
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90 people joined Chip Taylor of Monarch Watch for a Butterfly Walk and Talk at the newly refurbished SABOT Saturday, 10/21
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120 adventurous souls learned why we should eat insects as food and use them for feed at Witte Bug Lunch Saturday, 10/21
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100+ attended Art Show and Reception at Mexican Cultural Institute Saturday, 10/21

BUTTERFLY NUMBERS AND POLLINATOR EDUCATION

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720 Monarch butterflies tagged and released
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500+ one-on-one tagging demos reached an estimated 1500 people

*NOTE: FIVE of the butterflies tagged at our 2017 Festival were recovered in Mexico!

VISITORS

Visitors came from all over Texas, some from Mexico, Ontario, Wisconsin, Florida, and elsewhere.

Interested, Went
Interested, Went

FESTIVAL EVENTS

Friday, October 20, 2017

BUTTERFLIES WITHOUT BORDERS FORUM: The Monarch Migration in our Changing Climate

Butterflies know no walls, but recent changes in our political landscape have created divisions throughout the Monarch butterfly corridor. Meanwhile, temperatures throughout the continent continue to escalate to unprecedented levels, year after year. What do these political and atmospheric changes bode for pollinator advocacy, the Monarch butterfly migration in particular?

Join us for a lively and timely discussion with panelists from Mexico, the U.S and Canada that will explore the intersections and consequences of politics and pollinators, including

  • Dr. Chip Taylor, founder of Monarch Watch,
  • Elizabeth Howard, founder of Journey North
  • Dr. Carlos Galindo Leal, Director of Scientific Communcation at the Ministry of biodiversity in Mexico  (CONABIO), and
  • Louise Hénault-Ethier, Director of Science, the David Suzuki Foundation, Montréal.

Moderated by Dan Goodgame.

Underwritten by the Mexican Cultural Institute and Trinity University

Saturday, October 21, 2017

TEACHER WORKSHOP: Monarchs in the Classroom with Elizabeth Howard

A teacher workshop that will teach educators how to use Monarchs in the classroom will be lead by the founder of Journey North, a wildlife migration tracking and citizen science initiative. Stay tuned for details and registration details to qualified teachers.

Underwritten by the San Antonio River Authority

BUTTERFLY WALK AND TALK with Dr. Chip Taylor

Dr. Chip Taylor, founder of Monarch Watch, will offer a a brief talk on the life cycle and migration of Monarch butterflies, followed by a tour of the San Antonio Botanical Garden’s pollinator garden.

Underwritten by the San Antonio Botanical Garden

Cricket flour polenta

Cricket flour polenta topped with tempura fried veggies at the Little Herds Future Food Salon. YUM. Photo by Monika Maeckle.

BUGS FOR LUNCH? with Louise Hénault-Ethier, entomophagy expert

Entomophagy, the eating of insects as food by human beings, will be explored in this interesting session hosted by Henault-Ethier, an expert in the subject, who joins us from Montreal.  The event will include a hands on workshop where participants will learn to build their own insect farm and get a chance to to taste some bug based food.

Underwritten by the San Antonio River Authority

Atravesando Fronteras/Crossing Borders: Art by Luis Moro, Opening reception

Our partners at the Instituto are finalizing details on an art opening and reception. Rumours on the street: bugs will be on the tapas menu. Check back soon for details.

Sponsored by Mexican Cultural Institute

Sunday, October 22, 2017

Last year’s Festival drew 7,000 to the Pearl. Photo by Scott Ball, Rivard Report

MONARCH BUTTERFLY AND POLLINATOR FESTIVAL and parade

The second annual Monarch Butterfly and Pollinator Festival takes flight at the Pearl with a People for Pollinators Parade led by the Pedaling Pollinators Butterfly Bikes, Monarch butterfly tagging demos, mass butterfly releases, education, food, music and fun.  Costumes encouraged! The parade kicks off at 9:30 AM. Mass butterfly releases will take place at 10:30 and 12:00.

Sponsored by The Rivard Report, H-E-B, San Antonio River Authority, Texas Butterfly Ranch, San Antonio Botanical Garden, 80 20 Foundation, Newman Foundation. Underwriters: Greenhaven Industries, Trinity University, Mexican Cultural Institute, Little Herds, The Witte Museum

ADVOCACY

157 letters sent to elected officials to stop the border wall at the Santa Ana Wildlife Refuge and National Butterfly Center on the Texas Mexico border.

MANY THANKS TO OUR GENEROUS SPONSORS

HEB
Pearl
Rivard Report
San Antonio River Authority