Confluence Missouri Master Naturalist

27/09/2026

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Follow the monarch fall migration through the Project Monarch Science app!

This week's cooler weather and northerly winds brought lots of migratory monarchs through our area of Lawrence, Kansas. In addition to tagging some of these monarchs, we also deployed a few more radio-tagged monarch butterflies.

These butterflies can be followed in near-real time through the Project Monarch Science app, which is free to download. Tracking these butterflies' journeys helps us understand the fall migration in new ways, and we're excited to see what we'll be able to observe this season!
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The Project Monarch Science app is connected with the initiative led by Cellular Tracking Technologies and Cape May Point Arts and Science Center to deploy radio-tagged monarchs and study their movement in new ways. Monarch Watch has continued participating in this collaboration and contributes radio-tagging data from our research projects to the collaborative for use in larger-scale data analyses.

24/09/2026

🌻Congratulations, Confluence!

We were awarded the 2026 Non-Profit Volunteer Service Award from the St. Charles County Parks. In 2025, 37 members contributed 634 hours specifically to the parks, conducting children's field trips, planting and maintaining native gardens, and monitoring bluebird houses.

Making a difference in our communities!

24/09/2026

I believe I see our president in this picture.

20/09/2026

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Every fall, huge numbers of dragonflies take to the skies across North America, heading south as temperatures change.

Some species travel hundreds or even thousands of miles over the course of their multi-generational migration, with movements extending from Canada and the northern United States toward the southern U.S., Mexico and the Caribbean.

The Common Green Darner is one of the best-known migrants, often traveling alongside Black Saddlebags, Wandering Gliders and other species.

Unlike the highly visible migration of monarch butterflies, dragonfly migration can be surprisingly difficult to notice. Large flights may pass overhead for only a few days, followed by periods when very few are seen. Migration activity generally peaks around September, although timing varies by species, location and weather.

Researchers are still learning exactly where these insects travel, where they spend the winter and how different generations complete the journey.

So if you suddenly notice unusually large numbers of dragonflies this fall, you may be witnessing part of one of North America’s lesser-known migrations.

16/09/2026

Did you know that tracking butterfly migration patterns or studying native plant structures can tell us volumes about the health of our local environment? 🌿🧐

Discover the science of nature at Pollinator Palooza this Saturday, September 19th!

We’re setting up interactive displays, insect identification booths, magnifying stations and more! You can experience our local wildlife like a real biologist.

Come learn how vital these little creatures are to our everyday lives and how you can support native habitats right in your backyard.

We can't wait to see you!

16/09/2026

Missouri Master Naturalists, Missouri Master Gardeners and the general public! You are invited to attend these outstanding speakers at the upcoming Pollinator Palooza (sponsored by the Missouri Pollinator Network). While you are there, check out all the other family friendly activities and native plant opportunities that will be there.

13/09/2026

13/09/2026

13/09/2026

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Butterfly Big Day is a global, one day butterfly bioblitz held every year on the second Saturday of September. The goal is simple but powerful: get people all over the world outside photographing wild butterflies and uploading them to iNaturalist, creating a massive snapshot of global butterfly diversity in a single day.
https://www.urbanbutterflies.org/science/butterfly-big-day