Event offers chance to tag, release Monarch butterflies
The National Aviary, Pittsburgh, will hold Flutters and Flights Evening from 6 to 10 p.m. Sept. 13, featuring light food and drink, bird-friendly chocolate and coffee, and live music by Cherylann Hawk.
The highlight of the evening will be the opportunity to hold, tag, and release Monarch butterflies in the National Aviary Rose Garden as part of a citizen science project. Advance registration is recommended, with timed tickets available for purchase for $10. Monarch ticket holders will enjoy talks on the conservation work of the National Aviary, tips to make yards friendly to birds and butterflies, the phenomenon of migration, and more.
Other activities for the evening include a collaborative art project with local artist April Minech, a wearable butterfly craft, and access to the National Aviary’s immersive habitats including the new Tropical Rainforest. For an additional donation, guests can experience the exhilarating full-body virtual flight simulation experience Birdly; the opportunity to hand-feed nectar to rainbow lorikeets; and an exclusive bird migration talk with National Aviary Ornithologist Bob Mulvihill.
Tickets are $30 in advance, $35 at the door, and are available at www.showclix.com/event/flutters-and-flights. Guests must be 21 and older to attend and must have valid photo ID. All proceeds support the National Aviary’s education, avian medicine, and conservation programs both locally and internationally.