One of the joys of summer in our region is witnessing the yearly return of our summer visitors. No, I am not referring to the crowds of vacationers and summer residents who will fill our streets and shops, but instead the many migratory species that call the Boothbay region home. Some of the most spectacular migratory species can be found at Oak Point Farm, Boothbay Region Land Trust’s newest preserve and headquarters. Summer and fall hikers who linger in the fields at Oak Point Farm or who take their time examining the overgrowth alongside the trails can glimpse one of the most fascinating lifecycles in nature, that of the monarch butterfly. Here the various stages of monarch development are on display, from caterpillars feeding on milkweed in the fields, to chrysalises hanging from stalks, and finally to butterflies preparing to take the migratory journey south as the weather turns cold.

In preparation for these summer beauties, Boothbay Region Land Trust invites the public to join us for a screening of the award-wining “Flight of the Butterflies” at the Harbor Theater on Sunday, March 24 at 5 p.m.. Come and experience the visual wonder and extraordinary lifecycle of this seasonal visitor, and learn what you can do to support monarch butterflies this summer in your own backyard.

The iconic monarch butterfly is a true marvel of nature. Weighing less than a penny, it makes one of the longest migrations on Earth across a continent, with pinpoint navigational accuracy, to a secluded place it has never been, deep in the remote mountain peaks of Mexico. “Flight of the Butterflies” is an interconnected scientific adventure story that spans not only thousands of miles, but generations. It’s about the remarkable monarch butterfly migration, as well as the determined scientist who spent 40 years trying to discover exactly where the butterflies mysteriously disappeared when they flew south for winter.

Following the screening, Andy Brand, plant curator at the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, will be on hand to share the mesmerizing world of our local butterflies and the native plants that help support them, as well as to answer questions. Brand is an avid naturalist and co-founder and past President of the Connecticut Butterfly Association.

This film screening is free and open to the public, with a $5 suggested donation to benefit Boothbay Region Land Trust. Boothbay Region Land Trust in a non-profit land conservation organization in the Boothbay region, providing free hiking trails and educational programming to the public year round. For more information about this events and future events, please visit our website at bbrlt.org.