I never really knew there was an official butterfly count in North America each year. I probably should have because I am very aware that the birds and pollinators are in a serious decline; I just never considered how this fact was established. The purpose of the North American Butterfly Association’s counts are to determine how many species and individual butterflies can be observed within a 15-mile diameter circle, during a 24-hour period, within the same date-span year after year. Butterfly declines are an early warning for other wildlife losses, which is why tracking numbers as part of the Big Butterfly Count will help scientists understand wider changes in the environment and take action for protecting butterflies and other wildlife. These tiny fluttering creatures are giving us a heads up on what’s going on with our planet.
I am very interested in butterflies and want to learn more about them, but to say I am a novice is an understatement. I can barely identify a single one. Regardless, when Karen Persinger of Rising Fawn Gardens asked if I wanted to participate in the count along with photographer/naturalist Mike O’Brien, I immediately jumped at the chance. Turns out, there are about 450 of these official butterfly counts all over the United States, Mexico and Canada. Groups of people volunteer to spend a couple of hours in a certain area and wander around counting these tiny creatures.
The day for our count was lovely. Despite it falling on the last week of traditionally sweltering August, this particular day was sunny and mild, with blue skies and a gentle breeze. Armed with binoculars that didn’t particularly focus and my cell phone for taking pictures, I listened to Mike’s instructions on how to approach a butterfly: Do not rush toward it or make a scene; point at the little creature and direct folks who can identify it toward it; be aware of the sun and don’t let your shadow fall over the butterfly because that will scare it off.
Turns out I didn’t need to know much of anything to participate. I never used my binoculars, and I had to look at the cheat sheet repeatedly to identify the pipe vine swallowtails that love the gardens. If I saw a tiny fluttering insect, all I had to do was shout out for Mike to come identify it and he did! He took amazing photographs and then taught us what they were.
So, my morning was spent outdoors on a rare pleasant day in the dregs of August, wandering around masses of jewel-toned zinnias and coneflower and exotic-looking but native passion vine as I learned the names of exquisite butterflies. I returned home richer with this knowledge.
Mike O'Brien regularly photographs all manner of insects and native plants and shares his work with interested folks. This is time consuming work, and he is committed to it.
“The protection of Mother Nature’s flora and fauna, as well as the preservation of her wild habitats, is of paramount importance to me and has been for decades. I believe it is important for our survival as a species. We should engender in the younger population a love for all of nature, a firm desire to learn more about it and to protect it, and continue the good habitat preservation work that is being done. There is nothing more astounding than nature to me,” Mike explained. “One of my favorite quotes is from the great American poet, Mary Oliver, whose inspiration for her writings was nature. This says it all for me.
Her wonderful quote:
‘Instructions for living a life:
Pay attention. Be astonished.
Tell about it.’”
by Ferris Robinson
I am very interested in butterflies and want to learn more about them, but to say I am a novice is an understatement. I can barely identify a single one. Regardless, when Karen Persinger of Rising Fawn Gardens asked if I wanted to participate in the count along with photographer/naturalist Mike O’Brien, I immediately jumped at the chance. Turns out, there are about 450 of these official butterfly counts all over the United States, Mexico and Canada. Groups of people volunteer to spend a couple of hours in a certain area and wander around counting these tiny creatures.
The day for our count was lovely. Despite it falling on the last week of traditionally sweltering August, this particular day was sunny and mild, with blue skies and a gentle breeze. Armed with binoculars that didn’t particularly focus and my cell phone for taking pictures, I listened to Mike’s instructions on how to approach a butterfly: Do not rush toward it or make a scene; point at the little creature and direct folks who can identify it toward it; be aware of the sun and don’t let your shadow fall over the butterfly because that will scare it off.
Turns out I didn’t need to know much of anything to participate. I never used my binoculars, and I had to look at the cheat sheet repeatedly to identify the pipe vine swallowtails that love the gardens. If I saw a tiny fluttering insect, all I had to do was shout out for Mike to come identify it and he did! He took amazing photographs and then taught us what they were.
So, my morning was spent outdoors on a rare pleasant day in the dregs of August, wandering around masses of jewel-toned zinnias and coneflower and exotic-looking but native passion vine as I learned the names of exquisite butterflies. I returned home richer with this knowledge.
Mike O'Brien regularly photographs all manner of insects and native plants and shares his work with interested folks. This is time consuming work, and he is committed to it.
“The protection of Mother Nature’s flora and fauna, as well as the preservation of her wild habitats, is of paramount importance to me and has been for decades. I believe it is important for our survival as a species. We should engender in the younger population a love for all of nature, a firm desire to learn more about it and to protect it, and continue the good habitat preservation work that is being done. There is nothing more astounding than nature to me,” Mike explained. “One of my favorite quotes is from the great American poet, Mary Oliver, whose inspiration for her writings was nature. This says it all for me.
Her wonderful quote:
‘Instructions for living a life:
Pay attention. Be astonished.
Tell about it.’”
by Ferris Robinson
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