WINGING IT
Crucial butterfly survey flutters into San Antonio Botanical Garden
San Antonio residents are invited to count butterflies.
It may seem like an impossible task, but the San Antonio Botanical Garden is asking Alamo City locals to count butterflies. The fluttery event, held from 9 am-noon on Thursday, June 12, is part of a continent-wide drive to track pollinator populations, promote conservation, and get the community involved in science.
The botanical garden’s initiative is part of a massive undertaking held at approximately 450 sites across the United States, Mexico, and Canada. Each count is taken in a 15-mile diameter during one day and then reported to the North American Butterfly Association (NABA). The data is used to study the effects of climate change, pesticide use, and habitat loss on North American butterflies.
Unfortunately, the beautiful insects are disappearing. NABA data, taken since 1993, was used in a shattering study published in the academic journal Science that reported a 22-percent loss in butterflies over 20 years. The pollinators can serve as a proverbial canary in the coal mine to overall ecosystem health.
“San Antonio Botanical Garden is honored to be a part of the NABA butterfly count this year, bringing attention to the vital role that pollinators play in our gardens and ecosystems,” says Katherine Trumble, President and CEO of the San Antonio Botanical Garden, in a statement. “Sharing this hands-on experience with the community highlights the importance of conservation, collaboration, and the vibrant biodiversity that makes San Antonio bloom.”
Although the research is vital, the San Antonio butterfly survey is meant to be a light-hearted way for local nature lovers to mingle. The June gathering is open to both die-hard lepidopterists and amateurs. The count circle also includes such natural landmarks as the Headwaters Sanctuary, Mitchell Lake Audubon Center, and the Japanese Tea Garden.
After a brief introduction from compiler Cassidy Kempf, University of Texas San Antonio professor Zach Tonzetich will lead the count. Then, volunteers will roam around collecting the number of butterflies seen on a species checklist.
A word to the wise: participants should wear comfortable shoes and breathable clothing. And it’s always good to remain hydrated and wear sunscreen when out in the South Central Texas sun.
