Rhode Island Butterfly Count Seeks Participants
June 25 and July 23, 2016
Silver-bordered Fritillary photographed by Dave Mozzoni during last year???s Butterfly Count.
(May 30, 2016) ??? It???s butterfly season again! Join Audubon Society of Rhode Island naturalists and other butterfly enthusiasts for the 13th Annual North American Butterfly Association (NABA) Butterfly Count, held on June 25 and July 23, 2016. Beginners are welcome on these naturalist-led walks that teach butterfly identification and promote the understanding of butterfly ecology. In 2015, a total of 1,951 butterflies representing 53 species were recorded by 71 observers. That???s a lot of butterflies! A copy of the 2015 report is attached.
???This is our thirteenth year hosting the butterfly count,??? said Scott Ruhren, Audubon???s Senior Director of Conservation. ???We look forward each year to see just how many species can be found. Butterflies are important indicators of environmental health and this survey is not only a great way to get outside and enjoy nature, but it provides valuable data for monitoring purposes. No special skills are required, we encourage people of all ages and abilities to join Audubon and learn more about these beautiful creatures.???
Teams will help to spot butterflies and Audubon naturalists will record them and provide identification tips. All walks meet at 10:00 am and finish at 12:00 pm, the complete schedule is listed below. There is a fee of $5.00 per person and all participants must register to receive survey protocols and to confirm sites within the survey areas. To register, visit the events calendar at www.asri.org. Additional details on the 2015 survey results are attached and can be found at http://www.butterflyingwithaudubon.blogspot.com/ or contact Jon Scoones at jscoones@asri.org for more information.????
Butterfly Count Locations on Saturday, June 25, 2016:
Audubon Environmental Education Center, 1401 Hope St., Bristol, RI.
10:00 am to 12:00 pm??
Nockum Hill, Doug Rayner Wildlife Sanctuary, George St., Barrington, RI.
10:00 am to 12:00 pm
Audubon Touisset Wildlife Refuge, Touisset Road, Warren, RI.
10:00 am to 12:00 pm
Narragansett Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, Prudence Island, RI
9:45 am to 3:00 pm.
For more information on ferry transportation and details about this Prudence Island program, visit the Audubon events calendar at www.asri.org.
??Butterfly Count locations Saturday, July 23, 2016:
Audubon Powder Mill Ledges Wildlife Refuge, 12 Sanderson Road, Smithfield, RI.
10:00 am to 12:00 pm
Audubon Newman Wildlife Sanctuary, Smithfield/Glocester. (Meet at Powder Mill Ledges. Smithfield, RI) 10:00 am to 12:00 pm
Audubon Fisherville Brook Wildlife Refuge, Pardon Joslin Rd., Exeter, RI.
10:00 am to 12:00 pm
Trustom Pond, 1040 Matunuck Schoolhouse Rd., South Kingstown, RI.
10:00 am to 12:00 pm
The Audubon Society of Rhode Island, independent and unaffiliated with the National Audubon Society, was founded in 1897. Today, with 17,000 members and supporters, the Audubon Society of Rhode Island is dedicated to education, land conservation, and advocacy. Audubon independently protects or owns almost 9,500 acres of woodlands and coastal property embracing diverse natural habitats. More than 33,000 students from area schools participate annually in our educational programs. A voice in statewide ecological issues, the Society actively fulfills its environmental stewardship through preservation and protection of Rhode Island’s natural heritage.
12 Sanderson Road ~ Smithfield, RI 02917-2600 ~ Phone: (401) 949-5454 ~ Fax: (401) 949-5788
www.asri.org????
email: audubon@asri.org