BUTTERFLIES
We
conduct the annual "4th of July" Butterfly Count (in Western Niagara County)
for the North American Butterfly Association (NABA). This data is
compiled and published in The North American Butterfly Association 4th of
July Butterfly Counts--Annual Reports which is easily available to the
lay public and scientific community. It is our part in the only
continent-wide census of this group (order Lepidoptera) of insects which
represents an important indicator of the health status of our environment.
No
prior scientific or formal training or field experience is necessary to
participate or join our group activities. We do not have dues.
We
try to encourage learning about and enjoying insects of Western New York
(and the world) through field trips and informal talks and slide
presentations. We use specimens, members' photographs and video tapes
to help us learn identification tips. From time to time we have
invited experts and amateurs to talk on butterfly rearing, butterfly
gardening, photography, video taping and where to find certain insects.
We give pointers on the use of binoculars and other optics for nature study.
We sometimes join other clubs for combined field trips. We have
performed census counts for a Canadian prairie restoration project.
Some of our members have done volunteer work in the Entomology Lab of the
Buffalo Museum of Science. We publish and distribute a checklist
of Western New York Butterflies.
To
get on our mailing list, call David Cooper at
(716) 284-4118.