Citizen Scientists Will Be Rewarded For Monitoring Butterflies This Month

MORRISTOWN, N.J., May 16, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The North American Butterfly Association (NABA) needs your help to increase observations of Spring butterflies. The Memorial Day Count provides a fun and flexible way for you to add to the knowledge of butterflies and, if you are not already a NABA member, be rewarded with a FREE, one-year trial membership in NABA – a $35 value.

It's easy to participate!  Simply observe butterflies – in your own backyard, in a local park, or anywhere you choose – individually, or in a group, for as much or as little time as you are able during the Memorial Day weekend (May 27-29, 2017), and then go to NABA's Recent Sightings website and enter your report.

Because different kinds of butterflies emerge and fly at different times of the year, "The Memorial Day Count will provide critical information used in research, habitat and policy initiatives for a wide range of species," explains Marcus Gray, Executive Director of the North American Butterfly Association.

Butterfly numbers have been decreasing in recent years. The most familiar butterfly in trouble is the Monarch, whose numbers have declined approximately 90% over the past two decades. Time is running out for several prairie skippers, rare butterflies in South Florida and other places across the continent. Citizen Science initiatives such as butterfly counts provide data that are crucial to informing conservation decisions on-the-ground. Management recommendations related to climate, pesticides and other threats require a strong scientific understanding of how butterflies respond to changes in the environment.

For more information about how to get involved, please visit the event page.         

The North American Butterfly Association (NABA) is a 501c(3) non-profit membership-based entity headquartered in Morristown, NJ. The organization's largest project is the National Butterfly Center in Mission, TX. Through an active Chapter system and engaged membership, NABA works locally to promote on-the-ground conservation work and institutes policy initiatives to further its mission. For more information visit http://www.naba.org. Connect with us on social media @NABAButterfly.

SOURCE North American Butterfly Association

Related Links

http://www.naba.org