Friends of Hopewell
Valley Open Space
Friends of Hopewell Valley Open Space (FoHVOS) will participate in the 39th annual nationwide North American Association’s Butterfly Count.
It is seeking participants for the count in Mercer County to take place on July 7. This is a great opportunity for volunteers of all ages, including families, to be “citizen scientists” and gather data on butterfly populations in the Hopewell Valley.
The count is a fun-filled way to track the butterfly populations of North America. A one-day census of all butterflies sighted within a 15-mile diameter area will be conducted by volunteers under the oversight of FoHVOS.
The North American Butterfly Association organizes the counts and publishes their annual reports. These reports provide important information about the geographical distributions and population sizes of the species counted. Comparisons of the results over the years monitor changes in butterfly populations and reveal effects of weather and habitat change on the different species. In some years the butterfly count shows dramatic changes in butterfly populations, while other years indicate little fluctuation in butterfly numbers. Either way, the butterfly counters are always curious about what next year’s results will be!
No matter how much or how little butterfly watching you’ve done, the results of butterfly counting can be surprising and interesting.
Volunteers with all levels of butterfly identification skills are welcome. Please be prepared to walk off trail in our meadows. Wear long pants and sturdy shoes. Please bring water, snacks, and butterfly binoculars (preferred but not required).
The count takes place on July 7 from 9 a.m.-noon at the Thompson Preserve on Route 654/Hopewell- Pennington Road, approximately a half-mile east of the intersection with Route 31.
For registration or more information, email [email protected].