On August 24 butterfly enthusiasts of all ages gathered together to count as many butterflies as they could in twenty minutes for the annual Butterfly Count held at Chinsegut Conservation Center in Brooksville.
“Butterflies are incredibly important indicators of environmental quality. They can tell us if there are the right plants present and the right quantity. They’ll tell us if there is a pesticide that is affecting their reproduction. They are very sensitive to changes in environmental conditions,” said Gina Long, Director; Chinsegut Conservation Center.
Before the count, Gina gave a simple lesson about butterflies. She explained the importance of the butterfly count, what species the participants would most likely find and how to identify different species, such as Sulphur and Hairstreaks.
“We definitely encourage families to do this together, and we are always working for ways to involve kids,” Gina said.
The results for the Chinsegut Butterfly Count
Number of butterflies counted: 180
Number of butterfly species: 25!
Want to get more involved with butterflies, check out the Wings over Florida | Butterflies at http://floridabirdingtrail.com/wings-over-florida-butterflies/
For more information on Conservation center programs, festivals, facilities, and trails contact:
Chinsegut Conservation Center
23212 Lake Lindsey Road
Brooksville, FL 34601
352-754-6722
https://myfwc.com/education/outdoor-skills/chinsegut/
