Butterfly counters sought for Friday census

By HEATHER HACKING - Staff Writer

Posted: 05/31/2009 12:00:00 AM PDT

CHICO -- Area residents interested in winged creatures can join in an opportunity to count butterflies this week at the Big Chico Creek and Butte Creek ecological reserves.

This year's survey will be the third annual review taken in Butte County to accumulate long-term information about the health of the butterfly population.

The event will take all day Friday, and will include some hiking.

Leaders will include Don Miller, an entomologist; Don Hankins of the Butte Creek Ecological Reserve; and Jeff Mott, director of the Big Chico Creek Ecological Reserve.

Organized surveys are held for other creatures, especially for birds, each year.

Mott said all data from the event will be collected and used to see if butterflies are decreasing or increasing over time.

Several of the people on the survey will be experts, well trained in identifying different types of butterflies. Some are more difficult than others, and experts will have nets to look at the creatures more closely.

The first year there were only a handful of people involved, and last year seven or eight folks took part.

This year, Mott said, more folks have been invited.

"We want people to come out who don't know butterflies at all," Mott said. "We'll teach people the various species."

Mott said Butte County butterfly enthusiasts try to do the survey at the same time each year. Different types of butterflies "peak" at various times, so the data will be a snapshot of what observers find.

He said typically there will be about 30 different butterflies observed.

The tour will meet at 8:30 a.m. at the barn at the Big Chico Creek Ecological Reserve. From there, groups will be organized to canvass the terrain.

People should wear long pants and hiking shoes, bring water, sunscreen and lunch.

It is expected the survey will take until about 4 p.m.

Mott said he's prefer that people phone first, so he can be clear about where to meet and what to bring for the day-long activity.

For information, call Mott at 898-5010.