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<b>Nature's Circle</b>
<p><i>Box 186, Woods Hole, MA 02543</i>
<br><i>www.home.cape.com/nature</i>
<br><i>nature@cape.com</i>
<br><i>Alison Robb 508-540-2408</i>
<p>Press Release
<p>The North American Butterfly Association "Fourth of July Butterfly Count"
will be held in Falmouth on Sunday, July 13, 2003.
<p> Since 1975 the annual butterfly count has been held in the U.S.,
and now in Canada and Mexico as well. Each count area is a circle
15 miles in diameter and the count is a one-day census of all butterflies
observed within that circle. The count promotes interest in butterflies,
and provides results useful to scientists who are monitoring butterfly
populations and habitats. An official report is available in the
Spring of the following year. Everyone is encouraged to participate
either as an observer in their own garden or as a member of the group that
visits sites selected by the count leader.
<p> The Falmouth count is in its fifth year. The count circle
reaches from Woods Hole through the conservation lands in the Massachusetts
Military Reservation, including all of Falmouth and parts of Bourne, Sandwich
and Mashpee.
<p> The 2000 count, led by Alison Robb, included fourteen counters
who tallied 349 individual butterflies of 30 species. This year we
hope more volunteers will join us. The number of butterflies
counted has decreased each year since then. The sites we will visit
are the same sites we visited in past years, so that a comparison can be
made. In 2000 we had had too much rain in June, which decreased the
number of surviving butterflies. In 2001 we had a drought for
a few weeks in May, which may have decreased the numbers again. This
last winter was so severe that temperatures and flower blooms are two weeks
or so behind normal. There are many reasons for population changes;
weather, insecticide use, and habitat decrease or increase.
<br>
<br> Knowledgeable butterfliers are needed, and those who want to
have the experience to get started are also welcome. Participants
are asked to pay $3.00. Anyone who would like to join us on
July 13 by treking with the group or by counting in their own garden should
call 508-540-2408 to sign up and find out the place of meeting.
It will run from 9 am to about 3 pm. Do join us.
<p> Nature's Circle presents butterfly field classes weekly.
Do plan to join us at those as well.<i></i>
<p><i>Nature's Circle is a project of the Green Center, a nonprofit educational
organization at the Alchemy Farm, Hatchville Road, East Falmouth.
Donations are tax deductible. Field trips are without charge and
open to the public; workshops and lectures are at a moderate fee.</i></html>