Stage's Pond State Nature Preserve

Butterfly Monitoring at Stage's Pond

Stage's Pond State Nature Preserve is involved in the " Ohio Lepidopterists Long-Term Monitoring of Butterflies"  Long-term data can provide a wealth of information including: fluctuations in numbers due to short-term and long term effects, colonization and extinction as habitats undergo progression, expansion and contractions of range, migrations, immigrations of non-native species, flight periods of butterflies, season variations in abundance, and overall health of the butterflies of Ohio.  This monitoring was devised to enable individuals with relatively little experience to assess the changes in abundance of butterflies in their locality.  The long-term survey is completed once a week from April 1st to October 31st weather permitting.

The butterfly trail (transect) is divided into 15 sections and the entire trail is walked once a week and butterflies are identified and counted in the sections and logged.  At the end of the year the information is sent into the Cleveland Museum of Natural History.  The trail is approximately 1.5 miles long and it takes about 1 1/2 hours to complete a survey.  We walk at a slow pace and enjoy the beauty of the Preserve plus identify wildflowers that draw butterflies to the area.

If you are interested in volunteering 1 1/2 hours a week to help identify butterflies at Stage's Pond email me at stagespond@columbus.rr.com and I will send you the pertinent  information.