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Butterfly Blitz

Join us for second annual Butterfly Blitz. This summer-long citizen science program is creating a watershed-wide inventory of butterflies in the Credit River Watershed. Participating in the program is a great way to connect with nature and spend time outdoors. You’ll have new experiences and contribute to a fun and interactive project.

You’ll learn how to identify butterfly species in your backyard and neighbourhood, and contribute important data to the program. You can take part on your own time and join our training webinars.

Data collected helps us learn about local butterfly populations and identify trends. Over time, the Butterfly Blitz database will provide valuable insight to help protect and restore wildlife habitat in the Credit River Watershed.

Please note: Due to COVID-19, Butterfly Blitz participants should only make observations from their own property and where it is safe and reasonable to do so during social distancing.

GET INVOLVED

Become a citizen scientist and join the 2020 Butterfly Blitz.

Not an expert? Not a problem! Anyone can contribute to Butterfly Blitz, and it’s a great way to learn. If you already know a bit about butterflies or want to commit more time to the project, we’ve got options for that, too. Everyone is welcome!

Participation Opportunities

Join our iNaturalist project:

  • Stept 1: Register for iNaturalist. Create a profile using your email address, Facebook account or Google account.
  • Step 2: Click on Community.
  • Step 3: Select Projects. Search “CVC Butterfly Blitz 2020”.
  • Step 4: Click Join.

Sign-up for an upcoming training webinar:

Training Webinar – May 23, 24 and 30, 2020 

Saturday Webinar access: HERE

Sunday Webinar access: HERE

 About the program: Due to COVID-19, we’re now delivering this training as a webinar. Our online training sessions will provide information on how to find and identify butterflies, as well as other helpful tips for your adventures ahead. Registration packages containing useful resources such as checklists and maps will be available online.

iNaturalist Project 

Location: Anywhere in the Credit River Watershed
Date: May 30 to September 26, 2020
Time: Self-directed (any-time)

 iNaturalist is the world’s most popular online citizen science platform. Join our iNaturalist Project and submit photo observations of butterflies in the Credit River Watershed on your own time. Observations are welcome between May 30 and September 26 from your backyard and where it is safe and reasonable to do so in the watershed. Our project is fun and engaging for all ages and experience levels! We will provide training via webinar on how to use iNaturalist on May 23.

Timed Surveys on eButterfly

Location: Anywhere in the Credit River Watershed
Date: May 30 to September 26, 2020
Time: Self-directed (any time)

 To participate in this option, you’ll commit to completing four 15-minute butterfly surveys, on your own, time throughout the summer. You’ll submit your observations to CVC and through the online platform eButterfly. We will provide training webinar on how to do timed surveys and submit data to eButterfly.
Hungry Hollow SNAP Butterfly Survey – TBD Join the Butterfly Blitz and Hungry Hollow SNAP teams for this event. We’ll explore pollinator-focused restoration projects and discuss ongoing opportunities, all while looking for and learning about butterflies together. This is a great opportunity to add observation from Georgetown to the iNaturalist project!
Credit Valley Trail Butterfly Survey – TBD Join the Butterfly Blitz and Credit Valley Trail teams for this event. We’ll learn about the Credit Valley Trail project, explore the portion of the trail at Upper Credit Conservation Area, all while looking for and learning about butterflies together. This is another great opportunity to add observations to the iNaturalist project!

Wrap-up Event and Celebration

Location: Small Arms Inspection Building, 1352 Lakeshore Rd E, Mississauga
Date: Saturday, September 26, 2020 (TBD)
Time: 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

 At our wrap-up event we’ll provide an overview of the findings from the 2020 Butterfly Blitz, celebrate some of the best finds and photos from the year, and hand out prizes to participants in several categories (e.g. most observations, most species, etc.). The celebration will be followed by a walk and butterfly survey in the natural areas surrounding the building – a known hot spot for migratory butterflies at this time of year.

BENEFITS OF JOINING BUTTERFLY BLITZ

  • Learn about butterflies in our area – their biology, identification and habits – while spending time enjoying nature.
  • Contribute data to help guide the protection and restoration of habitat in the Credit River Watershed.
  • Receive links to registration  package full of great stuff, including:
    • Local butterfly species checklist
    • Butterfly identification resources
    • CVC landowner resources for supporting native butterflies and other pollinators
    • Receive weekly updates in the iNaturalist project, with the change of having your observation featured as the Observation of the Week.
  • Compete for prizes in the following categories on iNaturalist:
    • Most observations submitted
    • Most species seen
    • Rarest species seen
    • Best photo
    • Greatest involvement across all participation opportunities
    • Lucky day prize given to a participant who submitted an observation on a randomly drawn day.

 


iNaturalist app:

Identification and biology:


Local insect and naturalist groups:


Insect conservation:

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