Tag Archive | Citizen Science

Weekend Expedition 51: Wild Research Butterfly ID workshop

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This weekend, I went to the UBC Botanical Garden to cover another Butterfly ID workshop for Wild Research. This was very similar to last year’s event, basically a crash course in family and species-level ID of BC butterflies and a pitch to take part in the BC Butterfly Atlas project. This project is a citizen science initiative aimed at documenting diversity and trends among butterfly species across the province.  The classroom learning in the morning was followed by a walk around the grounds to catch and ID butterflies found amid the large botanical collection, which represents several BC habitat types.

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Getting the ID sheet squared away with the field guides.

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This kid was the focus of much of my attention! Super cute and periodically voicing her opinion on the proceedings.

 

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ID quiz!

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Seriously, the kid was pretty adorable.

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We learned about diversity and ecology of butterflies, as well as planting a garden with butterflies in mind.

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Butterflies can get to be about this big! (Taisha Mitchell was actually talking about planting for butterflies, and did a great job!)

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I think I can see the speaker and the screen in her glasses. Enhance!

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Well I guess that only works in the movies…

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A Western Tiger Swallowtail in the garden.

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Captive-reared Painted Ladies were on hand in case no wild ones showed up!

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I am not sure what she is planning to do with this Painted Lady, but my guess is eat it!

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A beautiful Halictid on the way to the Alpine section.

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Getting familiar with the sweep net is an important component of the indoctrination training.

 

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The pond in the Alpine section is actually a good place to find Pacific Treefrogs!