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I hope this final newsletter of the 2023 Lepidoptera season finds you well and in enchanted spirits for Halloween! Thank you for being part of our organization for another amazing and successful year! Backyard Butterflies did so much this year that I hope I remembered it all.
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We have a big project in the works over the winter. John is working on making a bona fide seed germination room in our garage. The new room will expand our capacity to grow plants. If all goes according to plan we will be offering between 130 and 140 species of plants with an estimated total of 5,000 plants to sell during the month of May.
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2023 was not the best year for NABA butterfly counts. Many were below average or within the average. The continued whacky spring weather of early warm-ups followed by freezing temperatures in April is detrimental to the first broods of butterflies. Like many in the area we had no Monarchs in the spring or summer and the brood of caterpillars I found in the fall was a total of 7. The previous year for Monarchs in our habitat was typical so I consider this year as part of a normal low in the cycle, at least until proven otherwise.
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This year I have done quite a bit of networking and connection making with the hopes that I will be kept busy with doing all that Backyard Butterflies does pertaining to Lepidoptera. If plans come to fruition there will be some exciting volunteer opportunities and activities to participate in. Stay tuned!
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May the holidays and wintry months ahead be kind and gentle to you. See you again next March when our newsletter returns.
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Wow! It was a busy year for Backyard Butterflies! All of the events and activities we did this year were back to pre-Covid levels. Now is the time to reach out to schedule a presentation or book an event with us for next year.
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Education & Community Outreach
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Community Outreach Events
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- Sylvan Heights Bird Park Earth Day
- Earth Day Fair at Kingswood Magnet Elementary School
- Carrboro Pride
- Pride at Umstead
- Queer Crafts Festival
- Wild I.D.E.A.S.
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Pride Moth at Pride at Umstead
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Presentations & Guest Speaking
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- Country Oaks Garden Club
- Hillsborough Garden Club
- Triad Baptist Church Academy 4-H Club
- 12 Oaks Community, Holly Springs
- Spring Forest Community Moth Night
- Moth Night South Mountains State Park
- Central Carolina Chrysanthemum Society
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Country Oaks Garden Club, Chapel Hill
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- Weymouth Woods SP
- Orange County
- Guilford & Rockingham Counties
- Durham County
- Wake County
- Mayo River SP
- Hanging Rock SP
- Pilot Mountain SP
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Great Purple Hairstreak, Wake County NABA Count
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- 3,390 plants sold
- 194 plants donated to Free Plant Table and Plant Swap at the annual Open House
Plant Donation Program Overview
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- 12 recipients
- 378 plants donated
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Volunteers
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Special thank you to all those who gave their time and energy to help us do all the things we do. Their generosity in sharing their knowledge, skills, and talents is sincerely appreciated!
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- Meg Millard
- Kate Millard
- Randy Emmitt
- Kristen Compton
- Catherine & Kent Phelps
- Tammy Dorfman
- Sarah Powell
- Stacey Traister
- Sam Spaulding
- Jennifer Yentel
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- Alexia Maneschi
- Pat A Fn'Piere
- Shirley Carroll
- Katherine Ruiz
- Rebecca Gibson
- April Fort
- Daniel Burns
- Katy Bauer
- Robin Bedingfield
- Cheryl & Steve Nelson
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7th Annual Open House & Plant Swap
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Plant Donation Program Fall Awards
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A total of 33 plants were awarded to three recipients for the Fall 2023 PDP with an additional 165 remainder plants available to recipients. A majority of the remainder plants were donated to Orange County Master Gardeners.
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Award recipients for the Fall PDP were Sarah Fine on behalf of Oak Grove Elementary School in Durham, Kate Doom-Patel on behalf of Girl Scout Troop #236 in Hillsborough, Ashley Sobran on behalf of Montessori School of Durham (photo not available), and Orange County Master Gardeners (photo not available).
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Oak Grove Elementary School
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The PDP is open to schools, groups, organizations, HOAs, and nonprofits who are creating or maintaining a pollinator or Lepidoptera friendly garden. HOA applicants may request up to 10 plants, all other eligible applicants may request up to 20 plants.
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The next application period for Spring is January 1st to March 1st. Click on the button below to sign-up to receive a reminder to apply and to learn more about the PDP program.
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NCUCMP 2023 Report
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The NCUCMP had a spectacular year of mothing! A total of five under-reported counties were surveyed and the goal to observer a minimum of 100 unique species at each site was met. Most notable were the frequently seen Imperial Moths at many of the survey sites. It was a banner year for them. Preliminary identifications are available on iNaturalist to view. Further data processing is needed for verification.
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A total of four participants assisted in conducting the Wilson County. Many thanks to Brian Bockhahn, Jessica Badger-Rotenberg, Bo Kluxen, and Corrigan Wilkes for their help! Together we made 360 observations for a total of 112 species. Brian joined me for the Hyde County survey. Together we made 225 observations for a total of 106 species.
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The survey in Alexander County was cut short due to picking up a screw in my tire. The one night I was able to survey I made 164 observations for a total of 120 species! I didn't think the property was all that mothy and I learned never judge the location until it has been mothed.
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The property in Cleveland County was like a personal backyard park. I had expected it to be fairly mothy but only had a total of 303 observations over two nights for a total of 154 species. I think the location would be an ideal site for a long-term, multi-season survey site.
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Yadkin County was the first survey of the season with a total of 270 observations and 142 species. The second night was delayed by passing thunder showers. On both nights the most productive sheet was the one underneath the large oak tree seen in the photo next to the house.
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I am currently working on a stand-alone website for the NCUCMP and hope to have it fully completed over the winter in time for the 2024 moth season. The new location is www.ncmothproject.org. The NCUCMP also has a Facebook page at www.facebook.com/NCMothProject.
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Winter Volunteer Opportunity
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Winter Seed Germination
It's that time of year to begin germinating seeds for our 2024 Spring Collection! We're expanding our collection of plants for 2024. Our goal is to grow 5,000 plants. John needs help with planting all the seeds.
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No experience required as John will show you how to winter sow seeds and share with you his techniques.
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Sowing will be done in the unheated greenhouse, so please dress appropriately. Hot beverages will be provided.
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Want to help but aren't available during the scheduled times? Contact John to see if he can accommodate your needs.
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Support Our Missions
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Your contribution helps us fulfill our missions of providing education, community outreach, and assistance in creating backyard butterfly and moth friendly habitats.
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