​Butterflies are considered indicators of biodiversity. Although backcountry areas can be biodiversity hotspots, we are lacking data on butterflies in these remote areas. Researchers need our help to collect data on their abundance, diversity, and distribution in the wild. These data will be used by land managers to inform conservation decisions on public lands.

2018 Field Season:
Butterflies and Wildflowers in the Western U.S.

For this project, we are seeking volunteers with strong skills in backcountry travel such as trail running, backpacking, and mountain biking. They will net, photograph, and release butterflies at assigned backcountry sites several times during the 2018 summer season (May - October).

Eligibility

To volunteer for this project you will need to:
  • Be at least 18 years old.
  • Own or have access to an iPhone 6 or Android equivalent (or later generation smartphone) for data collection.
  • Have prior experience in backcountry travel and navigation in the region you are applying to. You must be as comfortable with the unpredictability of backcountry environments as you are with being in your own living room!
  • Commit to at least three visits to your field sites. Field sites are pre-determined for this project on U.S. National Forest land, and you will be given an option of which site you would prefer to survey in your area.
  • Follow all safety, permitting, and scientific protocols.

Commitment

You will be contacted by our team once we’ve screened your application. This is to ensure that your skills are right for the job, and that you are able to commit to this project.

We will send you an email which describes the steps you must take prior to collecting data, including:
  • Joining a webinar where the Pollinators Project Manager and Adventurer Coordinator will give you information about the project and answer any questions you may have.
  • Completing the online training course (30 min - 1hr).
  • Passing the course quiz.
  • Signing the digital release form.
Once you complete these steps you will be invited to join a regional team for the 2018 field season!

Timing and Locations 

Start dates are dependent on snow melt in the mountains, but be prepared to start field work at the following times:
  • Southern Arizona (Tucson) – May 1
  • Northern Arizona (Flagstaff) – May 15
  • Northern California (Bay area) – June 1
  • Utah – June 1
  • Montana – June 1
  • Washington – June 15

End dates of the project will vary according to weather in the mountains but we will plan to wrap up in October (with the exception of Southern Arizona which will continue through November). 

Don't see any dates and locations you can make? Check out our Global Pollinators project.
Picture
An anise swallowtail in Montana. Photo by Sarah Horak

Skills You Will Develop

Through training and participation in this project you will learn how to:
  • Implement a scientific protocol
  • Catch, handle, and release butterflies
  • Navigate to backcountry field sites​​​​​
Butterfly and net in mountains
A Milbert's tortoiseshell. Photo by Michelle Toshack/NPS

Equipment and Apps

You will be provided with a butterfly net (to be returned at the end of season), a small set of forceps, a battery pack for your cell phone, and field ID guides.

You will navigate to your field site using the Gaia GPS app (or other navigational tool).

At the site, you will use the ​iNaturalist app. You will be trained to use this app to record all of the data you collect in the field. 

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