Public Involvement

In addition to public lectures and field trips, each year NABA Eugene-Springfield hosts a booth at the Mt. Pisgah Mushroom Festival in October, and the Mt. Pisgah Wildflower Festival in May. Hundreds of people of all ages stop by to read and inspect our publications, learn about butterflies and other insects, purchase our books and butterfly illustrated T-shirts, and sign up for our email announcements of upcoming butterfly related activities.

David and Lois Hagen hosting our booth at the Mushroom Festival, October 29, 2007
Photo by Dennis Galloway

Past Activities
2010
A 2010 Survey of Butterflies at Two West Eugene Wetlands Sites
As in 2009, several volunteers from NABA conducted twice-monthly surveys of butterflies from April to October in 2010 at the Briggs Farm Site, managed by TNC, and at Dragonfly Bend, owned and managed by the city of Eugene. Both sites are habitat restoration sites, thus counts and observations of the nectaring of butterflies is essential for determining the success of the restoration efforts.
Download A 2010 Survey of Butterflies at Two West Eugene Wetland Sites in pdf format.
View some photos of our survey.

2010
The Beauty of Butterflies
A non-credit class was presented by John Hogan and Alison Center in Cottage Grove in cooperation with Lane Community College. They repeated the class again in 2011.

2009
A Survey of Butterflies at Two West Eugene Wetlands Sites
Responding to a request from The Nature Conservancy (TNC), several volunteers from NABA conducted twice-monthly surveys of butterflies from May to October in 2009 at the Briggs Farm Site, managed by TNC, and at Dragonfly Bend, owned and managed by the city of Eugene. Both sites are habitat restoration sites, thus counts and observations of the nectaring of butterflies is essential for determining the success of the restoration efforts. At our Dec. 7 public meeting, Jason Nuckols of The Nature Conservancy and Trevor Taylor of the City of Eugene, Parks & Open Space Division, presented our Eugene-Springfield Chapter of NABA with an Appreciation Award.
Download A Survey of Butterflies at Two West Eugene Wetland Sites in pdf format.
Download Butterfly Habitat in West Eugene Wetlands Based on Potential Host Plants Available in pdf format.

Sunday, November 18, 2007
Fender's Blue Conservation Project
In order to restore host and nectar plants for Fender's Blue butterfly, several volunteers from NABA spread seed and set in small plants at Briggs Farm on Greenhill Rd. in Eugene. The ground at the site had been prepared in advance by the Nature Conservancy.

Saturday, November 10, 2007
Madison Meadow Monarch Habitat
Vice President John Hogan and President Eleanor Ryan supervised work on the creation of a habitat for Monarch butterflies at Madison Meadow in Eugene. Neighbors created a nonprofit group and have raised more than $500,000 to preserve Madison Meadow, a grassy 2-acre lot at Madison St, and W. 22nd Ave. About 20 schoolchildren and their parents helped plant milkweed starts on the property. The story was reported in the Sunday edition of the Register-Guard.

Saturday, November 3, 2007
KUGN 590, Garden Show
President Eleanor Ryan and botanist Bruce Newhouse were interviewed at 8:00 am by Steve Avery of KUGN, and talked about "Native Butterfly Plants for your Home Garden" on the Garden Show sponsored by Lane Forest Products. Listeners were able to call in with comments and questions.

Saturday, June 2, 2007
Wheeling Through the Wetlands
Vice President John Hogan hosted a booth along the Eugene bike trail and handed out literature about butterfly gardens to cyclists. He has continued this activity in each of the following years.