About NABA St. Louis
NABA St. Louis is a non-profit organization, helping to “increase the public’s enjoyment, knowledge and conservation of butterflies.” We are NABA’s first (and, so far, only) chapter in Missouri.
Our chapter’s territory covers the bi-state metropolitan St. Louis region. We are busy all year, with lots of outdoor activities when the butterflies are active and indoor activities for the rest of the year. Here are some of the things we do:
Butterfly Counts
NABA’s 4th of July Butterfly Counts in Canada, the U.S. and northern Mexico are important because they track the number of species and number of individuals in a specific area over time. From these counts, we can learn whether a species is expanding or contracting in range and whether a species is increasing or decreasing in number. The St. Louis Chapter conducts several 4th of July Counts in both Missouri and Illinois. Yvonne Homeyer is the Count Coordinator.
Butterfly Walks
At least once a month (April through October), we are out in the field with our binoculars, field guides, and cameras enjoying our local butterflies. Beginners are welcome. We like to visit public conservation areas, state parks, and private nature reserves to enjoy, observe and photograph the 100+ species of butterflies and skippers in the St. Louis area. Sight identification is made easier with Jeff Glassberg’s Butterflies through Binoculars: the East. View our Calendar of Events for upcoming walks.
Jim Ziebol Butterfly Garden
Named after the St. Louis Chapter’s co-founder (the other founder is Yvonne Homeyer) who started us on the journey of sight identifying butterflies, the Jim Ziebol Butterfly Garden at Busch Conservation Area in St. Charles County is a joint project of NABA St. Louis, the Webster Groves Nature Study Society, and the Missouri Department of Conservation. The garden demonstrates how to attract butterflies with both nectar and host plant sources. Now in its fourth growing season, the Butterfly Garden contains over 40 plant species native to Missouri. These native plant species, both common and scientific names, are listed on our Plants & Gardening page. Many hours of volunteer time have gone into the creation and maintenance of our project. Special thanks is due to Dennis Bozzay for his gardening skills and leadership.
Education & Community Outreach
Each year at St. Louis Community College, our chapter offers a class on the natural history and sight identification of butterflies. Mary-Eileen Rufkahr is our Education Chairperson. Our chapter and its members have been featured in several write-ups in Local St. Louis Newspapers - these are viewable on our newspaper articles page.
Programs & Outings
In the winter, we have indoor slide and video programs about butterflies and gardening, visit the Butterfly House, and tour the St. Louis Zoo’s Insectarium. We have co-sponsored programs about butterfly gardening and have given away native plant seeds. In warmer months, we visit restored prairies and butterfly gardens. Yvonne Homeyer, Vice President, coordinates our programs.
Conservation
Part of NABA’s mission is to conserve butterflies and their habitat. Our chapter has worked with other organizations in urging public agencies to consider impacts to habitat and butterflies when evaluating pesticide spraying and proposed development projects. Butterflies share the same habitat as other insects, birds, amphibians, and reptiles, all of which are experiencing declines in their populations and some of which are now classified as Endangered, Threatened or Species of Special Management Concern at federal and state levels. Many factors are at work but habitat loss is one of the most prominent causes.
Kids’ Corner
This section of our website includes a comprehensive list of butterfly-related Children’s Books, Butterfly quotations and wisdom, riddles, links to fun butterfly sites, and wordsearch and crossword puzzles. Check out the Kids’ Corner — it’s for kids of all ages!
Chapter Newsletter
Our monthly Newsletter (called the "Flutterby News") has a Calendar that keeps you informed about upcoming activities, reports of what was seen on recent butterfly walks and counts, has articles about butterflies and gardening, and more.
Membership
If you would like to join NABA, a membership application is available on this web site. Chapter membership is free to NABA members who live within our chapter’s bi-state area. You may view a list of our Officers and Board of Directors. Also, we’re on TV and Radio.
