Hank Campbell, chair of the Rhymer Family Nature Preserve board, talks about how Ione Rhymer’s dream of a preserve is coming true.
CHARLESTON — Butterfly-lovers have an opportunity to win prizes for participating in the Urban Butterfly Initiative’s Charleston Butterfly Blitz starting Saturday through Aug. 1.
The Butterfly Blitz is a weeklong period when individuals are invited to take photos of butterflies around Coles County and upload the images to iNaturalist.org.
“Good places to look for butterflies include flower gardens, unmowed roadsides, and butterfly hotspots that UBI has created at Lake Charleston, Fox Ridge State Park, Charleston Public Library, and other sites near Charleston,” said director of UBI Paul Switzer.
UBI seeks to increase biodiversity, beauty, and scientific awareness in communities. They also help create low-cost and low-maintenance spaces that attract butterflies to city parks, greenways, and other public areas. They partner with both public and private groups.
The city of Charleston has transformed over 30 acres of city-owned property into butterfly habitat, including native wildflowers. Charleston has been praised for being butterfly-friendly, becoming a National Wildlife Federation Mayor’s Monarch Pledge Champion City, a Monarch City-USA, and even the Butterfly Capital of Illinois.
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A buttlerfly sits on a leave, ready to be photographed as part of the Butterfly Blitz.
“Every year is different, which is a big reason why having the Blitz is so valuable.” Switzer said. “People can help us track trends in butterfly populations in our area from year to year, which is really cool.”
Many different species of butterflies have been catalogued around the Charleston area. Last year alone, in nearly 2,000 submitted photos, individuals found 46 different species.
The photos can be uploaded via iNaturalist’s phone app or over the computer. Those uploading photos do not need to know what species of butterfly is in the photo in order to upload. iNaturalist helps identify them, but people can download a free guide to common local butterflies at urbanbutterflies.org/butterfly-guide.
City of Charleston, Eastern Illinois University, Fox Ridge State Park, and Bike & Hike-Charleston are co-sponsoring the event.
Prizes include $100 dollars off any bike purchase at Bike & Hike,$75 off labor for Bike & Hike-Charleston, a free water bottle, or a t-shirt. Top contributors should contact the Urban Butterfly Initiative at [email protected] to arrange a time to pick up their prize.
People can keep track of the progress and standings for this year’s Butterfly Blitz at inaturalist.org/projects/charleston-butterfly-blitz-2021.
From the JG-TC archives: 10 photos of Charleston
Sesquicetennial Balloon fest
1985: Charlie Platt of Decatur, prepares to ascend over Charleston during the Sesquicentennial celebration.
Sesquicentennial
1985: Kevin Moore of Boonville, Mo., watches balloons fly over Charleston during the Sesquicentennial celebration.
Railroad
1986: Former rail passenger office, left, and freight warehouse on north edge of Charleston.
Moore Home State Memorial site
1980: Bill Kreuger makes Pizzelli cookies at hearthside of the Moore Home State Memorial site.
Lincoln Heritage Trail Foundation festival
1969: Abe Lincoln glances warily at his horse before mounting in Decatur. Stephen A. Douglas picks the easier way to travel, in the 1912 Ford depot hack of Jimmie Soules of Decatur. The two men were en route to Lincoln to promote the Lincoln Trail Festival. Jim Seed of Charleston portrayed Lincoln and Don Drake of Charleston portrayed Douglas.
Lincoln Heritage Trail Foundation festival
1969: Abe Lincoln rides through Decatur. Lincoln was portrayed by Jim Seed, executive secretary of the Charleston Tourism Development Corp. He was en route to Lincoln to promote the Lincoln Trail Festival in Charleston.
Lafferty Nature Study Center wooden bridge
1971: Lafferty Nature Study Center has winding dirt paths, rustling leaves and wooden foot bridges towering over the small ribbon of a creek below.
Lafferty Nature Study Center
1971: The Center was named after the late Russell Lafferty, Charleston’s city clerk from 1949-68. It’s only about three acres but large enough to serve its function. It’s a place for birds and squirrels and inquisitive children and tired adults who want to escape from the world of concrete.
Kickapoo Creek
1986: The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency will hold a hearing in Mattoon to discuss possible pollution problems in the Kickapoo Creek.
Fall Festival
1982: Jerry Myerscough, left, and Ken Ott, signal victory for Diamond Lill in the turtle races during the Fall Festival on the square.
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