The mission of CAzBA is to promote the enjoyment of recreational butterflying by providing educational, research, and recreational opportunities to schools and the public throughout central Arizona.
Several of CAzBA's board members will be leading butterfly walks at Boyce Thompson Arboretum this spring, which are included with admission ($24.95) and free for members. Limit 15. March 28: Marceline VandeWater April 11: Gail Morris and Della Killeen April 25: Adriane Hopkins May 9: Ron Rutowski read more »
The Xerces Society of Invertebrate Conservation published a report earlier this year entitled State of Butterflies in the United States. The report presents an analysis of 20 years of data from community science programs across the USA that monitor butterflies, and it reaches some startling and disturbing conclusions, like this one: “Overall, butterflies across the U.S. are declining at a rate of 1.3% per year – leading to a 22% reduction in combined abundance over the 20-year time period.” This report is freely available here: https://xerces.org/publications/scientific-reports/state-of-butterflies-in-united-states. It includes specific conclusions about declines in southwestern butterflies (e.g. the Empress Leilia shows one of the highest rates of decline among butterflies in the region) and a lengthy list of positive actions people and organizations can take to help recover butterflies. Everyone interested in butterflies is strongly encouraged to read this report. read more »
Fifty years after the startling discovery that monarch butterflies spend winters in the forests of Mexico, photographer and National Geographic Explorer Jaime Rojo reveals this winged wonder of the insect world in new ways with never-before-seen visuals. Tag along with conservationists and citizen scientists who are helping this species avoid catastrophic threats, all through Jaime’s beautiful photos and videos. read more »