Page 4 * St. Johns Review * #13 - JUNE 26, 2015
Email: reviewnewspaper@gmail.com * Mail: PO Box 83068, Port. OR 97283 * Web: www.stjohnsreview.com * Phone: 503-283-5086
Commu
Butterfl y Monitoring Project Engages James John El
“What pollinators are visit-
ing the meadows in our neigh-
borhood? Do monarch butter-
fl ies visit Portland? Do they
breed here? These are ques-
tions Mark Hitchcox, an insect
scientist who lives in St. Johns
hopes to answer with the help
of volunteers and students. Al-
though Multnomah County is
not considered a major migra-
tory pathway for most of the
western monarch population,
there are historic occurrence
records for the Portland area
(Xerces Society 2014).
Because of recent steep de-
cline in numbers, the U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service has
announced it will conduct a
one-year status review of the
monarch to determine if it rates
protective status under the
“threatened” classifi cation of
the Endangered Species Act.
A major factor in the decline
of the Northwest monarch is
the decline of native milk-
weed (Asclepias spesiosa), a
plant that serves as its nursery.
The female monarch will only
lay its eggs on milkweed, and
“milkweed is the only host a
caterpillar can feed on,” said
David James, a Washington
State University scientist. Scott
Black, executive director of
The Xerces Society’s Portland
chapter said, “Any conserva-
tion effort to plant native milk-
weed helps. It’s an incredible
plant for birds and butterfl ies.
Add other nectar plants, and
people can have a fl owing oa-
sis. And if you’re lucky, you
can see a monarch.”
As a part of their restoration
effort, the Friends of Baltimore
Woods are enhancing the na-
tive milkweed in Baltimore
Woods Meadow in St. Johns
with the help of Mark Hitchcox
and the James John Elementa-
ry School Green Team. Small
starts were planted by the stu-
dents in four 5ft x 5ft stations.
Pollinator observations by the
students and other volunteers
will monitor for butterfl ies in-
cluding any visiting monarchs.
Volunteers will record simple
notes to document observations
about butterfl y behaviors, such
as nectaring, courtship, egg
laying or whether any caterpil-
lars or pupae are observed on
the milkweed.
To protect monarchs, citizen
volunteers like the Green Team
are crucial to research. “The
work we’re doing is totally unfund-
ed, which is remarkable in this day
and age,” said professor James, “We
hope to increase the citizen-scientist
component in coming years” (The
Columbian, 1-18-2015).
The project is looking for interest-
ed volunteers of all ages. For more
St. Johns neighbor and insect scientist,
Mark Hitchcox & his small helper, with
me, in the purple gloves.
It Is...
Cathedral
Park Jazz
Festival
Time!!!
Don’t
Forget
To
Place
Your
Ad
in the
Program issue
Deadline is
June 30, 2015
Go to:
www.stjohnsreview.com
for ad prices
or call:
Gayla
503-283-5086